Quit dissing Singapore
Jun 1st, 2005, 06:40 PM
#22
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I would like to see more people aware of the Arts and Culture available in Singapore. There are small art galleries, small theatrical goups and the art world in Singapore is thriving. Music also thrives in many forms. The joke about Singapore being a Fine City is now somewhat old, pedestrians jay walk every day. Too many people smoke on the streets. The city is clean but not as spotless as before. The nightlife extends into the small hours long past the time that other city's venues have closed their doors. I would love to arrange an arts tour for people, perhaps when our studio is finished in September.
Jun 2nd, 2005, 06:55 AM
#23
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Lucy Ho...I totally understand what you're trying to get across...but let's face it...most people don't stay in Singapore long enough to be exposed to any real cultural things...and many are just in the mentality that Singapore is all about Orchard Road and shopping. With folks suggesting to stay in Singapore only 3 days and then move along, well, first timers to Singapore will think that there's nothing there worth staying more than three days for. I'm glad I ignored all of that talk back in the 90s when I first went and stayed 5 days and then went back many times and stayed up to a week and a half. If you start up art tours then please post. Happy Travels!
Jun 2nd, 2005, 07:16 AM
#24
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Most people that plan on doing Sing also plan on doing other cities as well like KL or BKK etc during their vacation. So a lot of the times it comes down to how many days to devote to Sing, KL, and BKK etc. Given that scenario- Sing will always be the lower number of days. Now if you plan on only visiting Sing then yes you can do it in 3 days or spennd a week. I have not seen anyone posting that they would spend more days in Sing and less days in BKK if both are on the trip plan.
Jun 2nd, 2005, 09:37 AM
#25
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It's understandable spending more days in Bangkok since Bnagkok is larger and takes more time to figure out than Singapore. Singapore is smaller,more compact, and incredibly easy to figure out if one is basically using...not hired drivers...but, various means of public transportation.But as far as a cultural experience goes, well that's a whole other discussion. There's also a lot of culturally interesting things to experience in Singapore.And the debate continues...I just love this forum! Happy Travels!
Jun 2nd, 2005, 06:00 PM
#27
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I appeciate your views and I would say that it is the way Singapore has progressed and been marketed. When a Chinese Dance Group visits Singapore everyone fights for the tickets, even when a group visits from other parts of Asia the same happens because we have lost so much of our multi-cultural identity. So many buildings that should be national treasures have made way to malls and office buildings. Singapore has lost so much in the get rich quick scheme of things. I have been lucky to visit Bangkok and other cities in the region and many of us certanly miss that 'buzz' of a crowded busy street sitting at a noodle stall. We seem to have the modern version but it lacks the character of the original. We rarely see paintings or even posters relating to the multi-cultural background, they are replaced by cell-phone promotions.
Jul 21st, 2005, 10:00 AM
#28
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I've visited Singapore more than half a dozen times, and stayed two to five weeks on each trip. I see Singapore from the perspective of a tourist (I don't live there) and as a local (but I have three uncles there and I stayed with one of them when I've visited). And these are my opinions:
Singapore is a highly regulated city-nation where one can possibly go to jail for spitting on the floor or chewing gum; and eating in public (as in while you are walking down a street) is strictly forbidden -- you are required to eat your McDonald's in the confines of McDonald's. And because of that, the city is super clean and hyper efficient. Everything is regulated in one or more ways. It reminds me very much of Switzerland, in terms of over-regulation and Tokyo, in terms of efficiency.
There is really not much Singapore has to offer in terms of history or culture because, as the first poster mentioned, it's a very young city. It came into a lot of money very quickly in the 80s and 90s, and like most nouveau riche, it doesn't have a sense of what to do with all that wealth. So Singaporeans, in general, will go out and buy the biggest, flashiest, most garish things they can afford and to show them off to everyone who cares to notice -- and they all do. There is a word Singaporeans use to describe themselves: "kia suu" which translates into "afraid of being overshadowed." In its defense, I see the same attitude in South Korean and Shanghainese -- again, due to recently minted wealth.
However, unlike Japan, South Korean or Hong Kong, Singapore is a multi-cultural nation with some of the most diverse and delicious cuisines in the world. The food is absolutely astonishing in terms of variety and almost everything is delicious beyond imagination. Singaporeans do everything and they do it well.
Singapore is a highly regulated city-nation where one can possibly go to jail for spitting on the floor or chewing gum; and eating in public (as in while you are walking down a street) is strictly forbidden -- you are required to eat your McDonald's in the confines of McDonald's. And because of that, the city is super clean and hyper efficient. Everything is regulated in one or more ways. It reminds me very much of Switzerland, in terms of over-regulation and Tokyo, in terms of efficiency.
There is really not much Singapore has to offer in terms of history or culture because, as the first poster mentioned, it's a very young city. It came into a lot of money very quickly in the 80s and 90s, and like most nouveau riche, it doesn't have a sense of what to do with all that wealth. So Singaporeans, in general, will go out and buy the biggest, flashiest, most garish things they can afford and to show them off to everyone who cares to notice -- and they all do. There is a word Singaporeans use to describe themselves: "kia suu" which translates into "afraid of being overshadowed." In its defense, I see the same attitude in South Korean and Shanghainese -- again, due to recently minted wealth.
However, unlike Japan, South Korean or Hong Kong, Singapore is a multi-cultural nation with some of the most diverse and delicious cuisines in the world. The food is absolutely astonishing in terms of variety and almost everything is delicious beyond imagination. Singaporeans do everything and they do it well.
Jul 21st, 2005, 03:41 PM
#29
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Let me correct some misconception.
1. it is not illegal to chew gum. the import and sale of chewing gum except for medicinal purposes is prohibited. just be careful how you dispose of the gum as it's considered littering.
2. for littering it's a fine not jail time. persistent offenders are given CWO - corrective work order which requires them to clean up public areas.
3. The McDonalds thing. Never heard of it. In fact nobody will bat an eye if you were to walk and eat around at the same time. Only restriction is most if not all fast food, cafe and restaurants is that food not purchased from them are not allowed to be consumed in their premises.
I do tend to disagree on Singapore not having any culture. Just need to look at the right places. If we to look at Orchard Road than you'll never gonna find it.
