The day is usually bright during the summer with colourful flowers in full bloom greeting passersby, but this place adorns an altogether different look during the magic hour, starting at midnight and ending close to dawn. This is when the day is done and the crowd is gone--and adventure is set in motion. Notably, the culture and lifestyle of people living in this part of the world is such that the little things in life have enduring relevance to them. Dining out is not a once-a-week phenomenon for most localities but rather an almost customary act. It is affordable too, wine is cheap and entry to most nightclubs free.

Therefore, what strikes one most past midnight at Republic Square is the coming together of carefree couples, who breathe life into the city square, and lull the atmosphere in some sort of a soothing song. One may also be amazed to see people dancing outside bars, not as an organised event or anything of the sort, but as an everyday act. The dance sessions take place in the open and they last for hours, while scores of couples await their turn. They are not bothered about recording their dance moves or clicking a picture in their lovers’ arms. They live in the moment and live it to the fullest.

It is also a relief for travellers from a country like India where the “mall culture” seems to have disrupted the entire cityscape. The areas surrounding the Republic Square are dotted by numerous shops and cafes but they are not confined in a given area and sealed off within walls. The open spaces, fountains and gardens create the atmosphere that a setting such as this requires. Above all, the magic hour at Republic Square is an experience worth having for travellers. There is not an itinerary that one is required to stick to, or a list of cafes and nightclubs to explore; instead, it is an overall experience, of which the traveller too becomes a part, that can only be relished and felt from the heart.