Singapore Local Customs

  water
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  • water
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  • souvenirs galore
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  • in food courts
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Most Viewed Local Customs in Singapore

51.

Daily Customs   Singapore

Daily Customs, Singapore

 20 Reviews  Often and much you will listen of how is a Durian Fruit. Much people like it. In Singapore is in the Bugis market area a Durian seller, where you can see how to manage to open this tropical fruit-... 

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52.

Singlish   Singapore

Singlish, Singapore

 8 Reviews  Singlish, quite literally, means Singapore English-- a unique blend of the languages and dialects of the diverse ethnic groups residing here. Most Singaporeans are actually capable of speaking proper... 

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53.

HDB Housing   Singapore

HDB Housing, Singapore

 6 Reviews  Most of the HDB estates have shops at ground floor level selling day to day items that you may need for around the home. They sell a large varietyof things like foods and drinks, alcoholic... 

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54.

Weather   Singapore

Weather, Singapore

 2 Reviews   Singapore is very near the Equator, surrounded by water and HUMID all year round. Plan accordingly. Wear cool comfortable clothes and stop into air conditioned hotels or shops from time to time to... 

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Singapore regularly covered with pesticides

by Bonobo2005

One of the most mind boggling discoveries at my first arrival in Singapore was the pest control that is conducted on such a large scale. When you see it going on you may think a whole 10 storey building is on fire, but no - it is just pest control...Every month of even more frequent, much of Singapore is sprayed with a thick layer of poisonous smoke that is aimed at killing (breeding) mosquitoes, flies, rodents, cockroaches and rat fleas -almost instantly. Of course this is not bad for health of human beings or pets, but I have to admit, in the one year I live now in Singapore, I can't remember to have seen one living insect in the urban areas...it's easy to understand why!Surprisingly, there are some concerns in Singapore - not the lease the almost annual dengue fever epidemic around March -June , for a reason these are less affected by the poison.

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Singapore: World's fastest pedestrians

by Bonobo2005

Singaporeans are timed with the fastest average walking pace amongst 32 major cities around the world. Take a seat on a terrace at Orchard Road and have a look!Another first for Singapore: Fastest walkers in the world...Singapore left 34 other cities .... in its wake as the "fastest-moving city". Landing the title of the world's fastest walkers, Singaporeans clocked the shortest time of just over 10 seconds (10.55 seconds) to walk a distance of over 18 metres (60 feet or about 4.5 car lengths). This was followed by Copenhagen (10.82 seconds) and Madrid (10.89 seconds). ...the experiment was carried out in all the cities during identical times on a single day last year, on "a busy street with a wide pavement that was flat, free from obstacles and sufficiently uncrowded to allow people to walk along at their maximum speed". The results of Singapore's brisk walkers showed an increase of...

Obsessive clearing of tables

by Bonobo2005

I noticed that in many Singaporean restaurants, waiters are rushing to clear the table.Suppose you're bringing the last piece of salmon steak to your mouth and while you're still enjoying the food, a waiter rushes to your table to take the plate away. They do that even if there's somenone else on your table that is still eating.In the beginning I found this custom really disturbing. Not just for myself, but I feel embarressed for my guest or companion at the table that is still eating and the last remaining with a plate in front of him/her. To avoid this just eat at the same pace as your companion.In Holland, such behaviour of waiters would be labelled "rude", but in Singapore - and also Malaysia for that matter - it's called "service".

Aunties & Uncles

by Aidy_p

If you're ordering food at any of the food stalls, or if you're taking the public bus or taxis, we call those who are serving us Aunty or Uncle. This is a way of respect for these workers who might be a generation older than us. Generally, the term Aunty and Uncle are used in a more informal setting. We generally do not use these term of endearment if we are doing fine dining. So try this out today and see the amazement in the faces of these aunties and uncles.

Durian

by kiwigal_1

My Singaporean friends took great delight in tempting me with the Singaporean delicacy - DURIAN.Durian, is a very very very smelly fruit that apparently tastes nice. I couldn't bring myself to try the stuff (which can comes fresh, dried or even as an ice-cream flavour). Will you?

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THE FLAG

by DAO

The national flag of Singapore was first unveiled on 3 December 1959 – before Independence. The State Crest and the National Anthem were also introduced at the installation of the new Head of State, the Yang di-Pertuan Negara. When Singapore was granted full Independence from Britain in 1965, these symbols were already in place.The flag consists of 2 equal horizontal sections - red above white. In the upper left corner are a white crescent moon and five white stars forming a circle. Red signifies universal brotherhood and the equality of man. White symbolises everlasting purity and virtue. The crescent moon represents a young nation rapidly on the ascendant. The five stars stand for the nation's ideals of democracy, progress , peace, justice and equality.

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Tipping

by mywhitesofa

Restaurants - generally, tipping is not expected since a service charge is normally added to the total of the bill. (10-16% last I was there) You can check your bill and add more if you feel necessary. Taxis - no tip is necessary. Singapore is the only country where i've encountered taxi drivers who've actually rounded down my total fare. I believe its cause they couldn't be bothered with the coins and the total fare was over SG$10.Hotels - the hotels themselves generally advise that tipping is not necessary, though I think one should generally tip the cleaning crew and bell boys.

Ships and harbour

by victorwkf

One of the main reasons why Singapore is so successful today is because of its harbour, which is one of the busiest and most efficient in the world. This is also thanks to Singapore being in a very important maritime cross-road between the Indian Ocean and South China Sea. The main harbour areas are mainly located in the south of the island, and there are many ships of all shapes and sizes anchoring here. During landing or taking off at Changi airport, you will be able to see the many ships at the harbour. Other good ways to see it are visiting Mount Faber, Harbourfront, taking a ferry to Batam island in Indonesia etc.

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Thaipusam Tamil Hindu festival

by bradbeaman

Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community. Thai refers to the Tamil month of Thai in January and February. Pusam refers to a star that is at its highest point during the festival. The festival honors Subrahmanya (known also as Murugan) the Son of Siva and Parvati who defeated a demon with a spear. The devotees walk carrying various types of kavadi (burdens), pots of milk on their heads. More extreme expressions of kavadi involve piercing the skin, tongue and cheeks with trident skewers while in a trance. The vel kavadi, a type of portable altar decorated with peacock feathers and attached to the devotee through 108 vels pierced into the skin on the chest and back. Thaipusam in Singapore

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Unique Architecture

by keeweechic

The Pintupagar which are the wooden louvered window shutters are from the Malay influence which were used for privacy but also to let the breezes through. The British Colonial era contributed the neo-classical Georgian window along with the art deco designs. The Chinese bring in the more traditional designs and mythological characters such as phoenixes to bring about goodluck to the residence and business.

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Local traditions and culture in Singapore

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Local Customs: Cities in Singapore
  1. Singapore Local Customs
  2. Pulau Ubin Local Customs
  3. Serangoon Local Customs
  4. Mount Faber Scenic Park Local Customs
  5. Kampong Ubi Local Customs
  6. Pulau Tembakul Local Customs
  7. Woodlands New Town Local Customs
  8. Seletar Reservoir Park Local Customs
  9. Sembawang End Park Local Customs

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Questions and Answers

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Q:  We are flying into Singapore and will then be travelling onto Malaysia. We would like to visit Malacca, KL and Penang/Georgetown.... 

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A: Trains quite OK. The Malaysian Railways KTM offer both day trains and night trains to Kuala Lumpur, with quite comfortable 1st class seating and sleeping cars... 

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