An Afternoon In Downtown...

After a 20-minute wait at Terminal 3's Transfer Desk my hotel shuttle arrived. During the wait for the shuttle, I met a Mexican couple who had just arrived in Delhi by the Jet Airways. I struck up a conversation with them, in the rudimentary Spanish I "claim" to know. I believe, my Spanish tutor, will be a bit proud of that!

They had spent three weeks backpacking through North India, and the lady claimed to have totally enjoyed every bit of it. 

We may do whatever chest thumping about India, but it is a different feeling to have a visitor praise your country. I felt proud to hear great things that the couple had experienced in India... Perhaps, we are so busy in the daily routine that we fail to see the innate positivity that India exudes. The brief 5-minute conversation with the couple reminded me of that.

The hotel shuttle came in at about 8.25AM and the driver, an elderly Malay, waited till clock struck 8.30 Am before moving ahead. We passed by Terminals 1 and 2 picking up 8 more people - Australians, British and Malysians.

We took the ECP Road and headed to Marina Bay Sands and then through Shenton Way, New Bridge Road, Bras Basah Road and the Central Expressway, dropping off my fellow passengers on the way before we hit Balestier Road.

As we touched Balestier Road, I felt at home, I was as comfortable as I am in Mumbai or Delhi. That was perhaps the effect of the positivity and warmth I had experienced on my last trip here!

Thanks to the ongoing holidays, I got an immediate access to my room at the hotel. After a bit of a rest, I stepped out again to head to Waterloo Street. 

I walked down to Novena and took the MRT to Bras Basah to head to my first pit-stop, the Maghain Aboth Synagogue on Waterloo Street. 

The synagogue was founded by Manasseh Meyer in 1873, when he was given land by the colonial administration on Church Street (now known as Waterloo Street). This was in proximity to where the Jewish community lived - Dhoby Ghaut, Waterloo Street, Prinsep Street, Selegie Road and Wilkie Road. Today, there are still several Jewish buildings standing there.

Construction of Maghain Aboth (which means Shield of Our Fathers) began soon after the community was given the land, and it was completed in 1878, making it the oldest Jewish synagogue in South East Asia.

Access to the synagogue is restricted to the public for obvious security reasons and their website suggested that a prior appointment is necessary to plan a visit. A few days back, I emailed the administration seeking an appointment. I got a response from Julia Han of the Jewish Welfare Board saying "We welcome you and all visitors  to our Maghain Aboth Synagogue located at 24 Waterloo Street.  For security clearance, all visitors are required to send  us a copy of their passport before our security guards would grant them access to our premises." 

I promptly emailed her my documents but when I landed up on Waterloo Street, the security would not let me in. I was told the rabbi, Netanel Rivni was out of town, in Vietnam and the security were not permitted to let anyone in without the rabbi's explicit permission....

I had no option but to turn back, but before I left, I took a pic of the Maghain Aboth Synagogue from the Manulife Financial Building to remind me what I had missed.

That was a trifle disappointing for an ardent and enthusiastic supporter of Zionism and Jews around the world. Such is my passion for Judaism that back home in India, I made it a point to visit the Knesset Eliyahu Synagagoue in Mumbai's Fort area on my first visit to Mumbai in 2002...

I wondered what Julia Han's confirmation really meant. The security guards asked me to send an email to the rabbi and Julia but, till now I haven't heard from them... Perhaps, I will be able to visit the Maghain Aboth Synagogue on my next visit here...

I spent some time around the vicinity of the synagogue checking out the area. I found the Singapore Art Museum particularly interesting...

Housed in the 140-year old building that once housed St Joseph’s Institution, a Catholic boys’ school, run by La Salle Brothers, the museum opened in 1996 for the public

I wasn't quite interested in modern art... Art is interesting, but heritage and history are far more enticing for me, so I moved on...

I walked on Victoria Street towards CHIJMES, a place I had visited in August last year...

What is incredible about Singapore is that the city is constantly reinventing itself. Take CHIJMES for example - it started off as a convent, but a part of it got acquired for construction of the MRT, the remaining part was converted into a high-end retail space, while the convent shifted to Toa Payoh...

Similarly, the old Supreme Court building is being remodelled as Singapore's new National Gallery...

The old Malay cemeteries in Kampong Glam got acquired to construct high-rise office and condo complexes...

We cannot let our cities freeze in time... As life moves on, cities too should evolve... If land has a greater value as a public utility, why let a religious building be there? Yes, we should protect heritage, but not at the cost of public utility, that is where India, especially cities like Mumbai and Delhi need to learn from Singapore... 

Passing by CHIJMES...

Passing by St Andrew's Cathedral - Neeti and I had visited the cathedral in August...

Makaan Mumbai!!! That's an Indian eatery...

Artwork can make a drab building look interesting...

Headed to Boat Quay via Philip Street...

"Hey, Molly... can't pub now! I gotta go..."

Passing by Molly Malone's...

Finally at Boat Quay...

What's your pick for dinner?

Some more options!

And some more...

Crossing the Elgin Bridge...

The circular disc of the new Supreme Court, the blue dome of the old Supreme Court and red-roofed Parliament building on the right...

Walking past the Parliament...

I just can't get enough of the MICA building, which was previously Old Hill Street Police Station...

My next stop is Fort Canning...