the Mall City

I have been told that Singapore is not a country, but a hotel. You are very welcome to come and stay for a while, and so long as you abide by the rules you will have a good time. Currently, I'm thinking that Singapore is actually a mall. At least most of it is.

Malls are everywhere in Singapore, and they always seems to be busy. I spent part of my day at two three different malls: Clementi Mall, Harbour Front Centre, and VivoCity. That two is scratched out because I never actually left VivoCity, I was just suddenly in another mall. That's common here, wandering down a hallway only to be greeted by a welcome sign for the mall next door. I guess Singaporeans don't like walking around outside too much.

Anyway, VivoCity and Clementi. The later is the most convenient MRT stop from uTown (though technically not the closest), so I'm there quite a bit. The former is pictured in this post, rather the rooftop park is. Yes, a park on top of the mall. Singapore takes urban green space seriously (hence I'm here doing urban geography).

It's not just a collection of planters and a few benches around a playground made from recycled tires, either. It's a full on trees and shrubs on manicured islands in a wading pool that spans the whole rooftop. Trees. On the roof. I didn't even know that was a viable option, but apparently they do that here.

The mall itself is huge, something like 6 storeys including both basements. What's strange about the malls in Singapore, though, is that there is no one food court. There are companies that run "food courts," where every single stall is owned and operated by said company, but nothing like what we have in Canada or the States. Instead, restaurants and food vendors are scattered throughout, tucked between your usual assortment of retail stores. I'm not sure which I like better, our system or Singapore's.

I'll have plenty of time to test the Singaporean way of shopping, though. I'm living in this mall for four months!

Oh, and yes, that is a snowman statue. A little thinner than what I'm accustomed to seeing, but I guess they're compensating for heat a little. Besides shaved ice (with corn!?), that's the closest Singapore gets to snow.

photos by me, more on Flickr