Singapore for Awhile

Traveling around the world is a slower process than I had originally imagined it to be (if it is to be done properly, that is). I am in Singapore now after completing a 2500 km bicycle tour of Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia. After that adventure, Singapore is comfortable to say the least (if you can look past the matrix-like bureaucracy of this form-fitted police state). Very clean, very organized, but not much in the way of creativity or innovation. Rules are rules here and no one steps over the yellow line on a subway platform because Big Brother is ever vigilant for such anti-social behavior.

I have seen so much contrast between China, Australia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and the rest of SE Asia! A few months ago I was riding through impoverished battle-scarred areas of Cambodia and now I'm zipping around in a futuristic wonderland. I think it would be safe to say that Asia holds some of the most diverse sets of institutions, economies, and cultures on earth. There will be so much change occurring in Asia in the next 20 years and I'm glad to have had a chance to see it before the modern world of global institutions transforms everything.

I have decided to stay in Singapore to hunt for an Ibanking job. Singapore has been a major hub for this part of the world ever since Sir Stamford Raffles landed in 1819 with the vision of creating a western outpost in the east. Despite its stifling environment, Singapore will avoid many of the future social-economic and political issues that will be exploding in Shanghai and Hong Kong in the future. HSBC and JP have made very significant in-roads in Shanghai with other banks knocking at the door from their bases in HK and Singapore. Singapore is a "back-door" to the rest of the Asian financial world so l am going to take advantage of it.

So that is the end of my travels for now. I have had so many irreplaceable experiences in the past 8 months. As expected, my view of this rock we all live on has changed forever. I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to take advantage of this transition period in my life that I think it is appropriate for me to thank the people who have supported me along the way. I want to thank my friends for emailing me their words of encouragement. There were days where the world looked so alien to me that I would struggle to venture out of my room to even go through the hassle of finding a meal. During those times I would check my email if I could, and be refreshed at news from home and laugh at the witty comments coming from those closest to me. Thank you for your motivation.

Family. The only reason I could start something like this in the first place was with the knowledge that I had someone to catch me if I stumbled, got robbed, or simply couldn’t take it any more. The family has been behind me the whole way and I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am for your love. It’s funny, but I think I feel closer to you since I left because I have had our happy memories occupying so much of my thoughts while I go down the road. It’s true that you can never fully appreciate something until it’s lost. I can’t wait to see you and hope you can come visit me in Singapore soon. Our next reunion will be like no other I’m sure.

I have had a great time posting these thoughts and I hope you have enjoyed reading them. As for this journal, I’m not entirely sure where it will go from here. This website will most likely change with me so we will see where it goes. I’ll know better in a few weeks.