0
0
Singapore…as all the tourist t-shirts put it: “A fine city”. It is indeed a city of ‘fines’ – one for almost every conceivable public offence. Some quite expected, but some really obscure… There is for example a hefty fine for not flushing a public toilet, for chewing gum (anywhere in the whole city!!!), or even sipping a bottle of water on the metro… As our friend Jessica rather painfully found out, having taken a sip from her bottle on a particularly hot day, when all the other passengers gave her looks of utter disgust…
Singapore is a wealthy and very orderly modern city – the streets are clean, the lawns manicured, and everything gleaming shiny. People are courteous, though somewhat cold. All this comes at a price of course – the city is ruled by a benign dictatorship, where there are laws and rules for every aspect of life. There are also a staggering number of expats living in Singapore – 1 in 4 people is an expat. Expats are paid extremely well (sometimes at European levels) – which goes a long way in Singapore. However, they are not allowed to own landed property, so permanent settlement is extremely rare. Expats transit through Singapore and the scene is constantly changing as people come and people go.
The indigenous population is heavily Chinese, as many of the older buildings and monuments bear witness to.
Singapore is also home to the Raffles Hotel and their infamous Singapore Sling cocktail – here is the recipe if anyone wants to try it at home! Parental guidance advised :p
Singapore Sling Recipe
30ml Gin
7.5 ml Cointreau
7.5 ml Dom Benedictine
15 ml Cherry Brandy
120 ml Pineapple Juice
15 ml Lime Juice
10 ml Grenadine
A dash of Angostura Bitters
Garnish with a slice of Pineapple and Cherry
