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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES and SINGAPORE
Dubai (16.2.) On February 16th
Singapore (17.-20.2.) If Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles We enjoyed Singapore a lot. It is probably the nicest and friendliest large modern city we have ever visited. Yes, it is full of high-rises, but one does not feel like in a concrete forest there. Each building has different style and interesting shape or color. They are far away from spiritless box-shaped concrete buildings we have seen in many other places. Fortunately, this new and modern construction does not overshadow the old downtown area built by the British at the beginning of the 19th century. The whole city is very colorful. City architects also made sure that there is lots of open greenery and parks. There are many street cafes and eateries everywhere, streets, sidewalks and walkways are designed with pedestrians in mind, which makes Singapore a delight for tourists like us who like to wonder around on foot. We walked through the old downtown ... Singapore (25.-26.2) After four days in Malaysia, we returned to Singapore one more time on the 25th of February in the afternoon. We walked through the old streets of the Arab Quarter and had a wonderful sushi dinner at a Japanese restaurant. Next day, we first relaxed in the Chinese and Japanese Gardens and then sweated hard while hiking through the sticky native jungle in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. By the time we hiked up the steep 160m-high hill (the highest hill in Singapore), our shirts were totally wet. It was a real jungle experience. We even tried to hang on a bush rope like Tarzan! While we were in Singapore, Marek visited the Ruffles Hospital - once to have his stitches taken out and two more times for check-ups on an infection that developed in one of his wounds. By the time we were leaving Asia to continue our journey in Australia, Marek was almost able to lift his backpack again. His arms felt much better and stronger and he was on a good way to recovery.
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United Arab Emirates Population: 2 450 000 Population growth:
1,58% Literacy rate: 90,68%
Singapore Population: 4 450 000 Population growth:
3,46% Literacy rate: 99,8%
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at
one o'clock in the morning, we took off from the Nairobi airport. We
were heading to Singapore with a layover in Dubai. The flight was rough
and Marek got sick half an hour before landing. They gave him a shot at
the airport clinic, but it did not start working fast enough and we
missed the connecting flight. However, it turned out to be a positive
experience at the end. The Emirates Airline managed to arrange a one-day
visa for us and paid for accommodation at a very nice hotel (definitely
the most expensive one we stayed at during our whole trip).
did
not choose Singapore as a great location for a port in 1819, it would
most probably still be just a sleepy fishing village. The Brits turned
it into an important trading center and built a military
and naval base there. (That did not save it from the Japanese in 1924,
however.) Singapore became independent in 1959.
Four years later, it joined Malaysia, but this union lasted only two
years. Since then, Singapore experienced tremendous development of
trade, tourism and industry and turned into the most modern, green and
clean city in all of Asia. (Nobody would dare to drop anything, not even
a cigarette stub. There are huge fines for littering.) Singapore's population
comprises of 77% Chinese, 14% Malaysians, 7% Indians and 2% of all
possible nationalities from all over the world. The leading political
party (the People's Action Party) governs with an iron fist. It is not
recommended to criticize the government and news are being censored. Opposition
exists, but basically has its hands tied. Recent reforms (such as
loosening of the censorship laws) are small steps ahead. 
and
along the shore of the Geylang river, where the original port used to be
located. Today, it is one of the picturesque Singapore riversides
where warehouses and the houses of traders were turned into a colorful
center of nightlife with many waterfront restaurants, bars and cafes. We
also hiked up the Canning Hill, where one can still find
one remainder of the original city fort, a fort gate. In addition, we
saw many churches, temples and mosques. But our highlight
was the botanical garden. It is a large park opened to the
public. The best part is a fantastic orchid garden with many hybrids
cultivated in the Singapore botanical garden's orchid center.
