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Santa Threw Up on Orchard Road
By jeni | November 16, 2008
That’s what it looks like at least. In Singapore, almost 50% of the population is Buddhist and the rest is a large mix of Muslims, Christians, Taoists and Hindus, among other things. No matter though, because we will have Christmas!
They say Singapore is all about chilling, shopping, and eating, and I guess there’s no time like Christmastime to do all of those things. I was eavesdropping on a conversation at the dinner table next to us on Friday night (gimme a break, it’s impossible not to the way they had us packed in) and the two guys were talking about Singapore’s investment in Christmas decorations. Apparently it is pretty big, which is why they start decorating around here at the very beginning of November. Got to maximize the investment if you know what I mean, so it’s Christmas around here for a solid two months.
It is incredible. Every lamp post is a candy cane, every storefront covered in twinkling lights. I love it; if I’m sitting in a highly air-conditioned cafe I could almost almost look out the window and think I’m about to see snow. More than likely I’m just delusional and it’s actually the ever-increasing torrential downpours that mark the rainy season, but still. It just feels like Christmas.
The mass of people crowding into malls also feels a little like Christmas back at home in the U.S., what with the pushing and shoving and all of that, but I haven’t seen anyone come to blows over a Tickle-Me-Elmo just yet. Give it a few weeks though, from what I can tell this Christmas season has only just begun.
Camera-phone shots = not that great, but you get the idea.
Topics: culture clash, neighborhoods, Orchard Road, rain, shopping, sightseeing, Singapore events | No Comments »
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