"Singapore, My Hometown" a Singapore Travel Page by hassan_abu

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merlion park

Merlion Park

Inscription at the Merlion: "The Merlion has been erected as a symbol to welcome all visitors Singapore"

Weight - 40 tonnes
Height - 8 m tall

The Merlion Story:

Temasek, a centre for trade was destroyed in the 4th century A.D.
According to the legend in the
Malay Annals, the story of the
Merlion began when Prince Nila
Utama of the Sri Vijaya empire
re-discovered Temasek in the
11th century A.D.
On seeing a strange beast (which
he later learnt was a lion) upon
landing on the island, he named
it Singapura which is a Sanskrit
word for Lion (Singa) City (Pura).
The Merlion, with its fish-like
body riding the waves of the
sea, is symbolic of the ancient
city of Temasek. Its majestic
head recalls the legend of the
discovery of Singapore by Prince Nila Utama and the birth of the name “Singapura”.

Courtesy of Lennard:

THE MERLION who TURNED to STONE

Deep in the seas where the Merlion sleeps,
Merpeople dance and prance to the beat.
Mercreatures watch as the dance goes 'round
'Til suddenly the great beast awakens from his sleep...

"What creature does dare disturb my sleep?"
the Merlion roars a with ground a-shaking,
"Creatures beware who come a-lumbering
whilst I was sleeping, a-slumbering!"

The merpeople trembled, the mer creatures feared,
At the sight of the Merlion's great rage.
In wrath was destroyed the great seaweed forest,
Shook the oceans with roars supersonic.

"What should we do?" cried the merpeople aghast,
Then out of the blue a mergician came past.
"He shall be turned to stone, no fear!
But a price to be paid, be paid!"

Merpeople uncertain and merpeople cry,
"The price, the price, oh tell us the price!"
"Young merlings in ten to give up their lives"
"Ten lives, ten lives, the price is too high!"

But deep that night five boys, five girls,
sought the lair of the great, terrible mergician.
"Oh Merlin of the Deep, Oh take our lives!"

The mergician agreed and the merfolk were saved,
Of the merlings, of them there was no trace.
But legends tell that they grew two legs,
Went walking the drylands of the Huemhans,
That brought along with them was the stone
to guard against the day,
When the Merlion would rise once again.

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makan

Makan and Makanan

Everybody in S'pore knows the word Makan (that's eat in Malay).
And makanan means food.
So Singapore really is a Makanan Paradise (Food Paradise) , and Not Makan Paradise (Eat Paradise ??).

This pic taken at Cafe Vienna at Royal Plaza on Scotts during Hi-Tea.