Transcription
In this tiny little country, they fine you for everything. You want to fish in the river, 3000 dollars fine. Littering, 2000 dollars. If you chew gum, you might find yourself facing legal consequences, such as being sent to prison. Some may find it too extreme, but the outcome is a highly organized and exceptionally sanitary region. We can't deny the impact of such meticulousness. The architecture is of another level, the public transportation is very modern. It often feels like living in a futuristic society in many aspects. Join me on this impromptu adventure through Singapore.
Greetings, we find ourselves in Singapore, which stands out as one of just three countries worldwide that have only one city within its borders. Despite its small size, this affluent territory boasts a remarkably high rate of homeownership, with an estimated 90% of its citizens owning their own residence. Known worldwide for its impressive architecture, bustling airport, and extravagant lifestyle, this city also has a reputation for its bizarre laws that can lead to severe consequences. For example, did you know that in this country it is illegal to chew how do you do it? Just as you hear it, chewing a piece of gum, a buvalo, a piece of motita gum, for chewing one of these delicacies in the street, you could be fined very high. If you are found running an illegal operation involving importing and distributing chewing gum, the penalties could be severe, reaching up to 100,000 Singapore dollars, equivalent to about 70,000 US dollars, along with a possible prison sentence of up to two years. Olo, borgo, what a bummer, I just wanted to get rid of my onion breath and it turns out that now they are going to put me in jail. That is something I want to see right now when we are walking around and so on, because it seems very ridiculous to me, I don't know. Something tells me that it is not entirely true, now let's go into detail.
This is my first time visiting this country. It will be, in fact, something very brief, very quick. And in fact, it has happened a little bit by accident. I will summarize quickly. I was just here on a stopover, on my way to India. That was supposed to be my destination, but at the drop of a hat I had problems with my visa, they wouldn't prove it to me, I was waiting, at the drop of a hat they rejected it. I didn't plan on being here, but let's make the best of it. Let's take this chance to get to know each other, create a spontaneous video, and possibly produce some engaging content together. We started this video in The Bay area, the bay, a very modern area, full of buildings, lots of technology. All that I have observed up to this point appears highly developed and sophisticated, reflecting a strong infrastructure characteristic of first-world countries. Let's embark on an impromptu exploration of Singapore, a nation known for its striking architecture, strong economy, and strict regulations. Join me on this spontaneous mini-adventure! Let's get to it.
To begin with, let me explain the concept of Singapore being a city-state. What does it mean? Well, without getting too complicated, just as it sounds, there are only three countries in the world that have only one city. These are Monaco, the Vatican and Singapore. When you arrive here, it's different from other places where you might just check off a country like France from your list of visits. And what did you see? No, I saw Paris and I saw Leon and blah blah blah. I went to Mexico, and what did you do? I went to Monterrey, Guadalajara, blah blah blah blah. No, when you say: I went to Singapore and they ask you: And what did you see? You say: Singapore. There are no cities, but there are many different areas, neighborhoods, etcetera. And this has allowed them to be one of the most urbanized countries in the whole planet. Let's see, it is also a small country. Its territorial extension is smaller, for example, than Mexico City, but they have managed to do it very well. They have a very fruitful economy, and you can tell just by taking a walk down the street. Everything feels very top-notch, very well structured. This here is the local currency, the Singaporean dollar, Singaporean, I don't know how to say it. Each Singapore dollar is equivalent to the date I am recording, approximately 0. 77 American dollars, roughly equivalent to 14 Mexican pesos. Yes, it is an expensive currency and it tends to remain fairly stable.
Today, Singapore's population stands at around 6 million individuals. Of these, about 3.5 million hold citizenship, with passports to prove it. Additionally, there are roughly half a million permanent residents, while the remaining 2 million consist of migrant workers performing various odd jobs. This region has four recognized official languages within its borders. These are English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. English is the language that is actually spoken by everyone from a very young age, and it is imposed on children. It is also a country with a lot of migrants, so to communicate with each other, English is everywhere. Malay is, so to speak, the national language, because Singapore, until about 70 years ago, something like that, used to be part of Malaysia, so that cultural heritage remained. Mandarin Chinese, because there is a massive Chinese community here. There are a lot of people who speak it, you see a lot of Chinese signs in the streets. And Tamil, because this is an Indian language. There is a large Indian community here and yes, you also see a lot of signs written in Sanskrit on the streets.
A curious fact, rather silly, but interesting, is that here in Singapore is said to be the most beautiful Apple store in the world. It's this one behind me and it's really nice. See, it's made like this on an artificial island, a very futuristic glass sphere. It does look expensive. It looks like they invested a lot of money to make it. But now, it's such a big downer, what a mess. You can't enter through here, through the little bridge, through the ramp. It says that I have to enter the shopping center and take a passageway, which is quite impressive. I mean, it means it's a passageway that goes under the water. I was curious. I want to see that passageway, which probably cost millions of dollars. I've already entered the mall. Wow, this thing is massive, it's huge, many levels, glass elevator, it's very cool. In fact, a lot here in Singapore is like that, like modern construction, shopping malls, consumerism. For instance, I am currently working on a video showcasing the incredible airport here, one of the largest and most advanced in the world. The scale and design of the airport are truly awe-inspiring. And could it be that this is where we are underwater? Now let's take a quick look. Basically, all that part of the store is what would be underwater. Currently, we are ascending on the escalators towards the impressive glass sphere. It's a fascinating experience. Holy cow, this thing is insane! What an impression! This is what the Singapore Apple Sphere looks like on the inside. Indeed, very modern, very expensive, very surprising. Okay, it's really cool. It deserves the title of the most beautiful Apple store in the world. Let's move on.
See what an interesting fountain it is, like an hourglass, let's call it. So, the water is falling as well as the curves, the curvatures. Then, a jet falls and right there there are people taking boat tours, like a 21st century Venice, indoors, with air conditioning. Yes, it is very hot outside, the truth is, I understand, because people live it here. Very much like Dubai, like Qatar is reminding me of this, it gives me those vibes. How are the bus stations here? Very comfortable with the little roof, in case it's raining, for the sun. Spacious, the buses are very punctual, everything is very well indicated. The subway system is known for being very efficient and reliable. Just now I saw a double-decker bus arriving, it looked like a tourist bus, but no, this is a normal bus, just like public transportation. An incredibly convenient feature is the ability to pay for both the bus and subway using your smartphone with Visa, American Express or Apple Pay. No need for a special card - simply tap and go with your preferred payment method. That's extremely convenient. And another little thing that I am seeing here at the station that is really catching my attention, is to see how people leave their bicycles without any kind of lock. And the fact is that Singapore is indeed one of the safest countries in the world. According to some data, it is believed to be among the top three safest countries in terms of low crime rates. Reportedly, even bicycles are seldom stolen, prompting curiosity from some as to the underlying reasons, which may be unsettling to certain individuals. Number one, because And clearly here the number of population is quite small, as well as the territorial space. Therefore, everything might be a little bit easier, quote unquote, to police. And number two, because here the justice system is strict. Committing small crimes such as stealing a bicycle, robbing an individual, or snatching a phone from a backpack. These acts may seem minor, but they still have a significant impact. All of this could have very serious consequences. It is even said that here in Singapore it is still practiced, that criminals who commit serious offenses are beaten with sticks. And then there is the fact that it is estimated that there are more than 200,000 security cameras in Singapore. No matter where you are, you're always going to be watched, there's always going to be a camera watching you. Now, the question arises: who is monitoring my actions and where are they doing it from? They are experts at concealing themselves, but it's common knowledge that there are no secrets here and criminals aren't pampered with affectionate treatment.
Here in Singapore, gambling is legal and there are two massive casinos that are open 24/7. However, it is a curious fact that local residents are required to pay exorbitant fees in order to obtain access. These fees amount to 100 US dollars per day, totaling 3000 dollars annually for frequent visitors. Quite expensive, right? However, the main purpose for this measure is to deter the prevalence of gambling addiction within society. Well, gambling is something extremely dangerous, it is not a joke at all. People get into debt, people get depressed, people are devastated. So, that is why if you come as a tourist, you can just show your passport, that you are not from here, and enter freely. Please hand over your money to us - we're eager to have it. However, if you are a resident, they will introduce a minor limitation to give you pause for thought before proceeding.
One of the most popular attractions in Singapore is Gardens by the Bay, known for its iconic super trees that make it a favorite spot for photography enthusiasts. I had witnessed their presence often on social media platforms, in magazines, and other sources. And yes, they are very beautiful in person, they are quite tall, they have natural plants, which I did not expect, I thought they were all fake, all metallic. The garden, also known as the park, is incredibly beautiful. It's a public space where you can enter for free. There are designated areas for working out or just sitting and unwinding, making it a great place to relax. I found out during my research that this park was built at a cost exceeding one billion US dollars, which is equivalent to more than a billion dollars. The park is estimated to cost around 50 million dollars a year to maintain, but this massive investment The annual investment for this attraction is substantial, but not without reward. It is believed that in the 13 years since its opening, approximately 90 million visitors have passed through its doors, including the time when this video was filmed. So, yes, of course they have spent, of course it has been an investment that would put even the most powerful in debt, but it has been returned to them in everything that involves spending on tourism, hotels, restaurants, consumption in general. And yes, many people come to see them, the park is quite active. At night I know they have a show of lights and music and so on. We will get to see it like this, in broad daylight, green and beautiful. I just saw something that caught my attention, and that is that in this park they don't have peacocks, as in many parks, so nice parks. Here they release roosters, roosters to walk. There they are as if nothing, walking well relaxed. I suggest you avoid interacting with any aggressive roosters, as they can peck quite hard. Fun fact: This greenhouse is considered one of the largest glass greenhouses globally. I also noticed that there are like several electric trolleys that go through here. It kind of goes a lot with the narrative of this city, like Singapore likes to sell itself as an eco-friendly, sustainable supercity. And yes, they kind of promote that kind of practice a lot.
One potentially disturbing aspect of Singapore is that in this territory prostitution, the selling of sexual services, is completely legal. As you may have heard, prostitutes are allowed to operate with full authorization from the authorities. However, there are certain conditions and limitations that come with this permission. Allow me to clarify, in simple terms, that an individual can legally engage in the selling of sexual services as long as they adhere to certain regulations such as undergoing regular medical check-ups, paying taxes, and so on. But the fact of having, for example, a padrote or a madrota, a person who manages, who exploits, who charges absurd commissions, that is punishable by law, that is punishable by law and the authorities are constantly supervising. In fact, there are houses of prostitution that have permits that are very officially numbered and periodically the police go to check how they are working, how they are operating, how they are taking their exams, their medical examinations, etc. If they find anything strange or extremely punishable, the police are constantly supervising them. If they find something strange or very punishable, very hard years in jail, fines in the millions of millions, but as long as things are kept well, in order, everybody is happy, everybody is clean, everybody is paying taxes, in theory there should not be any legal complications. The legalization of this practice for several years has been aimed at preventing negative aspects such as human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and other horrendous issues commonly associated with this industry. By regulating it, it is hoped that these dark practices can be avoided. It was surprising for me to find out that the legality of prostitution is not seen as a major hindrance, but rather as a preventive measure against potentially more serious problems.
When I came across this information, I was fascinated because I had wrongly assumed that in Singapore, being an Islamic country, there would be different viewpoints on such matters. Why, on their very flag they have the crescent moon, which I thought was pertaining to Islam. However, upon conducting my research, it became apparent that the moon on the flag does not hold any religious significance. Instead, it is a symbol of the crescent moon, representing eternal youth. The five stars symbolize the values of the nation, making the flag much more intricate in its meaning. Although surprising, it is worth noting that in this non-Muslim country, prostitution is fully legal. It goes to show how initial assumptions can be completely off the mark.
One thing that really struck me is that you don't see any trash on the street. You rarely see such as any.... For example, here's a garter. No, it's like the big garbage on the streets here. And it turns out that this, the fact that the city, country, is kept so clean, is due in large part to the very strict laws that we've already discussed. It turns out that if a policeman sees you littering on the street, the fines can be up to 2000 Singapore dollars. That's about 1500 US dollars, 30 000 Mexican pesos for throwing your Coke on the street. Furthermore, I have been exploring the consequences if you are caught littering again. If you continue to repeat this behavior, you may not only face another fine, but also be mandated to participate in community service. This could involve cleaning the streets while wearing a vest that boldly declares your actions, labeling you as a litter bug, a pig, and ultimately, an inconsiderate individual. So, they resort to this public humiliation, like this: See, I littered and that's why I'm on the street right now. You are afraid of being judged and that is why everything is kept so clean. Look, I don't know, we see, but we don't judge. The reality is that the result is very positive, everything looks very clean.
One of the interesting regulations in this area specifies that if you fail to flush the toilet after using a public restroom and leave waste behind, you could face a fine of 100 dollars. In addition, if you use someone else's wifi without authorization, you may be subject to a penalty of up to 10,000 dollars or even a possible three-year imprisonment. Let's see, I guess this is very much related to all the cybersecurity laws and so on. You can access a lot of private, confidential information if you have access to a wifi network that's not yours. So, to protect against all this, against hacks, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, it's imposed by law in a very abrupt way. And if this toilet-pulling thing, really, is good, I think we need it in more parts of the world. Because I would dare to say that in 90% of the planet you go to a public restroom and it's horrible, it's disgusting, it's terrible. Let's unite for a world with more dignified public restrooms.
Well, let's try the subway system. I think it's good to give us an idea. By the way, I laugh a lot here at the subway rules they tell you? Let's see, no smoking, no eating or drinking, no flammable things and no durian. Very well specified, no durian, do not open it. Durian is this very smelly fruit that we have already tasted before in the channel. Good memes that have come out of this great video. Yes, it smells really bad, it smells like garbage. So, good for Singapore, which specifies that you can not eat this fruit in the subway because it is that heavy, it is pungent. Do you know what we still have to test? The chewing gum thing. I just came across a 7-Eleven. Could it be true that they do not sell the chewing gum that is forbidden in the whole country, or is it an exaggeration of the social networks of the press? Let's see, let's see, I am very curious. Well, I see that there are a lot of mints, okay? A lot of mints to suck, right? To chew, etcetera. But chewing gum, it's not like that. I see that there are also some gummies, I see that... Ah, no, yes, there are many mints of many kinds, but chewing gum as such. I think this could be it. Let's see, because it just says Chewy Sweets, that is, it never says chewing gum. Sorry, chewing gum you have? No chewing gum. No chewing gum. No buy also, cannot sell also. Oh, really? Yes. Can not eat also. Oh, really? That's true? Yes. In Singapore, no chewing gum. Yes, thank you. Okay, okay, thank you. Well, I don't know if you could hear it with my microphone, but yes, the lady told me clearly. No chewing gum, cannot buy all of Singapore, she told me: How funny that is. Indeed, it is true, quite interestingly, may I ask - what exactly have I purchased? Let me inspect, let me uncover my purchase, whatever could it be? Ah, behold. Could it possibly be a piece of chewing gum? Resembling a sweet gum that you can ingest, without the need to dispose of it. I initially thought this was an overstatement, but it actually turned out to be accurate. The ban on chewing gum in Singapore supposedly stems from around 1992 when the prime minister aimed to improve the cleanliness of the nation. The story behind this prohibition suggests it was part of the effort to tidy up the country. He noticed that there was chewing gum everywhere. People were sticking their used gum on the subway, on the walls. So he said, "You know what, guys? Nel, that's it. You don't know how to eat gum, you don't know how to put it on a piece of paper and throw it away. You're all pigs, so I'm taking that right away from you. No more gum. It is also said that if you have chewing gum in your suitcase, when you arrive as a tourist, they can take it away. And let's see, the simple fact of chewing it in the street does not mean that this is illegal. That is to say, it is not really going to bring you a fine if you are chewing it, but it can bring you a fine if you throw it away, if you throw it on the street or if you stick it on a wall or on public transportation. Now, just like I mentioned in the opening of the video, if you were to get caught running an illicit chewing gum operation on Instagram—specifically selling gum imported from Latin America—you could face prosecution. It's unbelievable, but it's true; you could end up in jail for something as seemingly harmless as selling gum, similar to drug trafficking. So, if someday you come to Singapore, be careful with your chewing gum, be careful with your chewing gum, because you could have consequences. And well, while we are at it, as well as trafficking chewing gum, obviously trafficking drugs of any kind could land you in jail for life. Life is extremely grave and unpleasant. The use of drugs is strictly prohibited here, do not even consider it. Chewing gum is seen as just as serious as illicit substances in other nations. Our laws are at that level.
You see, as I mentioned at the beginning, to enter the subway you don't need a card or anything. Not just like that, check. Visa, so and so, so and so. How convenient, isn't it? It is very good. I liked the subway system, I liked it a lot, it feels very modern, it feels very orderly, very efficient. I captured it during peak traffic, allowing me to witness how people truly utilize it in their daily routine. I was very struck by the fact that the cars, at least the cars I took, did not have a human driver, they are all remotely operated. Crazy, that thing. I was also very struck by the fact that, let's see, I recorded this, but I saw children, little kids, little kids, just like that, alone in the subway as if nothing had happened. It tells you a lot about the security of the territory. And also one thing that is striking is, in fact, the number of cameras there are. You look at the ceiling and there are cameras everywhere, covering every angle. Well yes, I imagine that's how they keep being such a country, so tidy, so clean, so everything. I liked it, good subway system. And let's see, I feel that in this video we have focused a lot on the areas as super modern, super new, so, so, so, so, so. But to at least get a taste of something different, I went for a walk in the Indian neighborhood. Here it's called Little India, to see more or less how life is here and so on. Right now I'm walking through a little market. I'm not very familiar with this place, I'm just exploring the area to see what I can find. I want to see how clean the streets are compared to other areas. It's just a way to get a sense of the surroundings and see what stands out. To have a small sampling at the very least. How funny that yes, it smells like Indian here, it smells like this species, what is it called? Mazala, it kind of smells like that. Look, if India didn't let me enter their country, it's because of the visa. That one, walking around here is cool, it does indeed feel very Indian. What do you think about using this sign to instill fear? It conveys: A brief instance of anger leads to a lifetime of remorse. Punishment for voluntarily causing harm, imprisonment up to two years and also a fine of up to 5000 dollars. Orale, so you're not here playing alphas. Not here, no playing "no está chido". Oh, look how funny, basically eating at a table here and leaving your garbage, is it punishable by law. Here this sign tells you, no table littering. So, this is what we see in many places, that you go to the small square and eat and leave your things there and leave. Here, even by law, that's why they are so clean. Well, the Indian neighborhood is cool, I really like it. It feels very lively, very colorful, lots of businesses. It smells, yes, of Indian spices, totally. Similarly, just like the other streets we have observed, this street also maintains impeccable cleanliness and tidiness, reflecting the same high standards seen throughout the area. What you do see suddenly a lot on the street are shoes, because as there are suddenly temples, people take off their shoes before entering to pray. It's cool, it's cool, I liked it. And indeed, just like anywhere else, there are countless cameras all around. Signs can be found everywhere, warning that there are cameras present, to discourage any attempts at being clever by the band members, I presume. The bus stations here are just as impressive as the others we visited, with the transportation system being equally efficient and modern. Yes, it's not just a matter of the top areas that we were seeing, apparently, it's something general.
I'm tired, really, I'm exhausted, it's already late at night. What a productive day this has been. Singapore is great, very unexpected to be here, but it has been enjoyable. And then we will be back to explore more in depth. At the moment, it is true that our initial impression was quite positive and enjoyable. How did you see it, what did I fail to mention, what else would you have liked to know? I'll read them down here in the comments. Thanks for joining me for one more adventure. I will see you like always, you know, in a couple of days with a fresh video. Farewell.