Singapore

Singapore, the city in a garden, is known today by backpackers and Instagram influencers for the Supertree Light Show in Garden by the Bay. But there is so much more to this 

Singapore took drastic measures to clean up its city after it became independent in 1965. Before independence, Singapore was a major British port city. With a mash of cultures, religions and traditions all built on mostly swampy lands, it’s easy to see how things got messy.

While the laws might seem outlandish to some of us, they have really improved life expectancy and quality of life for its citizens. I remember growing up and hearing stories that you could go to jail for spitting gum on the ground. There are other very real laws I didn’t know about, like you will get a fine if you don’t flush the toilet or if your toilet paper/soap dispenser isn’t stocked.

In most of South East Asia, you get used to peeing in a hole and pouring a bucket of water into the hole to “flush” it. Toilet paper? Only if you bring your own or get lucky and someone is selling you three squares for 100 baht outside. Singapore is a diamond in the rough. 

Singapore is one of the few city-states of the world, along with the Vatican, Monaco. (These are similar to grey areas like Hong Kong and Macau are similar.) Singapore has 5.7 million people in 720 sq kilometers. Compare this to Los Angeles, four million people in 1,302 sq kilometers. 

There is so much more to do in this country than visit the airport and snap some photos at the garden light show. Check it out and stay for a few days!