After an epic travel day of 31+ hours the lack of sleep finally caught up with me. I woke up today (Sunday morning) at 6:30AM after only 2.5 hours of sleep. I decided I was going to “will” myself back to sleep for two more hours and then get up and going for a free day in Singapore!
5:15PM — that’s what time I woke up! Instead of getting up at 11AM with intentions of being on Orchard Road by Noon I found myself still in my pajamas having missed an entire day in Singapore. I did get ready and head out to Orchard Road for some time. These are my observations.
Orchard Road is Singapore’s shopping district. It’s a glittery place where one can find Hermes, Jimmy Choo, Dior, Chanel, Bulgari, Prada and Louis Vuitton. Orchard Road is Fifth Avenue + Las Vegas + Chinatown (NYC). I wandered in and out of the many malls there.
You’ll find no street vendors, above-ground parking lots or grocery stores — they are all underground.
You could say little Singapore is destitute: it can’t grow its own food; there are no fishermen or farmers; and it lacks minerals. But walking through the streets you can see how prosperous the city-state is. Mercedes’ and Ferrari’s, clean houses and streets, Universities, beautiful parks everywhere. It’s an homage to commercialism! There is no trash, no homeless people, no bus fumes, no graffiti — it’s perfectly clean.
Singapore is a capitalist’s dream. The government works closely with business to ensure prosperity and every citizen has an opportunity to join. Personal income tax is low, just 2-20%. Every newborn gets a birth certificate and a library card.
Other observations: high heels, style conscience people, multi-cultural, hot and humid (even more than NC), very green, many shade trees, iPhones & iPads everywhere.
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- Prada Sculptures – Orchard Road
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- Street Shot – Orchard Road
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- Outside Wisma Atria Mall
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- Orchard Road Sign
