Singapore



The new Sands Hotel with boat!




A Buddhist Temple




Famous Raffles Hotel



Singapore sparkles!

Singapore sparkles! Yes. Singapore really sparkles! The contrast between Chennai and Singapore is like black and white. Singapore is a small country of 723 square kilometers and is truly one of the loveliest cities I have ever seen. They are ruled by a benevolent dictator and his friends. About 85% of the people live in high rise public housing, purchased on a sliding scale. They have balconies with green plants, swimming pools, playgrounds, and soccer fields. Health care and education are provided. Compulsory savings of 20% of salary exists for every employee with an employer match of 13%. These savings can be used for housing, medical or old age and can be inherited. The people are secure. Teacher’s salaries are high. The Income tax rate is 9% up to $250,000 after which it is 20%. There is no estate tax or capital gains tax. Sounds nice, eh?


We saw absolutely no poverty or dirt in the streets! Selling chewing gum is illegal. Littering is illegal. Jaywalking is illegal. Smoking I public places is illegal. Food is reasonable, but alcohol and cigarettes are heavily taxed! Yellow Tail wine was about $25 a bottle, too much for my budget!

The population is 5 million, but 1.7 million are expatriates. Because a large percentage of the population is aging rapidly, the government has been offering a “baby bonus” to Singaporeans for up to four children. Unemployment appears to be negligible; in fact, they import workers from the Philippines and China. All taxi and bus drivers must be native citizens.

The government also discourages traffic by taxing cars heavily and making public transportation readily available and cheap. A Camry is $100,000. The few houses that we did see are $5 to $10 million small homes – more than San Francisco!

The people we spoke to were contented. Protesting is not allowed except in one designated place. There is a lack of creative freedom and a lack of space which is causing young people to leave. Two of them are on our ship. One a student who wants to work in microfinance in Africa and the other, a self-made millionaire retired at age 34! He made his money in finance in the US. They say they may return to live there in later years.

Singapore is also one of the safest cities in the world. Getting caught with drugs can mean 45 years in prison. Selling drugs- death! And don’t trash a hotel room or hit on a woman! You can be caned! Remember Michael Fey? The crime rate is extremely low.

The architecture is fabulous; however, most of the high rise buildings downtown were not there 10 to 15 years ago. The Sands Hotel even connected three towers with a thing that looks like a sleek boat. There is a casino there where foreigners can gamble for free, but Singaporeans must pay $100 to enter. The government wants the income, but don’t wish to encourage their citizens to gamble. Amazing!

We visited museums, churches, and Buddhist and Hindu Temples.  My favorites were the Asian Art Museum where we did not have enough time to explore even half of it and the gorgeous orchid garden in the Botanical Gardens.
Pretty darn nice. Plus it is soooo green and the weather is constantly the same – warm with rain and sun! The Botanical Garden benefits from the weather! The orchids abound there – it is stunning!





Looks like they had an earthquake!




Louise, Betty, me and Linda at the Garden