Singapore: I'm back.

I case anyone didn't notice... I was in Singapore last month. My internet connection was weak, and the amount of free time I had was pitiful, so I didn't get around to updating the site. My bad. Anyway, here's Singapore.

Singapore is very interesting country. I'm sleepy so I'm not going to try to say anything profound here... these are just a few of my observations.

As for Asia, I have only been to Japan, Korea (1 week), Singapore (1 month), and Malaysia (just an island resort for a day) so I am really only comparing Singapore with my experiences in Japan here...

One of the things I will remember most about Singapore is it's diversity. There are Chinese, Indian, Malaysian, and lots of 'other' foreigners there. In Japan I always feel like an outsider, no matter how long I have been in the country it seems. In Singapore however I never felt out of place (except for the time I went to the Indian bar/dance club, but that's another story). It is easy to blend in, and feel at home even. It also helps that most everyone seems to speak English.

There is even a street in Singapore in which there is a Indian Hindu temple, a Muslim Mosque, and a Buddhist temple all in the same area. They seem to get along peacefully too. It's beautiful!

I had a lot of interesting food in Singapore as well. ChiliCrab, Pepper Crab, Prawns everywhere... Chinese food, Indian food, Indonesian food... I even had 'black duck soup', which I hear is Chinese. The duck was... black... I hear they look like small chickens or something.

This pepper crab could eat your freakin' arm.

I also had the chance to try many fruits that I never knew existed. Jack Fruit, Ranbutan, and the deathly stinky Durian for example. Durian is so stinky, it is illegal to carry it inside of a taxi or airplane I have heard. Yet some how, people enjoy eating it... I guess it's something like sardines.

The city was very clean, and really seems to be more organized than Tokyo. Though I'm sure that it is easier to manage a country of that size, Singapore still gets props for organization. This next picture has nothing to do with the organization in Singapore, but it sure is colorful...

Singapore is also famous for their rules. Remember the thing about the American getting caned for vandalism? Singapore has huge fines in place for gum chewing (or is it just the sale of?), driving with a cell phone, and jay walking. Huge fines. Huge. A taxi driver was telling that if you are caught speeding twice, your license is history. If you are interested in the details, hit the web.

Anyway. I'm sleepy.

Posted by Harvey at September 17, 2002 08:33 AM