Singapore Impressions

Alright, so my previous post was about what we did in Singapore. Let me randomly share some thoughts and opinions based on our few days there.

• Many people have said that 3 days is plenty to see Singapore. I say those people haven’t researched enough, because I didn’t think 4 days was enough. I guess it has to do with where your interests lie.
  
  
• As mentioned, Singapore is a clean city with modern architecture which stands its ground against Hong Kong and Shanghai. As far as cleanliness, Geylang and Little India are a little different.
  
  
• Geylang whores are an ugly bunch. I think some might be cross-dressers too. But at least they’re diversified, with Indian, Chinese, and Malay.
  
  
• I feel very much that Singapore is a cross between Vancouver and Taipei. In Vancouver, I see wide streets that are clean, and generally not so populated; whereas Geylang and the MRT system remind me of Taipei.
  
  
• Not to come off sounding racist, but Chinese and Indian tourists are probably some of the worst I've seen. They’re generally not respectful of (my) common sense, and tend to piss me off a little sometimes. In Chek Jawa, a place where you shouldn’t be touching anything, a group of young Chinese tourists (from China, to distinguish against Taiwanese, but that’s not to say the Taiwanese are exempt) were digging for and picking up crabs, as well as smoking and leaving cigarette butts. As we left Chek Jawa, I did tell the staff on duty, and he looked kind of serious when I told him. So I hope they found those Chinese people and cut off their hands or something. I've encountered a lot of loud Indians in places meant to be kept quite. And a couple of guys with DSLRs were letting their flashes go off over and over trying to take pictures of a leopard, which is blinding to the night animals. I even told one of them to not use his flash, and he stopped; while his friend probably didn’t hear (or pretended not to) and continued. I don’t mean to be a cop, but I have no problems telling people not to do stupid things when it affects others.
  
  
• Where are the Indian women? In a few places, like parks, you’ll see a bunch of people congregate at night. And they’re almost all guys! I'm not trying to be disrespectful, it's just a culture I don't understand.
  
  
• I thought jaywalking wasn’t allowed in Singapore… but I saw it happening all the time. Not unlike Taiwan really.
  
  
• I like the public transit system. It’s complex but comprehensive and very clearly marked. I don’t like how the EZ Link card works however, i.e. you can’t take an MRT if you have less than S$3 credit. In Taiwan, you can use the Taipei EasyCard until you have a negative credit – after which you will be required to top up funds. Way better.
  
  
• After all this, I still have a difficult time knowing what “Singaporean culture” is. It seems like it’s an integration of Chinese, Indian, Malaysian, and Peranakan cultures, but not a fusion. For example, the Chinese culture is still Chinese, the Indian culture is still distinctly Indian…
  
  
• English is the primary language, but it seems like 60% - 70% of the population don’t speak it or don’t speak it well. Maybe that’s changing with the younger generation.
  
  
• Cars are generally kept very clean, and the car wash near my hotel was always busy.
  
  
• There are lots of malls. And amazingly, there are more shops and restaurants than in Taiwan, in my opinion.
  
  
• Tourist traps Underwater World and the Night Safari are expensive, but still probably worth going to. I hear the Jurong Bird Park is good too.
  
  
• When ordering food, you sometimes need to be very clear in specifying quantity. For example, if you’re two people, and you order “mutton masala”, they may decide that you mean two servings because one obviously isn’t enough to serve two people.