There's always a line when I go to McDonald's, especially in the city. Usually not out to the street but at least 10-15 people long. Think about Best Buy or Walmart on Black Friday - people are on the streets camping for days. Same with an Apple product launch, people get there many hours ahead (even though they usually have enough for everyone).
There's sick marketing and commercial brain-washing, if you call it that, going on all over the world.
ok, my fault. I said "a line" and failed to mention "a line of at least 100 people".
It's fine to queue for good deals, or products you are passionate about but these guys were going to wait at least one hour to get some low quality ice cream on the most exclusive road in Singapore.
I thought (of course I may be wrong) that they were not there for the ice-cream, the price or the atmosphere, but because they wanted a piece Orchard road "experience".
And they were ready to wait a long time for it.
The thing is the Orchard road experience is not experience at all.
It's just shopping malls.
I don't know Singapore well (I do know Asia quite well) but the impression I get each time I go there is that life is only about working and shopping.
It's a clean and fine city and it's a model for the rest of Asia, but each time I am happy to go back to the rest of Asia with its for sure dirty and messy but at least it has some depth.
That reminds me of the infamous Halal Guy's gyro cart located at 53rd and 6th in Manhattan. The food is sub-par at best but there is always a line of 30+ (I've seen nearly 100 before) people who, at least I think, are there for the experience more than anything.
There are literally dozens of other gyro carts scattered about the vicinity, some with much better food, yet that cart consistently has a huge line.
There's sick marketing and commercial brain-washing, if you call it that, going on all over the world.