When SINGAPORE got its independence from MALAYSIA in 1965 it was a third world country with no natural resources and no exports. The leaders set out to make SINGAPORE a model country which they have done in the last 35 years and their focus continues to be planning to keep SINGAPORE "CLEAN & GREEN" in perpetuity.
Today we visited the HIGHLIGHTS OF SINGAPORE from the prospective of a SINGAPOREAN.
First we visited the URBAN REDEVELOPMENT CENTER which was developed to cope with poor housing and do planning.
STATUES AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF THE BUILDING
The URC is the branch of government that does all of the planning for the sustainability of SINGAPORE which includes the infrastructure as well as the housing complexes. Should you want to buy a house, the word house is used for what we would call an apartment, you need to discuss your intentions with someone at the URC and get their OK or if you want to live in public housing you need to qualify through the URC.
GRASSY AREA AT THE MARINA BARRAGE
FAMILIES IN THE AREA COME HERE TO PICNIC AND RELAX ENJOYING THE VIEW OF THE CITY
we actually saw a child flying a drone I guess kites are becoming a thing of the past especially in this futuristic country...
PICTURE OF THE BARRAGE / DAM
THE DAM IS A PART OF THEIR PLAN TOBE TOTALLY SELF SUSTAINING IN TERMS OF HAVING THEIR OWN WATER SUPPLY BY 2061.
LIONS THAT GUARD THE GATE AT THE LIAN SHUANG LIN MONASTERY
THE OLDEST BUDDHIST MONASTERY IN SINGAPORE
SMILING BUDDAH
THE PEOPLE IN SINGAPORE ARE PROUD OF THE FACT THAT THEY ARE FREE TO WORSHIP OR NOT AS THEY PEASE WITH RESPECT FOR EACH OTHERS BELIEFS SIDE BY SIDE
WE TOOK A TRAIN/SUBWAY (UNDERGROUND) RIDE ON THE LRT TO VISIT THE HOME OF MRS. LIN IN PUBLIC HOUSING IN THE OLDEST SATELLITE TOWN THAT ENCIRCLES THE CITY
The train station reminds you of an airport in the US it is light and airy and well organized. The train itself was clean & well lit & the people on the train were smiling and could not wait to help us or give us a seat.
WE, 21OF US, SQUEEZED INTO THE 950 SQ. FT. HOME ON THE 19TH FLOOR.
We could barely move. No a/c, I cannot describe the heat. Three people actually live in the apt. at this time. The family bought it for about $150,000.00 IN 1987 IT IS CURRENTLY WORTH ABOUT $800,000.00.
KITCHEN
"ONE PEOPLE ONE NATION" SINGAPORE
Some other information re: SINGAPORE..
It seems as though with all the planning it is the government that has everything totally under control...the following is just an idea of the environment that the citizens live in.
It is finable and against the law to chew gum in the streets.
It is finable and against the law if you eat or drink on a bus or on the trains.
SINGAPORE has 1% unemployment.
No welfare in Singapore.
The government will provide the unemployed with $500.00 toward workers re-training.
There is no minimum wage.
People can earn as little as $4.00/hr.
$2000.00 a month is an average wage.
People do no pay income tax if they earn less than $25,000.00 a year.
Sales tax is 7%.
Yearly taxes are paid on owning a car.
If you can afford to own a car you enter a bidding process to pay the gov. for the privilege.
It could cost anywhere from $5.00 to $90,000.00 before you even purchase a car.
The amount paid for the privilege depends on who is bidding, there are only so many slots for people to own cars available.
Once you own a car you need to register the area that you need to drive around in, i.e. from home to work.
You are also scheduled to drive during certain hours of the day or night.
License plates are color coded.
Should you want to drive out of your area/hrs. you need to by a sticker for $20.00 for that day.
Should you drive out of your area without a sticker you are charged with both "breaking the law" fineable by $5000.00 & "cheating the law" finable by $20,000.00.
From what I understand people are not born conformists but, once they break the law they become very good citizens...
Tomorrow PORT KLANG (KUALA LUMPOR)
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