FAQs - Top 31 Smart Questions About Singapore

31. Do I need to do anything special before going to Singapore?

Singapore is part of the Commonwealth of countries so all you need is your passport. No special shots. Thank God!

30. Where are we staying? At the Hotel Inter-Continental (5 star accommodation). The accommodations are great and very central. You are two blocks from the famous Raffle's Hotel and surrounded by shopping malls and restaurants. It is very safe around the hotel as it is throughout the island.
		Hotel Inter-Continental Pool

29. What should I wear?

The temperature in Singapore usually hovers around 30 degrees Celsius. It is very humid, so dress accordingly. You will soon find the shade.

Men need at least a shirt and tie for most meetings, including the presentations we will be going to. A shirt and tie is quite acceptable, or you can carry a jacket with you and slip it on prior to the meeting. Short sleeved shirt is casual only.

Most Singaporean men do not wear shorts - only tourists do. Most golf courses, or the better courses, do not allow shorts on the course.

Women are dressed for meetings in either a dress or pantsuit. If you wear casual pants, you'll look like you're going on a boat cruise. This is quite bad unless you happen to be going on a boat cruise.

28. What is the time difference?

The time difference will be 14 hours. So when they are going to bed you are waking up. That is why when you wake up in the morning you feel like having a pizza.

Link to Time Zone Clock.

27. How do I deal with jet lag?

DO NOT NAP DURING THE DAY UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE UP ALL NIGHT. Adapt to the time zone you are in.

Sleep with warm socks on. Air conditioning is the only way you are going to sleep in a hotel. They claim it helps.

Join us for some exercise every morning. Jet lag may still get you, but you can fight back.

Link to Jet Lag Advice.

26. What about the money? You want Singapore dollars. You can get them at the International Money Changers in the airports or from bank machines in Singapore. Your bank card should work in most bank machines in Singapore. The Singapore dollar is worth slightly less than the Canadian dollar. Money system is the same as ours. Link to Currency Converter.

25. Will I have a problem communicating? By and large, no. However, while most people speak excellent English in Singapore there are some colloquial expressions that give a warmth and attraction to the language. You won't come across this in a business setting but in local shops and markets you may encounter "Singlish" - a unique Singapore English that has its own style, form and charm.

24. How do I get around?

Taxis are fairly cheap to take. The drivers are usually very courteous and helpful. Also, their limited English or differences in pronunciation may make spoken communication difficult at times. Writing it down and showing them on paper works well.

Also, drivers appear to be much more able to locate a building by its name than its address. If you can get the name of the building that always helps.

It is usually quite easy to flag down a taxi, except during rush hour (noon and after work) and when it is raining. The best way to get a taxi during rush hour or when it is raining is to call for one. There is a $3 charge for calling a taxi but is well worth it. Taxis in Singapore are inexpensive. Even with the additional charge it is still affordable. If a phone is not handy then make your way to a taxi stand. Taxi's can charge an extra dollar or two above the meter price during morning and afternoon rush hours, for trips to and from the airport, and after midnight.

If you have any problems with your taxi ride, each driver has their number on display. A good way to get results is to say "what is your taxi number?" On the whole, taxi drivers in Singapore are very polite, honest and courteous.

The old trolley cars are free in Singapore and a fun way to get around downtown. If you want to go for a real ride take The MRT (Mass Rapid Transit).

23. Should I rent a car?

I suspect you will end up driving alone. Cars drive on the left. It is not wise to drive a vehicle unless you are accustomed to this way of driving. Ride with a North American driver and they will no longer be the biggest idiot on the road. We prefer cabs.

Remember that Elmer the Safety Elephant says to look both ways before crossing the street. Cars will be coming at you from the opposite direction to what you are expecting, as you confidently stride off the curb.

22. What else do they do on the left?

Although there is no official side of the street to walk on, most Singaporeans walk on the left. Escalators have the up ramp on the left and the down ramp on the right, which is the opposite to North America.

21. What else do they do on the left?

Among some cultures in Singapore, the left hand is used for personal cleansing. Therefore, shake hands with your right hand, and pass food with your right just to be sure. I bet if you are one-handed you won't have any problems, but the rest of us should try to remember.

20. Do I have to "watch my P's and Q's" while I am in Singapore? Singapore is no where near as restrictive as you may have been made to believe by the media. Jaywalking is common. Gum chewing is allowed, but the sale or importing for sale of gum is illegal. Leaving chewing gum in a public place is an offence carrying a $500 fine. If caught selling gum the fine is $2500. While laws are on the books for many of these infractions, they are not often acted upon. But, you should always obey the law in Singapore.

19. Don't get into any big trouble while you are in Singapore (and don't call us)

We'll be happy to send newspaper clippings from back home, but that's about it. You'll need serious assistance as major crime is dealt with swiftly and severely by Western standards. The death penalty is in effect in Singapore for the sale of drugs or firearms, for use of a firearm to cause bodily harm, and for murder and rape.

18. Are you serious?

Yes.

16. Should I tip?

This will be a dilemma. Tipping in most situations is considered somewhat taboo. They think it smacks of colonialism and imperialism. Singaporeans do not believe that they need extra money "to insure prompt service".

While a service charge is included on the bill (food and beverages) most waiters claim all the money goes to the establishment. No waiter or taxi driver will refuse a tip. To tip a taxi driver, 30 to 40 cents up to $1 is considered good.

Do whatever you want to do.

15. What happened to question 17? And 19 wasn't even a question

Don't bug me.

14. How can I keep in touch with home?

They have good telecommunications in Singapore. You can call home using your MTS calling number by first dialing 8000-100-100 to reach the Canadian system. From there you input the remaining numbers. Your cell phone will not work in Singapore unless you have global roaming. Singapore is a Mecca for cell or mobile phone users. People line up in shopping malls to buy them. A young girl was overheard on the street saying "if I didn't have a cell phone I won't have any friends".

Accessing your e-mail may not be as easy as it should be. Web based e-mail, like Yahoo and hot mail are easy to access in Asia. America On-line is not as easy. Good luck with Sympatico.

Singapore has Internet cafes all around the city which charge an average of $3 a half hour and $5 an hour for Internet access. This compares to about $30 an hour that the major hotels charge for access to computer and office machines. An excellent Internet café is just around the corner from the Hotel Inter-Continental. It is called "I^Klub". It is located at 1 Liang Seah Street (telephone 337-6040). Liang Seah Street is a charming little street full of sidewalk restaurants. It is about one block from the Hotel Inter-Continental Hotel. Turn left on North Bridge Road (opposite direction to Raffles Hotel) and the first street on your right is Liang Seah Street. The Internet cafes' hours of operation are usually 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. They are very good and helpful.

13. Why do I remember the name 'Raffles'?

Raffles Hotel is a city landmark. It is located only a few blocks from the Inter-Continental. Rooms at Raffles go for about $600 a night. The most expensive suite in Raffles goes for about $6,000 a night. You need a lot of denero (money in Spanish, too much in any language) to stay at Raffles. The Seah Street Deli in the Raffles complex is not bad if you have a craving for western food like a burger.

12. Why don't I remember the name 'Raffles'?

The Singapore Sling was created in the famous Raffles Hotel. Be prepared to shell out. Raffles sell lots of Singapore Slings for about $18 a drink. Christ, a gin and tonic is $13.

It is worth it to have done it - bought one sling. You can sit at the 'long bar' and watch slings made in an assembly line while enjoying your drink and dreaming of owning the bar.

11. Is there good food in Singapore?

Does a chicken have lips? Well, maybe not, but you will not find a better variety of good food from around the world than you will in Singapore. Food is everywhere. Some of the best food in Singapore is from the hawker stalls. They are mostly Chinese, Malaysian, Indian, Indonesian. A good meal can be had for between $5 and $7. Restaurants are a lot more expensive, and some can be very expensive. Also, the food venders in high tourist areas like River Quay and Clarke Quay can be outrageously high. Know what you are paying in high tourist areas. The Hotel Inter-Continental borders the Indian and the Chinese sections of Singapore. Close to your hotel is some of the best eating in Singapore.

10. Do I have to worry about cleanliness?

The restaurants are very clean - as is the whole city. Singapore is the cleanest city in all of Asia. The Singapore government rates each eating establishment (hawker stall and restaurant) based on their level of cleanliness. The rating should be displayed on the wall for the public to see. As you would expect, 'A' is the best rating. Many hawker stalls have 'B' ratings which is still very good. We recommend exercising your own judgement when it comes to those with 'C' and 'D' ratings.

9. Do I have to go to dinner every night?

If you don't feel like going out for dinner and just want to stay in your room and pout - here is an option. In the basement of Bugis Shopping Centre (attached to the Hotel Inter-Continental) is a food court in the basement with every type of food you could ever fantasize about.

Also, there is a grocery store next to the food court called Cold Storage. It has an excellent array of fresh fruit and excellent sushi. Yes sushi. All your favourites are there. Buy some wasabi and a bottle of soya sauce and take it your room. You are set for the evening.

8. Is there any place to go shopping? It is everywhere. Good range, but lots of high-end shopping and brand names. Just ask the taxi driver to take you to Orchard Road, but expect to use your credit card. It is still worth going even to window shop. Singapore has no shortage of shopping malls. The stores open between 10:30 a.m. -11:00 a.m. and remain open until 10:00 p.m. or later in the evening. So there is lots of time to shop until you drop after your smart tour is finished for the day.

All of the major brand name stores are in Singapore. There is a lot of money in Singapore, plus people from all around SE Asia come here to shop. One ex-patriot told me "You can find whatever you are looking for in Singapore. Someone's got it, but at what price? But, it can be found."

7. What about buying jewelry? The locals claim you should purchase your jewelry in Chinatown. If negotiating on a piece of jewelry, you don't negotiate on the price of gold (set by the government) - but you can negotiate on the quality of the workmanship.

6. What can you negotiate?

Prices in brand name stores are set and usually not negotiable. However, prices in most local stores are all subject to negotiation. A person willing to pay full price is thought of as a "Dufuss".

5. Any good galleries? The Singapore Art Museum is located in an old Catholic Boys School and is located at 71 Bras Basah Rd. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.; Wednesday 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Closed on Mondays. It is located only a few blocks and within easy walking distance of the Hotel Inter-Continental.

4. Golf?

Talk to us right now. Not later, right now.

3. What is the most amazing thing about Singapore? The most amazing thing about Singapore is the landscape of smells. Sharp and spicy and often in deep contrast to one another. Take it all in. The smells are like the cultures - well blended. There is tremendous racial harmony in Singapore. All are treated equal.

2. Will I be homesick?

No, they have mosquitoes! Given the warm climate they are year round. However, nowhere near the numbers we have.

1. Anything else I should be aware of?

There are two types of toilets in Singapore: the 'sit down' type and the 'squat-on-the-floor' type. Which do you prefer?