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Hi hi,
So I want to make a trip to Singapore early next year. Ive never been there, but from what Ive heard its a really nice city and the food is very good  The only problem Ive seen so far is that the hotels are quite expensive, for example, we are going to Thailand afterwards and there you can get way better deals for some nice hotels. Ive found some, but sometimes the reviews are a bit scary ^^.
The best one so far, which seems reasonably priced, is located in Geylang. I read that this is the Red District but that at the same time has the best food in the city. I know that Singapore is in general very safe but anyone knows how it is in this zone? Is it advisable/safe to stay there, even if Im travelling with my girlfriend? Or if youve been/live there do you have recommendations of a better zone where we should stay.
Any travel tips, activities, places to see, and most importantly restaurant/street food recommendations are also welcomed. We would like to try as much food as possible, and get to eat at nice local places that might not be as easy to find in the typical travel guides.
Thanks for your help!
 
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Beware of Singaporean women if you are a westerner.
Honestly there is nothing special about Singaporean food as you find them tastier and cheaper in Malaysia.
Casino in Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Night Safari seem to be the only tourist attractions there.
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On November 30 2012 10:59 ppshchik wrote:
Beware of Singaporean women if you are a westerner.
Honestly there is nothing special about Singaporean food as you find them tastier and cheaper in Malaysia.
Casino in Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Night Safari seem to be the only tourist attractions there.
Why beware Singaporean women?
Do they really, really hate westerners? Or are they very, very eager to get a free ticket to a strong, first-world country?
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I'm from Singapore, and moved to the USA. I want to go back pretty soon since Singapore is overall better than USA in my opinion.
You will love it there, just be careful if you're foreign since some people will stare at you. Singapore is more of a tourist attraction than anything really.
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On November 30 2012 11:12 AnachronisticAnarchy wrote:Show nested quote +On November 30 2012 10:59 ppshchik wrote:
Beware of Singaporean women if you are a westerner.
Honestly there is nothing special about Singaporean food as you find them tastier and cheaper in Malaysia.
Casino in Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Night Safari seem to be the only tourist attractions there. Why beware Singaporean women? Do they really, really hate westerners? Or are they very, very eager to get a free ticket to a strong, first-world country?
Singapore is a first-world country lol
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On November 30 2012 11:12 AnachronisticAnarchy wrote:Show nested quote +On November 30 2012 10:59 ppshchik wrote:
Beware of Singaporean women if you are a westerner.
Honestly there is nothing special about Singaporean food as you find them tastier and cheaper in Malaysia.
Casino in Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Night Safari seem to be the only tourist attractions there. Why beware Singaporean women? Do they really, really hate westerners? Or are they very, very eager to get a free ticket to a strong, first-world country?
lol.
very.
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On November 30 2012 11:12 AnachronisticAnarchy wrote:Show nested quote +On November 30 2012 10:59 ppshchik wrote:
Beware of Singaporean women if you are a westerner.
Honestly there is nothing special about Singaporean food as you find them tastier and cheaper in Malaysia.
Casino in Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Night Safari seem to be the only tourist attractions there. Why beware Singaporean women? Do they really, really hate westerners? Or are they very, very eager to get a free ticket to a strong, first-world country?
LOL, Singapore is a strong, first-world country. Cleaner, richer and more modern than pretty much every OECD country.
Beware of Singaporean women seems like a random cliche, especially without the explanation. From an outside view, I'm guessing that they are just more dressed-up, made-up, materialistic and calculated than most.
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The hotels in Geylang are good? Hourly rate hotels???
I suppose if you stay in budget hotels instead of crazy 5 star ones like Swissotel, Carlton, Ritz, you can save money? Maybe around Sgd200 a night last I checked? Anything lower might be a hostel.....
Beware Sg women = Beware Sarong Party Girls (SPG)?
They only go for expats residing in SG no? Not visitors?
Maybe the zoo/ night safari perhaps? Or the bird park?
There is also a Universal Studios in Sentosa. Much of the urban attractions are concentrated near the southern portion aka Central Business District area.
Shopping is also close by. The most commercialised is Orchard and its quite a big stretch to walk as well.
I think this is quite succinct and gives a good idea on what to do
http://wikitravel.org/en/Three_days_in_Singapore
Enjoy your trip.
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Okay first it's probably true that you can get better food for cheaper in Malaysia.
Singapore is basically a nice place to start off in south east Asia since everyone speaks some English, it's very safe and clean. The food might not be as great as other places but you might encounter safety or language issues in the less developed ASEAN countries ( right now there's been a spike of crime across in Malaysia targeting Singaporeans so even locals think twice about. Driving up to Malaysia for a holiday).
Gaylang is really safe don't worry. Only some parts are where the prostitutes are at, and even then prostitution is heavily regulated in Singapore so it's reasonably safe. Just try to stay some place central since you can safe on travel time (not that it's a huge hassle to commute the trains are reasonably ok)
For food go to maxwell food court near tanjong pagar mrt station. It's central and it has some pretty decent food. Just got renovated too! As for specially what food to get that depends on your tolerance of spicy foods.
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What's your budget like? Here's a site you could use: http://www.hungrygowhere.com/singapore-hawker/
I pointed it to the 'hawker' page because that's the 'frontpage' of Singapore cuisine. But if you are looking to try good food that's non-local cuisine, there are plenty of establishments as well. I think the Korean BBQ buffet is still the in-thing among Singaporeans now. I could come up with a list but I'm halfway through exams so I'll come up with a list for you next week.
With regards to stay, I'm not too sure. But I'd suggest you come nearer to Chinese New Year 2013. 10th and 11th Feb are the public holidays. You could try to rent a hotel nearer to the countdown event for one night. And during the 2 days of Chinese new year, most hawker places won't be operating. But I guess you could take the chance to try popular non-local food (we have quite a few good international-food places).
Shopping wise, the usual city areas for the popular brands. If you are looking to grab IT stuff, let me know first, there are popular places which try to rip you off very badly.
Tourist place.. Probably check out Sentosa. You can enter Sentosa via cable car (expensive) or monorail. Gardens by the bay at Marina Bay sands. Chinatown will be bustling during Chinese New Year week (Festive food season!).
I'll update my post later when I can think of more stuff.
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On November 30 2012 11:18 PiGStarcraft wrote:Show nested quote +On November 30 2012 11:12 AnachronisticAnarchy wrote:On November 30 2012 10:59 ppshchik wrote:
Beware of Singaporean women if you are a westerner.
Honestly there is nothing special about Singaporean food as you find them tastier and cheaper in Malaysia.
Casino in Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Night Safari seem to be the only tourist attractions there. Why beware Singaporean women? Do they really, really hate westerners? Or are they very, very eager to get a free ticket to a strong, first-world country? Singapore is a first-world country lol
What can I say lol
I'm clueless when it comes to everything in Asia that isn't China or Japan.
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konadora
Singapore66155 Posts
The "hotels" (or motels, rather) in geylang are cheap. you can get a decent one for around SGD70-100 a night afaik. Most of the good foods are at geylang and/or around it. Try the more SEA/singapore exclusive stuff like DURIAN. Safety wise, as far as you don't disturb the "ah bengs" (or hooligan gangs) by avoiding eye contact, showing too much cash in the streets, etc, you're fine.
for places to visit, you might wanna try chinatown shophouses (ann siang hill area), tanjong pagar (good food stuff here, but slightly expensive), dempsey (good food, expensive), marina bay sands (club Avalon, skyview garden thing), gardens by the bay, sentosa, universal studios singapore, just to name a few.
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On November 30 2012 12:07 AnachronisticAnarchy wrote:Show nested quote +On November 30 2012 11:18 PiGStarcraft wrote:On November 30 2012 11:12 AnachronisticAnarchy wrote:On November 30 2012 10:59 ppshchik wrote:
Beware of Singaporean women if you are a westerner.
Honestly there is nothing special about Singaporean food as you find them tastier and cheaper in Malaysia.
Casino in Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Night Safari seem to be the only tourist attractions there. Why beware Singaporean women? Do they really, really hate westerners? Or are they very, very eager to get a free ticket to a strong, first-world country? Singapore is a first-world country lol What can I say lol I'm clueless when it comes to everything in Asia that isn't China or Japan.
Funny thing is, if you knew a thing about China or Japan, you certainly would not be ignorant of Singapore, one of the most important countries in Asia.
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Get ready to see how invasive a government can really get.
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Geylang is still a very safe district, you just may see a lot of "street walkers" at night or in your hotel. I honestly don't think the food is great in Geylang, it's much better in places like Newton Circus.
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Aotearoa39261 Posts
On November 30 2012 13:20 konadora wrote:
Try the more SEA/singapore exclusive stuff like DURIAN. lol
That will make an impression one way or another.
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On November 30 2012 15:01 Plexa wrote:Show nested quote +On November 30 2012 13:20 konadora wrote:
Try the more SEA/singapore exclusive stuff like DURIAN. lol That will make an impression one way or another.
pretty sure all non-Asians hate durian..or so i think..:p
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Chinatown has a lot of decent, affordable hotels in the middling range (not super nice, not flophouses) and is very convenient in terms of public transport. I usually stay at this one when I don't want to stay with family (I'm from Malaysia, but like many Malaysians, have business and family in Singapore).
The Keong Saik Hotel
but there are others in that area that are fine, and the deals vary:
a booking site I sometimes use, although if you go for, say, The Porcelain, make sure to ask for a room with a window. I forgot to make sure of that, and it was the first time my in-laws (Americans) had ever been there. That... was bad planning on my part.
Food's been covered extensively above; I leave it alone but for this: Singaporean food isn't quite the same of Malaysian food - the food in the region is extremely diverse and can vary significantly even over short distances (despite carrying the same name). Singaporean food is good in its own right.
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On November 30 2012 15:26 Katsuge wrote:Show nested quote +On November 30 2012 15:01 Plexa wrote:On November 30 2012 13:20 konadora wrote:
Try the more SEA/singapore exclusive stuff like DURIAN. lol That will make an impression one way or another. pretty sure all non-Asians hate durian..or so i think..:p
All the non-Asians I've met who know what Durian is haven't tried it cause of the smell. The one dude I know who actually tasted it loves it though.
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I used to live in SG. If you are a more seasoned traveller and don't mind a more rustic kind of accomodation, there are a lot of backpacker hostels-- they're still a lot more expensive than similar ones in Malaysia/Thailand, but they're a lot cheaper than hotels.
If you know anyone that lives in Singapore, civil servants can get really really cheap deals at what they call 'chalets', which are old colonial buildings converted into resorts/hotels that people like to take weekends off in, or have friend/family gatherings at. Generally they're only open to Singapore citizens renting, but again, if you have friends there, it can work. They're super reasonable for what you get, and they're often in pretty cool areas.
On November 30 2012 16:14 DystopiaX wrote:Show nested quote +On November 30 2012 15:26 Katsuge wrote:On November 30 2012 15:01 Plexa wrote:On November 30 2012 13:20 konadora wrote:
Try the more SEA/singapore exclusive stuff like DURIAN. lol That will make an impression one way or another. pretty sure all non-Asians hate durian..or so i think..:p All the non-Asians I've met who know what Durian is haven't tried it cause of the smell. The one dude I know who actually tasted it loves it though.
They're AWESOME. must try. You'll get to explain the experience to people afterwards, like it or not--
You can't describe the taste to anyone who hasn't tried it. It's really a new category that tastes like nothing else.
Honestly there is nothing special about Singaporean food as you find them tastier and cheaper in Malaysia.
Not true! Sg food is its own thing, and has a lot of really good stuff-- and roti prata/chicken rice in msia are never as good as some of the nicest places in Sg. and while its true, Malaysia has a lot of really awesome food places, you can get diarrhea/stomach flu just as easily, and you have to know where to go, so the really awesome places in Msia are harder to find. Malaysia is cheaper, but honestly, you can get a good meal in Singapore for 4$, so its cheap to begin with.
Casino in Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Night Safari seem to be the only tourist attractions there.
heh, lived there three years, never went to either 
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On November 30 2012 15:01 Plexa wrote:Show nested quote +On November 30 2012 13:20 konadora wrote:
Try the more SEA/singapore exclusive stuff like DURIAN. lol That will make an impression one way or another.
Wish I can have some right now :D. Don't take it with beer though. It will either make you fart real bad, or kill you.
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roti prata/chicken rice in msia are never as good as some of the nicest places in Sg
No... just no... Anyway, I don't find SG food that good anyway. Almost all the stalls have "appeared on TV and newspapers" and generally very few are even good enough let alone much better than Msia standard.
Casino in Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Night Safari seem to be the only tourist attractions there.
The casinos only have recently opened (last year?). I have not been to night safari either... 
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On November 30 2012 16:18 caradoc wrote:heh, lived there three years, never went to either
Heh that's a classic, I lived in Tokyo for 1 year and never went to Tokyo tower.
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On November 30 2012 11:12 AnachronisticAnarchy wrote:Show nested quote +On November 30 2012 10:59 ppshchik wrote:
Beware of Singaporean women if you are a westerner.
Honestly there is nothing special about Singaporean food as you find them tastier and cheaper in Malaysia.
Casino in Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Night Safari seem to be the only tourist attractions there. Why beware Singaporean women? Do they really, really hate westerners? Or are they very, very eager to get a free ticket to a strong, first-world country?
rofl at the free ticket part hahahahahaha
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On November 30 2012 10:59 ppshchik wrote:
Beware of Singaporean women if you are a westerner.
Beware? Singaporean girls totally dig white dudes! 
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Hotels in Geylang have to potential to be rather noisy at night.
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On November 30 2012 15:26 Katsuge wrote:Show nested quote +On November 30 2012 15:01 Plexa wrote:On November 30 2012 13:20 konadora wrote:
Try the more SEA/singapore exclusive stuff like DURIAN. lol That will make an impression one way or another. pretty sure all non-Asians hate durian..or so i think..:p
Heck, I'm Asian and I hate durian as well lol
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On November 30 2012 17:57 Tobberoth wrote:Show nested quote +On November 30 2012 16:18 caradoc wrote:heh, lived there three years, never went to either Heh that's a classic, I lived in Tokyo for 1 year and never went to Tokyo tower.
Tokyo tower I went to! But I lived in Okayama at the time, and my friend from Tokyo just took me there when we were looking for somewhere to drink.
come to think of it I think I was drunk or hung over more than half the time I was in Tokyo.
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If you're coming over you're likely to be stopping over for a short while, probably 2-3 days maximum right?
Singapore's all about the food in my opinion. Sure, there's plenty of places where things are expensive, but its targeted at the high life and consumerism. For that, I suppose you can go down to Orchard Road and take a stroll over the rows of shopping complexes around, it's a pretty decent experience. But watch out for some of the shops, some of the older/smaller shops might jack up the price/ entice you to buy stuff, but I guess that's not very prevalent.
Food's where the magic is at. Don't be content to wander around the more touristy areas of the country. Go and explore the suburbs of the country, we call them the heartlands here. If you have a Singaporean friend, get him to bring you to the many hawker centres around the country. Great to try cheap, clean and good, authentic food we have. If you want food of higher quality and price, there's plenty of restaurants around (yes I'm spoilt for choice on what to recommend right now) that cook up cuisine of many different cultures.
As for attractions, well the zoo now has the new pandas from China (loaned 10 years lol). Sentosa is pretty okay as well but it's rather touristy, but there's a Universal Studios there. I guess a walk from the Orchard area to the Marina Bay area is pretty cool as well. Lots of covered paths, great for a night walk along the Singapore river. Garden's by the Bay's pretty good as well, you can enter it for free, it's just a couple of places which you must pay to go in but I really don't see the point in that. I still feel that the experience is not complete if you don't wander into the heartlands and take in the sights of how most of us live here. It should be a rather different experience from what you see in the city centre. There's also the Bukit Timah Hill, standing at the highest point of Singapore at 163m (lol). I think that's a place tourists don't usually go but I think its a nice place to go if you really want to find out the climate of our region. Of course, there's still the Bird Park and all but they're pretty standard stuff you can find everywhere around the world. More species diversity here perhaps?
Oh and don't worry, Singapore's practically safe anywhere. I can wander out anywhere at 4 am and still feel safe (maybe except the forested areas of course).
Ah yes, try the durian. It's pretty awesome! (well maybe not awesome to me as I prefer chocolates to durians but still awesome enough)
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I dunno about expensive... the hotel I had StarDust in for IEM Singapore was $260 ... when I get a hotel for MLG, it's $600 for the same amount of time. Singapore seems cheap as fuq
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I'll recommend visiting Sentosa island, night safari, botanic garden, some of the parks in SG - can't remember exact position, but not to far out. They are great for a long walk or run.
Chinatown is nice aswell + the chinese garden (romantic with your gf) - and if you are interrested in formel1 there might be some race during your visit period at the track.
Only been there for 3 weeks, and 1 of those weeks i went to malaysia (which i can recommend very much! - just even for ~4days - we went to some bounty island called Tioman).
If you got questions feel free to PM, I'll most likely only be able to provide info about the typical tourist stuff.
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On November 30 2012 13:50 ktimekiller wrote:Show nested quote +On November 30 2012 12:07 AnachronisticAnarchy wrote:On November 30 2012 11:18 PiGStarcraft wrote:On November 30 2012 11:12 AnachronisticAnarchy wrote:On November 30 2012 10:59 ppshchik wrote:
Beware of Singaporean women if you are a westerner.
Honestly there is nothing special about Singaporean food as you find them tastier and cheaper in Malaysia.
Casino in Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Night Safari seem to be the only tourist attractions there. Why beware Singaporean women? Do they really, really hate westerners? Or are they very, very eager to get a free ticket to a strong, first-world country? Singapore is a first-world country lol What can I say lol I'm clueless when it comes to everything in Asia that isn't China or Japan. Funny thing is, if you knew a thing about China or Japan, you certainly would not be ignorant of Singapore, one of the most important countries in Asia.
Actually, no, absolutely not. I have not the slightest inkling of knowledge about anything Singapore.
For some reason, the very first time I heard virtually anything about Singapore was when I was reading a rather lengthy blog on TL and partway through I read he was Singaporean. I've actually heard so absurdly little about Singapore during my life that hearing he was from there actually made me take a mental double-take!
It's bizarre, to be frank, knowing so little about something that is evidently so important. Absolutely not a feeling I'm used to.
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I dont know anything about singapore but have you considered couchsurfing? (couchsurfing.org)
good way to meet nice people that might show you around and you wouldnt have to pay anything for your stay
ive only done it once and it was really nice, others on TL, like zatic, have done it more often and also had good experiences with it.
could be a little bit more complicated / less comfortable when going as a couple like you are (i couldnt convince my gf to do it ^^) but still sth to think about.
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On November 30 2012 15:26 Katsuge wrote:Show nested quote +On November 30 2012 15:01 Plexa wrote:On November 30 2012 13:20 konadora wrote:
Try the more SEA/singapore exclusive stuff like DURIAN. lol That will make an impression one way or another. pretty sure all non-Asians hate durian..or so i think..:p
I'm Thai and I hate durian =_=
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On December 01 2012 09:44 Veldril wrote:Show nested quote +On November 30 2012 15:26 Katsuge wrote:On November 30 2012 15:01 Plexa wrote:On November 30 2012 13:20 konadora wrote:
Try the more SEA/singapore exclusive stuff like DURIAN. lol That will make an impression one way or another. pretty sure all non-Asians hate durian..or so i think..:p I'm Thai and I hate durian =_=
wait, there are people who dont hate durian?
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On December 01 2012 08:37 Praetorial wrote:
Don't bring gum.
The whole gum thing hasn't been enforced for a long time. If anything don't bring drugs.that would be really bad.
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Firecrackers are bad too. We used to smuggle gum from malaysia all the time lmao.
Wish I could go back. Such a beautiful city. Especially near where I grew up which was Toa payoh.
Best chicken rice in the country.
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Singapore is extremely safe so don't have to worry about that. The most important thing you need to know is not to bring drugs in. They are really strictly enforced and carry harsh sentences. The next thing is to avoid buying stuff in Sim Lim Square in Bugis and Lucky Plaza in Orchard Road unless you really know what you are doing. Those 2 places are notorious for price gouging tourists.
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On December 01 2012 13:45 nonsequitur wrote:
Singapore is extremely safe so don't have to worry about that. The most important thing you need to know is not to bring drugs in. They are really strictly enforced and carry harsh sentences. The next thing is to avoid buying stuff in Sim Lim Square in Bugis and Lucky Plaza in Orchard Road unless you really know what you are doing. Those 2 places are notorious for price gouging tourists.
Sim Lim towers has all the computer-related stuff though.
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Thanks for all the tips , someone recommended a hostel that seems nice (and is not in the redlight district) - i cant find the post anymore right now, sorry :D. We will probably stay for around a week. We are mainly going to Singapore to eat, but we kinda have to do something between eating :D
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On December 01 2012 15:26 HexSCII wrote:Show nested quote +On December 01 2012 13:45 nonsequitur wrote:
Singapore is extremely safe so don't have to worry about that. The most important thing you need to know is not to bring drugs in. They are really strictly enforced and carry harsh sentences. The next thing is to avoid buying stuff in Sim Lim Square in Bugis and Lucky Plaza in Orchard Road unless you really know what you are doing. Those 2 places are notorious for price gouging tourists. Sim Lim towers has all the computer-related stuff though.
That would be Sim Lim Square.
Sim Lim Towers sells the more technical electronic stuff, don't get these places confused.
Anyway Singapore is really safe, there's nothing to worry about.
Even the most seedy hotels/hostels are safe. Get yourself an EZ-Link card for Bus/MRT (trains) public transport and you can get anywhere.
Be sure to try our local cuisine (proud to say that our food is arguably the best in the world), be it Chicken Rice, Nasi Lemak, Prata, Char Kway Teow, Oyster Omelette, Chilli/Pepper Crab and many more. You may find all of these at any decent "hawker centre", be it Newton Circus hawker centre, Old Airport Road hawker centre, Adam Road Hawker Centre, Chomp Chomp hawker centre (at Serangoon Gardens).
Shopping here is pretty decent, just head down to Orchard Road and you're set.
Feel free to PM me should anything urgent arise, I'd be glad to help you out!
Have fun, I hope you enjoy your stay.
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Just to add, Taxis here are really cheap compared to European ones. You can almost always easily hail one down from any busy road.
Anyway to sum it up, Singapore is all about Food and Shopping in a 100% safe and clean environment. Everything else is mediocre at best; there's no adventure, no natural landscapes to admire, no unique thrills that you can't get in your homeland.
Enjoy Singapore in the comfort of a thin T-shirt and jeans (or even shorts). It's warm as shit. Use sunblock if you've got fair skin.
Don't even think about importing/buying/taking drugs here. You'd be dead (literally) before you know it. Hmm what else. Ah yes, if you do enjoy gambling our casinos are pretty good (Marina Bay Sands is the better one IMO). Gardens By The Bay is quite pretty too. Singapore Flyer is plain silly, don't even bother (unless you've got a romantic date and you manage to book out a cabin for the 2 of you).
It's not customary to tip, so there's no need to. Also allow me to apologize in advance for any potential rude encounters you may have. Our service staff aren't as bright and cheery like you get in Europe.
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On November 30 2012 10:59 ppshchik wrote:
Beware of Singaporean women if you are a westerner.
Honestly there is nothing special about Singaporean food as you find them tastier and cheaper in Malaysia.
Casino in Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Night Safari seem to be the only tourist attractions there.
Please allow me to debunk this.
The females are here educated and respectable. I don't see why there should any aversion to them.
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On December 01 2012 08:37 Praetorial wrote:
Don't bring gum.
You can bring gum so long as you're not lugging a giant crate of it.
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On December 02 2012 00:40 theBALLS wrote:
Just to add, Taxis here are really cheap compared to European ones. You can almost always easily hail one down from any busy road.
Anyway to sum it up, Singapore is all about Food and Shopping in a 100% safe and clean environment. Everything else is mediocre at best; there's no adventure, no natural landscapes to admire, no unique thrills that you can't get in your homeland.
Enjoy Singapore in the comfort of a thin T-shirt and jeans (or even shorts). It's warm as shit. Use sunblock if you've got fair skin.
Don't even think about importing/buying/taking drugs here. You'd be dead (literally) before you know it. Hmm what else. Ah yes, if you do enjoy gambling our casinos are pretty good (Marina Bay Sands is the better one IMO). Gardens By The Bay is quite pretty too. Singapore Flyer is plain silly, don't even bother (unless you've got a romantic date and you manage to book out a cabin for the 2 of you).
It's not customary to tip, so there's no need to. Also allow me to apologize in advance for any potential rude encounters you may have. Our service staff aren't as bright and cheery like you get in Europe.
by very far the most accurate and relevant post here in my opinion.
other than food and shopping, there really isnt nothing you cant find in other 1st world countries better.
also, the difference in quality of toilets between airconned areas and outside areas is massive.
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AirBnB might be a good option. I used it in many countries, including Singapore, and always had pleasant experiences. It tends to be very affordable.
Singapore is pretty much safe everywhere, so, don't worry too much about that. Be prepared to paying a *lot* if you are a heavy drinker.
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I find Singapore more similar to Sydney than mainland Asia. It is a good place to relax and shop but if you want to experience Asia then you should check out Vietnam or Thailand. Even Malaysia is significantly more Asian than Singapore (lol).
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On December 02 2012 15:00 shucklesors wrote:Show nested quote +On December 02 2012 00:40 theBALLS wrote:
Just to add, Taxis here are really cheap compared to European ones. You can almost always easily hail one down from any busy road.
Anyway to sum it up, Singapore is all about Food and Shopping in a 100% safe and clean environment. Everything else is mediocre at best; there's no adventure, no natural landscapes to admire, no unique thrills that you can't get in your homeland.
Enjoy Singapore in the comfort of a thin T-shirt and jeans (or even shorts). It's warm as shit. Use sunblock if you've got fair skin.
Don't even think about importing/buying/taking drugs here. You'd be dead (literally) before you know it. Hmm what else. Ah yes, if you do enjoy gambling our casinos are pretty good (Marina Bay Sands is the better one IMO). Gardens By The Bay is quite pretty too. Singapore Flyer is plain silly, don't even bother (unless you've got a romantic date and you manage to book out a cabin for the 2 of you).
It's not customary to tip, so there's no need to. Also allow me to apologize in advance for any potential rude encounters you may have. Our service staff aren't as bright and cheery like you get in Europe.
by very far the most accurate and relevant post here in my opinion. other than food and shopping, there really isnt nothing you cant find in other 1st world countries better. also, the difference in quality of toilets between airconned areas and outside areas is massive.
Yep that guys sums it up
Singapore is 100% about food and shopping. It's ultra clean, and it's literally the safest place on earth
Understandable that you care about safety but i find it kind of funny if anyone can feel unsafe in singapore haha, you'd literally have to TRY to get in trouble
You might have a few rude encounters, it's generally a very sheltered country so it's hard to go wrong.
The food is quite diverse from all the food courts, hawker centres and nice restaurants.
Some of my family live there so i just goto visit and unwind. It's warm and very easy to live, good for a few weeks. You'll get bored fast if you're the kind of person who want's a bit more excitement though but it's perfect for someone like me who just want's to chill out a bit haha
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On December 02 2012 21:30 eSen1a wrote:
I find Singapore more similar to Sydney than mainland Asia. It is a good place to relax and shop but if you want to experience Asia then you should check out Vietnam or Thailand. Even Malaysia is significantly more Asian than Singapore (lol).
Like he said. If you're interested in a more authentic/exotic asian experiences, I'd go to other places like Vietnam or Malaysia or Indonesia (or anywhere else in SEA really). Thailand is definitely a good choice. Food is so much better in other places.
Though I don't get why did he needed to put "even" in there. White people are everywhere in Singapore (in comparison to other countries)
Singapore is so safe my friend said he could swing his wallet there. Don't even worry about safety.
Don't get the beware of SG girls thing. Singaporeans won't want white people because they want a ticket to a "first-world country", it's because white people are glamorised everywhere, and I used to feel inferior I was young until I eventually grew up. Most don't "grow up".
On December 01 2012 09:44 Veldril wrote:Show nested quote +On November 30 2012 15:26 Katsuge wrote:On November 30 2012 15:01 Plexa wrote:On November 30 2012 13:20 konadora wrote:
Try the more SEA/singapore exclusive stuff like DURIAN. lol That will make an impression one way or another. pretty sure all non-Asians hate durian..or so i think..:p I'm Thai and I hate durian =_=
Maybe you've just been eating the wrong durians (ie thai ones) ^^
Remember everyone, not all durians are created equal. Just like how there are sour oranges and sweet oranges etc.
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On November 30 2012 15:26 Katsuge wrote:Show nested quote +On November 30 2012 15:01 Plexa wrote:On November 30 2012 13:20 konadora wrote:
Try the more SEA/singapore exclusive stuff like DURIAN. lol That will make an impression one way or another. pretty sure all non-Asians hate durian..or so i think..:p
don't worry Asians with common sense do too
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Have you looked at the YMCA?
It's actually a very nice place to stay right in the middle of the city, near Orchard Rd, the main high street. It won't be flashy but it's clean and serviceable. I've used it a few times I've been there and can vouch for it.
Edit: Further to the comments above, do take the opportunity to visit Malaysia. It's a cheap busride away and there's lots more to see and do. I think the food is better!
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On November 30 2012 20:36 Clazziquai10 wrote:Show nested quote +On November 30 2012 10:59 ppshchik wrote:
Beware of Singaporean women if you are a westerner. Beware? Singaporean girls totally dig white dudes!
Darkforce is travelling with his gf, thats why I said "beware". I have a friend who was in the navy and got hooked up with some chick the moment he he arrived at Singapore. I also have another friend who is a handsome playboy who said the only Asian he has had sex with was Singaporean.
LOL, Singapore is a strong, first-world country. Cleaner, richer and more modern than pretty much every OECD country.
Beware of Singaporean women seems like a random cliche, especially without the explanation. From an outside view, I'm guessing that they are just more dressed-up, made-up, materialistic and calculated than most.
Singapore is a first world country...with a third world dictatorial government. It has one of the most competitve and unforgiving education systems, in which people either study themselves to death or not have a future. The main reason why many Singaporean girls want to marry western men are:
1. They have a westernized education system in which English is spoken as the official language. Therefore they admire western culture.
2. There are a lot more opportunities abroad, despite the fact that Singapore is a first world country as i mentioned above.
3. 99% of Singaporean men are geeks.
Which is why I am not surprised when I heard those rumors or drama about Kellymilkies, she is an example of many Singaporean women.
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On December 05 2012 15:52 ppshchik wrote:Show nested quote +On November 30 2012 20:36 Clazziquai10 wrote:On November 30 2012 10:59 ppshchik wrote:
Beware of Singaporean women if you are a westerner. Beware? Singaporean girls totally dig white dudes! Darkforce is travelling with his gf, thats why I said "beware". I have a friend who was in the navy and got hooked up with some chick the moment he he arrived at Singapore. I also have another friend who is a handsome playboy who said the only Asian he has had sex with was Singaporean. Show nested quote +LOL, Singapore is a strong, first-world country. Cleaner, richer and more modern than pretty much every OECD country.
Beware of Singaporean women seems like a random cliche, especially without the explanation. From an outside view, I'm guessing that they are just more dressed-up, made-up, materialistic and calculated than most. Singapore is a first world country...with a third world dictatorial government. It has one of the most competitve and unforgiving education systems, in which people either study themselves to death or not have a future. The main reason why many Singaporean girls want to marry western men are: 1. They have a westernized education system in which English is spoken as the official language. Therefore they admire western culture. 2. There are a lot more opportunities abroad, despite the fact that Singapore is a first world country as i mentioned above. 3. 99% of Singaporean men are geeks. Which is why I am not surprised when I heard those rumors or drama about Kellymilkies, she is an example of many Singaporean women.
Obviously there are these type of women in every part of the world. Please dont generalize and speak like all Singapore women are ESPECIALLY like them. Not everyone is Kellymillkies.
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On December 06 2012 11:58 warcralft wrote:Show nested quote +On December 05 2012 15:52 ppshchik wrote:On November 30 2012 20:36 Clazziquai10 wrote:On November 30 2012 10:59 ppshchik wrote:
Beware of Singaporean women if you are a westerner. Beware? Singaporean girls totally dig white dudes! Darkforce is travelling with his gf, thats why I said "beware". I have a friend who was in the navy and got hooked up with some chick the moment he he arrived at Singapore. I also have another friend who is a handsome playboy who said the only Asian he has had sex with was Singaporean. LOL, Singapore is a strong, first-world country. Cleaner, richer and more modern than pretty much every OECD country.
Beware of Singaporean women seems like a random cliche, especially without the explanation. From an outside view, I'm guessing that they are just more dressed-up, made-up, materialistic and calculated than most. Singapore is a first world country...with a third world dictatorial government. It has one of the most competitve and unforgiving education systems, in which people either study themselves to death or not have a future. The main reason why many Singaporean girls want to marry western men are: 1. They have a westernized education system in which English is spoken as the official language. Therefore they admire western culture. 2. There are a lot more opportunities abroad, despite the fact that Singapore is a first world country as i mentioned above. 3. 99% of Singaporean men are geeks. Which is why I am not surprised when I heard those rumors or drama about Kellymilkies, she is an example of many Singaporean women. Obviously there are these type of women in every part of the world. Please dont generalize and speak like all Singapore women are ESPECIALLY like them. Not everyone is Kellymillkies.
More so in sg, really. "Materialistic and calculated" pretty much equals "obnoxious" even to me.
Was it also really necessary to warn him about taking drugs over? I would think logic would have been enough.
Anyway, hope Singapore has enough for you to keep you occupied. Won't bother pointing out the attractions - pretty much everyone will anyway when you're there. Though some of my Aussie friends love the zoo and bird park. My contribution: take advantage of the nature of Singapore: it's small, so feel free to try out everything - at least try out the stall foods if nothing else.
Also, you probably know this, but even though English is the official language... be on your toes :D Singlish!
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On December 06 2012 17:50 IntoTheEmo wrote:Show nested quote +On December 06 2012 11:58 warcralft wrote:On December 05 2012 15:52 ppshchik wrote:On November 30 2012 20:36 Clazziquai10 wrote:On November 30 2012 10:59 ppshchik wrote:
Beware of Singaporean women if you are a westerner. Beware? Singaporean girls totally dig white dudes! Darkforce is travelling with his gf, thats why I said "beware". I have a friend who was in the navy and got hooked up with some chick the moment he he arrived at Singapore. I also have another friend who is a handsome playboy who said the only Asian he has had sex with was Singaporean. LOL, Singapore is a strong, first-world country. Cleaner, richer and more modern than pretty much every OECD country.
Beware of Singaporean women seems like a random cliche, especially without the explanation. From an outside view, I'm guessing that they are just more dressed-up, made-up, materialistic and calculated than most. Singapore is a first world country...with a third world dictatorial government. It has one of the most competitve and unforgiving education systems, in which people either study themselves to death or not have a future. The main reason why many Singaporean girls want to marry western men are: 1. They have a westernized education system in which English is spoken as the official language. Therefore they admire western culture. 2. There are a lot more opportunities abroad, despite the fact that Singapore is a first world country as i mentioned above. 3. 99% of Singaporean men are geeks. Which is why I am not surprised when I heard those rumors or drama about Kellymilkies, she is an example of many Singaporean women. Obviously there are these type of women in every part of the world. Please dont generalize and speak like all Singapore women are ESPECIALLY like them. Not everyone is Kellymillkies. More so in sg, really. "Materialistic and calculated" pretty much equals "obnoxious" even to me. Was it also really necessary to warn him about taking drugs over? I would think logic would have been enough. Anyway, hope Singapore has enough for you to keep you occupied. Won't bother pointing out the attractions - pretty much everyone will anyway when you're there. Though some of my Aussie friends love the zoo and bird park. My contribution: take advantage of the nature of Singapore: it's small, so feel free to try out everything - at least try out the stall foods if nothing else. Also, you probably know this, but even though English is the official language... be on your toes :D Singlish!
Singlish! Otherwise known as Sinfully-Speedy-Syllable-Saving English! Youtube Sinful English if you don't know what i mean :D
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On December 05 2012 15:52 ppshchik wrote:Show nested quote +On November 30 2012 20:36 Clazziquai10 wrote:On November 30 2012 10:59 ppshchik wrote:
Beware of Singaporean women if you are a westerner. Beware? Singaporean girls totally dig white dudes! Darkforce is travelling with his gf, thats why I said "beware". I have a friend who was in the navy and got hooked up with some chick the moment he he arrived at Singapore. I also have another friend who is a handsome playboy who said the only Asian he has had sex with was Singaporean. Show nested quote +LOL, Singapore is a strong, first-world country. Cleaner, richer and more modern than pretty much every OECD country.
Beware of Singaporean women seems like a random cliche, especially without the explanation. From an outside view, I'm guessing that they are just more dressed-up, made-up, materialistic and calculated than most. Singapore is a first world country...with a third world dictatorial government. It has one of the most competitve and unforgiving education systems, in which people either study themselves to death or not have a future. The main reason why many Singaporean girls want to marry western men are: 1. They have a westernized education system in which English is spoken as the official language. Therefore they admire western culture. 2. There are a lot more opportunities abroad, despite the fact that Singapore is a first world country as i mentioned above. 3. 99% of Singaporean men are geeks. Which is why I am not surprised when I heard those rumors or drama about Kellymilkies, she is an example of many Singaporean women.
So said the expert on Singapore.
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You're going to the red district? Are you trying to pull a stephano? :D
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Leaving today for Singapore! (16 hrs travel ~~) Thank you all for your suggestions, we have a nice list of things to do, see and eat ^^ If anyone currently there would like to show us some nice food or a nice hidden place to get some good food it would be awesome. So if youre interested and have some time for meetng up send me a PM.
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Enjoy yourself! Drop me a PM if you need anything.
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Hi again! So we're already in Singapore, unfortunately my girlfriend got sick ( a virus or smth) but we havent been able to find a Doctor. The hotel sent us to one but it was closed. If anyone from Singapore can help me out how can we find a Doctor I would appreciate it! P.S. we're staying in chinatown
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Darkforce, there are clinics everywhere. Just ask any shop keepers wheres the nearest one and ylou shld be able to find one easily.(Note that most clinics take a 1-2 hr lunch/dinner break). Good luck!
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On January 09 2013 16:45 DarKFoRcE wrote:
Hi again! So we're already in Singapore, unfortunately my girlfriend got sick ( a virus or smth) but we havent been able to find a Doctor. The hotel sent us to one but it was closed. If anyone from Singapore can help me out how can we find a Doctor I would appreciate it! P.S. we're staying in chinatown
All doctors are private in singapore, but fortunately the rates are generally quite reasonable and doctors can be found everywhere
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Dammit! My dad owns a free clinic, but it's so far away from Chinatown
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On January 09 2013 20:43 Azera wrote:Dammit! My dad owns a free clinic, but it's so far away from Chinatown
Where is it? It might be worth give it a try if we dont find anything closer.
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Chinatown is one purple line train stop away from Clarke Quay, which has a LOT of bars and clubs. Nightlife, go there when your GF feels better . No guarantee that it'll be better than anything you get at home, but still, foreign nightlife.
P.S. watch the wallets.
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EPT
