On August 9, 2020, Singapore will officially turn 55.
And as our nation reaches this palindromic milestone in history, I've been wondering about what exactly makes our island city-state so special.
To tackle this question, I've come up with 55 photos to show exactly why Singapore will always be home to me.
Our HDB estates are convenient and one-of-a-kind
HDB estates are home to approximately 80 per cent of Singapore’s resident population.
Lego-like in architecture, yet very much functional in design, our HDB flats come in varying heights and sizes.
Chinatown
Bras Basah Complex
Bukit Batok Central
Most HDB estates are also complete with nearby food courts, playgrounds and clinics, creating a one-of-a-kind type of communal living space.
Happy Hawkers
Toa Payoh Dragon Playground
Health Partners Family Clinic
As someone who lives in a closely knit neighbourhood with a variety of amenities at hand, this convenience is something that I will always appreciate.
Bukit Batok Central
Bukit Batok Community Club
Westmall
Our 5-star hotels and skyscrapers show how far we have come as a nation
On the other hand, we have the crazy rich side of Singapore, with 5-star hotels and high-SES properties charting our country's meteoric economic growth over time.
The Fullerton Hotel
Suites at Orchard
Afterall, who can forget that we were once a tiny, ant-sized colony of the British?
Raffles Hotel
Our gleaming skyscrapers stand tall and proud in the Central Business District, physical reminders that we as a nation, are built on steel, glass and the hard work of our people and the migrant worker workforce.
South Bridge Road
One Raffles Place
UOB Plaza
Covid-19 brought out the best in our frontline workers
Yet in 2019, Covid-19 happened, and together as a nation, we were collectively humbled.
Our economy faced massive disruption, lives were lost, and the future is an uncertain haze.
Thankfully, our frontline workers remained valiant in their efforts to serve the nation, and have been toiling day and night to keep us safe against the virus.
Ng Teng Fong Hospital
Ng Teng Fong Hospital
Tan Tock Seng Hospital
Geylang Polyclinic
Jurong Health Campus
The sight of ordinary, everyday Singaporeans stepping up to play their part in this pandemic is also extremely heartening.
Westmall
Westmall
Our museums, libraries and heritage attractions bear the history of Singapore
Before travel came to a grinding halt in 2020, Singapore warmly welcomed tourists to our shores.
And how they would praise our heritage attractions and national monuments, each landmark holding a different story of their own.
Chinatown Heritage Centre
Did you know, for instance, that the rainbow-coloured former house of Tan Teng Niah is now the sole surviving Chinese villa in Little India?
House of Tan Teng Niah
Tan was a Chinese businessman who owned a number of sweet-making factories along Serangoon Road, and had built the house back in 1900.
Junction of Smith Street and South Bridge Road
How about CHIJMES, now a popular wedding venue that is located in the middle of Victoria Street?
CHIJMES
Before it was gazetted as a national monument, CHIJMES was known as the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus, and was established as a premier girls’ school in 1854 by an order of French Catholic nuns.
After the Singapore Government acquired the land from the convent in 1983, the complex was used for commercial purposes, and now houses a variety of restaurants, cafes and bars.
CHIJMES
Singapore dedicates so much time and effort to preserving our museums and libraries, making sure that our nation's history and culture is still relevant in the world today.
National Museum of Singapore
National Library of Singapore
One example would be the National Gallery, which was once the former Supreme Court Building and City Hall.
National Gallery
Now the largest visual arts venue and museum in Singapore, the National Gallery has a particular focus on Singapore's culture and heritage, bearing in mind our ties with other countries in the world.
What a way to adapt an entirely different venue to our country's evolving needs.
Our food and places of worship reflect our racial and religious diversity
For most of history, Singapore has always been home to people of various races and religions, and this has formed a distinct part of our national identity.
What better way to represent this diversity of values and beliefs than our different places of worship?
Reconstructed from 1924 to 1928, Kampong Glam's Sultan Mosque is a popular place of worship for the Muslim community in Singapore.
Sultan Mosque
Named after Sultan Hussain Shah, the 18th ruler of Johor-Riau, the new mosque was formally opened in 1929, with building works fully completed in 1932.
In 1975, it was gazetted as a national monument, and has since been frequented by not just Singaporean Muslims, but overseas Muslims and tourists from all around the world.
Fairfield Methodist Church
Yet another historic place of worship in Singapore, The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown is a Buddhist temple and museum that was originally built to house the tooth relic of Buddha.
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
Modelled after a Northern Chinese architectural style from the Tang dynasty, the temple went through a total of nine proposals before its final design was decided.
Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple
Just as temples, churches and mosques showcase our country's racial and religious history, so does our food.
And in Singapore, you can find a delicious variety of Chinese, Malay, Indian dishes and more, anywhere you go.
Lorong 12 Geylang
Lorong 12 Geylang
Albert Centre
Albert Centre
As an avid foodie, I particularly enjoy being able to get my favourite Nasi Lemak or chicken rice at very affordable prices.
Albert Centre
Food Republic
And who can forget the super tasty durians during durian season?
People's Park Complex
Our transport system is efficient and affordable
That's not all.
As a country, we have one of the most efficient transport systems in the world, with affordably-priced bus and MRT fares that make getting around a breeze.
Bishan Bus Interchange
SMRT Bus 61
MRT Train on North-South Line
Some of our MRT stations are also insanely photogenic, such as the one at Redhill, or even Bukit Batok.
Redhill MRT Station
Bukit Batok MRT Station
Aircon, bubble tea and shopping malls are great weekend activities
Like most other Singaporeans, I can't live without air-conditioning, and would gladly choose to hang out at a mall than stay at home and bake in the heat.
Some of my favourite shopping haunts include Raffles City Shopping Centre, Tangs Plaza and ION Orchard, although honorable mention goes to JEM for being located near where I live.
Raffles City Shopping Centre
TANGS Plaza
ION Orchard, especially, is a true gem when she lights up at night.
ION Orchard
Because getting bubble tea is one of my favourite weekend activities, I also love how convenient it is to get bubble tea anywhere in the country.
Sharetea at Bugis Junction
The fact that new bubble tea joints pop up nearly every month adds to the excitement.
Chi Cha San Chen at JEM
Our airport is world-famous
To top it all off, I am immensely proud of our world-famous Changi airport, which I'm sure has impressed both local and international crowds alike.
Changi Airport Terminal 2
Changi Airport Terminal 2
Linkway to Jewel Changi Airport
The rain vortex in Jewel Changi, especially, is a wondrous sight to behold on a weekday morning, when crowds are thin and I have all the time to appreciate its majestic beauty.
Rain Vortex at Jewel Changi Airport
Redefine your photography with vivo X50 Pro 5G
If you're thinking of visiting and photographing some of these unique spots yourself, consider using the world’s first gimbal camera smartphone, vivo X50 Pro 5G to do so.
With cutting-edge stabilisation, night mode and super large aperture, the X50 Pro 5G's advanced camera technologies will redefine your shots of Singapore in a wide range of scenarios.
For example, the X50 Pro 5G's main camera is equipped with a Gimbal Camera System to help take clear photos and videos while in motion, even at night.
Compared to other stabilisation methods, this system widens the rotation angle and anti-shake area, resulting in super clear images.
Apart from this, the X50 Pro 5G has a versatile camera setup with one 32 megapixel front camera and four cameras on the rear (48 megapixel main, 8 megapixel super wide-angle, 13 megapixel professional portrait, and 8 megapixel 5x telescopic).
The phone's 5x telescopic lens also supports 60x Hyper Zoom, leading to photos of breathtaking detail.
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Prices for the X50 is from S$799 (without contract) while the X50 Pro 5G is from S$1,099 (without contract).
This sponsored article by vivo has made this writer love Singapore even more.
All images shot using vivo X50 Pro 5G.