A Big Mall
I arrived in Singapore last night – at the budget terminal reserved for passengers on Tiger Airways, a budget airline in Asia. The branding of the budget terminal (seen on signages, sidewalks, taxis and the like) was "Enjoy the Difference!". Yeah, right. The budget terminal was brand spankin' new, typical for Singapore, but it was off to one side, unattached to the main airport. I couldn't help but feel like one of those lepers, waiting for my Jesus to come and equalize me.
I felt like I've returned to civilization. Watched a movie today. In an air conditioned environment with surround sound!
And fashion! I see girls in Zara low rises (I haven't noticed that low-rise now apparently means low enough to see your butt-crack), guys with Aldo bags, and men in proper fitted suits! Oh my.
And the streets are clean. Clean as a baby's butt. No one crosses the crosswalk before the green man blinks. The subway comes on time, and flat screen displays tells you when exactly they'll come. Double-glass automatic doors slide open to patient straphangers who wait for fellow passengers to get off the train before getting on. Skyscrapers, more than 20 stories!
And the food. I love Vietnamese food, but man... I am going to like this peninsula. Indo-Malay-Chinese mixing in a big ol' lovefest. I had prawn mee for breakfast ($3), sushi for brunch ($7), dim sum for lunch ($7) and well, it's time for a late dinner of biryani. I can go on but the keyboard won't appreciate me salivating.
I hadn't notice it before, but Vietnam has removed me from developed society in subtle ways. I am self conscious with Singaporeans in ways that I hadn't thought about, checking myself to make sure I don't look like a total goober from 3rd world land... which is where I was before.
Observation about cultural identity. I look at all the advertisements: the billboards and magazines and store displays; all happy smiling white faces staring at me... hawking watches and clothes and cologne. Seems like no matter how modern a city gets, it still gets its cultural cues from the West. Except for food. In matters of cuisine, the Singaporean, the Asians, the Africans, the Arabs keep food as their own. Food is sacred.
Oy, I'm salivating. Am wondering if you like Singapore and if so, because it's a big city, or cause it's Singapore?
Posted by: Yuppie Nomad | May 08, 2006 at 09:08 PM
Singapore is a big city. One that I can recognize. For that, I don't like it much. I like the feeling I get, eating in a food court, browsing at a mall – but those reactions are fleeting.. to me, the city is sterile.. it's one big capitalistic wet dream.
But the food ain't bad.
Posted by: j.fisher | May 09, 2006 at 06:33 AM