A tourist from Hong Kong who visited Singapore encountered an unexpected obstacle when he discovered that the iconic Merlion statue was undergoing repairs.
Undeterred, the determined traveler, Xie Chengxuan, sought assistance from the "HKB 笑笑無煩惱" Facebook group on November 5.
Photo via Facebook (謝承軒)
Accompanied by a snapshot of himself, mouth agape in classic tourist fashion, with the Merlion Park in the background, Xie explained the situation. He revealed that the Merlion was in the midst of repairs and appealed to the online community for help.
His request? A bit of Photoshop magic to insert the beloved Merlion into his photograph.
The online community responded with enthusiasm, creating humorous and creative results to fulfill Xie's wish.
Xie's initial disappointment stemmed from the fact that the Merlion is undergoing a comprehensive 12-week maintenance period, spanning from September 25 to December 13, 2023. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) had announced this temporary closure in a September advisory.
Although the STB did not disclose the specific reasons for the maintenance, they made it clear that the Merlion statue would be off-limits for photo opportunities during this period. To compensate, visitors are encouraged to capture memories with the nearby Merlion cub statue at the Merlion Park.
STB extended their gratitude to the public for their understanding, acknowledging that the ongoing works and associated barricades might cause inconveniences during this necessary maintenance period.
