Weather: HotHotHot! The temperature is constantly at the high end. The average Temp in May is >30 degree. Rain from time to time.
Accommadation: getting a room is not so cheap especially when you are renting in for a short term. My local accommadation is arranged by the local NUS students and I rented a furnished room with private washroom for about 900 SIN dollar per month (roughly 600 US). My place is more like a off-site resident and most ppl living there are students (high school, university) from different places.
If you look early, you would be able to find cheaper rental (For example, if you are looking for a room in a apartment, it’s about 500 SIN dollar/month).
Transportation: Bus and Metro mainly. Since it is a small place, it is quite easy to get around especially they have pretty robust tranportation systems. Don’t need to worry about getting anywhere as you could find which bus to take from Google map directions. They operate by EZ LINK system which is a card that you can purchase from any metro station or in the airport. Each time you get on or off the bus or metro station, you just have to pass it through the sensor and it would automatically take off money from your card. Reload for the card is available at any conveninet store and metro station.
Phone: you get easily get a local number by purchasing a SIN card from any convinent store. When you purchase the SIN card, it usually contain 10 dollar or 20 dollar in your SIN card and txt msg will be sent to you if you are running low on the card. No activation fee is needed. Reload is also available at any convenient store like 7-11
Food: I usually eat in the foodcourt style Honka center. It got its name becuz in the Honka center, the noise they made resembles “Honka Honka” Things range from $1-$10 dollar. $5 dollar is usually enough for a bowel of noodel + 1 cold drink. Honka center is very economically friendly. However, if you don’t mind spending a few more bucks, your choice is endless. They have all sorts of restaurant and cuisine from all around the world. Indian is particularly cheap there compared to the ones I tried in Toronto and is exceptional. Local Singaporean dish include the well known Hainanese chicken (steamed chicken and your dip of three different sause: soy, onion-garlic, spicy sause) and all other asian fusion dishes. It’s hard to describe them all. Quoted from the Singaporean ” their national sport is EATING” New restaurants are openning every week and you never get tired of trying out new places!
Things to bring: SPF 30 sunscreen and lite clothing, flip flops – The simplier the better
Things to do:
- Singapore national museum -very interactive and it is not just scruptures and painting – lets u understand the SINGAPORE culture
- Singapore Art museum – collection changes constantly
- Night Safari – going to the zoo at night…u better have good nite vision
- Clark Quey - bar and night life. It has a lot of signiture bars and is a cluster of travellers
- Extreme bungy @ clark quey – remember to bring student ID
- Biking at East Coast - bike along the coast and scenary changes constantly.
- Santosa – an artificial island. You can enjoy beach, cycling, 4D movies and much more.
- Street Art performances: Singapore is filled with modern artists. Free shows every week at the little stage outsite BayFront.
- Merlion – the symbol of singapore. It was struck by lightening this year but luckily it was repaired and vital again.
Excursions: I enjoyed a Gataway to Malaysia. Since I didn’t book my vacation early, I didn’t go to Redang Island in Malaysia. Instead, I went to Tioman island which was really close to Singapore. We first bought a coach ticket to go to Mersing Malaysia (Ferry dock) and then ferry to Tioman. The place is very quiet and natural (aka not commercialized) We enjoyed the whole day of Snorkel – with school of fish, live corel – and I saw Nemo digging their little house.
If you are visiting Singapore in June. Make sure you book you vacation from Singapore early as it was the summer vacation time in Singapore (yes, poor kids only have 1 month away from school)