I'm beginning to explore more of Singapore. I have now been to China Town, Boat Quay, and Orchard Road, as well as Little India, Kampung Glam, Raffles, Clarke Quay, and the Harbour Front. Orchard Road is the shopping mecca of Singapore. Huge shopping malls and department stores line the street, selling everything from designer shoes to knock-off watches and tourist t-shirts. There are a few good reasons to visit Orchard Road, primarily big book stores and movie theatres. Boat Quay is one of the more picturesque areas on the waterfront- it is across from the Asian Civilizations museum and is basically a row of restaurants with patio dining on the waterfront. China Town is just what you would imagine- a mini China squeezed into an 8 - 10 block radius. I loved it. There are cheap merchandise stalls, shops selling beautiful antiques, and a whole street of hawker stalls selling Chinese food. I want to go back at night because it looks like they block off the street and light paper lanterns all around.

An observation about Singapore: Singaporeans are super good at marketing. Everywhere you go there are advertisements and many are quite high-tech and catchy. In the underpasses on Orchard Road the walls are lined with billboards that change in perfect synchronization. The clubs at school must have so much money because their event posters are huge and poster-like with color pictures and advertising catch-phrases.