A tour of the Asian countries should always include Singapore. That is because Singapore is a very well developed country in Asia and its tourism has blown out of proportions. It is easy to see why. You can enjoy both urban areas and nature. The people are most welcoming and since the tourism has reached so high, the government made the country into a safe and enjoyable location. However, before you leave, there are probably some things that you should know about Singapore and its culture. Below you will find some of the things that will make your trip more pleasant.
You may have seen that Singapore is portrayed as this large metropolitan area, but did you know that you can go explore Mother Nature as well? In fact, many cities are surrounded by nature, and you can find some of the most beautiful nature trails. You can climb a few miles to have the best views of the cities. It may not be possible in all cities, but if you climb on the hilltop of Mount Faber, the view will not disappoint you.
While flip-flops are used for the beach most of the times, it seems that the Singaporeans did not receive the memo. If you take a look at what people are wearing on the street, you will notice how almost all of them wear flip-flops. It may be a disturbing view, but since the weather is so changeable and it is hot most of the times, flip-flops are quite comfortable.
As for communication, you should not worry about not being able to get around in Singapore. In fact, almost everyone speaks perfect English in Singapore, which will make your trip a whole lot easier. You do not have to struggle with interpreters, dictionaries, or applications. English is taught in schools, but even the older generations do a pretty good job of communicating with tourists. And that applies almost in every region from Singapore.
When you go out to eat, and you arrive at a table that has packs of tissues on it, do not hurry to occupy it. That is a habit Singaporeans have to reserve a table. You can do the same, and nobody will take your table. You can do it before getting something to eat, and until you decide what you are having, your seat is yours to occupy. Some people may use other items. You just need to know this so that you do not sit down at a table thinking that someone forgot their tissues or umbrella there.
One of the things you will be happy to hear is that taxis in Singapore have been regulated. If you would have been in Singapore a few years back, you may have been scammed by taxi drivers. It is a common scam. A lot of taxi drivers do it all around the world. I am referring to not turning on the meter for tourists. They used to have fixed fares. But as if that were not enough, they would increase the costs of rides for tourists. That changes when companies such as Uber entered the market. Now all taxi drivers turn on the meter before a ride, and you can rest assured that you are not paying way too much for just a few kilometers.
When you go out and use the subway, at airports, malls, and so on, you will come across escalators. You will notice that everyone who uses one stays on the left. However, that rule is valid only for people who are waiting for the escalator to get them upstairs. Now and then some people are in a hurry and use the right side to rush upstairs. This is an unwritten rule, but people follow it every single day. It is a sign of courtesy. That way, people who are in a rush do not have to slalom through others while going up.
One thing that will make you happy is that unlike most Asian countries, Singapore has internet almost everywhere. There is a Wi-Fi hotspot in every restaurant, mall, shop, and anywhere else you can think of. Singaporeans stay online a lot, and the internet is something they could not do without. That is why it is everywhere. But that is a good thing for you. You can use all your apps, find places where you may want to go, and so on. Plus, you get to be on social media all the time, which is a perfect opportunity to stay in touch with all your friends and show them your adventures in Singapore.
No matter where you want to go in Singapore, chances are that there is a train that will get you there. Singapore has an incredible railways system, and most tourists choose to travel within Singapore by train precisely for the reason that they can get virtually anywhere. Plus, it is way cheaper than renting a car, and faster than the bus. Not to mention that you can admire a lot of beautiful views on the way to anywhere.
When you go out to eat, you do not have to worry about tipping the waiter. It is not a common custom in Singapore to tip the servers. Your bill will already include a 10% charge. However, while tourists think that that 10% is for the waiters, in reality, none of that money gets to them. So, while Singaporeans do not expect a tip, you will make someone’s day if you leave them some extra cash.
All in all, Singapore should definitely be on your list of countries worth traveling to. It is a beautiful country with plenty of things to see and to do. The people are incredibly nice and friendly, and you get to enjoy both urban and rural areas. Singaporeans are not picky, and they learned to live with tourists being around. They know how to make you feel at peace, but at the same time, they know how to show you a good time.
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