The Merlion at its new location in Marina Bay (photo by Isabella K. Badenoch)

Singapore is famous for its Merlion image, but many visitors are unclear about where the Merlion image came from. In fact, what is a Merlion? A Merlion is a mythical creature that has the head of a lion and the body of a fish. The Merlion ‘logo’ as visitors see it now was actually designed by Fraser Brunner as the logo for the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) back in 1964. It is a registered trademark and permission needs to be obtained by the  STB for people to use the Merlion image for commercial purposes.

The Merlion has a historic significance as well. Singapore was originally known as ‘Temasek’, which is a Javanese word meaning ‘sea’. Then, in the 11^th century, was renamed Singapura, meaning ‘lion’ and ‘city’ by Prince Sang Nila Utama, who said he saw a mythical creature on the island, which later turned out to be a lion. Hence, Singapore is also known as the ‘Lion City’.

The Merlion statue measured 8.6 meters in height and weighs an amazing 70 tons! It was made by Singaporean artist, Lim Nang Seng. Very few people know this, but the eyes of the Merlion are made of red teacups! The statue was installed at the mouth of the Singapore River, across from Elizabeth Walk, on the 15^th of September 1972, by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. However, the Merlion was moved a mere 120 meters in 2002, since its view was obstructed by the building of new building complex along the river.

Now, visitors can enjoy the Merlion statue at Marina Bay, adjacent to One Fullerton. The Merlion is the center piece of a new 2,500 square meter park, aptly named Merlion Park, that was constructed as the new home of the Merlion.

Visitors can reach the Merlion Park via MRT, getting off at Raffles Place station. It is also possible to visit the Merlion by river taxi, as there is a boat landing right by the Merlion statue.

Tired of crowded, staid Chinese food in Singapore? For something different, for something to amaze your palate, head to Chef Chan’s restaurant. Run by Master Chef Chan Chen Hei, who is not concerned about going mainstream, his restaurant is tucked away in the National Museum of Singapore on Stamford Road. Many complain that the restaurant is hard to find, with no obvious signage, but it is worth the treasure hunt! The interior is decorated with an amazing amount of Chinese antiques, all belonging to the Master Chef, this restaurant makes diners feel like they have stepped into China in the 1930s.

The restaurant offers a range of set menus, which have been time-consumingly arranged by the Master Chef. These are good choice for first-comers as well as returnees. The dishes are arranged to complement one another. However, it is possible to change or substitute dishes, if necessary. Make sure that the menu you choose includes the most famous, not to miss Chef Chan’s famous Crispy Roast Chicken – most set menus do. This is the Master Chef’s signature dish and what he is famous for. Even if you don’t like chicken, you must try this dish. You will never have tasted chicken like this ever before in your entire life and will be back for more. This is the most crispy and succulent chicken ever! The other dishes are good, but pale in comparison to this masterpiece.

The set menus run from approximately S$56++ per son, upwards. This new restaurant is much smaller than Chef Chan’s old restaurant in the Odeon Towers (located inside a commercial building, which took away from the ambience). According to Chef Chan, the reason for this is so that he can better control the quality and delivery of the food. The new restaurant definitely does manage that. There are only 6-7 tables in the restaurant, so booking ahead is a must, especially on weekends (Tel.  +65 6333 0073).

Interior of Chef Chans Restaurant

For those wanting some authentic Singaporean food, but in a clean and comfortable setting, head to the Chatterbox. The Chatterbox is located on the ground floor of the Meritus Mandarin Hotel on Orchard Road. Famous among locals, the Chatterbox is considered to have the best Hainanese Chicken Rice (or Mandarin Chicken Rice, as the restaurant calls it) in Singapore. Albeit being more expensive than at other restaurants, the chicken is amazingly succulent and comes with all the condiments, served beautifully on a lacquer tray. 

What is Hainanese Chicken Rice? Well, for those uninitiated, it is whole chicken that is boiled. The broth is then used to cook the rice. This infuses the rice with delicious chicken broth and the boiling of the chicken means that the meat is succulent, juicy, plump and soft. This is then served with dark soy sauce or ginger sauce (whatever you prefer) and chicken soup. The restaurant also offers this dish as a take-out, but eating it at the restaurant is better. The restaurant closely monitors the breeding of the chicken and chicken feed, to get the most plump and juicy chicken. You will not be disappointed and will most likely go back for more!

The Chatterbox has regularly won dining awards and according to the restaurant has served over 8 million Hainanese Chicken Rice sets since its establishment in 1971.

The restaurant is very popular with locals and visitors alike and can get quite crowded, especially on weekends, so book ahead to avoid disappointment,  on Tel. 6831-6288. The restaurant also serves a range of Western and Asian dishes, as well as other Singaporean favorites and has an extensive children’s menu. The milk shakes are popular among young and old! Opening hours are 05:00-01:00 (Sunday-Thursday) and 24-hours (Friday, Saturday and Public Holidays).