Singapore Reconsidered

I think I had an epiphany in the bathroom last night at Singapore's Night Safari. The urinals were ultra modern as you can see in the picture, the bathroom was spotless and there was even a simulated gentle rain falling on the roof as if we were in a rain forest. The Night Safari was great, by the way, but I think more importantly, everything worked. People were orderly, the trams and shows started and ended on time and the grounds were spotless.

Perhaps the zoo is a metaphor for Singapore. The buildings are gorgeous and immaculate, citizens are so regulated they are afraid to talk on the hand phone while driving in case of getting caught and paying a hefty fine and my friend would not even wait for me in his car in front of the hotel is case some 'busybody' he said, calls the police.

The cabs are all owned by the government and rented out to the drivers so they are in perfect shape. When I asked a cab driver if he was ever in danger, he said that would never happen in Singapore because any criminal act in his cabwould result in many years in jail. He was not the least fearful.

When I got off at the airport, there was a sign that said:" no taxis may pick up passengers at the departure entrance." Guess what, cabbies obeyed the signs and there was no loitering. In Bangkok, I am sure there are similar signs, but it does not stop me or dozens of other passengers going up to the departure lounge to hail a cab to avoid paying the surcharge for taking a cab from arrivals. The police wave the cabs away but no-one moves until they have a passenger.

In the Singapore airport, I got through baggage, immigration and departure in record time. Everything was orderly. Remember when I talked about only westerners lining up in rows in Asia. Sure enough, when I was leaving Hanoi last time, it was almost impossible, if not impossible, to manoeuvre my way into the line with my suitcase and golf bag. I just pushed in like every other Asian where I could. Wouldn't you know it an uppity British woman asked what I was trying to do and pointed to the back of what I guess was a line. She said you are "British" , you should know better.

Maybe Singapore is the meeting place where east meets west and that is what makes it so appealing. There were hundreds of hawker stalls selling food, as there is everywhere else in Asia, but there is a certificate of inspection on everyone and the food is served on clean dishes.

As I was waiting for my cab this morning, I looked through the tourist brochures and saw tons of museums, walks and attractions. You know what...I can't wait to go back.