maurizio caduto S i n g a p o r e

The culture of dining out.

The Chinese are not among the best drinkers in the world actually, they can get miserably drunk after few glasses but they enjoy good food. Say, in the West we invite a friend for a drink, in Singapore you'd invite him for a meal.

The blend of architecture styles in the city is quite amazing and you'll often find some old houses surrounded by contemporary architecture. The one in the picture is The Lau Pa Sat Hawker Centre, an old construction turned into a hawker center - one of the many areas where you can find a spectacular array of food stalls. They serve Chinese, Malay, Indian and Western food and the quality is over all very good Ð the government provides you with information about the hygiene by placing a little board with the rating at the entrance of every stall. It is great value for money and you can easily get by with less than Ten Singapore dollars. Singaporeans eat around the clock and you'll never feel alone while having lunch.

Did I say that Singapore blends new and old stuff? Here you go, this is something you'll hardly find elsewhere - particularly in good old Europe. They call it Chjimes and it used to be a convent, now it is a very happening place with dozens of restaurants in the archway and the patio downstairs. The church itself now hosts or holds other kinds of functions like parties and wedding dinners, just your average function hall with stain glass windows and 19th Century columns. At night it gets really busy and some of the restaurants sport a very stylish design.

Boat Quay

One of the favorite spots with countless restaurants and pubs always full and lively. Going out is an everyday thing in Singapore and that's why the city always feels vibrant and exciting. For sure, the weather is one of the reasons why people enjoy living outside - although, Singaporeans would always run for cover in some heavily air-conditioned environment. The other reason is probably that Singaporeans don't really spend much time at home.

Singaporeans are very polite people and the quality of the service anywhere from the smallest shop to the fanciest restaurants is well above what you'd find in other cities. Compared to them, the average service in Europe looks impossibly rude to say the least. This is the average conversation with the taxi driver taking you to the airport: "Good morning sir, before you leave would you kindly check that you have your passport and ticket?" Let me kill you with this one. One day I was at the shop where I was getting my bike serviced. I mentioned that I was leaving for one month. to my surprise I was offered to leave the bike at their premises free of charge. " You don't leave your bike unattended for one month, man! not even in your parking lot". Now, if I would ask for something like that back home in Italy I guess they would call an ambulance for me. I have left my bike open on the street day and night and the only thing that was ever stolen was the helmet I left hanging on the rear view mirror for a few nights. Does it sound oddly un-familiar?