Cultural blur

I found myself wandering the streets of Kampong Gelam in Singapore on a quiet Sunday afternoon, waiting for time to pass before the opening plenary of the communication conference that I am currently attending.

- Annie Perez

I’ve always been fascinated by how certain cities can feel like the world condensed into a few walkable blocks. For such a small country, Singapore showcases a rich hodgepodge of cultures. Apart from the familiar Indian, Malay, and Chinese influences, I was pleasantly surprised to see Turkish shops and restaurants lining Arab Street. It is something geographically distant from Southeast Asia, but still undeniably Asian. Indeed, there is now a cultural blur that transcends borders and continents, one that makes it harder to define identity by geography alone.