I Left My Heart in Singapore
Singapore is the first foreign country I've been to and the first country abroad where I worked and lived for more than 4 years. My dreams were nurtured and all my wishes came true. There are a lot of memories that made me who I am now through all my experiences in this small country located in Southeast Asia. The red dot of Asia will always leave a happy red dot on my heart. Singapore will always be a part of me. I have here a list that I will surely miss when I leave the country. Let’s go!
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Efficient Transportation
One thing that amazes me about Singapore is the timely train and bus schedules with short, regular intervals. I love knowing when the bus comes so I still have time to happily eat my cereal in the morning before rushing downstairs to catch the bus. Bus timings can be assessed through the SG Bus Application on the phone, how convenient is that? Plus you get to connect with the google map to track your destination. I know other countries all have it but Singapore was the first one who showed me the essence of efficient transportation. Besides I strongly believe, based on my travels in other countries, that SG still remains number in providing great service when it comes to transportation.
It's also a tourist-friendly country where all the exciting places are near the MRT station. The direct bus is available too for everyone's convenience. Plus all the signs are in English. Everything has been laid out on a silver platter for everyone to read. If you get lost just trace your way back to the station, read the map and follow the signs.
Clean and Organize
Rumours about Singapore being clean and organised are definitely true. They maintain this kind of surrounding by strictly putting signs all over the place, with corresponding fines for violating the rules. As they said, "It's a Fine Country" after all. From the moment you land on the island, the airline informs everyone that chewing gum is prohibited by law. Say goodbye to your 1-minute fresh breath. Back in my primary years, students would place gum at the bottom part of the arm's desk to avoid getting caught by the teacher, that will never ever happen in Singapore. The city is organized in such a way that in most MRT stations or a few blocks away from the HBD there's a hawker centre, a community club, a convenience store, a supermarket, and a park around the area. The city has been carefully planned to serve the people's interests and convenience.
Safety
One important factor that makes Singapore lovable is that it's a safe country. There are few crimes reported and are being monitored effectively to ensure every individual's safety. In other countries going home late is dangerous whereas in Singapore there are nightrider buses available till early morning. I've never felt so safe, now I can run at night and have a good time with friends till the break of dawn.
Food Choices
There are a lot of foods to choose from Singaporean, Malaysian, Indian, and even western food. For the food adventurous check out their food fusion and be ready for the distinct burst of flavours that will surely make you crave for more. We all have our favourites, mine are simple and affordable on weekdays. On weekends, If I feel like venturing on a food trip then that's the time I hide my ATM card under my bed. Food is not that cheap in Singapore, especially if you're a big eater like me who thinks life is so short. Besides, I always tell myself I'm on a SEEfood diet, and I need to religiously follow my doctor's order.
I remembered my first one-dollar ice cream in Orchard. It was so good that I came back for it every time I had the chance to be around the area. Aside from that my favorite dish of all time is the Singaporean, Malaysian Hokkien Mee. A noodle dish with egg noodles, rice noodles, pieces of squid, shrimp, and pork slices. Top it off with fried pork skin, slices of lime juice, and sambal or special spicy sauce. Lastly, I'm in love with wanton mee noodles with dumpling soup. I like mine mixed with all the sauces on the list and just a little bit of spicy sauce for the kick. Most hawker centres and Kopitiam offer this delectable dish.
My local friend told me once never leave SG without trying the most affordable meal in the country, the sought-after chicken rice. This meal fed me for months when I started my first job. Then I started to discover other delicious treats like Prima Deli's Waffles (I always get the blueberry waffles), Egg Tart, Polar Cakes Sugar Roll, and Ice Kachang, somewhat like Philippines's Halo-Halo Desert. Also, dishes like Satay dipped in peanut sauce, fried kway teow, Indian Murtabak, Cheese Prata, and Malay's beef rendang. Even varieties of milk tea like Koi, Gongcha, and Ajantea. They too have a variety of beer selections. Then I started to try pricey sweets like TWG French macarons, french crepes, and Glace Banana log cake. I'll stop here because surely I can go on and on talking about my food experience.
Diversity
I love the diversity in Singapore. It's a multi-racial country that comprises; Singaporeans, Malaysians, Chinese, Indians, crossbreed nationals, and permanent residents from all over the world. Everyone seemed to be welcome on this very small island in Southeast Asia.
Shopping Convenience
Most of the MRT station has a shopping mall. Getting your shopping list on the go is always an easy task. Online shopping is even reliable and is as easy as 1 2 3. I also loved the fact that convenience stores, food centres, supermarkets, and ATM machines are always around the corner. Everything is laid out in the city for consumerism. That said, you can't go around the country without money. A lot of shopping mall offers perks and discounts. There's always a Sale in different boutiques and outlets in the mall.
I love affordable stores like Daiso, Value Dollar, Miniso, and Decathlon. Singapore has taught me to be materialistic yet it harnessed my budget skills and made me a better consumer. Now I know what things I need to buy and what things I need to ignore that will eventually turn me into a hoarder.
Hiking Trails
One aspect that is surprisingly available in the city is the number of hiking trails. I would have never thought about hiking in Singapore. The country is as flat as my wallet, so I thought, but it turns out they have a lot of hiking trails to offer. I'm proud to say I've hiked most of the trails. My favorites are Pulau Ubin and MacRitchie Reservoir. It's nice to get away from the bustling noise of city life once in a while without hopping on a plane or a very long bus ride.
Everything you need
I've worked in Singapore for a few years and I can tell you that everything I needed is on the island. From basic necessities like food, clothing, transportation accessibility, and leisure activities. I don't need to travel to a nearby town or take a long, strenuous bus ride to buy something, as what I need is always somewhere around the corner.
When I say everything that also means everything I want can be done online. There is no hassle of wanting something as everything can be done at the tip of your fingertips: from online shopping to online reservations for food, gadgets, beauty services, and medical appointments. You can even pay your bills online, and transfer funds locally and internationally. One more great thing about it is that you can book online taxis or Uber cars for pick-up from your place to anywhere you want in Singapore. Post-mail service is fast and affordable too.
Activities all around
There is always something fun to do every day. Watch late-night movies, late-night bowling, late-night karaoke, and even late-night massages. Even more in the morning like running, tennis, free Zumba, painting class, ukulele session, martial arts trial and all kinds of activities you can think of are available. This is what I love most about Singapore. I certainly love the accessibility of doing anything I want in this small country. And because it has a small landmass index traveling to your activity is very convenient.
If you check online they have lots of free classes and group invitations for different kinds of activities. I joined a yoga class for a cause, I paid cheap not even half of the cost of a gym card membership, and what's good about it is I'm helping other people while getting fit. There's also an art club, we went to different kinds of galleries and even met the artists themselves. I found a fitness group that does circuit training every weekend. Lastly, something close to my heart is a volunteer group reaching out to help other people by cooking for them, fundraising, and helping out in any kind of way.
Fitness Addicts
I will surely miss the parks as I've gone to these places several times and even the motivation I get from my friends. People on the island are fitness-conscious. They work like mad robots on weekdays and exercise like mad Olympians on weekends. I like that because it motivates me to be healthy and fit. When I started working in Singapore I got myself into sports like running, hiking, and cycling. They have a few parks and fitness grounds for this kind of sport near all the residential blocks so getting lazy on the weekend is not an option.
What's interesting about it is the government's involvement in encouraging the citizens to get healthy. I joined the health promotional board steps challenge, wherein a watch was given to count your steps every day. Each accumulated step is converted to points and once you reach a certain percentage you will get a corresponding amount of money. Expect $10-$30 in your mailbox for a job well done. It's a fun way of exercising and earning some extra cash for your intended cheat day. Another thing I'll surely miss is the recently opened Decathlon, a store that sells all kinds of sporting goods and equipment. A playground for the fitness enthusiast. This had been my favourite place since I heard about it.
Have fun and be safe ^__^
Do you want more adventure?
If you still have one more day to spare why not go for a Foodventure in Singapore.
Where am I going next?
My next adventure is to Los Angeles, California and I have here a survival guide on how to go around the city.
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