Our next port was the nation-state of Singapore: Such a contrast to India! By the time we arrived in Singapore, I hadn't hit my 'travel stride' again yet. All I remember of Singapore is shopping and clean streets and big buildings and efficiency everywhere. It was nice to have familiar conveniences again -- easy access to good/safe food, coffee shops (1st iced coffee of the trip!), air conditioning and the feeling of being clean all the time -- but quite indulgent to say the least. I liked Singapore...but it brought out the consumer in me, which is not my natural state. I felt kind of icky. The culture of Singapore is quite consumptive (as is America's) and it felt wrong to fall into those patterns so easily, not to mention disappointing. (This is my own personal hang-up, not a judgmental statement)
One of the biggest differences was how busy everyone seemed to be. With the economy being stronger than any place we had been thus far, everyone felt too busy or too focused to stop and interact with a stranger. In comparison to Ghana or Morocco or India, where unemployment is higher, people literally have more "time" to be friendly. Does this mean I think people are nicer in weaker countries? not really. But, I certainly noticed a stark difference in mindsets. It was a good lesson for me as I arrange my life into what makes me feel the best. Being in a place where people are too busy for much of anything is not a good feeling.
Singapore is interesting. It gets a bad rap for the canning of the American student in 1994, and that is what most people talked about as we arrived -- that and the other strict laws that govern their country... and everyone that visits. (It was HIGHLY impressed upon the students not to be a public drunk here!)
Great things I will remember and what I learned: chewing gum is illegal (everything is so amazingly clean!), fresh squeezed fruit drinks were everywhere and I considered it a slice of my mini heaven to have fresh lime juice daily, Singaporean women are stunningly beautiful, nothing was out of place -- and I do mean nothing; garbage cans were even clean! Singaporean law is quite strict. There is no tolerance on many things: gum, drugs, theft, litter. It's quite dogmatic, but it works -- and I grew to like it.
Pat kindly thanked me for all my efforts with her in India (broken arm) and took me out to dinner on a large ferris wheel! It was really quite beautiful seeing the city lit up at night. We had a 5 course dinner + wine as we soared twice through the air. This ferris wheel is a big part of the skyline of the city, so it felt quite apt to be spending my one night in Singapore riding it. Fortunately, we shared a whole capsule with two students and got to know them so well. Great kids!
Halloween in Singapore? weird, huh? especially in a country that doesn't really embrace the costume and candy orgy that we seem to really like. A friend on the ship came up with my costume, which I thought was quite clever... |
| A Jellyfish! Crew doctor and nurse. |
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