Singapore.

High Tech.

Incredible.

What makes it so?

How about this:

Oh no. That's not high tech.

It's a beautiful old building.

It is City Hall.

Well, if you're going to have the perfect city - definitely have a blend of the new and the old.

For instance, this television is on the main shopping street, Orchard Road. As far as we can see, real television is played here. A lot of advertisements, but there was a talk show playing just before this advertisement.

In fact you can sit opposite and watch television on a bench half way between your shopping afternoon. The benches looked comfortable too.

If you don't want to watch television, perhaps the Internet?

These stalls are also lined up on Orchard Road. From here you can get the history of Singapore from 1700 onward, find a place to eat in the immediate neighbourhood (and read the menu), order many items from local shops and have them delivered to your home, get an interactive tour of the many shopping malls, or just stand there like me - amazed.

If neither of these things appeals to you, you can take a walk in the park. But, you have to cross the street. So, to help you across without being hurt by passing vehicles, a handy green-man light is set up for you.

You might be thinking that your country also has a green-man system for telling you when to walk and when to stop. Singapore, however, has a timer to tell you how long you have left until the green man disappears! Only two seconds left, better hurry!

There is also a large Swatch smack in the middle of the main street. I guess it helps if you forget the time (in New York, London, Sydney or Rio De Janero)

If you do happen to lose track of the time and need to get somewhere in a hurry, you can go to the taxi rank. However, if you don't have enough money, or are on a budget, or even generally aware of how much you have spent shopping - just go to that blue panel near the back of the line and punch the button for your destination. It will then flash up on the SHARE-A-CAB display at the front of the queue. If someone closer to the front is going to the same destination, you can share a cab and split the fare. Pretty neat, and fairly hi-tech.

Not only is the city and the transport hi-tech, but the people are getting more an more sophisticated.

This advertisement is for having more children. Family, Play Your Part is a slogan you will see a lot of in Singapore.

The ministry of Community Development is promoting children. Apparently the population is dwindling.

There is a poster that says, "Children make life great!"

What an idea.