Singapore

Took a short trip to Singapore. I was about to write that Singapore has a unique history and culture, but that's nothing more than a general truism because all Southeast Asian countries are more unique than I had understood before coming here. But the confluence of Southeast Asian, East Asian, European and Indian cultures have created a city-state more unlike its regional neighbors than similar to them. Singapore is famously clean and organized. I had expected this to translate into a sterility, but was delightfully proven wrong. Singapore has lots of character, and because it is organized in a western fashion, that character sometimes feels more accessible. Here's the Singapore River, and the central tourist area surrounding it.   

Singapore is also extremely expensive by Southeast Asian standards. This fellow below pretty much summarizes it.

Singapore is also a foodie destination. Most of the food I consumed was from Chinese hawker stalls. Here's a Hainanese chicken stall I tried. This is a dish with popular versions in Bangkok and Singapore. The rumor is that many Bangkok people travel to Singapore to try its superior version. I won't wade into this controversy, but will say that both cities' versions are delicious.

Also visited the Singapore Art Museum, the Asian Civilizations Museum, and the amazing Botanic Gardens.