AS A long-time admirer of Singapore, may I issue a well-meant warning that - well, bluntly, I think you've been carried away with your own success, and may be riding for a fall.
On a recent visit, I was disappointed to find more to dislike about Singapore than to like.
I formed the impression that Singaporeans have become grudging hosts to the tourists who are their lifeblood, and in a sense, seem to have developed an attitude towards them bordering on disdain, if not contempt.
I experienced this attitude on the street, in the shopping arcades, and in dealings with, for example, fellow diners, hotel reception staff, and specially among fellow passengers on the MRT.
Gone is the Singapore atmosphere I once knew so well, the hail-fellow-well-met friendliness, the welcoming smiles, the general good cheer and spirit of goodwill. The smiles have been replaced by a hard, cold stare.
I must admit my mood was soured from the outset by the music that kept my wife and me awake every night in our first-floor hotel room throughout our five-day stay - music that came and went in waves of noise, and sent me out into the corridor nightly to try to find if neighbouring guests were holding a private karaoke session.
On our last night, we were so racked by lack of sleep, I went down to the lobby to complain - and discovered that the source of the racket was an all-night bar in Kramat Lane where, it turned out, a pimp, and his 'stable' of two tattooed blonde trollops plus his two stand-by drivers were listening to the music and having the odd drink as they awaited calls from their punters.
Imagine my feelings when, promptly at 6am, the music stopped, the bar closed down, and the pimp and his two girls boldly walked into the lobby of our hotel - and caught the lift to their suite where, presumably, they would then sleep the day away after having ruined the night's sleep of their fellow guests on the lower floors opposite the bar.
My 5.30am call to the police resulted in a belated appearance by a sergeant and constable about 10 minutes after the bar closed. Had trouble getting transport, they explained. Hm...
Our hotel was grossly over-priced, and its 'continental' breakfast bordered on pigswill.
Thanks for the memories, Singapore - the old memories.
