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If you find yourself in this Southeast Asian city/state, best to bring your appetite. Oh, and lots of money would be good too.

Mike’s Snapshot Review

• When: Early November, 2011
• Duration: 3 days
• Accommodation: Windowless room in a run-down hotel in the Little India neighborhood. Not good.

POSITIVES:

• Food– I can’t stress it enough: if you like any kind of Asian cuisine, it’s here and it’s great. Singapore is a financial hub that draws immigrants from everywhere, and the food is just as diverse. The best in Chinese, Malaysian, Thai, Indian, and Vietnamese food can all be found in the city limits. Hawker centers (basically huge open-air food courts), are all over the city, and they’re the least expensive way to try all sorts of various cuisines cooked to perfection. The beer at the centers are the cheapest you’ll find as well.
• Cleanliness – You could eat off the sidewalks. A nice change if you’re coming from say, gritty Bangkok.
• Safety– Singapore has a low crime rate and I never felt fearful for a moment.
• Air Travel – Singapore is a major air hub in Asia, and Singapore Airlines is consistently voted #1 in the world.

NEGATIVES:

• Cost– Either you’re paying $400 or more for a nice hotel, or you’re in the fleabag sections where I was for $100. Very little in-between. Restaurants and bars are also pricey – another reason to do the bulk of eating and drinking at the hawker centers.
• Dullness– with all the wealth and hyper-managing by police and government, it can come off as a bit sterile and, I’ll say it, boring.
• Size– the whole country is really just a city and its suburbs.
• Heat– it’s right near the equator and is muggy as hell. I love walking in cities, but after one block I was a ball of sweat.

RECOMMEND?

Yes, but not for too long. It’s worth a couple days here, and many airlines fly through Singapore to other cities in Asia. Hop off the plane for a night or two, eat ’til you’re full, and move on.