Being a Bengali from Kolkata, this page is primarily developed from a bengali's perspective, though i believe others will also find this page informative. The queries, comments and suggestions can be posted in the Guestbook. Also note that numerous links directing to more information on several topics are included in the page.
Singapore city (approx 700 km²) is a small island country with an area less than half the size of the Kolkata metropolitan area (1854 km²) and a population of approx 4.2 million (population of Kolkata is over 15 million).
Language
Singapore has four national languages, Malay (Malaysian), Chinese, Tamil and English. Since more than 75% of the population are Chinese, the english language is spoken with a Chinese accent, known as Singlish, which can be very difficult to follow for new comers. The spoken language typically has a tune and the sentences end with 'aaa', or 'la' sounds. Many locals also find it difficult to follow our english accent and so communication can often be inefficient.
Transport System
Singapore city is very well planned and structured. The detailed map of the entire city, with house numbers, can be found on the internet at Street Directory and is available free of cost. If the destination address and the originating address are fed into this website, one can find driving routes or bus and train routes from the nearest bus-stop, and of course the map of the areas (the satellite image can also be obtained). There are also bus and train guides that can be bought at any newspaper stand. There are two types, namely, BUS GUIDE & BUS-STOP DIRECTORY (approx S$4.00, with small maps of very few areas and bus-stop directory and bus services by numbers) and SINGAPORE PUBLIC TRANSPORT MAP (approx S$6.00, with detailed map, bus stop and train stations). I find the later one convenient. It is generally not useful to ask directions to the locals, specially to Singaporean Chinese (with all due respect to them). However, most Singaporean Indians will be more helpful in this regard.
EzLink Card
All transport systems and even some shops and vending machines use the EZlink Card for monetary transactions. The EZlink cards can be bought at any train station for S$15.00, which is inclusive of S$5.00 card cost (non-refundable), S$3.00 travel deposit and S$7.00 stored value (residual value on the latter two components are refundable). The size is same as a credit card, but does not have a magnetic tape for swipping. Transactions are done by tapping it on an electronic device, instead of swipping (as in credit and debit cards). The cards can be topped up with money at several top-up machines in bus-stops, train stations, some malls and some shops that accept ezlink card for payment. Cash can also be paid in the bus and trains, but it is a bit cheaper to travel using EZlink, convenient and takes less time. This card can also be used in some taxis.
Bus
Most parts of Singapore are crisscrossed with tortuous roads, with bus stops within a few hundred meters. However, specially when in non-residential areas, the bus-stops can be separated by more than a kilometer. There are two bus companies (both owned by the government), SBS Transit and SMRT. The bus service is quite good with more than 2,700 buses in over 200 bus routes are run by SBS Transit alone. All buses have two doors, one in the front, near the driver's seat, and another in the middle of the bus. Both the doors have one Ezlink card tapping device on each side. The card has to be tapped while getting on, and tap it again while alighting, when the balance money in the card is debited. The position of the bus is known by the Vehicle Location System (VLS), a satellite-based bus tracking system, to determine the fare stages. The fare of a passenger is debited accordingly.
It is mandatory to board the bus from the front door, but one can alight either from the front, or from the middle door (preferably from the middle door). Most of the buses are air-conditioned ('air-con' in Singaporean English) and sometimes it is quite chilling. One might want to carry a jacket for the air-con, as many Singaporeans do.
The bus drivers/captains are helpful and approachable, and unlike Kolkata, they will not rush you to board or alight.
The Boon Lay bus interchange
Train
The city has its network of intercity railway, like the metro railway in Kolkata. The railways, known as MRT (mass rapid transport), are run by the SMRT company and the SBS Transit companies. The MRT has four lines, one of it being under construction; the North South Line, East West Line and North East Line. Note that the lines are always written in the colours red, green and violet/magenta respectively, which can be an easy way to remember the lines if one forgets the names. The Circle Line, currently under construction, is scheduled to partly open sometime in 2010.
The line layout of the MRT network (click to enlarge)
Taxi
Many cab/taxi companies operate in Singapore. Unlike most cities, the taxi drivers do not haggle at the airport or at any other places and they do not take passengers on long twisted paths to maximise their meter readings. If they take you the through the longer route it is probably for avoiding traffic. They can also give travel tips and most of them are very friendly. No more than four adult passengers are allowed in a cab and it is a rule to put on the seat belts for all the passengers or a heavy fine is levied. Some of the taxis accept credit/debit cards, cashcards, ezlink cards and will give a receipt if asked for. If it is difficult to wave a cab, one can be called at any location at a fee of S$2.50 to S$4.00 depending on peak and non-peak hours. There can also be peak period, city area and public holiday surcharges of S$2.00, S$1.00 and S$1.00 respectively. The cabs have charge 10% to 50% extra between 11.30 am and 6.00 pm. The maximum taxi charges for the longest distance travelled in Singapore do not generally exceed S$25.00 during day time. The white Mercedes Limousine Taxis charge S$35.00 flat for almost any daytime journey.
Dial-a-cab:
Comfort Cab 6552 1111 / 6552 2222
SMART 6485 7777
Silver Cab 6363 6888
Limousine Taxi 6552 2828
Cashless Transactions
Nets
Cashless transactions are encouraged. If one owns a bank account here, payment at most shops is possible with NETS (Network for Electronic Transfers (Singapore) Pte Ltd.), which can doubles as the ATM card, and can also be the debit card. Transaction takes place by swipping, but unlike the debit card where ones signature is required, one has to punch in a key number to complete the transaction.
EZlink cards are required for travelling in bus and train (mentioned in the section on Transport System).
Cashcard
A Cashcard is also available and is mostly used for small payments (a few cents) in car parks, libraries, vending machines, some shops. They can be bought in many places for S$5.00 all of which can be spent. It can also be topped up at many locations where they are used for payment.
Places to Visit
Singapore is a small country, but its image to most people is much bigger. This is because of its powerful advertising. One can say that the country virtually runs on advertising. There are many places of entertainment advertised, but it is better not to expect the place to be like the image projected.
The Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and the Bird Park are however good places and really worth a visit. The Singapore Zoo and Night Safari are located adjacent to each other. Needless to say, but the Night Safari is open only at night (6 pm to midnight). The Zoo is open from 8.30 am to 6 pm, and so both the places can be seen in a single visit. It is better to buy the tickets for all the three places together as it is cheaper. The tickets are valid for 30 days. There are train/tram rides in these parks and their tickets have to be separately asked for.
1001 Flamingos at the Jurong Bird Park
They are located far away from the city center and residential areas and taking a taxi/cab is not a bad idea specially if there are three or four people. Some special bus routes also operate to serve these parks. Bus numbers 251 & 194 from Boon Lay bus interchange (MRT: EW27/Boon Lay on East West Line) go to the Jurong Bird Park and the bus numbers 138 from the Ang Mo Kio bus interchange (MRT: NS16/Ang Mo Kio on North South Line) and 927 from Choa Chu Kang bus interchange (MRT: NS4/Choa Chu Kang on North South Line) are operated for the Zoo and Night Safari.
(more coming up)
Shopping
The city is full of shopping malls where almost anything can be bought. But there is no Maximum Retail Price (MRP) in Singapore, like in India. So some items will cost S$499 in one place and S$405 in another (there is no exaggeration in this example). Mustafa Center is a super market that is really super. It is packed with all kinds of goods from fresh vegetables, to jewellery, toys, electronics, souvenirs, tools, sarees and what not. Most items here have a price tag lesser than other places. The MRT station closest is Ferrer Park (North East Line).
The Funan Mall is famous for electronics goods. The best place to buy cheap and good electronics stuff is at the electronics fairs which are held almost every two/three months. The info on the fairs can be found in this page.
The Orchard Road is Singapore's shopping district and is lined with one shopping mall after another of glitz and glamour. All the big brands of the world have their stores here and there is often a sale in some mall or another offering good value for money. If not for shopping, the stretch of Orchard Road and the surrounding area is worth a visit for a glimpse of the glamour, grandiloquence and some modern architecture.
Many kinds of good and cheap stuff can be found in markets away from the city center, specially near MRT stations.
The Singapore Government levies a Goods & Service Tax (GST) on almost all items which is 5% of the selling price. Note the price tag to see if the GST is included. Tourists who come for shopping can claim a refund of the GST and have to fill up a form that is provided by the shop where the purchase is made. The total bill amount is required to be above a S$100, and the refund has to be climed at the airport. Note that all shops do not provide this form. More info on GST can be found in this page. Mustafa Center has its own GST refund counter at the lowest basement level. Please ensure that the passport (preferably the air ticket also) is present at the time of the form fill-up and refund claim.
Places to Eat
Food courts, they are everywhere, because most Singaporeans do not cook at home. Almost all the food courts have an Indian stall, but that is the Singaporean version of Indian food, and can be found no-where in India. The best place to try some real Indian food is in Little India (MRT: Little India/NE7, the north east line).
There are many Chinese food stalls in the food courts, but its not like the kind of Chinese food we have back home in Kolkata. When eating Chinese food in Singapore, expect half boiled vegetables with very little or no salt. There are generally no spices in the food, except chilli in some.
The Thai food can be similar to our tastes. Thai stalls are rare in food courts, but there are many restaurants. Most Thai dishes are very hot and spicy, but the chicken/prawn/seafood can sometimes be semi-cooked and might not be to everyones liking. It might be advisable to ask if the chicken/prawn/seafood is fried.
The MacDonalds, KFC, Subway, BurgerKing and many such western fast food chains are located in many places. The outlets can be found in the restaurant section of Street Directory website.
Accomodation
Budget Accomodation:
Healthcare
(coming up)
Misc Info
Electricity
220V, 50Hz (same as back Home),but the plugs and sockets are rectangular and parallel. (pic coming up)
Climate
It is always summer in Singapore because it is only 137 km from the equator. The temperature is from 22 to 34 degrees celcius with high relative humidity (60 to 90%) almost all year round. Singapore is a green city and has abundant rainfall almost all year round. Heavy prolonged rainfall is rare but long continous drizzles and short bursts of heavy rainfall is common. It is good to pack an umbrella due to the frequent rains. The rain and other forecasts can be obtained here. Although the temperature is hot, it one might need some light warm clothes, like jackets, for the heavily air-conditioned public transport and buildings.
Random Facts
The underground MRT (train) stations are also bomb shelters.
More Links on Singapore
