Asian cities have always fascinated me… I was fortunate enough to live in Tokyo on and off for 4 years between 2000 and 2004 and fell in love with Asian efficiency, politeness and the way that things in Asia simply seem to ‘work’. Perhaps these feelings have been particularly flavoured by my last 6 years in Central and Eastern Europe where good service and friendly smiles are often few and far between.
Just yesterday I arrived into Singapore – my first time in the SEE region. It felt like coming home. Humid heat, not too hot, and fascinating fragrances that stimulate without intruding. My hotel, a collection of individual rooms stylishly carved out inside an early 20th century retail block is just a short walk to Chinatown – yes, fantastic food and colourful street dressing as you would expect ;0)
One thing which I had forgotten about surviving in Asian cities was the ‘eastern stroll’. More used to the London march, this morning left me in a pool of perspiration after just a short 15 minute walk to the financial district. Gotta get used to taking my time, proceeding at a more stately pace – perhaps more suited to a gentleman of the 18th century taking his daily constitutional, though no less necessary in this beautiful and adventurous corner of the world.
BD
