Singapore: Where the Future Is Clean, the Food Is Legend, and Chewing Gum Is a Federal Crime

Welcome to Singapore, a tiny island nation so hyper-efficient, spotless, and high-tech that visiting feels less like going to another country and more like stepping onto a multi-billion-dollar sci-fi movie set.

It’s a place governed by strict laws, immaculate urban planning, and a legendary list of rules. This is the state where littering will cost you a fortune, jaywalking is treated like a grave offense, and importing chewing gum is practically considered smuggling high-level contraband. But in exchange for a few bizarre restrictions, you get a city so ridiculously safe and clean you could practically eat off the sidewalk.

Then there's the jaw-dropping contrast between nature and concrete. You can wander through Marina Bay Sands, marvel at giant artificial "Supertrees" that light up the night sky, and visit an airport with a waterfall inside—and then immediately escape to hawker centers where culinary grandmasters serve up Michelin-starred Chicken Rice and spicy Chilli Crab for less than ten bucks.

Between riding impeccably punctual subway trains, sweating profusely in the non-stop tropical heat, and ducking into air-conditioned malls every five minutes just to survive, Singapore is flashy, flavor-packed, and wonderfully unique. Just leave your gum at home, mind your manners, and prepare to have your mind blown by the best street food on earth!

September, 2013