Singapore

However, note that the Chinese Opera Circle is not necessarily done every Friday and Saturday night. Some nights they have not bookings. Call ahead to make sure that they are going to perform.

While this guide was useful in all the mundane ways (accomodation, eating), I'm grateful to for the way it got me thinking about some of the less understandable aspects of Singapore. After a couple of days of walking around S'pore I began to wonder at the odd sense of artificiality about the place, and the strange way my hosts and others talked of the city-state. I was glad to be reffered to Stan Sesser's book *The Lands of Charm and Cruelty*, which told me of "the fear that even the best educated Singaporeans feel towards their government." I am also grateful to this guide for steering me towards Ian Buruma's essay "The Nanny State of Asia," in his book *The Missionary and the Libertine*, which went into a lot of detail about the police state behind the facade of Singapore's clean toilets, etc. The guide was useful in all practical matters, but by dealing with some of the unpleasantness that is the reality of Singapore, I came away with a better understanding of the place which grew increasingly creepy the longer I stayed. Lonely Planet Singapore is an excellent, thoughtful guide that did what it was supposed to do, yet also led me to other books which helped enrich my business trip. For understanding some aspects of Chinese behaviour in a business setting, I also recommend Bo Yang's *The Ugly Chinaman and the Crisis in Chinese Culture*. Paul Theroux's *Saint Jack* is a novel set in Singapore - though written in the 70's, I found the attitudes and actions of many of the characters still relevant to locals and expats of Singapore today.

I am about to move to Singapore and find the information in this guide truly exceptional. Everything is included in this guide: History of Singapore, Places of Interest, Local Foods and Flavors, Where to go Shopping, How to get Around, Where to Stay, etc. I've rarely found a guide of pocketsize filled with so much information.

Like all Lonely Planet Guides this one on Singapore is professionally compiled, well mapped, with lots of info on places to eat, stay and visit. I couldn't have enjoyed Singapore as much as I did without it. Travelling anywhere with a Lonely Planet Guide gives me a peace of mind. I am able to plan every day of my holiday and make the most of the time I spend there. It's very helpful that everything is categorized into various budget range.

This is an excellent book as Singapore is an excellent country. I wish I lived there after visiting. They really love their people and they keep them safe. I wish America would copy after Singapore.