Is Singapore Very Clean and Orderly?

I had a lot of preconceived notions about Singapore.

Here is what I expected:

• lots of police
• immaculate streets
• all new buildings
• rules posted everywhere
• no smoking

Here is what I found instead

• everyone rushing like mad
• no police seen
• men in shorts
• few signs with rules
• streets not that clean
• lots of old buildings
• lots of smoking

And here is some information about all of that.

The first thing I noticed, and the most prevalent thing, was that people were in a huge hurry everywhere. I don't know if this is the same as in the states since I have been gone so long now.

But in all of SE Asia where I have been before, the pace of life has been slow and laid back. Not in Singapore! Everyone was rushing everywhere I went. I was quite astounded to see this. I had to watch myself to not mess up the flow, and still I was annoying people with my slowness.

They went insane on a blocked escalator and not just because of me. Stand to the left and get your luggage over there too, or Singapore people will jump over you.

Lots of men and women were on bikes and scooters. No helmets were in view. Singapore has high taxes and fees for private vehicles, so this is the reason for all the two wheelers, motorized and not.

Bike Parking MT Lavender (few locks)

In all cases the riders were moving fast and swerving around us walkers. The scooters were sharing the sidewalks, and many people were carrying them in malls and other buildings.

I expected something like a police state, and it may be, but not anywhere that I was. I did not see any police anywhere except at immigration and they were nice there. I did see some signs, but not like I expected.

And the smoking! Every trash can had people smoking near it and people were sitting on random curbs with their cigarettes too.

In most of SE Asia I have seen very little smoking. Singapore was an exception. I noticed a lot of cigarette butts on the ground. I thought they had heavy penalties for littering, but maybe not.

The streets were generally clean, but not that clean. Bangkok still wins the prize in that regard.

Men in shorts were everywhere. These were like Bermuda shorts, tight fitting, and came to just above the knee. I have not noticed that style anywhere else.

The building and architecture were mixed with old and new. I did not see anything too exceptional except from the bus.

The streets were pretty good for rolling luggage but I had obstacles at times.

My hostel had an elevator, but you needed to go up stairs to get to it!

This post is for @bxlphabet, who asked for details about my Singapore trip. He normally is not too interested in what I do, so I am leaping at the opportunity.

Yesterday, his landlord contacted me to say he has to leave now. Today I woke up to a somewhat panicked message from him, telling me he was going. This means he is out on the street somewhere with nothing, I guess. My son was already homeless for five years, and did not want to go through this again. All I can do is pray for his safety.

~ Sharon @fitinfun; Caleb @bxlphabet's mom