Back to the future

A few weeks ago I crossed the Melaka Straight, one of the world's busiest shipping routes. Its name comes from a city, that saw during its glory peak in the 15th century under the reign of a sultan up to 200 ships harbouring in exchange of goods between the east and west. Singapore was by than a fisherman's village. And though travel books highlight Georgetown further up the coast as the place to travel back in time, it is Melaka that revives best the imagination of a time, when upcoming trade by sea created new dynamics and wealth. Vibrant regional tourism confirms the popularity of Melaka as a place where the spirits and tastes of the past live on in the narrow streets of China Town, Little India, and the old Colonial Quarter that saw Portuguese, British and Dutch ruler-ship over time.

What a contrast. Only three hours by bus and you reach the bridge that leads into the future: the cosmopolitan city-state of Singapore.

Europe, probably "the Western World" in large: Wake Up! Excessive regulations and bureaucracy are one big issue the West needs to think over seriously, but it takes probably more to catch up with that dynamic and futuristic urban development of Asian metropolis like Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, not to mention the uprising cities in China. I recently watched the new 007 Bond movie SKYFALL, featuring the spectacular skyline of modern Shanghai ... here we go! But nor Hongkong or Singapore stay behind.

ATW+20; I have no doubts that the world's dynamic growth in a global perspective happens right here - be it for the good or not. For sure, if the "new" aluminium-covered Raffles City Towers were not already built some 20 years ago, I would have felt "lost in space" in the newly created, fully air-conditioned Marina Centre of Singapore, surrounding the old-fashioned Raffles and Fullerton Hotels like last reminders of a - in cultural-historical terms - short colonial past.

By now I am "Down Under" ... getting a more comprehensive picture of the importance of the ASEAN states, and why Australia and the United States see their future interests in this region.

Links to my pictures from Melakka and Singapore still to come (upload)!