So what's Singapore like

The biggest irony in this blog is that the blog is called Singapore Stories and yet I haven't dedicated any posts to Singapore yet.  That will change.  I'll try to incorporate a bit of the week to week and Singapore weekend recaps to create an understanding of what life is like in this fascinating country.

The Basics

Singapore is a city, island and country.  It located at the end of the Malay peninsula and is sandwiched between Malaysia and Indonesia.   This position in the Straits of Malaca has made Singapore a dynamic trading port for hundreds of years.  In fact Singapore is the world's second busiest port.  The economy was prudently diversified by the government to be more than just a port; it also is a hub for Manufacturing, Tourism, Education, and Finance.  Singapore is rated as one of the freest, most innovative, most competitive, and least corrupt economies in the world.; combined with other factors (English predominance, low taxes, skilled workforce, advanced infrastructure) this makes Singapore very attractive for investment and growth.  Singapore has the world's third highest GDP per capita.  The common people are less well off than the US, but the rich are very rich.

Singapore is a melting pot of cultures.  The most predominant ones are Chinese, Malaysian, Indian, and Western.  There are a number of other immigrants from other Asian countries who come to Singapore for economic opportunities.  The diversity of cultures makes the neighborhoods, foods, and social calendar very interesting.  Singapore is also very welcoming to expats as they provide a great source of skills and expertise (yeah Megan!).

 Asia-lite

To Westerners, Singapore can be considered Asia-lite or Asia for beginners.  Why is that?  Well the widespread use of English makes it easy to adapt.  The openness to expats and tourists makes the city welcoming.  The infrastructure is amazing, especially compared to the other large Asia megacities (e.g. Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta).  And Singapore has low corruption and crime.  Thus one can explore the Asian cultures in Singapore but still remain well within their comfort zone.* 

Climate

Singapore is hot and muggy.  Walking around is very sweaty, which is probably why the locals refrain from doing it at all costs (only a little bit joking).

Sports

Singapore loves soccer/football.  This is inherited from the British colonial days.  As a result I can watch my favorite premier league team Arsenal at most any bar.  Singapore did not do very well at the Olympics.  They were tied for 75th in Medal count with the Republic of Moldova and right behind powerhouses like Bulgaria and Puerto Rico.  Both medals came in table tennis.  Like I said they are not a very good sporting country.

Peculiarities

Singapore has some strange peculiarities.  I'll make some focused posts on this as I experience things.

Today's topic will be Singapore's love of Toast.

20+ Toasty options

There are a number of restaurants in Singapore that focus on Toast.  Seriously just Toast!  It doesn't just come as a side dish, it comes as the main freaking dish.  I found this hard to believe because 1) toast is incredibly easy to make (yes Singaporeans have toasters), 2) it is incredibly cheap and 3) bakery food in Singapore is just average.  They even have ice cream toast and ice cream sandwiches made on real bread.

So why would someone pay 5X the cost of bread and butter to order toast at a restaurant?  I honestly don't know.  It's my mission to find out though.  My current theory is that it's a front for covert government operations.  Just look at this quote from Toast Box's website:

Established in December 2005 as a food stall unit of Food Republic Wisma Atria in Singapore, Toast Box has fast expanded with more than 30 outlets strategically located all over Singapore, made easy and convenient for our customers (both young and old) to enjoy Nanyang Coffee and freshly toasted bread. Toast Box has been well received in other territories, expanding its foothold in Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Hong Kong and China.

Why does it need to be so strategic?  Why do they have footholds in other countries?  It sounds more like a military operation than a misguided restaurant idea. There's a good chance this is a conspiracy and those who don't recognize it could get burnt like well... toast.

Not sure what Singaporean Toast looks like

Questions or Comments?

Let me know if you have any questions at Singapore.  I will do my best to answer them or just make stuff up.  Thanks for reading.

*This is why it's been fascinating to visit other Asian cities to get a more authentic perspective of life in SE Asia.