Some Things to Know Before Visiting Singapore - by Tre

Hey... It's been awhile. I haven't posted on the blog for a few weeks, but don't worry, I've still been writing. We've just been out of WiFi for much of our time in Indonesia, so I've been unable to publish stuff on the blog. Since we're only spending two days in Singapore, I thought it might be a good idea to write some stuff about this amazing city while we're here. As for the Indonesian posts, don't worry, they're coming.

Singapore is a pretty distinct change from the Bornean jungles we've just gotten out of. The whole island is one big city, although big is a relative term. It only takes about an hour to drive across the island, and that's with the city's excellent traffic regulation. Singapore is actually one of only three remaining city-states in the world, the others being Monaco and Vatican City. It's the twentieth smallest country by size in the world, despite having a population of nearly 6 million people.

Singapore is a melting pot of different cuisines, and the locals are big fans of giant prawns with heads and tails still attached!

Singapore has lots of amazing architecture, such as the Supertrees.

Singapore has a bit of a reputation as a strict and clean city. Having seen it, I can definitely tell you that it's very clean, and even the locals won't deny that the laws are strict, if only to help maintain the city's safety and cleanliness.  It's a very modern city, with advanced public transport and amazing architecture. My dad and I have wanted to come here for a long time, and it's regarded as a very safe and family friendly city if anyone's thinking of coming. But there's a few do's and don'ts that you should know before visiting: 

Don't's:

Don't Bring Gum

One of the most famous but misunderstood rules in Singapore regards gum chewing. It is, in fact, not illegal to chew gum. In actuality, it is illegal to import, sell, manufacture, and improperly dispose of chewing gum. This ban was originally put in place to prevent vandalism, but was seen as too drastic a measure and did not meet with much success. However, once gum stuck on sensors started causing malfunctions and delays on the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit, Singapore’s public transit system) the ban was enacted and enforced. It was partially lifted under Fair Trade Regulations with the US, so now it is legal to chew gum for medical reasons, such as dental or nicotine gum. 

In general, good rules to follow are to not bring gum into the city and not to chew it in general, except for medical conditions. The fines for breaking these rules are strict, up to $1000 USD for first time offenders. You should’ve seen the pain on my mom’s face when she read the "no gum" signs in customs—it’s going to be a hard few days for her.

Don’t Litter

A good rule to follow anywhere, but litter laws in Singapore may seem especially strict to those used to occasional road signs with little to no enforcement. Singapore litter laws are both strict as well as strictly enforced, with first time offenders receiving fines up to $1000 USD and second time offenders getting both a fine up to $2000 USD and community service. Just don’t be a litterbug and you’ll be pretty safe.

Don’t Eat or Drink on the MRT

Yeah, this one’s pretty normal, just don’t eat or drink on the public transport. But, as with many laws in Singapore (such as jaywalking), fines will be steeper than what you might be used to.

Don’t Feed the Pigeons

I know, it sounds like a law meant to be broken, and while in the US signs saying this are often ignored, in Singapore you can be fined up to $500 for feeding pigeons. There are even stricter laws for feeding other wildlife within city limits, and you might end up paying out a few thousand dollars. So one could say that even the Singapore law makers recognise that pigeons aren’t really wildlife.

Don’t Walk Around Naked in Your House

Yeah, you read that right. So um…just don’t do that. Walking around naked (even in your own house), while exposed to public view can get you three months of jail time, a $2000 fine, or both. Just close the curtains before taking a shower. It’s just common sense.

Don’t Connect to Unauthorized WiFi

While this seems like a duh, connecting to someone’s WiFi in Singapore without permission is seen as hacking, and you will face the same charges as such. The punishment is up to three years of imprisonment, fines of up to $10,000, or both. Luckily, there is lots of public WiFi.

Don’t Tip

Tipping culture in much of Asia and Oceania is different than the US. You’re not expected to add a 25% or 30% tip to an already expensive Singapore meal (There are ways to avoid some of the expensive prices Singapore is known for, but we’ll get to that later). Often a 10% service charge is already added to your bill, so tipping is not obligatory or even suggested. You may see a tip box sometimes, but they won’t try to guilt you out if you don’t tip.

Don’t Take Durians on the Public Transport

Love them or hate them, everyone who has experienced the smell of Durian fruit will agree that they are pungent. Having smelled it, I can totally understand this rule—I would not want to be stuck on a crowded public transport with a durian.  The smell has been described as a mix of sulfur, sewage, and rotting onions... which not everyone appreciates. 

Do’s:

Drink the Tap Water

Unlike many other parts of Southeast Asia and Oceania, the tap water here is drinkable. You are encouraged to use refillable water bottles instead of buying plastic ones. It’s refreshing (no pun intended) to see a city trying this hard to be sustainable.

Always Queue

For those unfamiliar with the term, queue is the un-American way of saying a line, as well as the verb for forming one. Singaporeans love to queue, and will not hold back from telling you how rude it is to cut the queue. So if you’re used to mobbing the train doors as soon as they open, hold back and follow the locals. While it isn’t illegal to not queue, Singaporeans have a reputation for speaking their mind and not putting up with offensive tourists. Just stand in the line, sorry, queue. Locals say it is character building. Also, it is considered polite escalator etiquette to stand on the left of the escalator and walk on the right side.

Flush the Toilet

Duh. I don’t even know what to say here, and if I didn’t know that Singaporeans are some of the cleanest people around, I would wonder what this says about the locals that this has to be a law. Forgetting to flush will subject you to a $150 dollar fine and a whole lot of embarrassment.

Always Respect Your Elders

Respecting your elders is highly emphasized in Singapore, and you are expected to offer to give up your seat on the MRT, although they probably won't accept. You should also call anyone significantly older than you Auntie or Uncle. I’m not quite sure how that works, but I think it’s similar to saying Sir or Ma’am.

Try out the Hawker Centers—and Carry Cash.

If you don’t know where to look, the Singapore food scene can be expensive. Luckily, there are many hawker centers, open air complexes selling many different types of foods at very affordable prices. Hawker centers were originally designed as a cleaner substitute for street food stalls. Now they've become a big part of Singapore's melting pot of cultures. 

Remember, while you can get around much of Singapore cashless, cash is still your safest bet as to what the hawker stalls will accept. 

Also, when you’re trying to reserve yourself a table at a crowded hawker center, try the local’s technique, chope. Chope(ing? I’m still not quite sure how to use this word) is done by placing the most useless item you have, such as a half used tissue pack or cheap ballpoint pen, on a seat or table. This basically says that the table is taken. Be advised, while Singapore is a very safe city, that doesn’t mean there is zero crime—so don’t chope using a laptop or your wallet. 

That’s pretty much all I have to say on the unexpected laws and social norms of Singapore. As long as you’re polite and aware of the local laws, you should be pretty safe in this amazing city. I hope some of you will visit, so that I can have someone to rave about it to.