Misi Budaya 2014

“What is a town well known by its lion?”

“Where is this town?”

“It’s close to our country.”

“Close to our country, eh? I know there are asian tigers, but lions…?”

“Yes, this town has the most famous one.”

“I have never known a specific lion which that popular in Asia?”

“Well, you should have known it. It’s just one step from Indonesia and a blink of an eye from Malaysia.”

“You must be joking, friend. Is it Singapore?”

Finally, I came to the right answer, it’s Singapore, the lion town. Who don’t know the famous lion named Merlion? I have received so many souvenirs with the Merlion on it, from a prestigious crystal building model to a very standard key chain. And how come this island country called as a “town”? It may only as big as Jakarta or the capital city of Belgium, Brussels, in area, but at least it’s bigger than some of the smallest countries in the world. For some people, they might just see it as “it is”. Who care about the lion, every country could have its icon; and it’s just a small country you can get around in a few days. Is it really just “it is”?

So there came the day when I could visit Singapore for the first time (and also my first trip abroad). Last year, in November 2013, I went with other three friends for a conference in National University of Singapore for two days and another three days for a full-time vacation. It’s just hilarious to remember how I dumbfounded by the Skytrain in Changi Airport and the fastest escalators—I have ever tried—in MRT stations, and also when I found reserved seats are left empty in a crowded MRT while many security cameras kept watching over us.

Singapore really has loads of things to make a good first impression to me. This country may look like a little speck compared to its neighbors countries, but there are so many efforts made to give anyone more spaces—like those priority seats in MRTs—and good facilities to be grateful for. As a girl who comes from a megapolitan city, I also used to a modern urban and multiracial environment like Singapore, but I could see that Singapore has more strength and powerful spirit as a control.

The Lion Town or Lion City—as people gave it nicknames—is not just about the Merlion icon or the myth story behind it, but it’s more like a provocative motivation for the country to grow even “bigger” and to be seen by the world. So, if anyone throws me a question about a lion city again, I would have got the right answer as a throwback.