For photos of Singapore's Chinatown click here

It is the "Chinatown", an ethnic neighbourhood featuring distinctly Chinese cultural elements and a historically concentrated ethnic Chinese population. So don't aspect a relaxed calm area, - businesses are open & lively with lots of people. Chinatown is located within the larger district of Outram. The district does retain significant historical and cultural significance. Large sections of it have been declared national heritage sites officially designated for conservation by the Urban Redevelopment Authority.

Niu che shui, literally "bull-cart water" as a result of the fact that, because of its location, Chinatown's water supply was principally transported by animal-driven carts in the 19th century. The name is also echoed in the Malay name, Kreta Ayer, with the same meaning.

After I do not consider myself as a "shopper" and more a observer I was not too much effected by all tis hassle and dassle. So we went straight for the restaurants. And of them there are plenty. First we bumped into one with nice spice food.

After the lunch OH needed her obligatory search in a vast variety of dry goods & food items. To my surprise the vendors often reduced their price to a very reasonable before she even attempted to barter! I'm always embaressed when she begins her bargenings. Also it take ages for one €uro or two.

Luckly there are so many teahouses and news-paper-stands to follow up with some off the latest news by reading a good ole fashioned print. 

Then, I've found a tailor in this Chinatown. He spoke German. He offered a suit tailoirmade for a price I would not get a ordinarry stajndard suit. For those who want to have something individual it could be a good idea to buy the fabrics in Arab Street, bring it to this tailior and after two days the piece can be picked up at the tailior.

In the evening we then opted for one restaurant with the typical strong flavored Chinese cuisine. Anyway, it is a good idea nice to visit these restaurants with friends so you could try more type of Chinese foods with a reasonable price.

The whole day was gone very fast. 


 

to see photos of the show click here

Singapore is the No.1 center in Asia for aerospace maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO). This is making Singapore to the place to be for most international air carriers.



Another aspect is that defense spending in Europe and the US is being held back as governments look to rein in spiraling debt levels to cope with the financial costs of their wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. So defense manufacturers are looking to Asia. The Middle East, India and the entire Asia-Pacific region are becoming increasingly important to military suppliers.

Singapore is also world-wide known for never accepting any bribes or being drawn into constrains caused by corruption. Memories of the Barings Bank case where still fresh. The Bank had send their derivatives broker, Nick Leeson, to Singapore after he was denied a broker's license in the United Kingdom because of fraud on his application which lead in the aftermath to the collapse of the bank in London.

ince then Singaporean authorities are careful and despite Asian Aerospace is an international trade fair for the aerospace business Singapore needed to be in control over who the Asian Aerospace is being designed. The exhibition was held in Singapore since 1981 until disagreements between a co-organizer and Singapore Technologies in 2006. The co-organizers, Reed Exhibitions, where forced to relocate in 2007.

From 2008, Reed Exhibitions decided to move Asian Aerospace from Singapore as they did not agree with Singapore's Government for a new 24-hectare permanent exhibition at the site at Changi Airport. Reeds was still negotiating for a new location to gain tools to pressure for the implementation of its demands, Singapore's government took a stance and simply announced its organizing its own Singapore Air-show from 2008 in the absence of Asian Aerospace.