On our second night in Singapore, we dined in a restaurant next to a German man who had lived in Singapore for forty years. During our conversation, he said that being in Singapore was like Asia For Beginners. I know exactly what he meant.
Before leaving Oregon, I worried about coming to Singapore. It would be strange. It would be Asia. I imagined hearing words I wouldn't understand spoken quickly by short people. I was afraid I would stand out like Gulliver. I thought about poverty and worried I'd be overwhelmed by hungry children. I pictured rickshaws in the streets, junks on the river, and food made with Chicken beaks and shark fins.
It's true I'm not especially well travelled, outside of my own country. I always forget that my preconceptions and stereotypes will turn out to be different from the real deal, that my travels begin with ignorance and end with learning.
Singapore was a BIG surprise! It turned out to be easy to be a tourist there where so much was familiar and so much was different. Singapore is as comfortable as it is alluringly mysterious. The diversity of the city is one of its dominant features. Although comprised largely of Chinese, Singapore has four official languages: English, Malay, Tamil (Indian), and Mandarin Chinese. I found it easy to communicate with just about everyone.
The city has large neighborhoods where each culture is maintained and celebrated. Yesterday, the breaking of Ramadan was a national holiday for Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, and ALL. Even though I was clearly a westerner and different, I felt as if I fit right in, albeit a bit tall and overweight.
I’ve never felt safer anywhere. This city has virtually no crime or poverty. In the week of my visit, I saw no one begging or homeless. No one approached me or seemed needy. It was easy being a tourist, pulling out my wallet in public, walking with my purse on my shoulder.
Transportation was a breeze since the MRT went everywhere and was easily navigated. Taxi drivers spoke English, and the city was used to tourists. Something like fifteen million tourists visited Singapore in 2015. Even though I traveled mostly with local friends and had no problems with directions, it was clear that if I had had, I could have asked.
And the food? Something for everyone. I loved all the new flavors and didn't have to eat one single beak, fin, or other animal part I didn't want to.
It turned out I've been invited to China in 2019. I cannot wait!
Before leaving Oregon, I worried about coming to Singapore. It would be strange. It would be Asia. I imagined hearing words I wouldn't understand spoken quickly by short people. I was afraid I would stand out like Gulliver. I thought about poverty and worried I'd be overwhelmed by hungry children. I pictured rickshaws in the streets, junks on the river, and food made with Chicken beaks and shark fins.
It's true I'm not especially well travelled, outside of my own country. I always forget that my preconceptions and stereotypes will turn out to be different from the real deal, that my travels begin with ignorance and end with learning.
Singapore was a BIG surprise! It turned out to be easy to be a tourist there where so much was familiar and so much was different. Singapore is as comfortable as it is alluringly mysterious. The diversity of the city is one of its dominant features. Although comprised largely of Chinese, Singapore has four official languages: English, Malay, Tamil (Indian), and Mandarin Chinese. I found it easy to communicate with just about everyone.
The city has large neighborhoods where each culture is maintained and celebrated. Yesterday, the breaking of Ramadan was a national holiday for Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, and ALL. Even though I was clearly a westerner and different, I felt as if I fit right in, albeit a bit tall and overweight.
I’ve never felt safer anywhere. This city has virtually no crime or poverty. In the week of my visit, I saw no one begging or homeless. No one approached me or seemed needy. It was easy being a tourist, pulling out my wallet in public, walking with my purse on my shoulder.
Transportation was a breeze since the MRT went everywhere and was easily navigated. Taxi drivers spoke English, and the city was used to tourists. Something like fifteen million tourists visited Singapore in 2015. Even though I traveled mostly with local friends and had no problems with directions, it was clear that if I had had, I could have asked.
And the food? Something for everyone. I loved all the new flavors and didn't have to eat one single beak, fin, or other animal part I didn't want to.
It turned out I've been invited to China in 2019. I cannot wait!
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