Keeping up appearances

Singapore is clean. Very, very clean. Disney World-esque, where the people who clean are friendly and happy and sweep the cracks of the walls at the subway station every day (not joking). It's really interesting architecture -- a mix of mega-skyscrapers, shophouses, British colonial homes w/ tin roofs, HDBs, Buddhist and Hindu temples, etc. Here are a couple pics of the area to give you an idea.

The view from Greg's apartment in a suburban neighborhood


The parliament building downtown, not to be confused with the American Embassy, which I thought was the state prison the first time I went by it.


Boat Quay, an expat/touristy area with a lot of river-side restaurants and bars


Pagoda Street in Chinatown, an outdoor market where I bought everyone's Christmas gifts this year -- surprise!


The Esplanade, another touristy area with a theater, also hosts a lot of water-side concerts. I call it Epcot.


That thing on the right is the Singapore Flyer, set to open in March. When it does, it's supposedly going to be the biggest "observation wheel" in the world, besting Britain's London Eye by about 30 meters. It's 42 stories high, and people ride in these immobile capsules the size of small buses. Just don't call it a Ferris wheel -- big faux pas.


A Hindu temple downtown (Chinatown, I think? can't remember), with a banner noting Deepavali, the Festival of Lights (a public holiday) in early November. Yes, it was also built on its side. (joke!)