Singapore is home to some of the most spectacular feats when it comes to travel. Who wouldn’t have heard that this “Little Red Dot” in Southeast Asia is home to both the best Airline – Singapore Airlines – and the best Airport – Singapore Changi Airport – in the whole world? And they have no plans of stopping as Changi Airport just recently opened its newest attraction, the Jewel Changi Airport. It is a $1.7 billion mega structure aimed to become another Singapore lifestyle destination while drawing in more tourist locally and internationally.
Aside from the newest addition Singapore had in its travelers’ itinerary, we have enumerated 5 tips to serve as your travel guide when visiting this awesome country for 2019.
Get App-Ready
If it does not make the world go round, it certainly does make our life easier. In this digital age, there is simply no shortage of apps more so when it comes to travelling as this generation composed mostly of millennials are so tech-savvy and can find an app fit for their lifestyle. Therefore, a tech-savvy traveler is prepared with their apps. Singapore may be a small country, but it still becomes huge to the unprepared.
Whether you are a seasoned traveler or a first timer, it is best to think that you can take control of your schedule at the touch of your hands. To avoid the hassle before coming into Singapore, make sure to track your flight and get real time status of your aircraft and your airport information, and flightradar online can simply do just that. From the aircraft location to specific details such as speed, altitude, and many more, flightradar online will surely give you a walk in the park. Or should I say, make your flight a cinch!
When visiting Singapore, make sure to download transport apps where you can view its conveniently complicated MRT lines.
Ride hailing apps such as Uber is widely used in this country and travelers who are visiting under a tight itinerary can utilize this for convenience.
Ditch the Resto
Travelers who are often visiting Singapore know the drill! Instead of dining in a nice restaurant, try Singapore’s hawker centers and you’ll surely love it. It is no doubt that the hawker center is one of this country’s iconic and well-loved destinations for many reasons. For one, this is where you will find variety of food. Up for some Singaporean, Indian, Malay, Filipino, Japanese, Mediterranean, Chinese, or Western cuisines? Come over and take your pick as Singapore Hawker Centers got it all for you. Another is it’s incredibly cheap, so if you are the type who is big on appetite, you’ll have your day as you will find value for your money in every stall. Furthermore, it is part of the local culture to dine in Hawker Centers as this is one of the reasons that make Singapore what it is.
Meet the Locals
If you are not used to seeing different types of people coming from various race in one room, imagine living with these people in one country! You heard it right, Singapore is a multi-racial and multi-cultural country that is home to people from all walks of life coming from all corners of the world. This densely populate island nation is considered as the melting pot of racial diversity because it has at least three predominant race cohabiting with one another namely the Chinese, the Malays, and the Indians. Other races – Eurasians, Americans, Southeast Asians, Japanese, and others – make up what’s left to complete the 100 percent.
Thus, consider yourself a global citizen after visiting once you meet people in Singapore.
Walk Around
You have probably never heard one record that Singaporeans are holders of, they are the fastest walkers in the planet. And I’m not talking about that zombie movie, silly! Their walking speed is an average of 6.15 kilometers per hour, that’s like walking 18 meters in just a little below 11 seconds.
With that said, take a walk around their pedestrian friendly streets and tourist destinations. But if you’re walking during the holidays and the lanes and streets might be overcrowded, never try to disrespect the laws such as jaywalking because it can backfire immediately. In fact, there are tons of possible injuries from jaywalking alone. Besides the mainstream attractions such as Universal Studios Singapore, Sentosa, Marina Bay Sands Singapore, Gardens by the Bay, travelers can opt to visit their walkable but nature friendly spots such as China Town, Clarke Quay, Orchard Road, National Museums and many more. No need to worry as these spots are very much accessible using their different types of transportation. Just make sure to have a bottle of water, a face towel, and a fully charged camera on hand as you will enjoy beautiful sights paired with their immaculately clean surroundings.
Singlish is not a Linggo
We must acknowledge, there are millions of visitors coming in and out of Singapore every year. With that said, Singaporeans are very much accustomed to the English Language. They just hit it up a notch and made it their own! Thus, Singlish was born.
Even though the gahmen (government) frowns upon the use of Singlish as its citizens’ primary communication, it is what they understand the quickest ‘loh’! Let’s just say we owe it to the fact that again, it is a multi-racial country. Therefore, different speakers of English will absolutely speak the language together with their mother tongue’s accent.
Visitors who stay for an extended period or foreign workers know it very well. So, first time travelers must acquaint themselves with local accents such as “lah,” “leh,” or “loh” which Singaporeans habitually include either at the start or at then end of their sentence to describe or to express.
05/07/2019
Singapore is a country really worth visiting. I hope to save money to come here, enjoy this country’s culinary culture in 2019.