Things to see in Singapore
- Thread starter Waylander
- Start date
I spent some time at Fort Siloso in 2005 and I thought it was great. I also almost melted in the heat when walking between the air conditioned viewing rooms and around some of the gun emplacements!
Tas
What I find interesting is the sheer number of us who have been to Singapore.
I have been "detained" in KL and shot at by communists in Johore in the mid 80's.
Shopping is much nicer.....
I have been "detained" in KL and shot at by communists in Johore in the mid 80's.
Shopping is much nicer.....
20 years ago I was in Nepal with some friends. Due to poor planning, me and 2 female friends ended up having to hitch hike (i.e. pay) one evening in the middle of nowhere to get to Pokhara.
We ended in a very cramped little Indian-made car with already 5 Nepali men inside. It was a long journey of several hours, we were packed like sardines and the roads turned pitch black. Slowly, doubt about our Nepali companions crept in... 5 men vs 3 stupid tourist in the middle of nowhere...:unknown
I started talking to the old Nepali man next to me.
Though he barely spoke English, it turned out he was a Gurkha in Singapore during the 60s. I felt much better after that, of course...
Anyway, it was a most happy coincidence. Oh, he didn't like Singapore, though. Kept shaking his head but I was unable to understand why.
We ended in a very cramped little Indian-made car with already 5 Nepali men inside. It was a long journey of several hours, we were packed like sardines and the roads turned pitch black. Slowly, doubt about our Nepali companions crept in... 5 men vs 3 stupid tourist in the middle of nowhere...:unknown
I started talking to the old Nepali man next to me.
Though he barely spoke English, it turned out he was a Gurkha in Singapore during the 60s. I felt much better after that, of course...
Anyway, it was a most happy coincidence. Oh, he didn't like Singapore, though. Kept shaking his head but I was unable to understand why.
It is.
I lived in Hong Kong and Shanghai for the past 11 years and every time I come home, I am still amazed by how tidy and sterile the whole place looks.
Especially the taxi ride from the airport to town... All the trees along the road there isn't one single leaf out of place.
I used to get really moody when I return back to the chaos of Hong Kong from Singapore. But later on, I learnt to love the beauty of that chaos. And now I miss it even.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #26
Thanks again for all the good suggestionst.
I also always melted away when I was in China/Hongkong/Taiwan during the hot months.
Winter with round about 20°C is defenitely much nicer.
Because of this it is always a little bit difficult to plan tours by foot. One tends to need 2-3 shirts in the rucksack to change them every 30min.
I never expected this topic to get this big but I forgot that we have so many Singaporeans here and I totally forgot about our members from down under and the rest of the SEA region.
Thanks for that.
And I am defenitely not going to eat german food while being in Singapore.
Especially because the whole world seems to think that Bavarian style restaurants show how Germany is.
For me Bavaria is barely Germany and not very representative.:
I don't even like the Bavarian beer, or their dialect, or clothes, or sausages, or...
I am going to try as much local foot as possible. Normally my stomach is very robust so I hope for the best. Nevertheless I am going to have my little package full of pills with me.
I also always melted away when I was in China/Hongkong/Taiwan during the hot months.
Winter with round about 20°C is defenitely much nicer.
Because of this it is always a little bit difficult to plan tours by foot. One tends to need 2-3 shirts in the rucksack to change them every 30min.
I never expected this topic to get this big but I forgot that we have so many Singaporeans here and I totally forgot about our members from down under and the rest of the SEA region.
Thanks for that.
And I am defenitely not going to eat german food while being in Singapore.
Especially because the whole world seems to think that Bavarian style restaurants show how Germany is.
For me Bavaria is barely Germany and not very representative.
: I don't even like the Bavarian beer, or their dialect, or clothes, or sausages, or...
I am going to try as much local foot as possible. Normally my stomach is very robust so I hope for the best. Nevertheless I am going to have my little package full of pills with me.
Here are some things about Singapore not worth seeing, but are just interesting little quirks of Singapore life/mindset.
Like many people, I lived my entire life in very affordable government-built apartment blocks called "HDB flats" in Singapore. The one I now live in was built about 1990.
What is interesting is that ALL HDB blocks since that time till now have their own bomb shelters. The one in my block is underground and can be entered from the ground floor. It has a room with a heavy steel door on the ground floor which I assume must be the power/ventilation room. There are also escape hatches that also serve as ventilation vents.
The more recent versions are a reinforced storeroom within each household.
This, together with our large conscript army and crazy arsenal of weaponry gives you an idea of what paranoid androids we are as a nation.
Like many people, I lived my entire life in very affordable government-built apartment blocks called "HDB flats" in Singapore. The one I now live in was built about 1990.
What is interesting is that ALL HDB blocks since that time till now have their own bomb shelters. The one in my block is underground and can be entered from the ground floor. It has a room with a heavy steel door on the ground floor which I assume must be the power/ventilation room. There are also escape hatches that also serve as ventilation vents.
The more recent versions are a reinforced storeroom within each household.
This, together with our large conscript army and crazy arsenal of weaponry gives you an idea of what paranoid androids we are as a nation.
Two more tips, don't take chewing gum into Singapore (seriously!) and always carry a small pile of your own (soft) toilet paper with you for emergencies.
I thought you could bring chewing gum for own consumption, on the contrary. Only the sale of chewing gum is prohibited. And of course, improper disposal is a crime.
You can consume chewing gum, possess chewing gum.
More importantly, don't take cigarettes into Singapore. they will be confiscated and a fine may even be imposed.
I think you're only allowed to carry one pack that is already opened.
And toilet paper is available in just about every public toilet in Singapore.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #31
No, not as a toilet paper. But if one by accident touches something very nasty it is always good to know that you have something in your pocket to wipe them clean.
Or just to clean you after some food from a street store.
As I said we are non smokers.
But I am going to buy some cheap cigarettes for my relatives during transfer in Dubai on the way back.
The price difference is incredible and they are begging all the time for cigarettes.
Or just to clean you after some food from a street store.
As I said we are non smokers.
But I am going to buy some cheap cigarettes for my relatives during transfer in Dubai on the way back.
The price difference is incredible and they are begging all the time for cigarettes.
And toilet paper is available in just about every public toilet in Singapore.
Nothing confusing here Chino, simply saving time in the dash to relieve yourself and pampering what may well be an overused part of the anatomy thanks to our weak western stomachs. Carrying a pack of Wet Ones also gives you a certain amount of confidence in dealing with this situation. No offence intended and I am not suggesting that food in Singapore is sub standard. Quite the opposite really, however it does depend on were and what you eat.
hey waylander, if you havnt already been to Singapore and returned, check out the "four floors of W....s" just for an eye opener! Orchid towers....
on another note, the war cemetary is also an eyeopener
Orchid towers....on another note, the war cemetary is also an eyeopener
weasel1962
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I always carry "wet ones" or those small sealed cachets of hand cleaner. Thats only force of habit though.
Whenever and wherever I travel, the first place I always look for is a Burger King, McDonalds or KFC, not for its food, but the fact that it will have a toilet!
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #36
Yeah, these fast food chains are maybe the biggest source of relatively clean toilets all over the world.
I am going to fly on 5th of March.
And yeah, I have to think of my gf, too.
BTW, how is the water in Singapore? Much chlore in it? Because I can't stand chlored water, be it for tooth brushing or inside my coke at some restaurant.
Thanks again for all your advices.
I am going to fly on 5th of March.
And yeah, I have to think of my gf, too.
BTW, how is the water in Singapore? Much chlore in it? Because I can't stand chlored water, be it for tooth brushing or inside my coke at some restaurant.
Thanks again for all your advices.
A
Aussie Digger
Guest
In general I concur, however in Rome last year, just around the corner from the "Spanish steps" the most disgusting public toilet I found on my entire trip was in the Macdonalds there...
Ah, i remember that one... when i was there 10 years ago, they had a TV in the kids' section playing Marylin Mansion.In general I concur, however in Rome last year, just around the corner from the "Spanish steps" the most disgusting public toilet I found on my entire trip was in the Macdonalds there...
A
Aussie Digger
Guest
Yep, I'm pretty sure there was only 2 lavatories, no urinal and on top of being disgusting, there was also an enormous queue...Ah, i remember that one... when i was there 10 years ago, they had a TV in the kids' section playing Marylin Mansion.
Thoroughly uninteresting and without intending to offend anyone, played it's part in my overall disappointment with Rome...
Funnily enough I enjoyed Rome. Although my attention was somewhat fluid due to the fact that the carabinieri and customs officers were very attractive women - so my first impressions were pretty good.Yep, I'm pretty sure there was only 2 lavatories, no urinal and on top of being disgusting, there was also an enormous queue...
Thoroughly uninteresting and without intending to offend anyone, played it's part in my overall disappointment with Rome...