There is a striking similarity between the house of mouse and Singapore. Here are 6 things that were so similar, I had to point them out...
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1. It is super safe
Seriously. The Singaporean government has put such a fear of punishment in residents that it is incredibly safe. (Remember the American Teenager who was excessively sentenced to 4 months in jail and 4 strokes of the cane for theft and vandalism in 1994?) You see women napping on the side of the street with their purses next to them and no one touches them. You never see police, because they are not needed. Even the riff raff teenagers are courteous and respectful. Some kids skateboarding came up behind me and instead of swerving around me, they picked up their boards, walked around me and hopped back on. In the bar, girls left their purses on the banquette tables to dance without second thought. These people will be screwed if they ever leave Singapore.
2. Everyone is super nice there and wants to talk to you
One of the reasons that Singapore is such an easy transition into Asia is because they speak English. There are 4 "official" languages recognized by the Singaporean government; Malay, Chinese, English and Tamil. Signage is incredibly tourist friendly and most people in Singapore are not only willing to offer direction, but are happy to do so. It was almost like I was in the midwest!
3. Everything is very manufactured
This town is ridiculous. Every plant, statue, body of water and building are precisely placed. Everything in this town feels manufactured and impeccably planned. It actually feels like the city planners are guiding you through the city and showing off how eclectic, creative and diverse architecture, landscaping and city planning can be. It all feels very intentional and a little pompous. Really? They built a giant hotel with a Venetian canal running through it (gondolas and all) and a boat-like structure sitting on top of the hotel. It wasn't enough for Singapore to have 1 botanical garden, they needed 2. Gigantic weird statues? How about a floating dead baby or a theme park dedicated by the guy that invented Tiger Balm? Okay, your move, Walt.
4. The food is amazing (but more expensive than you are expecting)
One of the worst parts of Disney World or any other theme park for that matter is the price of the food. A family of four can't walk away from a meal for under $50. Well in Singapore, that would be a steal. If you go to a restaurant in Singapore, the pricing is similar to that of Australia, $15-25 for lunch! Singapore, unlike Disney World however has a reprieve, hawker stalls! The best food that I have had anywhere in the world (aside from Michelin starred meals in Positano, Italy) was in the hawker stalls in Singapore. The hawker stalls are where the good values are providing noodles, buns, carrot cake, dumplings and pork and rice dishes for as little as $2! Here's a hot tip: Run (don't walk) to Little India or any of the other hawker hot spots will fill your belly on the cheap.
5. The public transportation is amazing
Who needs a Disney train when you have a reliable metro and bus system as you do in Singapore? The trains are on time, absent of both graffiti and the familiar subway smell of urine (which I thought was a requirement based on ALL of my travels) and also has a glass barrier blocking the track to prohibit jumpers from ruining the train conductor's day. Although the standing passenger handles were made for "5-footers" (and I banged my head on them frequently), the seats assigned for the disabled and elderly were always left vacant. Singaporeans would stand before they sat in those seats….crazy, right?
6. There are several different cultures all in one place
Singapore is the melting pot of the East. The majority of the population is made up of Chinese, Indian and Malaysian. They may not all get along, but each's presence is strong in this small city and host a bevy of restaurants, shops and religious structures in their respective neighborhoods. It provides the opportunity to experience so many new sights, sounds, smells and tastes its unmatched by any other place aside from Epcot.
Obviously, it's cheaper to just go to Epcot Center in Florida for most Americans, but if you're up for the trip… you can check out the Epcot of Asia, Singapore!
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