Trip to Indonesia 2019, Part 1
2019 Apr 13 - To Singapore
We took off from Helsinki at midnight by Qatar Airways.
Arabic airlines, especially Etihad, have been famous of their generous legroom and good service, but our plane had only minimal, if any, edge over its competitors. The first connection had a Finnish captain, as can happen with Finnair and Qatar Airways belonging to the same alliance.
Our early-morning layover at Doha was scheduled to last about 2 hours. It was a bit more, as our Doha-Singapore connection was delayed.
The pilot of the second connection was not able to catch up the delay, but nobody could blame him for a lack of effort. Our ascent to the cruising altitude was the quickest I have ever experienced, and obviously near the maximum of the plane; enough to make my wife a bit nauseous. The turbulent weather at Doha and Singapore were not very cheering, either.
2019 Apr 13-14 - Singapore
Singapore was all those things its fame told: Busy, spotlessly clean, modern, smoothly functioning, and under all-pervasive surveillance and control.
We were still in the plane-to-terminal walkway, when we already met staff pointing IR cameras at us to detect feverish sickness, and telling us to take headgear off for imaging.
The lobbies and aisles of the terminal building were so polished that the floors shone like mirrors. Cleaners were busy at work. If a passenger as much as coughed a bit, he was provided with a mask in a rush.
WC bins were not equipped with the same cockpit dashboard as they are in Japan, but they did have technology. A sensor measured whether the user was seated, and whether he had already relieved himself. The status was indicated by blue light (present) and red flashing light (flush now!). The flushing was also triggered automatically to save the user from shameful - and probably expensive! - consequences of forgetfulness.
Passport verification queue took its time, but our bags were reliably collected for pick-up to make room on the belts for the next arrivals.
We had a longer-than-minimal layover at Singapore, as we were to meet our clergy friends, the Kastepohja couple, whom we were not able to meet in Finland. We were taken to their Singapore home by their car. The above image has been photographed from the balcony of their apartment.
Singapore is a small country with limited resources. Its about 5.5 million people have to fit their infrastructure to the available 25 x 40 km area, knowing that it will not increase even if people do. It has to also house their traffic facilities, their farm space (whatever there is of it - nearly all their food is imported), and their forest, the only in-city jungle in the world.
In spite of their high population density they have to stay clean, mobile, and safe. This imposes on them requirements of which most other countries are free, and they have responded to those requirements in a very firm manner. Singapore is the land of rules, surveillance and control.
Untidiness is punishable by fine. Traffic is sternly controlled. A buyer of a building lot has 10 years to complete the building work. A car buyer must buy a 10 000 S$ (6600 €) license which expires in 5 years. That explains why all Singaporean cars are rather new and in good shape - expensive licensing leaves no market for cheap junk cars.
And for the information for anyone crazy enough to traffic drugs: Singapore has a death penalty waiting for them.
Singapore saves electricity. All wall sockets and extension cords are required by law to have an individual switch to prompt the users to comply. The toilet uses movement sensors for light (compulsory or not, I did not check).
Doors in this apartment have multi-mode locks, operable by a number code, a card, or a key.
Christianity is strongly present in Singapore. There are many churches and other Christian facilities. There are also Hindu temples.
The busy Singaporean lifestyle leaves no convenient time for cooking. Even breakfast is often eaten outdoors, preferably together with one's nearest or friends.
Singapore is the country of law and order. Feeding the birds costs 500 S$, with a possible addendum of littering charge. Block-of-flats have guards to control suspicious or off-rule people and activities.
Supermarkets in Singapore have a rather wide variety of many foodstuffs, especially fruit. Fruit can be surprisingly expensive in many Southeast Asian countries considering that they are locally produced.
At the time of writing this one Singapore dollar was abouit equal to 0.66 €.
Morning stroll. Visit to the riverside and market. Notice the mouth shield of the bakery vendor.
Preparing for the flight to Semarang, Indonesia. Singapore airport has something more comfortable than plastic chairs for you on which to wait your flight.
And even if you happen to be more demanding than an average tea buyer, I am still convinced that the tea shop has your taste covered at its back wall shelf.