by
Travelin' Tony T (Editor @ Large)
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It's
night on the River now (yes I've moved since I started this
article). I'm mellowing to the sounds of a Caribbean band
in Clarke's Quay, one of Singapore's most touristy areas.
And in keeping with the full fusion of this global community,
I am sharing the same dockside deck with locals and travelers
from the Eastern U.S., Australia, Europe and various other
population pockets. Night brings out everyone, in search of
his or her own piece of Asian Tropicana. Those same buildings,
awe inspiring by day (did the singer just say Day O !), stretch
across the starry sky in lit magnificence. |
It's
"Happy Hour", and as far as I can tell, everyone is happy, yours
truly included ! The evening air cools and you're sure to get lured
in to one of the Quay's many watering holes by the aggressive, but
friendly hosts that stand in front of their patios and invite passersby
in for a libation (or a jug of them). Here at "Lux", Operations
Manager Mr. Harris coordinates his team with amazing precision.
His hands fly and his head swirls as he signals his staff like a
baseball manager tightening up the infield. Try one of the local
specialties like a Pina Colada made right in a fresh coconut, chopped
before your eyes. Pineapples also make handy drink containers here.
Ask for Mr. Harris, he'll have a "good table for you !"..
Other
popular night spots along the river include "Rum Runners" at Boat
Quay, where Jugs are sold at varying prices depending on the hour
of the day, but are quite reasonable starting @ $11.00. You'll pay
$30.00 just down the Quay at "Harry's", but the extra cost is worth
it just for the entertainment. Tonight it is an amazing R&B/Blues
female vocalist belting out everything from Aretha to Ella. The
mostly expat crowd is making the most of their Friday night, and
their platinum cards.
There
is a service charge applied to many goods here, including
food and beverages. Be careful of restaurant and bar prices
advertised with +++ after them. The pluses stand for taxes
and surcharges. The usual is 10% service charge (similar to
a built in gratuity) and 1% surcharge. There can also be other
government taxes added depending on the goods purchased. Nett
is usually how they refer to something being "all inclusive"
of these extra charges. So a $20 meal can run you closer to
$25 if you take the extra fees in to account. Because of these
extras, tipping is infrequent, except during Chinese New Year
(mid Jan). At that time, expect to pay extra for everything
from a hair cut to a shoeshine. It's akin to adding your "Christmas
bonus" directly in to your services. As always, buyer beware.
Building
gratuities directly in to purchases is an efficient way of
ensuring everyone gets their piece. Efficiency is something
Singapore is very proficient at. Because of its extremely
modern mentally, the country has adapted Asian technology
to automate many of its government services.
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The
Public transit system is a triumph of techno-efficiency. The
MRT (subway lines) and buses accept electronic fare cards
that can be "filled up" with transit credits directly from
your own bank. Simply insert your ATM card in the machine,
punch in your PIN number and top off your transit debit card.
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