Hi Richard  So because this is NOW we should all forgo a "Sense of Place" and give in to international sameness? When I was in Singapore last year, the most popular bar scene venues were nostalgic of the OLD Singapore.  The sameness gets to be a bit of a bore, does it not?  I think that's what Denby is alluding to.  We're not jealous.  We're sad for the loss of interesting.