I really didn’t know what to expect when I visited Singapore, a small island state of approximately 5 million people. I heard all about the westernized high-tech sheen and cleanliness of the city, the anti-litter laws – including the rather steep fines for spitting chewing gum on city streets - and about the torrential downpours during the wet season.

With the exception of torrential downpours - there was absolutely no rain during the brief 4 four days that I was there - everything that I heard about Singapore was true. My conclusion - Singapore is a FINE city!

True, there are many fines to discourage littering - and most of them are very prohibitive - but it works, and that’s the bottom line. I think that is absolutely FINE. A clerk in a local minimart explained to me how it works – the litter police operate undercover, so they blend in with the woodwork. If you’re apprehended by one of the plainclothes police while in the act of littering, you will be issued a ticket on the spot. Fines are strictly enforced.

Walking around the city, I felt very safe and despite the occasional rare trace of litter on the city streets, Singapore has to be the cleanest city I have ever been to. Furthermore, the public transpiration system is marvelous and very efficient; it is very easy to travel to almost any part of the city by a combination of bus and MRT - it is almost impossible to get lost. The MRT operates until 11:45PM and there is a train virtually every 3 minutes.

If every country adopted Singapore’s laws regarding littering, this world would be a lot cleaner and better place. Shortly after arriving at the airport, I had a conversation with a Singapore expat who has lived in Denver, Colorado for the last 20 years - he told me that having been raised in Singapore, the act of not littering is ingrained in his psyche.

It may sound that I am gushing about Singapore being a modern day Utopia; on the other hand I found Singapore to be a bit monotone and boring for my tastes! Excluding the beautiful botanical garden, there are only a few vestiges of greenery and nature on this intensely developed island. Then again, I am not fond of big cities – I like nature, lots of greenery and wild places.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Having just returned from a 43-day odyssey to Southeast Asia, I would start off the New Year by sharing with you some random observations (and thoughts) of a traveler

• Be Safe! When storing your monies in the hotel safe, make sure to have an accurate count of your traveler checks and currency before trusting it to the hotel. This is especially true, when all the front desk people have access to the safe. I believe that I was victimized twice in Thailand on my last trip – I was missing the equivalent of $150USD in currency in one instance and $200USD in traveler’s checks in another. Oh well, shit happens!
  
• My favorite city in THAILAND continues to be Nan. At least 4-5 new coffee shops have opened up in the last year – reflective of Nan’s increasing popularity as a tourist destination
• One of the most spectacular views that I have experienced during my travels is from the top of Penang Hill in Malaysia. At an elevation of 800 meters above sea level, the view of Penang Island is absolutely incredible!



• Singapore is FINE! A small island city of about 5 million people, not only is Singapore one of the cleanest cities in the world, but its mass transit system is heads and shoulders above anything I have seen. If all the nations in the world, adopted, Singapore’s laws (and fines) towards littering, this world would be a lot better place.
• Compared to Thailand and Malaysia, Singapore is somewhat on the expensive side!
• Most currency exchange bureaus in Singapore(and Malaysia) will not cash traveler’s checks – you will have to go to the bank. On the other hand, it is very easy to cash traveler’s checks in Thailand as the banks operate most of the many currency exchange bureaus.



• Who let the dogs out? Compared to Singapore and Malaysia, Thailand is overrun by dogs, especially in the rural countryside and in small villages. Most of the dogs are your typical Thai mutts - short, stocky with closely cropped tan or yellow fur. Popular pedigreed dogs include Shiatsus, Lhasa Apsos, Pomeranians, Toy poodles and Pugs!
• In THAILAND, where at least 93% population is Buddhist, you’ll hear Christmas music being played in most of the major department store complexes in Bangkok and in the major tourist centers up until New Years Day. They do this primarily to accommodate the tourists, most of whom are Christians.
• Walking into a Starbucks across from my hotel in Bangkok on Dec. 29, they were playing the traditional Christmas fluff until I aggressively suggested they change the music. LOL