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I was fortunate enough to go visit Singapore this winter on company’s dime.  My first impression of this country (city) is how much diversity is harboured here.  People with different ethnic backgrounds, religions, and languages have all gathered here to celebrate this wonderful metropolitan city. 

It is a beautiful city, although plagued with similar number of seven elevens as other major metropolitan South East Asian cities. The average number of seven elevens is … every block.  I walked a 1/4 mile radius and was able to discover as much as 6 seven elevens.  The story doesn’t end there, I also found 3 Gucci stores, 2 Prada, and 4 cartier… isn’t this strange or what?  99 degrees F and walking into the same stores selling the same stuff  couple time a day isn’t what I really imagined how  someone would like to spend their vacation days. 

Anyhow…that’s just my take.   I was able to find wonderfully diverse food courts… OH YES!! FOOD COURTS… since I travel light, I just don’t have room to buy material goods… but food… hehehe is an entirely different story. I’ve already checked out the most glamorous places and the most ghetto huts/basements.  Price ranges from 3.50 to 35SGD. 
Here is my report:
Day 1: SG style rice noodle beef soup (4.50), New Zealand natural frozen yogurt (3.50).  Sorry no pictures(I ate it too quickly).
Day 2: um… I fell asleep due to jetlag.
Day 3: Colleague treated dinner.  Very nice restaurant in Biopolis.
Day 4: Ding Tai Feng.  Now I have visited Ding Tai Feng in 3 locations. TPE, LA, and now SG.
Day 5: switched Hotel to Marina Mandarin (was at Orchard street Crown Plaza) and wow~ the friggin hotel is spectacular! It has left a good impression.  Oh…it is also connected to a huge mall.

Day 6: Supposedly, the best buffet in Singapore is in the Marina Mandarin.  I had it.  But since I need to give my presentation right afterwards… it was tasteless at the time… boy did I regret that

Day 7: Hopped on a plane to Kansai, Japan.  and then right on a express JR train ("Haruka") to Osaka and then to Kyoto.  It’s a very pretty city.  Whatever people are doing, they’re very meticulous and focused (this include janitorial workers cleaning the train).  I am impressed the level of professionalism and craftsmanship.  Anyway, about food.  I had some very good sushi… no surprises.  Oh… the Sneaker candy bar is equally sweet as the U.S. version.