Monday 15 August 2011

Letter From Singapore

So, off to Singapore, "the world's top-ranked economy for ease of doing business" (World Bank) to check out how the mighty C@W is faring in Asia, and whether Henry Porter is correct when he writes:

"we are going to find it much more difficult to face the world. The riots will be at the back of our minds for years to come and we will wear their shame for a very long time"

Actually of course my hosts (all Chinese) are far too polite to do a
nything more than ask some concerned questions; though the Straits Times helpfully notes that they, of course, retain corporal punishment for such occasions. Oh, and capital punishment. In return, I don't mention that in his first National Day address on TV, their new Prime Minister seemed a little nervous about whether Singapore can maintain its enviable successes for the future and promised, guess what ? ... new measures to curb unskilled immigration. S'porean jobs for S'porean workers, then. Still, we have to admit he's got a better starting-point than our own new-ish PM.

In the wake of Norway, Syria and of course Croydon, I wonder which world leader rests easy in his or her bed. Hosni Mubarak looks jolly uncomfortable in his. In my travels I am told that the lesson third-world leaders are taking from his plight and that of Gaddafi, is - ignore the West and do what you have to. (Singapore, lest I be misunderstood, is decidedly not third-world.) Then again, how many lectures will they be getting from Cameron any time soon ?

Anyhow, I am glad to report that the Asian edition of C@W is going down very well. This may have something to do with the ads we are running in our sidebar - see below. Stick to business, eh ?

ND

12 comments:

Electro-Kevin said...

Cathay Pacific do a nice line in Asian air hostesses.

They 'go the extra mile'.

A Google image search could be interesting.

CityUnslicker said...

Enjoy NID - off myself there later in the year so decent hotel and restaurant recommendations appreciated.

Sebastian Weetabix said...

I like the Pan Pacific hotel; great rooms, fair prices. Foodwise... Chinese seafood, go to Seafood International on the East Coast Parkway; for Indian, the Banana Leaf on Racecourse Road (fishhead curry is superb) - for really fine Indian, the Rang Mahal (which happens to be inside the Pan Pacific) and if you fancy a decent beer, Brewerkz opposite Clarke Quay. Marvellous place, Singapore. We should have Lee Kwan Yew as our PM, even if he is nearly 90.

Nick Drew said...

well I am at the Shangri La and I cannot fault the facilities - best hotel swimming pool I have encountered in a v.long time (2.5 m deep, 50 meters longest diameter, pix to follow - and they let you dive in ! I hate this 'no diving' crap)

food in hotel is stonking (tho not cheap but hey client is paying) - brilliant Chinese + Indian restaurants in-house, the locals (of all races) say it's where they like to go - and on Sunday they all did, bloody packed it was, whole families, there must be quite a bit of $$$ around

the Raffles is taking the piss, twelve quid a pint but it has to be done, what a brand !

as they say, S'pore = Disneyland + Death Penalty, hot and cold running waitresses, what's not to like ..?

Sebastian Weetabix said...

ND - make sure you visit the Battlebox in Fort Canning. It's a must see for those with a military background.

Kynon said...

I will be in Singapore myself in a few days' time - never been before so quite looking forward to it!

Never thought I'd be picking up suggestions of places to visit from this blog, but I'm not going to complain...

Nick Drew said...

thanks SW I shall try to fit that in - if not this time another, becoz I shall be back !

stick with us Kynon, we'll mark your card

Steven_L said...

Nick, you do realise those adverts work off your cookies or something.

When I come here it's always trying to temp me into looking at designer shirts.

When you log on its all 'Asian women' is it? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Nick Drew said...

C@W runs a very sophisticated algorithm, designed by Mr Q himself

it can tell when a chap has booked into a foreign hotel ...

subsequently, when it observed my extravagant dining habits, it quickly moved along to restaurant advertising

Nick Drew said...

... & then pharmaceutical products

Mark Wadsworth said...

The advert I can see right now is for Arianna Huffington.

Nick Drew said...

well she's a nice girl

(odd taste in men though - I mean, Bernard Levin ??)