I love this country, returned after 5 amazing days to Bangalore and this city-state has definitely taken me in. IMHO Singapore is a blueprint how a country should be run. Admittedly it is a special situation to run a sovereign state with just 4.5 mn inhabitants on an area of 45 km in length and 25 km in width. But you can equally screw it up what Singapore managed to do right, very right. Not just one time, but consistently re-inventing itself by looking from the outside in instead just to its own navel. Just one figure: This little tiny state is able to attract per year more foreign visitors than whole India! I guess Singapore is doing something awfully right.
Especially, as I somehow had expected a rigid police state which is omnipresent to subjugate or discipline its citizens - and nothing is further from the truth. People do “jaywalk”, they do cross the street when it’s red. And it’s a great place to hand out and party the whole night. But on the other hand, the country knows exactly what it wants, and especially what it doesn’t want: crime, drugs and illegal immigration. In respect of the latter, Germany for instance could learn a lot which people to let in and which rather keep away.
Here a few pics, the entire set is here.
SINGAPORE PARLIAMENT
BUGIS STREET JUICE STAND
WHITE TIGERS IN SINGAPORE ZOO
Feeds
I guess being Malaysian (having had the history of Singapura being part of my country) and also haveing frequent Singapura on every school holidays ever since I can remember … My view of Singapore is slightly different from yours. I do agree on a few things - the strict penal system which is key in keeping a safe and manageable society. On the other hand, the kiasu mentality isn’t necessarily my cup of tea (although may be music to other ears).
Singapore can also be claustrophobic for a longer stay than 5 days.
The true test of good citizenship also goes beyond the peripherique of the island. Reportedly, some Singaporeans do wind down their car windows and liter the Causeway between Johor Bahru and Sing as soon as they cross the border.
It is a melting pot. And as a citizen of the world, I have always been pro melting pots and for that, I do adore Singapore. And Kuala Lumpur too (as a matter of fact).
It is easy to implement rigid rules on small space. Germany may have its downsides but I can think of many different points where Germany diffenitely is better than Singapore (and it is not only about jaywalking - where they are equally strict in Germany - and people still cross on red lights or partying till late nights).
Hey, Asians do know how to party right?
Glad you had a good time.
Sorry for my slightly less perfect view of Sing but as a Malaysian, we do not wear our rose tinted glasses at all times.
:-))
“Singapore is a blueprint how a country should be run” - as a totalitarian regime? Uff.
Hi Rene,
wir waren in Singapur im Overnight-Stop nach und von Vietnam.
Empfehlenswert: Night-Zoo. Aber du kennst ihn ja jetzt bei Tag.
Ein Land, das rockt, ist Vietnam! Meine Güte, da ist Energie drin, die wollen was bewegen. Und tun es auch! 1990 der erste Tourist, 1995 (1996?) die ersten längfristigen Visa. Und jetzt: Tourismus-Action, Mobilfunkboom, Städteplanung!
Sieh Dir DAS an! Und falls Du outsourcing-Pläne hast: Danang (Industriestand am Strand, von Null auf 120)!
hi. I’m a Singqaporean. No comments.
Hey all, I’m Singaporean too. This island is abso-bloddy-lutely terrific. Did you know we were the first nation Red Alert 3 released in? XD Um, oh yeah, no one really cares. But I didn’t get my LE t-shirt! Why?! WHY?!!