Singapore

I have arrived in Singapore.
24,000 participants to the WorldBank/IMF Annual Meetings are to be welcomed by "4 million smiles".
To be sure, after a mere 24 hours on the island state, I have already practiced my Chinese. Singaporeans speak Malay, English and Chinese. Fortunately for me they use mandarin, but unfortunately they still use the classic, unsimplified characters.
The island has completely changed since my last visit in 1985. It is a strikingly beautiful window into succesful Asia. Every square inch is manicured and landscaped. Flowers and gardens are abundant, even in the middle of the business district.The warm temperature and high humidity make it a challenge to explore on foot.
The country is famous for being spotless. But the "Long bar" at Raffles, of Somerset Maugham fame, claims you can "come and LITTER "the bar with peanuts!
The food, malay, indian, chinese, and world-capitalist, is a treat in this town. Satay for lunch, laska noodles for dinner and a Starbucks frappucino in the afternoon.
Chinese women in miniskirts throng the sidewalks along with bearded sikhs, veiled malays, and sweaty westerners. The odor of cloves cigarettes wafts over the stalls. A network of underground shopping malls allows the visitor a cool trip downtown.
Tomorrow, we will take care of the world's financial woes.
The demonstrators, a constant feature in these meetings, have been relegated to an Indonesian island several miles offshore!