"Singapore - city, country or theme park?" Singapore by mafi_moya

Singapore Travel Guide: 13,271 reviews and 25,225 photos

"(Expat) Singapore is a place where nearly everyone talks of leaving, but no one goes, as if in leaving he would have to account for all those empty, wasted years playing the slot machines at the Swimming Club, signing chits at the Staff House, toying with a coffee, and waiting for the mail to arrive."
Paul Theroux, The Great Railway Bazaar

Singapore is a city I'd always figured I'd hate and had absolutely no desire to ever go there. Without wanting to sound like a travel snob, I like places with a bit of 'rawness' rather than all nice and sanitised. Why travel abroad if it all seems just like home? Singapore - with it's fines for jaywalking, complete lack of chaos and disorder, and spotless shopping malls - seemed the last place on earth I'd want to go. It just seemed a bit boring. But fortunately my job necessitated a brief visit and I was so shocked at how good a time I had I've been back a few times since.

Eat, pray and shop - all in the same place

The city is all of what I expected and feared and yet it's also a lot more. People say it's like being back in the West but to me that's as misleading as saying that it's like being in Africa. It takes the idea of modernity, cleanliness and order to a level unseen in any Western city (that I know of) and at times resembles something as unreal as Disneyland. I've had some bizarre travel experiences, some unbelievable and memorable moments that I find hard to describe, but for an overall sense of the surreal Singapore ranks up there with any other. Instead of a sense of returning 'home,' after two years of living abroad in the 'developing' world Singapore gave me culture shock on a scale I hadn't experienced in a long time.

Far from being a Western clone, Singapore has a unique identity of its own. It's multicultural with fascinating Chinatown and Little India, it has a very definite sleazy side, and a great nightlife. It's got a real character to it that I just hadn't expected... and besides (ok I admit it) sometimes it's good to be in a 'nice' place for a change where everything works!