Thailand vs. Singapore: The Great Debate

Our Southeast Asia adventures have taken us to two countries so far -- Thailand and Singapore -- and we can't help but compare the two and ask ourselves, "Which one do we prefer?" Jeng and I have different opinions on the matter but this is my blog so this is how I think they stack up:

Food
- Thailand: Complex curries, super spicy sauces and deliciously fresh fruit and seafood are staples of Thai cuisine. Combine that with the countless food vendors lining every street and corner makes Thai cuisine and tough competitor. But the danger of getting sick lurks around every corner since water in Thailand is not potable and my sensitive Western stomach fears the sanitary conditions of these tempting street stalls. Nevertheless, Thai food is unique, tasty and our U.S. versions are pale in comparison to the real thing. Score: 4/5
- Singapore: A hybrid of tastes from a mixture of sources -- Malaysia, China, Indonesia and India -- makes it difficult to say what exactly qualifies as native 'Singaporean' cuisine. One common answer is Chili or Black Pepper Crab. We quickly learned that the crabs themselves are Sri Lankan but the sauce is indeed unique to Singapore. Regardless of its official origin, this crab has spicy kick, crazy large claws and a delicious flavor we wish we could take home. We also wish we could export the hawker stalls that hide in many strip malls and popular areas. Sanitary (with A and B graded stalls), ecofriendly (reusable utensils) and ridiculously cheap ($1 drinks, $3 meals), the hawker stalls are the best deal in town, without a doubt. Score: 4/5
Outcome: Tie. But Thailand would win if street food was regulated and clean or my stomach wasn't afraid to handle it.

Culture & People
- Thailand: "Sawadee Ka/Krup!" greeted us (along with a polite bow) at every entrance of every hotel, store and restaurant. It's easy to feel welcome in Thailand where the people are friendly and helpful (and look just like Aunties and Uncles from the Philippines). Although the language barrier causes a divide and taxi drivers sometimes have questionable motives, most Thai people we met were helpful in giving us directions, food suggestions and assistance with Jeng's ailing foot. And culturally, the detailed architecture and unique traditions (e.g. shrines on every property) in many temples were impressive. Score: 5/5
- Singapore: Just like with its food, the Singaporean culture is a mixture of its people which come from all over the world. While most of the major signs and ads are in English, we also commonly find Malay, Mandarin and another language whose characters we have yet to identify. Walking the streets expands the list even further as we hear every language imaginable, including English in a variety of accents. Culture is just as hard to identify since common tourist destinations consist of shopping malls and Sentosa Island. (While we haven't been to Sentosa, it sounds like a mix of amusement parks and entertainment venues.) So while the language barrier doesn't exist, neither does a unique sense of identity. Score: 2/5
Winner: Thailand. But Singapore definitely gets credit for its diversity.

Shopping
- Thailand: ~30 baht = US$1 which makes everything cheap, cheap, cheap (with the exception of our hotel of course). It's hard to deny massages that cost a fraction of the price in the US. (And when combined with promotions like buy 1 get one free... well, we ended up with 3 hour spa sessions.) It's also hard to ignore the 6-story malls lined with stores that were equally inexpensive. (I got 3 pairs of shoes for less than US$10 each!) And then there are the street stalls too. Basically, any Westerner would be happy to come to Thailand where the dollar stretches far. Score: 5/5
- Singapore: There is one hobby everyone around the world enjoys -- shopping. Singapore literally feels like one shopping mall after another, with varying price levels, styles and size. Being the bargain hunter that I am, I have found far fewer deals than I'd hoped. I'm still surprised that clothes of Forever 21 quality are priced upwards of US$30. If I was judging on the volume of shopping options, Singapore would win this round but since I would need to be a little more wealthy to afford the goods here... Score: 4/5
Winner: Thailand (barely). If the exchange rate sways in favor of the US dollar, things could quickly change.

Other Stuff
- Thailand: We found Bangkok to be very similar to Manila -- traffic galore. But unlike Manila, Bangkok has a reliable, easy-to-use public transportation system (called BTS) and appeared much cleaner (not as many beggars or trash lining the streets). Jeng liked the 'grit' of Bangkok but being the sanitary-freak that I am, I could do without 'grit' in favor of food hygiene standards. Score: 3/5
- Singapore: The clean reputation of this city-state is reflected on every garbage can. (They say: Singapore - Litter Free.) There is hardly any litter to be found and even the rivers and waterways that often carry trash remnants have very little garbage. The government regulates hawker stands (and therefore any 'street food') and even car purchases/road flow to regulate traffic and ease congestion. (Basically you have to buy a government permit to buy a new car and you have to pay 'tolls' to go on busy streets during rush hour.) This country is clean, advanced and livable. While Jeng likes the 'grit' of Bangkok, I can see myself moving to Singapore. Score: 5/5
Winner: Singapore.

Final Score
Thailand: 17/20
Singapore: 15/20

While my totally subjective and completely arbitrary scoring system puts Thailand ahead of Singapore, in reality there is no clear winner. It all boils down to tastes and preferences. They are both awesome countries and we would be happy to spend more time in either location. Now, how will Indonesia stack up? We leave for Bali tomorrow night and will let you know where it stands soon.