SINGAPORE, REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE

Singapore, an island country and the smallest country in Southeast Asia, is located on the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. When Singapore acquired independence, having few natural resources, it was economically underdeveloped. Foreign investment and rapid government-led industrialization has since created an economy which relies on exports of electronics and manufacturing primarily from its port. Singapore has the highest standard of living in Asia, and is ranked 11th in the world and is the 22nd wealthiest country. As a result of efforts to control motorized traffic, the maintenance of natural greenery, strict regulations on industrial locations and emissions,,Singapore has been able to control its pollution levels.

We noticed that most cars are new. That is because the people can only keep a car for 10 years. First they must pay for an entitlement and there are only so many entitlements to cut down on the traffic. Cars are expensive, $52,000 for a Toyoto Corolla and $368,000 for a Mercedes. We asked what they do with the old cars and were told they would be exported to New Zealand and other countries.

Eighty-three percent of Singapore’s population live in government constructed housing. An average place, 3 bedroom, may be between $230,000 and $280,000. They pay 20% down then make payments at 2.65% interest. If single they have to be 35 to buy, if a couple they have to be married. The private homes range in the five to ten million range. The government encourages taking care of the elderly. If a couple will live close to the parents, the government gives them $3,000.00 and a $30,000 tax credit which reduces their income tax credit for several years. The same party has been in power for 40 years. The Prime Minister is paid 3.5 million a year and the department heads 1.5 million.

The average age to marry is 27 for female and 35 for the male. Couples were waiting longer for a family and having only 1.2 children on the average. The government encourages more babies and pays $3,000 for the first baby and a tax rebate of $10,000. If the parents open up a savings account for the baby the government will match dollars for up to $8,000. The third child rebate is $20,000.

Education is not free but inexpensive and the government schools are quite good. When we took our tour, the places we visited were filled with the students who were on field trips their last day of school before a holiday. The students all wear uniforms.

Health care is not free, but subsidized from 55 to 80 percent. There is no Social Security but money is accumulated from salaries in a fund.

Singapore’s rules are tough, but clear. Jaywalkers are fined on the spot. Litter and you pay and convicted drug traffickers can expect to earn a death sentence. The city is very clean, the streets and buildings are cleaner than any Western city. Unlike other large cities, you can walk fearlessly in Singapore at any time day or night.

Singapore is just 90 miles north of the equator, the climate is tropical but the pace is anything but relaxed. Our tour leader told us there were 4 seasons, summer, summer, summer and summer. It is the time for winter and it is 85 degrees. More than 4,000,000 people live on the big island and there are 14 major nationalities. Most people belong to one of several Chinese groups.

We went on a tour that showed us highlights of Singapore. We boarded the air conditioned coach to drive through the heart of old Singapore. We disembarked several times to walk the tidy streets to view the historic Colonial District. We photographed the gold domed Sultan Mosque and the gemstone handicraft factory. Finally we visited the National Orchid Garden to see the largest orchid display in the world, featuring more than 60,000 plants.

We had two tours in one day, the second being a night safari. It is not an ordinary zoo with lights but is set in 98 acres of dense secondary forest. The night safari offered a unique experience of observing wildlife in a tropical jungle at night. There were subtle lights that enabled us to view the 1,000 nocturnal animals in vast natural habitats. Our viewing was from an open air slow moving tram.

The second day in Singapore we were on our own. We spent the morning trying to work on our blog. The internet service on ship is sometimes very frustrating. We gave up and left the ship about 11:00 and took a cable car over to Sentosa Island. Sentosa is a popular island resort in Singapore which features a beautiful sheltered beach, golf courses and two five star hotels. We walked around for about three hours and enjoyed the beautiful plants and flowers.