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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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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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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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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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Many of the old shophouses around Singapore have been renovated back to their true uniqueness. In their time the ground floor would be some kind of shop and the upper levels a living area usually occupied by the owner of shop below. This particular style of architecture is a mix of Malay, Chinese and European influences and known as Chinese Baroque. Most are only 2 stories high, with narrow fronts but reaching deep inside.
One thing I loved about living in Singapore was the abundance of different types of fruit available. Favourite stalls of mine where the ones that sold cut up fruit which you could buy by the piece. These would be placed in a plastic bag and you would be given a bamboo stick with which to eat it by. I was delighted on my recent trip to Singapore to see these shops still around.
If you are visiting any of the Mosques or Temples, be sure to remove your shoes before entering.Also you should check for permission before taking any photos - just a little respect goes a long way.
Around the temples you will find garlands or Jothi for offering at the temples. At Hindu weddings, the wife and husband exchange garlands but at other times the act of being garland is apparently usually done man to man and woman to woman. For a widow however, they are not allowed to wear flowers in a sign of respect.
Singaporean drivers don't care to give way to any emergency service with sirens! I had seen it numerous times with ambulances involved, but yesterday was so embarrassing that I though to write a tip, and hopefully a Singaporean member can explain what's happening here! At the point where I cycled in early evening, there were not less than 3 Civil Defense vehicles with loudly screaming sirens and flashy lights rushing through the traffic. From other direction ambulance came across. Something terribly urgent must be going on, I thought!! I was observing the scene as they approached the crossing where 2 cars (one on each lane) were patiently waiting for the traffic light to become green. As they blocked the whole road together and didn't move at all, the three trucks had to stop behind them and wait for the traffic lights, which lasted 30+ seconds. I couldn't believe what I saw! Every...
This is a dying custom in modern-day affluent westernised Singapore.In the near bygone days, it is customary for the groom family to reciprocate congratulatory well-wishes and greetings of "ang-pows" or red packets of money with a box of simple cakes to relatives and close friends. Usually even-numbers of cakes are sent in the box for auspicious reasons, and the small pieces usually come in a multitude of colours and tastes.They are NOT top notch stuff of course. In this modern era of higher demand for better tasting morsels AND preferably no calories intake, this custom has fallen into disfavour and slowly becoming a memory-lane trotting curious custom of the past.For visitors, you'll be glad to know that there are STILL bakeries offering these simple cakes, rich with cream, sugar and everything else sinful. They are usually found in the suburbs/neighbourhoods (or as the political folks...
One common misconception among tourists is that it is illegal to chew gum in Singapore. The reality is that no one is going to run foul of the law for chewing gum, but sale of Gum, or improper disposable may be a different matter.
People are likely (especially Chinese) to greet someone why asking if he / she has had their meal. This is a common, casual form of greeting and not a specific question so you do not have to think too much or be too precise in answering. This custom is derived from a general sense of caring for the other person's welfare, as this practice originates largely from the Chinese, whose ancestors had to endure periods of drought and famine.
Singaporeans do not wear shoes at home, the reason is simple: Shoes (soles) are dirty, and being the fussy hygiene freaks that we are, we would like to keep our homes (including floors) dirt / grime free. Another theory is that its entirely cultural, shoes are not required in the South East Asian Context because floors are never too cold, and floors (raised platforms) are treated as refuge from the external elements and are therefore a part of personal space.
Being in Asia of course you get to experience the weirdest things. The durian fruit is absolutely popular in South-East Asia. People who don't know the fruit reckon it is disgustingly foul smelling but you get the hang of it after a while. The durians come in different sizes and some are even as big as a football. It has green spikey sharp thorns and the actual flesh is sweet and yellow with a huge seed in the middle. It is a bit hard to describe that is why you have to take a look for yourself! And perhaps taste it even if you dare? The durians you see in Singapore are mostly imports from Thailand and Malaysia. They grow on tall trees and drop by themselves once they are ripe. No I wouldn't advise standing under one. Singaporeans do have a strange taste in food. These days, you get durian cream puffs, durian cakes, durian ice cream, durian shake and even durian pancakes... Personally, I...
Le Meridien Singapore Singapore
4 Reviews and 22 Opinions I thoroughly enjoyed my stay here, as the room was huge, with lots of amenities and a very...
Mandarin Oriental, Singapore Singapore
7 Reviews and 1319 Opinions Our door 2.5 meter swimming pool
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Victoria Singapore Hotel Singapore
1 Review and 286 Opinions Didn't stay there but was there for western steak lunch.
Reviews and photos of Singapore attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Singapore sightseeing.
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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....
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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