Singapore

So day one is complete. It was pretty much a lot of walking and browsing the first part of the day as we hit Orchard Avenue and the shopping district. Singapore likes to bill this area as their version of Fifth Avenue in NYC. Never been there, but it was pretty much stores as far as the eye can see. And the malls are set up in a very intuitive fashion in that the floors seem to be themed with common stores together. Baby and maternity on one floor, electronics on another, etc. That was actually pretty interesting in view of how we do it at home. Also, the malls seem to cater to a discrete level of clientele. We visited one mall that was very low end, and very crowded. It must have had a couple of hundred stores spread out on 6 levels. A different mall had maybe half as many stores on the same footprint and was clearly higher end. There are deals to be found and the stores will barter prices (don't worry Jeannette, I didn't buy anything :)).

Singapore strikes me as very clean and very polite. They are also very strict. There seem to be fines for everything, and stiffer penalties for some offenses. For example, get caught chewing gum or bringing it into the country and pay $500. Spit on the sidewalk, pay $500. And my personal favorite, don't flush the toilet and pay $350. Not sure how that one is enforced - I kept looking for cameras in the bathrooms but found nothing. Maybe some polite civil servant scurries in there after you and takes a peek. And I thought my job was bad!!! I did not see too many police officers out and about, but there are a large number of surveillance cameras on all the streets I walked, so maybe that's how they enforce.

After I tired of the shopping scene (and that happened sooner than you think) we took a bus tour around the city and saw some of the interesting sights. Also took a river boat tour down the Singapore River and got to see where they are building new casinos and where the F1 race circuit grand stands go. They are building everywhere. Amazing.

Transportation here is very user friendly with taxis, buses and trains very plentiful. Thank goodness because walking works up a sweat in a hurry.

The hardest thing for me is always the time shift and it hasn't been any better this time. My eyes popped open this morning at 0230 (1030 my time) and couldn't sleep again for about an hour and a half. About the right time to catch up on an episode or two of Lost. We are getting ready to go back to Chengi and do some more sight seeing through Little India, Little China and some of the other sights. I would post pictures but have not figured out how to get my notebook on the wireless here and the work stations in the hotel are pretty basic machines. I did get some good shots and will post later.

Take care.