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Jul - Sep 2002: This is a continuation of my China trip, but includes travels to other countries in Asia.

Southeast Asia, month 1

Jennifer Radcliffe
2005-11-12 10:17:24

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Singapore, the Lion City

Singapore is a tiny island country on the tip of Peninsular Malaysia. I just flew here today from Guangzhou, China, and it's quite a treat after two months of traveling in China. It's refreshingly familiar - not unlike some of America's finest cities. With all the palm trees and ritzy shopping centers, it reminds me a lot of San Diego, but without the great Spanish architecture that makes San Diego so charming.

Singapore doesn't have the dynamic energy or dramatic skyline that Hong Kong has, and it doesn't have the charm that Shanghai has with its juxtaposition of grand old European style buildings and modern new skyscrapers. It has another kind of allure - it's comfortable and convenient and cushy. It would be a good place to live, a nice place to raise a family. The standard of living and quality of life is much higher than in the Chinese cities I visited, and it is much cleaner and quieter. And English is widely spoken, with a lilting accent dubbed "Singlish". Compared with other Asian cities, some say Singapore is sterile and boring.

The price Singapore civilians pay for a high standard of living is more rigorous laws. Some examples of things that are illegal and fineable here are littering, spitting on sidewalks, jaywalking, eating on the Metro, urinating in an elevator (some elevators come equipped with urine sensors, is it really such a problem here?), not flushing a public toilet (I wonder how they enforce that one!), and chewing gum (!). I think if they're going to go that far they might as well make it illegal to smoke (people always litter their butts, even in sanitized Singapore!) and peeing on public toilet seats.

Singapore is much more multicultural than Chinese cities. The population here is about 77% Chinese, 14% Malay, 7% Indian, and 2% other, compared to about 98% Chinese in Chinese ...