Day 73 - 74: Sterile Singapore

By choosing to fly to Singapore I kind of already decided that peninsular Malaysian was going to be skipped for the most part... and to be added to the 'another time' list (just as South Cambodia, South Vietnam, North Luzon, ...).

By now it was almost certain that Penang and the Cameron highlands were not going to happen (although still possible but after Burnmoneyo I did not feel for rushing any more). The only place besides Kuala (that one is mandatory is my plane back home leaves from there) that was still on the list was Melaka as it is basically on the way.

What to say about Singapore...besides the obvious fact it is even more painful for the wallet than Brunei..
It is clean, very clean...must have something to do with the very strict laws here (1 Euro = S$1.6 = B$1.6, for some reason the currency of Brunei and Singapore are linked -you can use both in both currencies- but still they have different notes), fines :

• S$500 if you eat or drink in the MRT or MRT stations
• S$1000 if you smoke in the MRT
• S$5000 if carry bring flammable or explosive (not sure why you want to do that) material in the MRT
• S$1000 if you do not step off your bike in the parks
• Not sure what the one is for spitting on the ground though

You do not see a lot of cops but rest assured: you are being watched! Big brother is everywhere. I guess it might be the only way to enforce clean streets and such (did not see many cigarette buts) and it is all very modern and some of the buildings and structures are quite spectacular but it all feels very sterile at some times... In addition it seems they want to create authenticity but in the process of doing so they lost it. As two nights is more than enough, took the -yet another very comfy- bus to Melaka.