New Beginnings

I have not posted any thing on my blog for such a long time that I was reaching a stage where I had forgotten that I even had a blog. A wake-up call came in the form of a comment from a reader.

One significant development has been occupying most of my mental space. My move to Singapore- finally scheduled for the end of this month. Though I have visited Singapore a number of times, the fact that I will actually be spending the next couple of years there has whetted my appetite for more information about this country/city.

The India Connection

The name Singapore is derived from the Malay words singa (lion) and pura (city), which were themselves derived from Sanskrit words. It is believed that a prince named Sang Nila Utama, saw a lion as the first living creature on the island and decided to name it Singapura as a result.

The first records of Singapore's existence are in Chinese texts from the 3rd century AD. The island was an outpost of the Sumatran Srivijaya empire and originally bore the Javanese name Temasek. Srivijaya belonged to the Buddist Samudra dynasty which originated in India. Temasek rose to become a significant trading city, but subsequently declined. Between the 16th and early 19th centuries, Singapore was a part of the Sultanate of Johore. In 1819, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, an official with the British East India Company, signed a treaty with the Sultan of Johore. He also established Singapore as a trading post and settlement, which saw instant growth and immigration from various ethnic groups.

Due to its rich history, Malays, Chinese and Indians are a part of the melting pot that Sinagpore is. I think this is one of those truly cosmopolitan places that I have always wanted to work in. The fact that 4% of the population is of Indian origin helps. I think I would feel a little homesick if I didn’t see Indian faces everyday.

After work hours
Assuming that I don’t spend my time slogging at work, I am excited about exploring a new place and experiencing new cultures. Here’s what I plan to do- visit all the animal attractions especially the night safari, eat at the hawkers stalls in China town, Arab street and Little India, and learn Mandarin! The first two I am pretty sure I will accomplish but learning mandarin,I hope it doesn’t remain a dream. Not because of lack of resources more likely to be lack of sustaining power on my part. Maybe Singapore will be a new beginning atleast in that aspect.