left our jobs, went to Asia

Today we are leaving a city, that has colonial architectire nicely integrated with modern buildings, clean streets, efficient infrastructure and, in some cases - great shopping.

Swissotel and Asian civilizations museum shining across the river, Singapore

Some might argue that it lacks spirit, or that the government wants to put everyone too much under control, but it's still definitely worth a visit.

Central business district and a nearby pub area, Singapore.

My personal case:  READ MORE »

Asian "eating on the street" culture is alive and well in Singapore, which can save budget travellers from paying a lot of money for the food.

You can get food in any price range, starting from S$3 curry chicken,

Street stall selling great curry chicken for 3 dollars, Singapore

continuing with Singapore chili crab for S$40,  READ MORE »

Singapore's Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) promises both wired and wireless networks to be "easily accessable" to Singaporeans, so that they can enjoy "seamless connectivity".

In my understanding, it means "free internet access to everyone".

I can testify it works absolutely great in Changi airport, and even its budget terminal:

Free internet zone in Changi airport, Singapore  READ MORE »

View of skyscrapers and nearly empty street of Singapore

While travelling in Singapore, a constant feeling follows. It whispers to your ear that everything, especially the streets, look tidy, clean and uncluttered.

Only on the fifth day we do understand why.  READ MORE »

I've seen Microsoft Windows errors on at least several places. A few I can remember:

• Personal computers, obviously.
• PDAs.
• Kiosks and information displays.
• ATMs, even.

Now it creeps closer:

Disk boot error instead of train arrival time in Little India MRT station, Singapore

For those interested in specifics:  READ MORE »

Singapore Fireworks Celebrations 2007 was a big event, with many people attending.

Red and green colors during the Singapore Fireworks Celebrations 2007, Singapore

Just by looking at the amount of photographers, you knew it's serious.  READ MORE »

In Myanmar, takeaway drink means this:

Takeaway soft drink

In Singapore, this:  READ MORE »

Just by looking at the picture, where would you say this is located?

Cozy riverside pub in Singapore

I'd say London. Cozy pub, football on the TV, beer on the tables.  READ MORE »

Transport infrastructure in Singapore shines.

A family is looking at the interactive schedule to find out when is their next bus arriving

There are:  READ MORE »

Would anyone care to explain why a mojito cocktail in Singapore's prime spot, New Asia bar, located on the 71st floor of the Swiss hotel, costs 7 USD, while the same cocktail in 22nd floor of Reval Hotel's Skybar in Vilnius, Lithuania, costs nearly double?

Interior of New Asia bar. Floor 71, Swissotel, Singapore

Don't tell me it's supply and demand, as I have a few good, and probably quite angry arguments against that.  READ MORE »

Ok, folks, show and tell time.
Will start with tell.

When we have the road repairs going on back home, the street is a mess, there are tractors and bulldozers all around, destroying everything they can.
When the work's finished for the day, heavy machinery stays in places, with the engines turned off, waiting for the next day to begin.

In Singapore, during the road repairs, it is active as well:

Road repair and construction works in Singapore

But just take a look at how clean and tidy it is when the day is finished:  READ MORE »

If you like taking pictures at the sunset, I have two tips.

First - do it at the right time

In photography books, they call it "the magic hour". It happens two times a day, just before and after sunrise, and just before and after sunset.
The light during the magic hour is magic indeed. The word which is misleading in this term is an "hour".
It's much shorter than that, maybe five minutes or so, depending on the weather.
Let me illustrate.

This first picture was taken at 7.15 P.M. Quite grey and boring. The sky was covered with a fog, so not even a lone cloud could make it more interesting.  READ MORE »

Restrictive signs in metro, Singapore

We're in Singapore. Nice, clean, efficient. A Swiss watch.

Now, before I will post my further notes about this city state, I have to confess that most of them have a good chance to become a panegyric.

For the sake of objectiveness, though, the first has a shade of negativity.  READ MORE »