I consider the International Attachment to Singapore one of the best thing to happen during my training period. After coming back from Bharat Darshan followed by subsequent attachments in Mumbai at BSE, NSE, SEBI, NSDL and IGIDR, the predominant mood was to lie low and take good rest in the Academy. So, when we set out yet again, the common refrain was..." Oh! It's not that exciting anymore to undertake further travels ". But we were proved wrong. That is...when you see a place as beautiful as Singapore.
The first marvel unfolded the minute we landed at Changi International Airport. I was so impressed I took time to submit the feedback form before catching another Air India flight on our return-leg writing..." This is the best airport I have seen so far ". When I opened my mail just after I got back I saw the mail from Changi Authority thanking me for the kind comments and also for the trouble I took to fill up the feedback. I say " What a system they have ! ".
The first three days were spent in the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore ( IRAS ) Tax Academy. The staff of IRAS took us through many of the things relevant to us and also things they wanted us to know. The next two days was a time well-spent at the Lee Kuan Yew School Of Public Policy ( LKYSSP ) at the National University of Singapore ( NUS ). Prof. Blaine Lewis took the initial sessions. Thereafter, Prof. Mukul Asher delivered lectures that were thought-provoking and rich in relevance. He epitomises what a gem knowledge is. Not to forget, the Co-Ordinator Ms. Luana Marie Chou was a pleasant personality who made excellent arrangements for everything.
The evenings did not put us to sleep soon. Even after a tiring day sitting for lectures 9 am to 5 pm at a stretch, retiring in our rooms was the last thing we would do. If it was not Little India or China Town where we headed for our dinners or shopping, it was Orchard Road where a bundle of huge malls awaited us. Another tricky thing we do everytime we look at something to buy was the conversion of prices from Dollar to Rupees through the use of our cell phones. It was fun to visit the nearby Velocity Mall at lunch-breaks during our attachment with IRAS. Even in NUS, we didn't desist from heading towards the Campus Shopping Centre in our free time.
The visit to Sentosa Island made a great outing. Entering the water holes and watching fishes and animals of many hues in the Aquarium was observing natural wonder at one of its best. The Dolphin Show tells that humans are not the only ones with intellect. The whole Island with beaches, Universal Studios Theatre, green jungle and mesmerising landscape was too good to be true. When we went to watch the ' Songs of the Sea " play and laser show, we were already smitten by how things just happen there. Night Safari on another evening where we saw domesticated and wild animals from all parts of the world, the local war dance and the animal show made a wonderful visit. I saw the Lion for the first time. Also the Hippopotamus and the Rhino and many other more.
Singapore is like a dreamland. I asked a friend, " Are you happy coming back to India ". He jocularly replied, " Yes....Singapore is like a dream. And I don't like to remain in a dream for a long time." There are no old-looking buildings. All look fresh and new. Drainage system is so good it looks more like a blue-print. And no horns in Singapore. People don't honk. Pedestrians are given utmost importance. All vehicles give way to a pedestrian waiting to cross at the right point. There is excellent local transport. Taxis, Bus of different kinds, the metro ( they call it MRT there), mono-rail, etc. Initially, I thought Singapore would be a land of sky-scrappers. I was wrong. There are more trees, greenery and open spaces than in many other places. The people are lively, cheerful and friendly. Of all the places I have seen so far, Singapore is " Paradise on Earth".
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