Day 44: Cruise End & What We Learned in Singapore

Today, we disembarked from our home for the last seven days, the Costa Atlantica. We took a quick stroll around our familiar Chinatown before accepting farewell. First thing tomorrow (4:00 am!), we head to the airport en route to Seattle to visit friends. Cross your fingers that there are open seats on the flights there!

As a farewell to Asia, here are our Singapore take-aways:

- Disney needs to give more credit where credit is due. Mulan is based off of a true story.
- The crime rate is nearly nonexistent - for humans, that is. Monkeys, on the other hand, are the country's biggest criminals.
- Lamburginis are in abundance. So, if you'd like to see some really nice cars, just drive around one of the city carparks.
- Vocabulary lesson: Boot = trunk; carpark = garage; alight = exit; way out = exit; give way = yield.
- Heavy fines are the punishment for littering. This country's cleanliness is off the charts.
- It is illegal to sell gum, but you can chew it. You will be fined if you drop it on the ground, however.
- Bar none, friendliest country we have been to on this trip. Strangers will help without even being prompted, and local hosts will do everything they can to ensure you have a good time.
- Breakfast involves dinner food (fried rice, chicken, and beef stew).
- You don't tip here, not in cabs and not in restaurants.
- Lightning rods are placed on every house, as lightning is so frequent. Even the famous merlion now has its own rod, as it was struck by lightning two years ago.
- All buildings are made with cement because of the former UK rule.
- They drive on the left side of the road (which never failed to freak us out).
- When parking cars, everybody backs into the spots. No one pulls in.
- The two casinos in Singapore brought in more revenue than all of Las Vegas's casinos combined last year.
- The Singapore Flyer (ferris wheel) changed directions for feung shui purposes. After the change, its business improved.
- We can't get enough of orchids.
- Escalators follow the 'stand left, walk right' rule.
- Residents avoid the sun, as darker skin is associated with lower-level workers. Lighter skin shows a higher status in society.
- We don't understand why, but apparently some women stand on... and squat over... the toilet seats. Signs in the bathrooms discourage women from doing so.
- Only in Asia would you see advertisements for, "Is math TOO easy for your child? We'll challenge them here!"