As we leave Singapore, the island which was called Temasek, or the sea-town, by the Javanese in ancient times, I can only appreciate the spirit of the people here, people from varied varied backgrounds who have come together from all over and transformed a marshy swamp into a megapolis which today at the crossroads of modern civilisation...
I saw these school kids so enthusiastically visiting the National Museum...
The residents take pride not only in their original homeland's heritage, but also the heritage of modern Singapore that they have collectively forged...
Traditions survive alongside modernity..., I would rather say, thrives...
That gives the island state a unique zing...
The nation recently celebrated its national day as well as commemorated Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's decade in office...
The newspapers showed the Prime Minister as quite a people's man...
Celebrating the National Day festivities with communities across the city, he seemed quite at ease...
Probably that's the kind of connect that the rulers need to make with the commonfolk...
At the recent National Day Rally, the Prime Minister paid tribute to Lee Kuan Yew's former driver, Rahmat Yusak... The common man is also worthy of honour...
Singapore also has a keen watch on its neighbourhood...
The general public too seems quite conscious that they live in an ecosystem that thrives only if the neighbourhood thrives...
That is perhaps why Singapore is quite keenly looking at India, China and Indonesia...
And they have great hopes on India... they were looking for key economic announcememts on Independence Day...
I remembered the affable, elderly Chinese man I met at Bukit Chandu who was nothing but positive on Prime Minister Modi, he called him a "man of action"!
The soon to be launched airline, Vistara is proof of our collaboration with Singapore...
We need each other... They need growth opportunities, we need investment and expertise...
50 years and going strong...
External Affairs Minister Swaraj visited Singapore a few days...
And we joked that she had come to check that our trip was going fine!
I was surprised to see Mamata Bannerjee put up advertisements in the Straits Times...
India's defence also made for prominent news here... The underlying tone was positive, as though India was being seen as a net provider of security in the region!
But, it is time to head back to opportunities back home...
The sunflower at Changi Airport reminds of the warmth and positivity that Neeti and I had encountered here!
My ride back home - 9V-SKI!
We took off and headed up north crossing Johor Baharu which is Malaysia's gateway to Singapore...
And dinner was served - for me it was a seafood meal - crunchy shrimp salad, baked snapper fillets with vegetables...
For Neeti, it was an Indian meal - dahi bhalla, pulao, dal and alu palak.... with papad medallions!
And now, its time to say Goodbye Temasek, it's time time to stretch and relax before we hit Mumbai...
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