A Short Visit to Singapore
Hey friends,
I wrapped up my 4-day stay in Singapore, after spending 20 hours in Tokyo.
I was struck by the differences between the two places. During a morning walk in Tokyo, I noticed people moving along the sidewalks silently; I could only hear the sound from the traffic, while Singapore felt more vibrant.
Below are a few more observations. I realized I ended up with more questions than answers — seems like a fascinating thing about travel.
1. The use of Chinese language is much more prevalent than I thought — in most cases speaking Mandarin works fine. Which is surprising because English is the primary language, but maybe not surprising because ~76% are ethnic Chinese. Will this trend continue? Younger generations seem to prefer English though.
2. Enjoy seeing temples and churches of different faiths coexist.
3. Everything feels so well arranged and organized — from public transportation to driving lanes and parking spaces, from hawker centers to shopping malls. The traffic is not bad at all.
I somehow don’t feel overwhelmed by the density of population either. Oh except for the “queues” — when asked what local people are like, my friend jokingly said they like to chase discounts and stand in the queue.
4. Seeing wildlife was a highlight of my trip. How do they manage to create an environment where animals can thrive too?
5. People told me Singaporeans are very good at being part of multi-national cooperates, but not so much at creating a startup or other creative work. Is this true? If so why?
And what makes people creative? Maybe easy access to nature and solitude play a part. For example I find it difficult to find a quiet place to walk.
6. Overall Singapore is a fascinating place to visit. Not to mention the food there — relatively inexpensive but high quality (like, wow, $6 Michelin one-star noodle).
This prompted me to pick up an amazing book Lee Kuan Yew: The Grand Master's Insights on China, the United States, and the World. Lee Kuan Yew’s clear thinking with simple language reminds me of Buffet and Munger. I’m still reading it but here are a few notes I took:
On travel and learning
When I travel…I am watching how a society, an administration, is functioning. Why are they good?…And the ideas come from not just reading. You can read about it, but it is irrelevant if you do not relate it to yourself…which I constantly do… You must not overlook the importance of discussions with knowledgeable people. I would say that is much more productive than absorbing or running through masses of documents.
On the importance of understanding history
History does not repeat itself in the same way each time, but certain trends and consequences are constants. If you do not know history, you think short term. If you know history, you think medium and long term.
On clear writing
What I want to discuss is the importance of simple, clear, written English. This is not simple…Arthur Koestler rightly pointed out that if Hitler’s speeches had been written, not spoken, the Germans would never have gone to war…
On being pragmatic
I do not work on a theory. Instead, I ask: what will make this work? If, after a series of solutions, I find that a certain approach worked, then I try to find out what was the principle behind the solution. […] I do not believe that because a theory sounds good, looks logical on paper, or is presented logically, therefore that is the way it will work out. The final test is life. What happens in real life, what happens with people working in a society.
On the diverse and interconnected world
No single power, no single religion, no single ideology can conquer the world, or remake it in its own image. The world is too diverse. Different races, cultures, religions, languages, and histories require different paths to democracy and the free market. Societies in a globalized world—interconnected by satellite, television, Internet, and travel—will influence and affect each other. What social system best meets the needs of a people at a particular stage in their development will be settled by social Darwinism.
End Notes
Alright, thanks for reading! I’m now in southern China staying with my parents and meeting friends and relatives — I haven’t been back for almost 4 years so everything gives me complicated feelings. I hope I can articulate more and share with you in the coming issues.
If you enjoyed it, I’d really appreciate it if you share it with a friend or two. And let me know if you have any thoughts.
Cheers,
Weichen