By Alicia Wong | SingaporeScene
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This was the conclusion a German TV variety show, Galileo, after a tongue-in-cheek examination of several facets of Singaporean life in an episode aired in early May this year.
"Imagine if you had to be checked for fever every time before you entered a shop. Sounds strange, but it is an everyday occurrence in Singapore," remarks the show's host, who proceeds to unveil the "oddities" of the island-state to prove that Singaporeans are"really bonkers".
During the 15-minute clip, a Galileo reporter is shown getting his temperature taken before being allowed to enter a shopping complex and visiting a five-star "disco" columbarium that offers a laser show for the dead.
The reporter calls the temperature-taking "quite absurd" and compares the lights and laser show in the Buddhist columbarium to a "discotheque".
But crazier things are yet to come, the show promises.
The reporter then follows the sound of chirping to check out Singaporeans' fascination with songbirds and their willingness to part with thousands of dollars for a bird and its cage. He also joins the Singapore Paranormal Investigators on a fruitless hunt for ghosts.
"Ghosts: 0, Crazy Singaporeans: a few," he quipped at the end of the session.
Yes, Singaporeans have often been called boring, conservative or even sterile. But bonkers? Really?
Check out the video here:
"Imagine if you had to be checked for fever every time before you entered a shop. Sounds strange, but it is an everyday occurrence in Singapore," remarks the show's host, who proceeds to unveil the "oddities" of the island-state to prove that Singaporeans are"really bonkers".
During the 15-minute clip, a Galileo reporter is shown getting his temperature taken before being allowed to enter a shopping complex and visiting a five-star "disco" columbarium that offers a laser show for the dead.
The reporter calls the temperature-taking "quite absurd" and compares the lights and laser show in the Buddhist columbarium to a "discotheque".
But crazier things are yet to come, the show promises.
The reporter then follows the sound of chirping to check out Singaporeans' fascination with songbirds and their willingness to part with thousands of dollars for a bird and its cage. He also joins the Singapore Paranormal Investigators on a fruitless hunt for ghosts.
"Ghosts: 0, Crazy Singaporeans: a few," he quipped at the end of the session.
Yes, Singaporeans have often been called boring, conservative or even sterile. But bonkers? Really?
Check out the video here: