IP: Singapore Diary #1

[Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

We arrived in Singapore last Monday evening. It is warm (30 C) and rains most mornings. But there is a cooling breeze 
during the day and it is quite nice to walk arround. 

The last days have been rather full attending COMAsia etc at the new Singapore Expo Center that is right by the airport 
(unfortunately all the hotels are not by the airport but cabs are inexpensive and the MRT (the subway) goes rather 
close by the Expo). The  facilities are very good and he exhibits fill three of the big halls. Lots of telephones, dsl, 
gadgets, radio systems etc. Big elaborate displays and a big crowd of attendees. The technical session were packed full 
and the audience was attentive if quiet. My Keynote went very well and will be online soon. I will pass the address 
when I get it along with that of the Virtual Expo they have up. The Year 2000 ComAsia etc will fill all six halls Do 
COME. A contact is Yusnita Baharuddin/Singapore Exhibition Services  <yus () sesmontnet com> 



I have just started wandering about the computer parts of Singapore so my visit to computer and software places will 
get reported on in a latter note.

I discovered a little known (maybe the correct word is little advertised fact re cell phones). Singtel sells a prepaid 
SIM card at the airport and at the Expo Business Center that gives you S$51. of calls at S$.30 for the first minute and 
less per additional minute). It gives you a local Singapore telephone number (mine is (65) 97155532) which stays with 
you if you use the service once every 30 days. You can add value in S$30 increments. Why no one seemed to know about 
this is a mystery to me but I am told many GSM carriers do the same thing in their country. It is much better than a 
local having to call you at a USA number and then paying for the international call back to SG.

As usual the food in Singapore is great and the shopping actually very good -- it is Country wide Sale time. We had 
great Indian,and Chinese food and breakfast is a treat.


More latter

Dave