Hey everybody, sorry it has been a while since my last post. I have had some trouble recently finding an internet place that will let me plug in my camera!
I'm currently in Singapore visiting a friend from uni, Rakhil. Rakhil is working here in Singapore now, and has been gracious enough to let me stay with him while I am here.
As for an update, I spent four days in Fremantle, which is a small city just outside of Perth on Australia's west coast. Fremantle was amazing; it is one of those places that just made me feel immediately at home. My first day there, I went to an Aussie rules football match to see the Fremantle (Freo) Dockers play against the Melbourne Kangaroos. Freo dominated the Kangaroos, which just heightened the atmosphere, since the locals really love their team.
Fremantle itself is a beautiful old port city. You will have to wait and see the pics of the buildings there, but the entire city center has streets lined with these short buildings made in this amazing Australian hybrid style. By hybrid, I mean that the buildings look like a combination of Victorian, Mediterranean and several other building styles. Anyway, the whole town is just stunningly beautiful and pleasant. The best part about it is the local lifestyle. They are right on the Indian Ocean, so there are beaches with this amazingly clear blue water; there are also tons and tons of cafes, bistros, used bookshops, art galleries, and various other really interesting shops. There are also two massive stall markets...genuine, local markets too. I wandered those for ages in the various shops...everything from a Tibetan goods store to a didgeridoo store that gives free lessons to anyone interested (and let me tell you those things are quite difficult to play). A lot of the people there lead this really bohemian lifestyle, which I love. It reminded me a lot of Boulde, Colorado; Fremantle is definately a place in which I could see myself living very happily.
Perth was nice too...I wandered around city center on one of my days there. However, my recommendation to anyone that goes there is this: Perth is worth checking out, but Fremantle is worth getting lost in.
So, when I get the chance to update with pictures, I will do so, and I will also write more about Singapore then. I'm learning a lot about this little island city-nation...and it is extremely interesting! More to come!
Singapore...the world's marketplace and the west's gateway to Asia
Parliament House with City Hall in the background (dome). It is hard to believe that this is such a small nation. Singapore is the second most densely populated country in the world after Monaco. It's population is 4 million and it is a true city-state. For those of you that do not know, Singapore is a small island at the very bottom of the Thai-Malay peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is also one degree above the equator, making the humidity here outrageous!
The famous Raffles Hotel. This old building is the temporary home to the most wealthy and luxurious travelers to Singapore...which is very evident by the car park in front: a circular ring of vehicles that all cost more than a large, American home. Raffles is also famous for inventing the Singapore Sling, a refreshing, mixed drink.
The Merlion...the lion is the symbol of the city. There is a plaque near here with a lovely story explaining how the merlion reresents how so many diferent people can come together on the island and prosper...which they have done quite well. Singapore is an extremely wealthy nation. The government is in control of almost everything, and the whole country is run like a corporation. The people suffer slightly from this in the area of personal freedoms, but from what I have seen so far, they don't mind at all and are quite happy. Last month, for instance, the government did quite well with its investing and was able to give a S$400 cheque to every Singaporean citizen...I wouldn't complain too much about that. Also, for Singapore's brightest minds, they can attend school wherever they want around the world totally cost free thanks to the government...only trick is that they have to work for the government for 6 years when they are done...but from what I heard, if you get this privelege, you are set to go and stick in there. Brilliant ideas like this one are direct results of having the nations most intelligent people working government jobs....how interesting is that?!? Singapore is also highly westernized...English is one of the four national languages and most people speak it fluently. Because of this, Singapore would make a great starting point for anyone that wants to see Asia, but is a little too intimidated by some of the massive cultural and language diferences.
Yet another example of the wealth and amount of money here in Singapore...this massive complex is just one of the many massive hotel complexes in the city, all of which cater to the thousands of international business travelers. Singapore was historically, and still remains a massive international market. Everywhere you go here, there are malls and shops and stores and restaurants and promenades...it is a massive consumer market of both international and domestic buyers and sellers. 
Street in Chinatown. There are four primary districts in Singapore: CBD (central business district), Orchard St. (tons and tons of shopping...I cannot accurately describe just how much shopping there is on this one street...let alone all of the city), Chinatown (famous historically for its gambling, brothels, and opium houses), and Little India. It is possible to walk from area to area, and if it weren't for the oppressive humidity, walking the city would be an absolute joy!
Sri Mariamman Temple in Chinatown. This is the oldest Hindu national monument in Singapore. I love how complex it is with all the incarnations of gods. 
