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The first things seen on approach to Singapore are the hundreds of ships lying just offshore. Changi airport was as efficient as ever. Still free phone calls to anywhere within Singapore, but now there is also free wifi (and not just in Starbucks). Travelling around the city, it is noticeable that all signs (and announcements on trains) are in English, but I estimate that only about 50% of the travellers understand the announcements. (One message announced that the next train would not be taking on passengers, but half the folk stepped forward hoping to get on.)
In the middle of the shopping district (much expanded since my last visit in the early 90s) is St Andrew's church, so named in tribute to the Scots who were influential in Singapore's early days. A very traditional British church design, but painted brilliant white!
Just before I left UK the FCO website was warning that, as a precaution against spread of swine flu, all passengers arriving in Singapore would have their temperature taken (remotely). This had indeed been the case and some poor souls were banged up in quarantine for 10 days or so. However now the authorities had accepted the battle was lost, swine flu was endemic and there was no point in trying to prevent it getting in.
The area around the river mouth (where the original trading port was established) used to be full of Chinese shop-houses, but is now an attractive tourist area. One outdoor street market now has a roof over the street (shades of the Victoria precinct in Leeds) and at regular intervals along the middle of the street there are large (2m diameter) tubes coming down through the roof, turning through 90deg at head height. This is to provide a cooling breeze. Also in this area is a big new cultural centre (see photo above of the concert hall). A massive new hotel is under construction on the waterfront, consisting of three linked skyscrapers in the form of traditional Chinese prayer sticks.
The well known ERP system (Electronic Road Pricing - about 25 years older than London's scheme) s still operating, but the price has not kept pace with inflation, so is fairly nominal now. There is still a stiff fee to pay for the permit required for permission to buy a car, but it is possible to get a cheaper one for cars that are only used after 8pm and weekends (these have red number plates). A big contrast with the 60s and 70s is that the government is now very sensitive to public opinion - hence the reluctance to increase the ERP charges.
Frank
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