Clarke Quay

March 30, 2003 If there is one place in Singapore where you can get everything in one experience, then Clarke Quay is it. It is a place where history, shopping and nightlife meet on the banks of the river Even before Sir Stamford Raffles arrived in Singapore, the Singapore River was the centre of life on the island. Ruled over by the Sultan of Johor, the island and its river port remained a trading post until the arrival of the British, who were looking for a place to start their own colony that would challenge the Dutch and Portuguese in the region. Raffles, today regarded as the founder of Singapore, saw the opportunity in the Singapore River. He gained control of the island and set up his government offices along its pumping heart. It was then that the city we know today was born. Clarke Quay was integral to his plans and soon became the centre of commerce for the colony. Not only did the area of river where it is situated afford good anchorage for the boats that plied the waters, but it was also situated directly below Forbidden Hill - or what would become known as Fort Canning. The Fort was important for the defence of the new city and being in such close proximity, Clarke Quay was able to forge its place as the beating heart of Singapore. Today the multitude of boats are gone and only a few remain, mainly to help tourists explore the city's birthplace in detail. Gone also is the busy trading port with its scores of labourers and warehouses containing the spices and produce of Britain's Asian colonies. Instead over the years, from the time the area was named after Singapore's second Governor, Sir Andrew Clarke, to today, the Quay has cleaned itself up and become a place for everything from shopping to dining to dancing the night away to sitting back and taking a moment of quiet reflection. Stories abound at Clarke Quay, and it only takes a few minutes to scratch the surface to find a few of them. Take a look at the southern end of the Quay where today on the wall of the last shophouse a sign proclaims that it once was Whampoa's Ice House. Whampoa was a wealthy Chinese landowner who gained his name from the area of China where he was from. He was also the man who gifted the land where the botanical gardens today sit, and in return he was given land by the government at Clarke Quay. But Clarke Quay is also known today for its festival nature. A place where families, business people and party people mix amongst the buildings that once watched over the birth of the city and today have been beautifully restored. You can find anything amongst the shops at Clarke Quay SHOPPING One of the things that Singaporeans have become very good at is preserving the history of their city while catering to the modern lifestyle. Clarke Quay is one of the best examples of this. The Quay today still recreates the bustling market atmosphere from its past with row upon row of art and craft shops, pushcarts with trinkets and the odd practitioner of a vanishing trade. From home-made jewellery, to the famous Singapore Airlines stewardess' outfit, you can find anything you want amongst the shops at Clarke Quay. The traders that used to work the labyrinth behind the riverside area were called five-foot-way merchants because the footpaths here were always five-foot wide. Today's version of the five-foot-way merchant sell trinkets and read your fortune - what better way to spend an afternoon than losing yourself here for a few hours. Sundays are also a great time to get to Clarke Quay for shopping when a flea market springs up, offering all those things you'd normally not find in a shop. And don't leave for home without checking out the array of silk products available. Clarke Quay is certainly a place to go shopping if you are looking for something a bit different - a bustling market every day of the week. NIGHTLIFE Another important aspect of Clarke Quay is the array of nightlife available. Restaurants abound on the water's edge where you can sit and watch the sky turn pink as the sun dips below the city skyline and disappears for the night. It is at this time when the the heat of the day is replaced by a warm breeze that sits nicely with the gentle lights from the restaurants and river boats. The effect is stunning and if you venture to Clarke Quay for dinner you'll get more than a full stomach by the time you leave. Try any one of the many other restaurants that sit comfortably along the river - it doesn't matter, you will always end up satisfied. Following dinner, try one of the bars along the waterfront. For live music, the Crazy Elephant has probably the best live Blues music in Singapore. And if you're a musician yourself, Sunday nights are jam nights when you too could get up and belt out a few tunes. More information For more information on how to get to Clarke Quay, see the Singapore River & City Hall area of the attractions section.