During a visit to Singapore last week, I spent a lot of time exploring some of the city’s new initiatives, including the Marina Bay Sands and Sentosa Island’s Resorts World Sentosa. Since its independence in 1963, the island has grown by 25 percent through reclaimed land, and the expansion plans continue — by leaps and bounds. It was fascinating to see all the recent development and to learn about what the country is planning for the future, but it was also exciting to get a taste of Singapore’s history. Symbolizing Singapore is the Merlion, half-mermaid/half-lion, created in 1972 as a welcome to tourists. Think the equivalent of our Statue of Liberty. The lion represents Singapore’s lack of natural resources, harkening back to their name “Lion City” and reminding the people of how far they’ve come. The mermaid is a reminder to the people of Singapore not to be complacent, again, they’ve come far since their days as a fishing village. Two great museums for learning more about the people of Singapore are the Peranakan Museum and the Asian Civilisations Museum. I literally enjoyed a taste of Singapore tradition at the Raffles Hotel, home of the Singapore Sling. Raffles Hotel, named for the explorer who founded Singapore, celebrated its 123rd birthday on Sept. 19. I enjoyed a brief tour of the property and indulged in some of the legendary lore surrounding the hotel. In 1913, a young bartender set about concocting an alcoholic beverage that young British women could drink. At the time, the women were not supposed to drink in public. The result of the bartender’s efforts was the Singapore Sling, an alcoholic beverage with a definite kick that looks like a fruit juice. I enjoyed the cocktail at the legendary Raffles’ Long Bar, which is reminiscent of colonial Britain in its decor. A fun fact — the Long Bar is one of the only places in Singapore where you can “litter.” It’s basically a rite of passage to throw your peanut shells on the ground while you enjoy your Singapore Sling. More to come on my time in Singapore in the next few weeks! — Kim Krol, eFlyer editor, circulation and public relations executive