Myanmar Earthquake (MBS reporting from Bangkok)

[gummbo70114]

When I was in the Navy and we had R&R in Sasebo, Japan, I don’t remember electrical wires like that, but I do remember the cleanliness, good Times

 

[Sailorsaint]

When I was in the Navy and we had R&R in Sasebo, Japan, I don’t remember electrical wires like that, but I do remember the cleanliness, good Times

Japan and Singapore are both very clean...especially compared to somewhere like, Hong Kong. But, I had fun in all of them.

 

[Devildog]

Yeah, Japan and Singapore are very, very clean and modern. Hong Kong was great, too, but significantly more *ahem* ripe.

 

[Saintman2884]

Actually, now that i think about it- I haven’t spent much time in Japan or in Singapore outside of their airports , but they are notorious for their cleanliness and modernity (and super high cost of living)- so maybe they’ve gotten the memo about the electrical wire thing …. I bet @guidomerkinsrules could weigh in if he weren’t on his self-ban .

Particularly most Japanese cities, including metro Tokyo area. Although friends of mine who've studied, worked and lived for years as ex-pats in places like Kobe, Yokohama (great, fast bullet train service from there to Tokyo, IIRC goes 24/7), Hokkaido tell me once you arrive in suburbs, especially the more rural, less populated areas in the south, the electrical wiring problems do become a bit more of a noticeable issue and the super-advanced, high-tech isn't as apparent or prevalent as it seems in the big cities. I've been told by some of these same ex-pats that some of these suburbs aren't as known for their ultra-cleanliness. And that's understandable, for me at least. Tokyo is the embodiment of a major city that never sleeps in a way far more relevant, modern, and with a sense of purpose then NYC, London, Paris or L.A.

At least in major Japanese cities they don't punish their citizens or foreigners by using martial punishment like caning if you make a relatively minor offense like throwing trash on the ground, or even more egregious offenses like getting into a bar fight like in Singapore or fine or refuse to allow you in due to having long hair. Although Japanese prisons have gained a bit of a reputation for being a bit harsh at times, according to some. I watched a Locked Up Abroad episode on Nat Geo about an American woman who was smuggling drugs/drug paraphernalia in and out of the country and when she was caught finally at Tokyo's customs, after she was convicted and sentenced to around 10 years in prison, her recounting of experiences in Japanese prisons was that it was harsh and ultra-strict and highly rigid.

BTW, have you watched the third season of The White Lotus that's based in Thailand and its themes of modern spirituality, loneliness and revenge?

 

[Saintman2884]

Yeah, Japan and Singapore are very, very clean and modern. Hong Kong was great, too, but significantly more *ahem* ripe.

I'd much rather live in Tokyo, Okinawa, or Kobe then live in a ultra-rigid, somewhat repressive society where one of the main punishments is caning for even non-violent felony offenses and I hope Singapore still doesn't have that stupid law preventing its citizens and foreigners from having long hair. It's a dumb, idiotic regressive statute that shouldn't have existed 50 years ago much less still persisting in 2025.

 

[Sailorsaint]

I'd much rather live in Tokyo, Okinawa, or Kobe then live in a ultra-rigid, somewhat repressive society where one of the main punishments is caning for even non-violent felony offenses and I hope Singapore still doesn't have that stupid law preventing its citizens and foreigners from having long hair. It's a dumb, idiotic regressive statute that shouldn't have existed 50 years ago much less still persisting in 2025.

I actually have this t-shirt somewhere, bought it in Singapore in the 90s.....