The Singapore Sling, Sting and Bling
Well, Vialula and I are back to the northern hemisphere as of the evening of the 22nd of March. To be exact we are 1 degree or 85 miles north of the line as we come into Singapore. Take a look at the picture of the screen shot and you will see where we are and how far we have come. This log runs continuously and we enjoy seeing the information about the ships log run we go from place to place. 17,210 nautical miles as of then.
Now I am not a sophisticated man. Most everyone knows that and that is just fine with me. Now it is very apparent that Singapore has a lot to offer people but this place also has a certain feel that just doesn't sit quite right to me. I know I don't have the right to say that after just two days but it was just different to me than say, Auckland or Sydney. This isn't good or bad, right or wrong, just my take. So take what I say with a grain of salt....
The Sling:
Anyone ever had a singapore sling? Know what's in it? It has gin, cherry liqueur, cointreau, benedictine, grenadine, pineapple juice, lime juice and Augustura bitters. That is a lot of stuff and it makes it very sweet but when in Rome.......so I had a couple while I was there. This drink was developed by one Ngiam Tong Boon who worked behind the bar at the Raffles Hotel. It is called the Long Bar and it is still in operation today although the hotel is currently being renovated, the bar is still open every day.
The Sting:
Singapore, a city state. It is home to over 6 million people. It is big. In fact, Singapore is known more as a big corporation as much as a big city. It is 77% Chinese, 15% Malaysian and 9% Indian. Four religions live somewhat peacefully here. Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and Christians. Everything and I mean everything is controlled here. Everything is planned, executed and ran with efficiency and control. It is very clean here when you consider that 6 million people run around and make a living here. Don't get out of line cause big brother is watching you everywhere with the hidden cameras. Most everyone knows the reputation of Singapore and what happens to locals as well as visitors here should they cross the line. Fines and corporate punishment are the norm here. And this is for what I will call minor infractions which wouldn't even be looked at elsewhere. Here are some examples:
Don't chew gum and drop it on the ground: Fine $500.00
Don't forget to flush the toilet: Fine $150.00
No porn or nudity here: Fine $2000.00
Don't litter or spit: Fine $1000.00
And the list goes on and on
Vialula learned this right off the boat. We were at the pier in a line to go thru the immigration process and all she did was hold up her phone over her head to see if it would be a good picture. She did not take a photo but immediately an immigration officer pulled her out of the line, asked for her passport and wanted her camera. Only after satisfying him that no picture was taken did he allow her to continue on. There were hundreds of people in line and yet they saw this 10 second action. Can you say strict?
So while it is a big vibrant city, Vialula and LeRoy got the feeling that everything is too controlled. The people live their lives and live by the rules. No one goes against the grain and it feels like it is a world of automatrons. The people walk this narrow path and seem to accept their roles and everything goes along perfectly. And all of this has suited them well. Singapore was drowning in lawlessness and it's reputation was bleak but then everything changed. In 1954 Lee Kuan Yew came into power and changed everything. He is known as the Founding Father of Singapore and took Singapore from a third world nation to a first world nation in one generation.
Singapore has absolutely no natural resources other than it's people. Everything they need, use or want comes into them via the shipping industry. And the biggest industry by far, even bigger than tourism, is shipping. Everything in the eastern world comes and goes thru Singapore. It is very strategically situated in the Malay Strait. We witnessed this prowess and control of the shipping world first hand. Literally thousands of ships are either in port, anchored awaiting port, passing us coming in or out as we sailed in. And these are the mega container ships and the mega tankers that can only come into certain places. It is also considered the smartest and most innovative city in the world. It is ranked as the world's third largest financial center, the third largest foreign exchange center, the third largest oil refinery and trading center and the list goes on and on. It is an amazing to see. I would have never believed the enormity of it all. And again, this is a city state.
The Bling:
Now don't take everything I have said so far and think that we did not like Singapore. What's not to like? Singapore has got bling by the billions and loves to show it off. Our tour was a 9 hour tour that showed us all the best that this city has to give. From the store-houses of yesteryear turned into boutique shops and trendy restaurants to the magnificent 57th floor observation deck at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. It rivals anything in Vegas! From here you get a panoramic vista of the entire city. This is also home to the worlds largest roof-top infinity pool! We had some friends who stayed there overnight, and they said it was unnerving to be in an infinity pool 58 stories high!
The nearby Gardens by the Bay are home to some of the most beautiful and unusual flowers we've ever seen and the world's tallest indoor waterfall! There are nightly light, laser and music shows set in the 18 super trees - the shows are incredible and fantastic.
All the architecture is unbelievable. The buildings stand tall and have all kinds of shapes. Each one seems to try to outdo the next. And what they have on their drawing board is truly revolutionary. They have reclaimed so much land that the city has expanded by 23% . They have no plans to stop and every 5 years they look at their plan, see where it is and adjust.
Vialula and I spent a lot of time and had a great lunch in Chinatown, and this is a real Chinatown. It's like walking thru the Oriental Trading Co. catalog. Everything here is authentic, seeing how 77% of the population is Chinese. We witnessed vendor after vendor of Buddhas, t-shirts, sarongs, silk parasols and scarves, t-shirts and tea sets, Chinese fans and chopsticks, and every kind of toy. There is a Chinese food court of exotic fruits, rickshaw noodles, chicken on a stick ... and those were the things we could identify! We sampled the rickshaw noodles. They were delicious!
Everywhere we went the favorite past-time and practice is located on a 3 by 5 screen. Heads are down, thumbs are flying and selfies rule the day. We observed this as we rode the very modern subway system, walked around the various conservatories, shopped in the trendy areas and just about everywhere. It seems to be a much larger past-time than even there in the states. People don't own cars too much here. One reason is the push towards mass transit and the other reason is that they make it very expensive to own one. You must have a "license" to own a car. Not to drive one but just to own a car. The license can cost over $100,000. Then you have to buy the car and again, it can be over $100,000. The license is only good for 10 years. Then you have to start the process all over again.
So after two days, we leave Singapore and travel on toward Sri Lanka. We leave there feeling very impressed by the splendor and elegance of it all but also a little reserved about the controlling and lack of individual freedom involved in such a modern, cultural center. I hope y'all can one day come and see the sights, sounds and smell of Singapore and make your own decisions. Cause like I said, LeRoy isn't a sophisticated man.
LeRoy and Vialula
Now I am not a sophisticated man. Most everyone knows that and that is just fine with me. Now it is very apparent that Singapore has a lot to offer people but this place also has a certain feel that just doesn't sit quite right to me. I know I don't have the right to say that after just two days but it was just different to me than say, Auckland or Sydney. This isn't good or bad, right or wrong, just my take. So take what I say with a grain of salt....
The Sling:
Anyone ever had a singapore sling? Know what's in it? It has gin, cherry liqueur, cointreau, benedictine, grenadine, pineapple juice, lime juice and Augustura bitters. That is a lot of stuff and it makes it very sweet but when in Rome.......so I had a couple while I was there. This drink was developed by one Ngiam Tong Boon who worked behind the bar at the Raffles Hotel. It is called the Long Bar and it is still in operation today although the hotel is currently being renovated, the bar is still open every day.
 |
| LeRoy with Singapore Sling, Vi with Virgin Sling! |
The Sting:
Singapore, a city state. It is home to over 6 million people. It is big. In fact, Singapore is known more as a big corporation as much as a big city. It is 77% Chinese, 15% Malaysian and 9% Indian. Four religions live somewhat peacefully here. Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and Christians. Everything and I mean everything is controlled here. Everything is planned, executed and ran with efficiency and control. It is very clean here when you consider that 6 million people run around and make a living here. Don't get out of line cause big brother is watching you everywhere with the hidden cameras. Most everyone knows the reputation of Singapore and what happens to locals as well as visitors here should they cross the line. Fines and corporate punishment are the norm here. And this is for what I will call minor infractions which wouldn't even be looked at elsewhere. Here are some examples:
Don't chew gum and drop it on the ground: Fine $500.00
Don't forget to flush the toilet: Fine $150.00
No porn or nudity here: Fine $2000.00
Don't litter or spit: Fine $1000.00
And the list goes on and on
Vialula learned this right off the boat. We were at the pier in a line to go thru the immigration process and all she did was hold up her phone over her head to see if it would be a good picture. She did not take a photo but immediately an immigration officer pulled her out of the line, asked for her passport and wanted her camera. Only after satisfying him that no picture was taken did he allow her to continue on. There were hundreds of people in line and yet they saw this 10 second action. Can you say strict?
 |
| View from atop Marina Bay Sands Observatory - 57 floors high! |
So while it is a big vibrant city, Vialula and LeRoy got the feeling that everything is too controlled. The people live their lives and live by the rules. No one goes against the grain and it feels like it is a world of automatrons. The people walk this narrow path and seem to accept their roles and everything goes along perfectly. And all of this has suited them well. Singapore was drowning in lawlessness and it's reputation was bleak but then everything changed. In 1954 Lee Kuan Yew came into power and changed everything. He is known as the Founding Father of Singapore and took Singapore from a third world nation to a first world nation in one generation.
 |
| Model of Singapore plan at the City Center |
 |
| Singapore Flyer |
Singapore has absolutely no natural resources other than it's people. Everything they need, use or want comes into them via the shipping industry. And the biggest industry by far, even bigger than tourism, is shipping. Everything in the eastern world comes and goes thru Singapore. It is very strategically situated in the Malay Strait. We witnessed this prowess and control of the shipping world first hand. Literally thousands of ships are either in port, anchored awaiting port, passing us coming in or out as we sailed in. And these are the mega container ships and the mega tankers that can only come into certain places. It is also considered the smartest and most innovative city in the world. It is ranked as the world's third largest financial center, the third largest foreign exchange center, the third largest oil refinery and trading center and the list goes on and on. It is an amazing to see. I would have never believed the enormity of it all. And again, this is a city state.
 |
| So many ships! |
The Bling:
Now don't take everything I have said so far and think that we did not like Singapore. What's not to like? Singapore has got bling by the billions and loves to show it off. Our tour was a 9 hour tour that showed us all the best that this city has to give. From the store-houses of yesteryear turned into boutique shops and trendy restaurants to the magnificent 57th floor observation deck at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. It rivals anything in Vegas! From here you get a panoramic vista of the entire city. This is also home to the worlds largest roof-top infinity pool! We had some friends who stayed there overnight, and they said it was unnerving to be in an infinity pool 58 stories high!
 |
| The luxury hotel, Marina Bay Sands |
 |
| View of Super Trees at the Gardens by the Bay |
The nearby Gardens by the Bay are home to some of the most beautiful and unusual flowers we've ever seen and the world's tallest indoor waterfall! There are nightly light, laser and music shows set in the 18 super trees - the shows are incredible and fantastic.
All the architecture is unbelievable. The buildings stand tall and have all kinds of shapes. Each one seems to try to outdo the next. And what they have on their drawing board is truly revolutionary. They have reclaimed so much land that the city has expanded by 23% . They have no plans to stop and every 5 years they look at their plan, see where it is and adjust.
 |
| The drawing board .... |
 |
| Goodbye to Singapore |
So after two days, we leave Singapore and travel on toward Sri Lanka. We leave there feeling very impressed by the splendor and elegance of it all but also a little reserved about the controlling and lack of individual freedom involved in such a modern, cultural center. I hope y'all can one day come and see the sights, sounds and smell of Singapore and make your own decisions. Cause like I said, LeRoy isn't a sophisticated man.
LeRoy and Vialula
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