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SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SINGAPORE AND JAPAN

 There are differences worthy of mention between Japan and Singapore:  1.39 S$ to the U.S. $1.

  • Virtually everyone in Singapore speaks English.  Not so in Japan.
  • The shock of cold in Singapore reminds you that you are not using a warm Japanese washlet toilet.  
  • Most of the 50 or so TV channels in Singapore are in English.  In Japan, perhaps half dozen.
The one huge negative factor is World War II.  Travel throughout the Pacific Islands, Oceania, China and Southeast Asia, and you get the same understated, but emotionally wrought response about Japanese occupation of their territory.  It has been more than 80 years, but feelings remain.  One reason:
The Kempeitai (the Japanese military police), which was the dominant occupation unit in Singapore, committed numerous atrocities towards the common people. They introduced the system of "Sook Ching", meaning "purging through purification" in Chinese, to get rid of those, especially ethnic Chinese, deemed to be hostile to the Empire of Japan (anti-Japanese elements in the local population). The Sook Ching massacres claimed the lives of between 25,000 and 55,000 ethnic Chinese in Singapore as well as in neighboring Malaya. These victims, mainly males between the ages of 18 and 50, were rounded up and taken to deserted spots and remote locations around the island, such as Changi Beach, Punggol Point, and Siglap, and killed systematically using machine guns and rifles.
Returning to one positive today, both countries are safe.  Singapore has a high sense of security and positive interactions with law enforcement, with a sophisticates surveillance system.  Japan features strong national character and social harmony.  There are strict laws to reduce petty theft.
The Global Peace Index of 2023 shows the following ranking of peacefulness.  Note where the USA rests:
  • #1      Iceland
  • #2      Denmark
  • #3      Ireland
  • #4      New Zealand
  • #5      Austria
  • #6      Singapore
  • #7      Portugal
  • #8      Japan
  • #10    Switzerland
  • #15    Germany
  • #16    Netherlands
  • #18    Hungary
  • #22    Australia
  • #23    Mautitius
  • #24    Norway
  • #28    Sweden
  • #33    Taiwan
  • #37    UK
  • #41    Vietnam
  • #43    South Korea
  • #60    Greece
  • #67    France
  • #75    UAE
  • #80    China
  • #92    Thailand
  • #115  Philippines
  • #117  Kenya
  • #119  Saudi Arabia
  • #126  India
  • #129  Haiti (but not today)
  • #130  South Africa
  • #131 USA
  • #132 Brazil
  • #136 Mexico
  • #143  Israel
  • #148  Turkey
  • #149  North Korea
  • #154  Iraq
  • #157  Ukraine
  • #158  Russia
  • #163  Afghanistan
Continuing on to our Singapore visit, we went for a free breakfast at Crossroads.  Excellent choices, but I just had a noodle bowl because my plan was to have Singapore Soup Dumplings and sashimi with Tiger Beer for lunch.

  • There are various stations for eggs, pancakes, etc.
Then, on to our excursion, underneath our hotel.  
  • The whole complex is a civil engineering masterpiece.  
  • They can go higher, or lower, and chose both. 
    • Population of 5.5 million, versus Hawaii's 1.4 million.
    • Has limited space.  The State of Hawaii is 23 times larger than all of Singapore, 283 square miles.  Molokai is 261 square miles.
    • See that map?  the size of this whole country is within the area indicated by "gap."
  • The British first went underground for military purposes.
  • Then came the various utilities.
  • In 1987 the MRT mass transit system, now with 42 stations, of which 10 miles are below the surface.  10% of all their roads are underground.
  • Then came from the malls around the stations in 2000.
  • Our complex surrounding the Orchard Road Station has 130 specialty stores anchored by Takashimaya Shopping Centre, six levels of shopping and dining.  Watch a You Tube video of a tour.  This tour is only around 8 minutes long.
  • But underground tunnels connect our shopping area with most of Orchard Road shopping malls.
  • One of them is Ion Orchard Mall, across the street from our room, which has become the center of gravity of the local retail scene.  Alone, eight levels and more than 7 million square feet of shopping space.  The entire Ala Moana Shopping Center is ONLY 2.5 million square feet.
  • But they build well also into the atmosphere.  
    • You will be amazed at Marina Bay Sands and Jewel Changi Airport.  A tour of Jewel.  Worth the watch.  Located right in the midst of the airport.
    • At 65 floors and a height of 931 feet, Guoco Tower became the tallest building in 2016.
  • So we went for a walk through the massive underground shopping area below our hotel.
Bought a sashimi and unagi meal from Takashimaya, and had it with Tiger beer, supplied by the hotel.
For dinner went to the M Club.
Walked 4140 steps today.
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