Welcome to Singapore. If you’re looking for dirty, don’t come here. If you’re looking for old world charm, it’s hard to find. The Republic of Singapore’s is a 710 square-mile-area that’s situated between Malaysia and Indonesia. This is the heart of Southeast Asia and the area has become a major center for commerce, shipping, electronics and more.
It’s a shop until you drop capital; it would be hard to count all of the air-conditioned complexes where you can buy something from every designer who’s ever made a fashion statement.
It has excellent hospitals and medical facilities. People from this part of the world come to Singapore for serious medical problems. People from all over gravitate here for cosmetic surgery and anything you might like to have a wee bit refined. Medical tourism has become big business and many first-rate people in the medical field have set up shop here.
The subway system is pristine and you don’t need to surface and be confronted by what’s generally hot and humid weather.
But, will you be able to chew gum? Not on you life unless it’s for medicinal purposes and a doctor has authorized it. If you’re a smoker who’s arriving from another country, be forewarned: In January 1991, Singapore withdrew duty-free privileges on any and all tobacco products. People do smoke but certainly not in any closed environment. And you’d better be sure not to leave trash (including cigarette butts) for others to see.
But, don’t dispair if you’re a gambler and love glitz. That hasn’t been outlawed. The Marina Bay Sands Hotel opened this year and includes 2,560 rooms. You can choose from 18 different room types and 230 luxury suites. It’s worth a look since it’s the most expensive complex of this type to constructed until now and makes a definite splash on the landscape. It’s been a magnet for many Chinese who like to gamble. If they or others win (or lose), there’s no problem spending their bounty in any one of the omni-present designer stores and boutiques that are in shopping centers throughout the area. For British expats, there’s even a Marks & Spencer.
For old world charm, run don’t walk to Raffles. The hotel is an institution in itself (Singapore Sling anyone?) but there’s serious talk of closing it in order to do a massive renovation. One person commented it’s in need of a facelift.
I happen to like The Four Seasons. It’s elegant without being pretentious and has a wonderful collection of Asian art. Lunch there was an out and out feast. As is the case with many hotels in this part of the world, buffets are extremely popular. I just wonder how these young skinny women manage to eat as much as they do. And why don’t they get fat after eating their second dinner plate filled with so many sweets that it could cause some people to go into a diabetic coma? And people say French women don’t get fat!
I was hoping to buy an IPad. Forget it. They cost essentially the same as they do the U.S. and why be in the position of having to pay duty? There are electronics galore but you need to know precisely what you’re looking for and go for it.
Other highlights of Singapore: Universal Studios has opened a theme park and more. It’s jettisoned the area into more of a family destination. I didn’t have the time to visit but would be interested in hearing if you have and your impressions. Nor did I see the zoo this time. Did I miss a must-see?
Am I right in assuming that Singapore may be the cleanest high density area in the world with one of the world’s best infrastructures? Even when driving to the airport, there’s no sign of any slums. The taxis are clean and I didn’t have the feeling I was being taken for a ride. Someone told me it’s illegal to pick up a dollar off the sidewalk and pocket it. Instead, you’re duty-bound to take it to a police station’s lost & found or you could be fined. So much for finding a good-luck penny and keeping it.
My visit was short – but if I come back , what should I see and do?
Karen Fawcett is president of Bonjour Paris
Karen Fawcett loves to travel anywhere. Karen was a founder & president BonjourParis.com while living in Paris for more than 25 years. She has traveled across Europe and the rest of the world. She is now based in Washington, DC.
