It's the world's busiest port. They drive on the left, as we do in Ireland. Actress Zoe Tay (on right) comes from there. More than three-quarters of the population is of Chinese extraction. Sir Stamford Raffles, who more than any other person left his name on the city, hardly ever lived in the place. Guinness, in bottles, is popular. It is referred to simply as "stout". Guinness bottles have a logo of a dog (see picture below), looks like an alsatian or wolf (certainly not an Irish Wolfhound!). It gives a whole new meaning to the "hair of the dog"! They use the same 3-pin electrical plugs that we do. Stories in buildings are as in the US, ie, our ground floor is their first floor. It has the world's most open economy (Ireland is number 2). After the US, it's the most competitive country in the world (Ireland is number 5, up from 7 last year). Despite its squeaky-clean image, there are about 400 brothels on the island. Even in bright sunlight practically no-one wears sunglasses. There are 2 Irish pubs: Molly Malone's, 42 Circular Road, and Father Flanagan's in CHIJMES. The death penalty is mandatory for possession of more than 15g of heroin, 30g of morphine or 200g of cannabis resin. Tipping is "not a way of life" and is discouraged where there is a 10% service charge. The import and sale of chewing gum is prohibited. There's a huge demand for maids, usually from the Phillipines or Indonesia. Homosexuality is illegal. It's surrounded on all sides by Muslim nations. It has BBC World Service on FM at 88.9 MHz. Its population is declining--and it has them worried.