The capitalistic city, yet
country of Singapore is more then a cultural hub for Asia but it has been since
the early times one of the most important trade hub in Asia. It is centralized
between Indonesia and Malaysia, with extremely cheap flights to most
capitals in Asia. Budget airlines such as
Airasia, jetstar and Tiger air do that job.
Like heavy populated cities, it does have a little India and a Chinatown.
Also as the
shopping Mecca of Asia, Large shopping malls surround all neighborhoods in central
Singapore.
Most stores have the same merchandise ranging from cameras to phones they set their prices as high as
possible waiting for a bargain or and idiot. But if you live in US disconsider
buying electronics, Amazon.com has better prices due to quantity.
The most know
and exciting road in Singapore
is defined by a large display of stores and holiday decorations. Now Christmas
lights the street with its red and green lights, santas and vitrines exactly
the same as NY.
Coming from Australia prices are definitely cheaper, even
more considering that the singapore
dollar is exchanged at 3/4s of the US dollar.
A Hostel will
run around SGD20 and a local meal around SGD5. But now Internet is free due to
the hostels competition. At least I don't have to spend most of my money.
During rainy
season disconsider sightseeing, since it rains most of the day.
The metro
station, here called MRT is spotless, if more scrubbed it would lose it color.
Which most of it is white anyway, almost like a hospital.
Little India could
bring you amazing experiences. Indians vary from light to dark, as it vary from
south to north India.
The food also can be the spicy southern of the mild but with many spices and
oily northern. On Sunday, coming back from a long walk to orchard road, I encountered
my first cultural shock; the streets were jam packed with Indians, mostly men,
some walking around with their arms around their male friends, homosexual or
not, it looked weird.
Long lines
behind cell phone card promotion booths, most playing Indian music. I guess if
you do not have a cell phone, you are not Indian enough.
Like most of
Asia the country has many temples, however in Singapore the signs will have to
direct you there since they are hidden by the skyscrapers.
Though a small
country it has many cultural attractions, museums of Buddhism in Asian history
and temples of the many backgrounds which inhabit the area. Arabs, Chinese and
Indian makes the majority of Singapore.
The zoo, much
advertised as the second best zoo in the world, does live after its fame. The
zoo is much different from most; it is divided into continents, most animals
being from Asia of course. The animals are
kept as if they were in their natural habitat, plants from the region the
animal lived, including huge trees, are brought for every animal.
I bought a
ticket to Phuket online to fly by AirAsia, one of the many budget air lines.
