PHOTOS TO FOLLOW
Arrived in Singapore. Australians do t require a visa for Singapore. And there are no inconvenient arrival and departure taxes to pay. That may be buried in the price of the ticket. Indonesia was constantly asking for departure taxes whether you were flying international or domestic. It’s an inconvenience to ensure you have enough money available. It was never clear as too how much the tax was until you got to the counter.
What a contrast to Jakarta. You’re immediately struck by the cleanliness and order. Cars and busses rule the roads with a few bikes and they obey the road markings. Traffic stops at zebra crossings, stationary people on escalators stand to one side, signage is logical and everywhere. There’s no challenge to crossing the road anymore. Another striking difference to Jakarta is the lack of (or perhaps the invisibility of) security. I don’t see any police or security personal here in Singapore. Everywhere you turned in Jakarta, someone seemed to be watching you (not that I’m paranoid).
I get a shuttle bus to my hotel. When organising accommodation I use an application on my phone called Agoda. It’s great because it provides a wide range of accommodation options for what ever time and place you dial in. I can then book and pay using secure paypal. Checking out of the hotel is easy because it’s all prepaid. While Agoda also provides a map to display location, you can’t really know what the area is like. I typically go for the cheapest hotels, as long as they have wifi in the rooms and include breakfast, then hope for the best. I’m booked into Hotel 101.
I get to my Hotel mid afternoon so there is time to do something. I catch the subway into the Harbour, which is the heart of Singapore. It’s all beautiful and clean and the massive docking infrastructure on the waters edge suggest this is a very busy port. Big ships everywhere are another clue. Mix this with a cityscape that is bizarrely futuristic and you have a very unique place. The water in the harbour is clear and clean. Exclusive shopping, marbled walkways and fine dining dominate this part of town. The water front is well utilised. Central to all this is the architectural magnificence of the Marina Bay Sands. It’s a hotel and has become an iconic feature on Singapore’s skyline. You would know it, three towers with a boat-shaped structure atop.
Hotel 101 is in an area called Geylang in Singapore and all looks normal during the day. At night, things change. It’s slap bang in the middle of a red-light district. Beautiful young girls ply the streets. So numerous are they that I had to weave my way through them to get to my hotel. They are very friendly and polite and I reply to their nicities. How funny. This is another side to perfect Singapore.
angusmccoll 