Singapore

Singapore was an entirely different experience from India. We only stopped here briefly but there was a fascinating mix of cultures from across Asia. We visited a Buddhist temple in Chinatown and wandered around the streets of Little India. The government in Singapore is very powerful and autocratic. The government has a tight control over the country especially in terms of social behavior. It is illegal to spit out gum. It is illegal to jay walk. It is illegal not to wear a seatbelt in a taxi. These and many other laws are strictly enforced. The streets in Singapore were spotless and the people and cars were quiet. Singapore has almost no natural resources; its only resource is its people. The level of education in Singapore is extremely high and there is a lot of social pressure to succeed and to behave well. The multi-culturalism in Singapore creates a huge diversity not only of people but also of food. The food was my favorite part of the country. Even the hawker centers where street vendors are organized into tidy rows are clean, hygienic and delicious.