Singapore

Singapore is an island nation to the south of Malaysia and to the north of Indonesia. The economy of Singapore is quite vibrant and as free as that of the United States. As one of the busiest ports in the world, Singapore's economy is heavily dependent on shipping, although it has also successfully worked on building up its reputation as a center for tourism, entertainment, and shopping.

While ya'll out in the good ole' USA were chillin' out with the high amount of snowfall during the Lunar New Year, I was sweating through my shirts in 90F under a burning sun in Singapore! Ah yes, Singapore - home of Captain Sao Feng of the Brethren court of pirates. But much has changed since those days. In the cities, you will be hard pressed to find any of the indigenous pests that called Singapore home. The monitor lizards, monkeys, and scorpions have retreated out to the nature preserves or to the nearby islands such as Pulau Ubin.

What can I say about Singapore? It's my new favorite city in Asia, possibly in the world! The infrastructure is tremendous, more advanced than almost any city I've seen. The buildings are magnificent, the shopping tremendous and rivals anything I've seen in Hong Kong and beats anything I've seen in the United States. The subway systems are efficient and will soon network almost the entire island. Entertainment options are great on Sentosa Island, around Clark Quay and Marina Bay, and the shopping almost unrivaled along Orchard Road. The weather, while I was there, was a nice 90F with lightly cloudy skies and plentiful sun.

Singaporean general info.
1. Official Languages: English, Malay, Chinese, Tamil
2. Land area of 274 square miles (710 square km)
3. Population of about 5,000,000
4. Currency: Singapore Dollar (SGD). 1.3 SGD ~ 1.0 USD
5. Tap water is drinkable. Electricity is 220-240 AC at 50Hz (use converter, Americans!)


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Quick Add'l Facts*
1. Non-medical bubble gum is an illegal good in Singapore!
2. Jaywalkers are fined $500SGD - $1000SGD
3. The penalty for using illegal drugs in Singapore is either a heavy caning or death by hanging
* Courtesy "Your Essential Singapore Guide", perhaps singly the most useful resource I found while staying in Singapore. Available online or in any major tourist location in Singapore.

Macau Airport

The Macau International Airport (code "MFM)  is actually entirely constructed on reclaimed land and "pillars". The airport is labeled international, and can have flights to Asian cities for lower prices, sometimes, than the Hong Kong International Airport (code "HKG"). The airport is quick and convenient due to the relatively small size. Typically, one can arrive at the airport with carry-on luggage and be at the airport gate within thirty minutes.

A view of the main runway, built entirely on reclaimed land

Inside the terminal in the early morning hours (8:30am)

My first experience on "Tiger Airways"

Singapore

The role of Singapore as a major shipping port, one of the five busiest in the world. Observing the ships in the ocean from various vantage points - from the airplane, from the skypark of Marina Bay Sands, and from the Jewel Box cable cars - revealed a constant commercial armada that appeared to be active day and night, staggering to see. Everything from small cruise ships to massive oil rigs, tug boats to heavily-laden barges appear across the horizon nearby the harbor. The immediate thought of my mind came from the "Return of the Jedi", when we observe the size and extent of the rebel fleet before the assault on the Death Star... that is the closest I can come to the size and extent of the shipping I was observing.

My first view of Singapore - from the sky!

View of Singapore Changi Airport from the runway. 

This is the main and only international airport on the island of Singapore.

Ramp leading down to the subway from the main terminal.

Inside the subway station. Note that the tracks and pedestrians are 

separated by acrylic or glass sheeting!

A stage in Chinatown. They start young, don't they? 

There still must be some Tiger Mom's out there then!

On the deserted streets between Chinatown and the financial sector. One item that I had failed to foresee was the mass exodus of Chinese and other Asian citizenry from their usual job posts to celebrate the Lunar New Year in their hometown.

Chinese expo exhibiting the traditional artisan work from Mainland China.

Paintings completed on Ostrich and chicken eggs

Hand carvings from the roots of trees. All the roots are found naturally.

Hmmm... somehow I just don't think Obama endorsed that!

My lodgings for the night. Finally found after wandering the streets for quite some time.

Inside the lobby. Air conditioning is always nice.

Nearly all the houses - now stores - seem well kept in terms of both grooming and painting!

The weather is quite temperate, and perfect for the 

more tropical vegetation typically found in the jungle.

Line of older row-houses

Interesting corner building

Marina Bay
Marina Bay consists of a bay that is surrounded by the city on one side, the expanding business district on another (see below), and the Marina Bay Sands complex and Flyer on the other. At night, this place is quite spectacular to behold. Surrounded by five star hotels and many upper-scale restaurants, not to mention the nearby Clark Quay, this is one of the "places to be" on a fine evening, especially after a long day shopping on Orchard Road. Marina Bay Sands and the surrounding complex is still under construction, with the Sands hotel towers just recently completed in 2010. Already, however, the business is becoming the bulwark of the Las Vegas Sands against dropping Las Vegas revenues. In a way, Singapore competes directly with Macau and Hong Kong as an entertainment hub and with Hong Kong as a port city.

Business district of downtown Singapore

The Marina Bay Sands - newly completed in 2010!

Along the walkway outside of the Sands. Beautiful and tropical!

Inside the shopping area! This place teems with tourists!

Like my friend, the Venetian in Macau, Marina Bay has waterways and boats too!

Of course, some of the water is just for display.

The highlight of the Marina Bay is perhaps the SkyPark! Complete with one snackbar, several restaurants and bars, a huge observation deck, tropical gardens, and oh yes, the highest and largest outdoor swimming pool on the roof of a building - the infinity pool!

Thinking about going for a swim? You'll have to be a guest of the hotel for that.

Perhaps that minimum of US $300 per night isn't so bad after all!

Singapore Flyer
This massive Ferris wheel, standing at a massive height of 541ft (165m) height, currently holds the title as the world's tallest Ferris wheel. At the base of the Flyer is a dining complex hosting many Chinese entrees, including my favorite types of dumplings and the famous big chicken bun. Also nearby is a Long John Silvers. One trip around the wheel will take about thirty minutes. Better hurry up! If the 682ft (208m) tall Beijing Great Wheel is finished outside of Beijing, it will claim the title of world's tallest Ferris wheel.

The Singapore Flyer - the world's largest Ferris wheel

View looking upwards through the middle of the shopping and dining area