Have you ever heard of Geylang in Singapore? That's an interesting place. Imagine that there are both temples and red light districts on a street, isn't it strange?
Singapore is a small country that is no slouch. It's a small place, but it's in a good location. Right next to the Strait of Malacca, it is an important link between the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
When it comes to Singapore's history, we have to start from a long time ago. Probably during the Three Kingdoms period, someone mentioned this place. At that time, it was called "Puluozhong", which means the island at the end of the Malay Peninsula.
Later, in the Ming Dynasty, people gave it a new name - "Temasek". That's an interesting name!
The name Singapore came later. It's been a lot of things. The British came, and the Japanese occupied. It was not until 1965 that it became truly independent.
When it comes to Singapore, we have to mention Lee Kuan Yew. This guy is amazing. Born in Singapore in 1923, he was smart from an early age. I went to the best school, and then I went to study in the UK.
Lee Kuan Yew became a lawyer after returning to China and quickly became famous. became the prime minister at the age of 36, do you say it's amazing?
After he came to power, Singapore began to grow rapidly. Lee Kuan Yew saw Singapore's geographical advantages and vigorously developed its foreign trade economy.
However, economic development has also brought some problems. Many foreigners come to invest in Singapore, and many of them are single men. You know what? The red light district has quietly developed.
Lee Kuan Yew was in trouble. Should these establishments be banned? If it is outlawed, it may cause more problems. Keep it, and I'm afraid of being gossiped about.
In the end, they decided to legalize the red light district. That is, the government allows these places to exist, but strictly manages them.
It is against this backdrop that Geylang has become the only legal red-light district in Asia. Interestingly, there is not only a red light district, but also many temples.
Can you imagine? The scene of a monk passing by a scantily clad girl. This is common in Geylang.
In order to manage these places, the Singapore government has also issued a "yellow card". Only foreigners can get this card, and it can only be used for two years. When you run out, you have to leave Singapore and you can't come back.
The Government also stipulates that the girls are subject to regular medical check-ups. This is done to protect everyone's health.
However, the reality is not as good as the government thinks. Some people don't follow the rules and secretly solicit customers on the streets. This makes it difficult for the government to manage.
The security of Geylang is also not very good. While Singapore is generally safe, there are frequent crime incidents in Geylang. Lootings and fights have happened.
What is even more surprising is that in Singapore, a country with zero tolerance for drugs, there are still people in Geylang who secretly sell drugs. The police often catch drug addicts here.
Geylang is a place of contradictions. It is both the bustling side of Singapore and the darker side of the country.
Speaking of which, Singapore's situation is also quite interesting. Sandwiched between the East and the West, it survives and develops like a "wall grass". The case of Geylang, to some extent, also reflects this.
Singapore's development is truly amazing. From a small fishing village to what it is now a cosmopolitan city. Its per capita GDP is high, and it is one of the best in the world.
However, behind the high-rise buildings, there is also an unknown side. Geylang is a good example. It tells us that even the most developed countries have their own troubles.
If you're visiting Singapore, check out Geylang. There are a lot of good things to eat there. I heard that the field chicken porridge there is particularly famous, so you can try it.
Be careful when you don't. While it's legal there, it's important to be on the safe side. After all, security there is not very good.
The Singapore government is also now looking for a way to solve the problem of Geylang. They hope to protect the rights and interests of workers while maintaining social order.
This is not an easy task. Finding a balance between morality and reality is indeed a difficult problem.
The existence of Geylang allows us to see another side of Singaporean society. It tells us that even the most developed countries have their own problems and contradictions.
What do you think the Singapore government should do about the Geylang issue? Should it be outlawed, or should it be retained? This is a question worth pondering.
Overall, Singapore is an interesting country. It's small, but it's capable. From the place of Geylang, we can see the complexity of this country.
Next time you go to Singapore, you might as well go to Geylang. See for yourself what is going on there, and you may gain a new perspective on the country.