As it is impossible to take a train from Australia to South-East Asia (yes, there is heaps of water between Australia and South-East Asia), I decided for Singapore as my starting-point for my train-trip back home to Austria. Singapore is the closest place to Australia with land-connections to the rest of South-East Asia.

On the one hand the “garden city” is modern, clean and efficient and on the other hand it has a remarkable history, culture and cuisine. Outside of the affluent CBD (Central Business District) are places like Chinatown or Little India, both packed with busy hawkers (food courts) where a mixed crowd gets together from noon till late at night to grab cheap but incredibly tasty food.

Not only is Singapore rich in cultural diversity but also in an architectural sense. Huge and ultra-modern skyscrapers shape the face of the CBD while old and charismatic buildings with attached air conditions are contrasting this picture in Little India or Chinatown.

Little India in Singapore

Little India in Singapore

Most impressive in Singapore is probably its public transport, the so called MRT, Mass Rapid Transport – which is basically a super-efficient metro departing every 3-4 minutes from 6am to midnight. The ease of use of the MRT is astonishing. Even without having a clue about the layout of this multi-million metropolis, you can’t go the wrong way – this system takes you exactly where you want.

The MRT stations look a bit like a shopping centre, but it in fact these windows open when boarding the train:

Mass Rapid Transport / Subway in Singapore

Mass Rapid Transport / Subway in Singapore

Impressions of Singapore:

More photos of my trip: Picasa Web Album

 

Comments are closed.