"I know but one freedom and that is the freedom of the mind"
If you haven't been to Singapore you must go. Tell me what you think.
After the chaos of Indonesia, Singapore feels like the calm in the eye of the storm; a piece of the West relocated. Here is a very modern city, with a fascinating past, that is superbly clean, efficient and architecturally striking. Everything has been carefully thought out; not only does it work but it looks pretty too. But there is a catch.
Perhaps Singapore is best likened to the prize front room - yes it looks fantastic but pity help you if you spill your tea on the rug.
Perhaps this judgement is too harsh. Afterall, it's only natural for a society to need rules to keep it functioning at such an impressive level. But, again, is all as it seems? Censorship is a reality. Academic friends talk of a lack of creativity, a suppression of critical thinking and free thought.
I would love to have stayed longer, to have dug deeper. I left with my (free) mind still undecided. Either way, I would still rather walk down a Singapore back street at night than many Brtish streets by day...
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