Forget the politics, it's a lovely place with lovely people
By Pranay Gupte
1. The beautiful women of Orchard Road.
2. The energy, bustle and great roadside stalls of Orchard Road.
3. The really exceptionally pleasant service at stores.
4. Mezza Nine restaurant at the Grand Hyatt and its ebullient manager Mike.
5. The wonderful hawker food centers.
6. The museums, especially the ones on Asian art and heritage supervised by Ambassador Tommy Koh.
7. Borders Book Store.
8. The tightly crafted editorials in The Straits Times written by Mr. Chua Huck Cheng.
9. Little India and its scores of neighborhood restaurants, shops, and, of course, the legendary 24-hour department store, Mustafa's.
10. The consistent courtesy of policemen, immigration officials and government bureaucrats.
11. Funny commercials on television.
12. Ms Samia Ahad's Coriander Leaf restaurant on Clark Quay.
13. Getting foot massages at reflexology centers.
14. The greenery of the city.
15. The rain, which actually makes the place very romantic.