Anyone been to Singapore? Question about currency, things to do etc

apeZ

apeZ

apeZ

Soldato
Joined
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Location
Kent, England
Hi.

I'm visiting Singapore for a few weeks in May to teach, and I just wondered if any OCUKers could help me out.

- I know the local currency is SGD, but what is the best way to get a good exchange rate without having to carry around lots of cash? In Europe and the States, I use prepaid Mastercards, but I'm not sure if I can get something similar for Singapore. I don't really want to change a lot of cash, I'd rather have a card that I can manage online and transfer funds between my current accounts as needed.

- Any recommendations for stuff to do, places to visit, things to try? I've already got a couple of plans, but I'd appreciate any additional input.

- Is there anything I need to bring that might not be too obvious at first? I know I'll need sunglasses, suncream, an umbrella etc and appropriate clothing...just want to make sure that I don't forget anything.

Thanks!
 
Durian fruit - buy plenty of it and consume it all, it's delicious. I can't understand why no-one stocks it in the UK.
 
I like it as a place, spent about a week there all in over different trips.

Some great food to be had in China town. You can use your UK plugs there also.

It's an expensive place though!
 
tom_nieto said:
Do not go to sentosa island.
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Ah would go over there but be prepared that universal studios is a little on the small side.

If you llike F1 go round to the start grid. Open all year you can just have a stroll around.

We just used a Halifax clarity credit card while over there. Plenty of cash points to get money out
 
I went there for a couple of weeks on a work trip and had a great time. While I wouldn't want to live there (too urban and too humid) the people were some of the nicest I've met anywhere and it feels a really safe, clean and pleasant country.

The night safari is a bit touristy, but good nonetheless. Went to a few bars, but they were all **** and the beer was about £6 a bottle. Thankfully, that went on expenses!

I didn't get the opportunity to go, but I hear that the Bukit Timah reserve is very good.
 
I'm just back from a stopover in Singapore. I can't help on the cards as I just got cash changed but everything is pretty cheap.

Things to do, well I went to the Orchid Gardens which were good, Chinatown, Little India, good for quite authentic food in some of the less nice looking places. Don't get your shirts in Chinatown, there is a mall that has an entire floor of tailors and I found them better.

It's not a big place so don't think there are many secrets as such, you will find the main attractions easily enough. there is the zoo, the shops, Ministry of Sound club.

So if you want to save money on drinks and soft drinks and stuff, ask a local or taxi to take you to a coffee shop (not a coffee house - they consider these the expensive tourist/hotel places) and I was getting coca colas for 85 cents which is about 40p.
 
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Singapore zoo is pretty good


Ps there's lots of all you can eat buffets that are reasonably priced but provide top notch food , worth a try if you like your grub
 
apeZ said:
Hi.

I'm visiting Singapore for a few weeks in May to teach, and I just wondered if any OCUKers could help me out.

- I know the local currency is SGD, but what is the best way to get a good exchange rate without having to carry around lots of cash? In Europe and the States, I use prepaid Mastercards, but I'm not sure if I can get something similar for Singapore. I don't really want to change a lot of cash, I'd rather have a card that I can manage online and transfer funds between my current accounts as needed.

- Any recommendations for stuff to do, places to visit, things to try? I've already got a couple of plans, but I'd appreciate any additional input.

- Is there anything I need to bring that might not be too obvious at first? I know I'll need sunglasses, suncream, an umbrella etc and appropriate clothing...just want to make sure that I don't forget anything.

Thanks!
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There are a few people here who have worked out there, but I lived there for 5 months back in 2008 so I'll try to help out...

1. As far as the cash goes, that's a tricky one, because a UK bank is never going to give you a great rate, especially if they're not charging you for withdrawals. Someone else is probably better answering this question really.

2. Personally I thought sentosa island was cool, not for swimming but there are some fancy bars, a nice aquarium etc, and of course now there's the huge casino which wasn't there when I was there. Kind of an awesome sight to see all the supertankers and the refinery at night from up on the monorail platform, if you're into that kind of thing.

The world's heaviest fountain wasn't great. You can do some nice waterskiing and there's a cool indoor rock-climbing centre somewhere; I can't remember the name or location of either I'm afraid!

Vivo city mall is nice, there is a lovely brazillian BBQ restaurant in there which is heaven for anyone who loves meat. Shopping is good, whether around orchard road or one of the other big malls.

The botanical gardens are very nice, as is the zoo/night safari.

Try and get across the bridge to johor bahru for a bit of malaysia, and you can also head to Bintan (indonesia) by boat which takes about 45 minutes.

I enjoyed getting on the tube and getting off at some random place and exploring! Try and eat everything - go to hawker centres and get real food, don't just stick to western food.

3. As far as things to remember, I wouldn't pull your hair out. Singapore has everything except chewing gum - you can even walk into a Watsons pharmacy and buy needles, syringes and plasters, no questions asked (I did it just to see if you could!). Anything you find yourself wanting, like talcum powder, is available there, and they sell menthol versions that can cause rather strong sensations if applied to a slightly moist scrotum after showering.

:D One thing you might find is that the Singaporeans aren't very good at queuing. When I was there they'd all just crowd outside the tube doors and not leave any space for passengers to get off (stalemate them by not moving either!), though I think they've made a big effort to fix that. At flight boarding gates, even with assigned seating, it's a mad rush to get on first - I was shoved out of the way by an old lady!

It's a great, if unique and slightly weird place. I'm sure you'll have a blast.
 
My wife grew up there so we've been over several times and I love the place.

I can't really best advise on the money as we just bring UK cash with us as we can always get a better rate over there at exchanges in the malls than in UK.

For food I'd echo the advise to check out local food at hawker centres rather than going to restaurants. One of my favourite places to go is East Coast Lagoon food village to have BBQ Stingray (from stingray forever stall 43), satay, BBQ chicken wings, fried kuey teow noodles - omm nommm. Then there's great mutton soup, roti paratha and other nice indian stuff to be had from the muslim stalls. Best I had was the famous stall in Boon Keng market if you're going Geylang way for a visit (lots of traditional old shops and architecture preserved), but you can find it all over the place.

Lots of good Japanese and Korean too - there's an awesome Korean BBQ place called Chang in Dempsey Rd area which is an upmarket sort of area with wine bars and such like if you like that sort of thing. Really nice Japanese all you can eat buffet if you're ever way out west in Jurong Point, but again you'll find places in the city if you're staying there.

I'd recommend going to the bar at the top of the Swissotel for sunset some time to see the city lights come on - that's really nice, especially with Marina Bay Sands all finished. I quite liked the club at St James power station next to the bridge to Sentosa Island - something for everyone there.

Plenty of shopping round Orchard as you'd expect, but I like Far East Plaza close by on Scotts Road for camera stuff and some cool Japanese-oriented toy shops to fulfil my sad transformers and gundam fetishes. Then there's the Bugis Junction mall worth going to just for Action City, and I also like Suntec City and the above mentioned Vivo City.

Definately worth going accross the causeway to JB for cheap Thai massages and cheap awesome food/seafood - salted egg crab is totally amazing. That's possibly a bit daunting though until you've met some locals with a car. Can't remember the name of the place we go, but can find out if you're interested.

Sentosa is worth going to for the sea life centre and a general stroll around even if you're not interested in the Universal Studios or casinos and all that.

Night safari, botanical gardens and Zoo are pretty good too.

So is the hot/crispy recipe chicken (as opposed to original recipe) and mashed potato and gravy at KFC - ommmm.

Oh yeah - drink ice Milo - mmmmmm.

Probably loads more but that'll do for now. You'll have a great time! Post back your experience.
 
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*Thread moved to Travel forum*

Joking aside, are you teaching English? I'm insanely jealous of anyone venturing outside of the UK at the moment for extended periods of time. Good luck!
 
I found sentosa island to be a horrid tourist trap and a waste of my time. The cable car over there was about the best bit. It isn't a theme park, nor a good wildlife experience. Many many better things to see and do. The zoo is great, night safari is a bit cheesy. The night market is an experience if you don't mind eating weird foods.
 
Cheers for all the replies - they are very helpful!

mr tommo said:
Joking aside, are you teaching English? I'm insanely jealous of anyone venturing outside of the UK at the moment for extended periods of time. Good luck!
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I'm doing a degree (in the UK) in teaching, and as part of Year 2, we can spend 4 weeks in an alternate education setting e.g. hospital, youth centre, abroad etc. I got in touch with an international school in Singapore and made arrangements to spend a few weeks with them, because I really want to teach abroad in the future. I have to do about 90 hours of 'work', which is nothing, so I will be dividing my time between working at the school and exploring Singapore and the nearby areas. Can't wait!
 
Do not go to the Night Safari

Went there 3 years ago...absolute rubbish. Saw some sleeping animals (barely), no flashlights or anything allowed. Total waste of time. The Merlion was a bit odd too! But Borneo and Malaysia were awesome though.
 
Night zoo was **** (see above) but the normal zoo next door was great.

Get the feeding times and go to them all. The feeding consists of a man with a bucket of meat literally launching it at the animals. Some react well and jump (got some great photos). One lion just couldn't be bothered even trying and got a slab of meat right on his face (got a great pic).
 
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