WHERE IN THE WORLD: SINGAPORE, REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE

Notes from the tour zone with George Fontana

“Singapore Customs regulations prohibits the following to be brought ashore: chewing gum, chewing tobacco or imitation tobacco products, pistol or revolver shaped cigarette lighters, controlled drugs or psychotropic substances, endangered species and their by-products, firecrackers, obscene articles or videos, and reproductions of copyrighted materials.” Such was our introduction to the island/nation/city of Singapore. Restrictions aside, Singapore impresses with it’s wide streets, beautiful parks, striking modern architecture and, perhaps most noteworthy, its respect for heritage buildings which have been preserved and restored, and are thoughtfully integrated with the new. A very handsome city, indeed. For centuries Singapore has profited from its status as the point where East meets West. The harbor is filled with commercial vessels, the shops are stocked with goods from around the globe and residential towers shoot up like weeds. The price for a new apartment begins at 6 million USD – New York rates! With friends, John and I dined at Wolfgang Puck’s local iteration of Spago’s, 57 stories high at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel – a three tower complex joined at the tops by a horizontal structure featuring gardens, fine restaurants, a heart-stopping infinity pool and an observation deck. The complex is designed to resemble the Chinese symbol for mountain (a portent of good fortune) and now co-shares with Raffles Hotel the role of Singapore’s most famous image. Oh, and why the restriction on chewing gum? When the new computer-operated, state of the art subway system opened not long ago, pranksters literally gummed up the works by covering the many small computer sensors with gum, ultimately bringing the subway to a complete halt. Chew on that.

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