Hong Kong International Airport should be renamed Hong Kong International Luxury Mall. Its slogan could be, "And we fly airplanes too!" It is the 11th busiest airport by passenger count (ATL is #1), but I wonder what its gross shopping volume is. HKG has sizable boutiques of every conceivable luxury designer across fashion and jewelry that would put nearly all shopping centers to shame.

I am checked into the Four Seasons Hotel Singapore and was fortunate to receive a complimentary room upgrade (worth $58 per day). The city deserves its reputation for being incredibly clean, safe, and modern. Impressively, the city is covered in trees and other green living things. I was so paranoid about the country's draconian laws that I refrained from jaywalking until I saw several natives execute it casually. The penalty for jaywalking ranges from S$20 to 3-months' jail time.

Drug possession of cannabis or narcotics is punishable by death, which the Republic of Singapore (my 14th country visited) is apparently proud of because this warning was repeated aloud as the airplane was landing. I wonder if this last-minute warning has ever convinced a would-be offender to reconsider his actions. . .

The city-state is extremely vigilant on enforcing littering and spitting fines, unlike in the U.S., where I have not ever heard of an instance of punishment.

I went to a Subway for a quick bite and noted that the price was 45% higher than in the U.S. At a 7-Eleven store, I bought a pack of Skittles and a bottle of vitaminwater for $1.49 and $2.35, respectively. I walked through ION Orchard, observing that luxury goods were priced significantly higher than in the U.S.

On the bright side, taxicabs are cheaper than one would expect. In Las Vegas, the base rate is $3.30 and incremental miles run at $2.80. In Singapore, the base rate is $2.47 and incremental miles run at $0.69. The most amusing part about the taxicab fare sign is the listed capacity of the vehicle. An adult is defined as a person who is at least 12 years old; everyone else is considered a child. The car I rode was a normal 4-door, 5-passenger Toyota sedan. The sign noted that the cabriolet would accept as the maximum:

1) 1 adult + 4 children
2) 2 adults + 3 children
3) 3 adults + 2 children
4) 4 adults
5) 6 children.


Miles flown year-to-date: 40,476.
Baggage fees year-to-date: $159.