I'm having a ball over here in Singapore. Lots of pretty Asian women who are mostly thin. I think mostly because the food here is served in smaller portions. Here are some interesting things about Singapore-
http://quantumpossibilities.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album01&id=Singapore_coins
- English is spoken by everyone since this is a former British Colony (independence for Singapore was in 1965). It's sometimes called "Asia Lite" since it's a modern city and easy for Americans to adapt to. People drive on the left-hand side of the road.
- The time here is 12 hours ahead of the East Coast during the summer so it's 5pm here and 5am in New York.
- There are 4.2 million people who live here. 77% are Chinese, 14% are Malays, 8% are Eastern Indian and 1% are others. There are quite a few Muslim people since it is so close to Indonesia. It's odd to see Asian women wearing scarves over their heads.
- It is the 2nd densest population in the world next to Monaco. 9 out of 10 people live in public housing flats. It seems like they are everywhere.
- The world's largest fountain is in the Suntec Center. I was disappointed since there doesn't seem to be much water in it.
- The world's highest man-made waterfall is at Jurong Bird Park (www.birdpark.com.sg).
- People seem to be happier here. They are not afraid to laugh. I guess they aren't afraid of appearing to be goofy if they do.
- The toilets contain a stall with no toilet bowl. It allows you to squat over a hole.
- It's hard to buy Kleenex one box at a time. They come in 5-packs or more.
- This is a very safe place. Women walk around parks alone at night.
- A highway overpass is called a "flyover".
- About half of the billboards feature caucasians. I don't know why.
- If you want to take some fast food out it's not "to go", it's "take away". To eat it in it's not "for here", it's "eating in". A bag or sack to take things out is called a "carrier".
- McDonald's, Burger King, Long Dong Silver's, Outback and other American restaurants are here. McDonald's has "Beef Fantastic" and "Chicken Fantastic" which include a rice bun with chopped meat inside.
- No one wears sunglasses (except me). You would think everyone in a country that is just above 1 degree latitude would wear them but perhaps only people with blue eyes need them.
- The temperature ranges from 70 degrees to the 80's but they note their temperatures in Celsius. The humidity is quite high and can be in the 90% range most of the day.
- Singapore is an island of the coast of Malaysia and is growing constantly due to reclaiming land from the sea just like Holland is doing.
- Good Friday is a holiday most companies observe.
- Prostitution is legal. There is a place called Orchard Towers that is affectionately called "the four floors of whores" because there is a different Asian nationality of women on each of the four floors. I haven't been there yet but I'll try to take a picture. There is also an area called Geylang Street. The adjoining streets are called Lors and the odd Lors are on one side with the even Lors on the other side. Legal houses of prostitution take place in houses on each Lor.
- There are remote-controlled model airplanes here that can hover. People put LED lights on them so they look like UFO's at night.
- There are no $1 bills. There is a $1 coin that is about the size of a quarter. I've linked to my Singapore photo page to show you what they look like. The 5-cent pieces are smaller than a dime and cannot be used in vending machines. $2 bills and $1 coins are used a lot for change.
http://quantumpossibilities.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album01&id=Singapore_coins
