Days 72-73 : Singapore - The Little Red Dot.

Singapore. 

Crazy Rich Asians, right? You'll see many of the iconic locations in the photos below. But Singapore is way more than that. Ever since I first came here in 2011, it's been one of my absolute favourite cities in the world. I jokingly call the island city-state a benevolent dictatorship, even though it is a multi-party democracy with free and fair elections. The PAP (Peoples Action Party) has governed the country since self-government started in 1959 - and currently holds 59 out of 75 seats in parliament. 

The country is a model of efficiency. For example, you can arrive at Changi Airport, deplane, and within 20 minutes, you are through customs and immigration, have your bags, and are in a taxi downtown. The subway system, known as the MRT (see left), is in my opinion, the cleanest, fastest, safest, and most efficient in the world. Crime and drugs are almost non-existent, and littering is a crime punishable by a 400 SGD fine ($300 USD). The highest tax rate is 20% and 17% for corporations. The downside is that it's an incredibly expensive place to live; you do have to abide by the rules, and the working and middle classes mostly remain as working and middle classes with little chance for advancement (although they live comfortably). That may all be a rose-coloured glasses view, but many citizens feel the same way. It's why the PAP stays in power.

Economically, Singapore is the new Asian powerhouse, and its momentum is picking up even more after the debacle in Hong Kong. This all dates back to 28th January 1819, when Stamford Raffles arrived in Singapore. He recognized that the city had a deep natural harbour and would be an ideal trade port between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Raffles signed a treaty with the local sultan, bribed him with 8,000 pounds sterling, and, in return, obtained the right to establish a British trading post. Five years later, another agreement with the sultan turned Singapore into a British possession. The population grew from 1,000 to over 80,000 by 1860, and the creation of the rubber industry in Malaysia towards the end of the century accelerated the city's growth. 

Singapore wasn't impacted by WW1, but WW2 was a different story. The Japanese overran the British Garrison in 1942 and occupied the city until its surrender in 1945, destroying much of the infrastructure in the process. Chinese communists made a play for control in the early 1950s until Singapore was granted sef-rule in 1955. After flirting with joining the Malay Republic, Singapore eventually struck out on its own (they were thrown out of Malaysia) in 1965. Some great long-term planning and the determination of Lee Kuan Yew, the first prime minister of Singapore, brought them to the current state.

That current state has many things going for it, including the iconic Marina Bay Sands (MBS) building, the Singapore Flyer (Ferris wheel), multiple botanical gardens, and trees everywhere. There are actually more trees in Singapore than people - by design! I'll write another post about the Gardens By The Bay and the MBS.