July 5, 2010
2010 Asian odyssey: Shanghai World Expo, Kuala Lumpur, and more! (Part 11)
By Simon J. Lau
Surprisingly, my ride from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore was the most comfortable journey I’ve had yet! I was expecting something similar to my train ride from Beijing to Shanghai, but it turned out to be the complete opposite. The bus had ample legroom and seats comparable to first-class domestic flights, so comfortable that I slept for most of the trip.
Since arriving in Singapore, I’ve been gradually adjusting to the city. For those unfamiliar with it, Singapore is arguably the cleanest city in the world. The government has done an outstanding job maintaining cleanliness, and the residents here take genuine pride in keeping everything organized and tidy. However, there’s also a sense of surveillance and inefficiency that’s hard to ignore. I’ll delve deeper into this with pictures to illustrate, but overall, my time here so far has been enjoyable and definitely worth a visit.
I initially took this picture to highlight how clean and well-maintained Singapore is, and it also serves as a good segue to the next topic. This was the entrance to a public restroom near Marina Bay, and it was undoubtedly the nicest public restroom I’ve ever used. Upon entering, it felt like stepping into a luxury hotel – with tiled floors, marble countertops, and automated sinks and toilets. True to Singaporean standards, it was impeccably clean. After traveling through China and experiencing less-than-ideal restroom conditions, this restroom reminded me of the importance of clean facilities.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, I unfortunately found myself caught up in Singapore’s mock Independence Day celebration, which was in preparation for the actual parade. Singapore, being a small independent city-state, boasts a relatively advanced military force for its size. The government takes great pride in this and often parades its troops around town at any given opportunity.
In this case, I was stuck on one side of a four-lane road for 25 minutes, waiting for tanks and other military vehicles to pass by. Initially, there wasn’t a single vehicle within a mile of the intersection when I reached the crosswalk, and it took over 10 minutes for the first car to pass. However, the traffic officers refused to let anyone cross. While this may not be a significant example, it’s one of several instances of inefficiency or bureaucracy that I felt could be improved upon.
I loved this sign! Apparently, it’s illegal to bring durian onto subways here. Now, this begs the question: Is durian illegal because of its spiny shell or its strong odor? I imagine it could be either, but something tells me the odor plays a larger role…
This is the Lau Pa Sat hawker market in Singapore’s business district. Hawker markets are traditional food markets in Singapore and have been around since the 1800s. This particular market has over 100 vendors and offers dozens of different foods from Chinese and Malay to Indian cuisines. Since arriving here, I’ve made a daily trip to this market to indulge in local cooking.
To give you an idea of just how integral hawker markets are to Singaporean culture, a local told me that “eating in a hawker center in the morning and waiting for the bus in humid weather will give you a good taste of local life.” He was obviously half-joking, but it’s clear you can’t fully experience Singaporean cuisine or daily life without visiting one of these food markets.
It’s been a while since I’ve perused a glamor or fashion magazine, but one particularly humid afternoon led me to seek refuge in the lounge with a local Singapore magazine called Juice. To my surprise, I stumbled upon an article about milkmaid braids. It’s a hairstyle I’ve never seen much of in the US, but it’s a charming look that caught my eye!
If I were to describe it, it’s like a modern take on retro pigtails. I know that might not sound like the most appealing description, but it looks fantastic in the picture, and I wish it would catch on more back home. On another note, Singapore boasts some of the most stunning women I’ve seen in all the cities I’ve visited. They have clear complexions, straight teeth, and overall, they are impeccably put together. It’s a fantastic city for people-watching!
This is an advertisement for Tiger Beer, Singapore’s first locally brewed beer. While it’s not my favorite, it’s widely available and affordable, and you can spot its advertisements all over the city.
I couldn’t help but take personal offense to this sign. It clearly indicates that no pets are allowed, but if you look at just the icon by itself, it appears as though they’re specifically outlawing French Bulldogs! (A breed that I hold dear.) 🌝
Finally, here’s a snapshot of the lobby at Checkers Inn, the initial hostel where I lodged in Singapore. The facilities were impressive, featuring a playful design with small action figures and toys dangling from the ceiling. However, the location left much to be desired. Situated in the heart of Little India, while I enjoy Indian cuisine, the nearby eateries were disappointing and lacked cleanliness. Consequently, I opted to relocate to another hostel in the Clark Quay area. I’ll share more pictures and provide a comprehensive review later, but for now, things are looking up.
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