Singapore's culture and heritage delights artistic swimmers
Competing at the Artistic Swimming 17th Singapore Open, the New Zealand Youth Team found time to explore the island nation and delve into its diverse cultures and communities. From immersive tours to the spectacular light shows and culinary food sensations, Singapore provided them with an amazing once in a lifetime experience. In this article, team captains Ada Zhang and Billie Leslie-Bird and team manager Debbie Dickson reflect on the experience. The team were able to include cultural elements in their itinerary thanks to a grant from the Foundation's Community Sports Fund.
The team were impressed by the diversity of cultures on display through the architecture, food and markets
Staying in one location for the duration of our time in Singapore allowed the team to get a taste of everyday life in the island state. Walking around our neighbourhood we got an insight into the lives of the locals - experiencing the kindness of people and tasting the delicious treats at local hawker food courts for our evening meals. Chicken/pork rice was definitely one of the teams’ favourites.
One aspect that really surprised us as we walked through the streets of Singapore and on our guided Tribe Tours was the beauty of the lush nature and greenery, and the unique infrastructure and cultural heritage that Singapore has within its small island setting.
From the glitzy skyscrapers that decorate the skyline to the beautifully restored heritage buildings all tell a story of the mixed and diverse cultures that make up Singapore.
Thanks to sponsorship from the Asia New Zealand Foundation, our team was able to experience three very unique bespoke Tribe Tours.
One of the team challenges involved visiting some of Singapore's famous monuments and buildings
Each tour was interactive - we worked as a team to solve problems, discover the rich history of each precinct, and experience a little more of Singaporean life. Some of the highlights from the tours included:
History and key monument hunt
The monumental buildings we saw were beautiful and were a captivating way to see the evolution in Singapore's architecture. One of the team's favourites was the former police station on Hill Street, with its colourful windows it really was amazing to see.
Chinatown
Walking along the streets of Chinatown we were entranced by the many bright colours and market stalls, with music filling the area with warmth and joy. With the temperatures far hotter than anything we experience in New Zealand, the markets were particularly inviting as a place to cool down.
Little India
This tour was possibly our favourite as it allowed us to really experience some of the Indian culture. We were overwhelmed with smells of the cuisine as well as the unfamiliar yet welcoming culture.
Visiting local temples provided us with a fascinating glimpse of the traditional ceremonies that take place in them, as well as providing us with an opportunity to sample some of the delicacies they had to offer. The Indian sweet treats and the tangy potato curry as well as the bitter-sour taste of the gooseberries all became a truly unforgettable parts of our journey.
The team all loved getting their hands dyed with traditional henna designs. Each with a unique design, it was amazing to see all the delicate and intricately crafted art we each had on our hands.
"It was amazing to see all the delicate and intricately crafted art we each had on our hands."
The Singapore visit truly allowed our team members to gel and work together as a team.
The team was impressed by the vast cultural mix within Singapore and the dedication and commitment to ensuring equity, harmony, respect and understanding of each culture, amid the beauty of the buildings, greenways and parks.
Reflecting on this, we came to an important conclusion that as a team we each bring diversity and uniqueness, which when working together brings strength. This in turn helps us to grow and develop our team and personal aspirations for further competitions.
Our trip left lifelong memories not only as medallists at the competition but also for providing a glimpse into Singapore culture. As a team, we got to experience the tradition and community of Singapore and gained greater international cross-cultural understanding. It helped us further develop as individuals, athletes and as a team.
The experiences and insights gained during our time in Singapore will resonate with us long past our return to New Zealand - thank you so much Asia New Zealand Foundation for giving us this opportunity to see more than just the pool, hotel and airport!
The Foundation's Sports Programme provides New Zealand sportspeople opportunities to grow more knowledgeable, connected and confident with Asia.
The Community Sports Fund provides funding for community groups travelling to Asia to engage in cultural activities.
