What Expats Miss about Singapore
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Been away from Singapore too long and reading this brings a smile...
http://littlespeck.com/content/lifestyle/CTrendsLifestyle-071201.htm
Parker
Anyone seen a topic that list some of the oddities of Singapore that can only be found here. Driving habits, motorcyclists with jacket on backwards, etc.
TheWrathOfGrapes
Actually, this must qualify as one of the most sensible quirks here. If the motorcyclists were to wear the jacket the normal way, the wind and rain will get through between the buttons, and the jacket will balloon like a Michelin mascot.
The other quirk is for lady drivers to wear a long sleeve blouse/shirt only on the arms - the better to protect against the sun. And women using umbrellas on a sunny day - again to protect against the sun. Locals prefer fair skin, whereas Westerners pay to get tanned! What irony - but that's another story altogether...
will miss
the cheap hawker food.
chilicrabs
You can't get anywhere else..
duchess
My house off Portsdown Road. The wind in the 6 palm trees in front of it. The thunderstorms. The bullfrogs during the rain. Paying 1.5k a month for the most beautiful place I've ever lived in. Really enjoying the weather and the constant breeze in my house without even having aircon.
Going to the local wet market with the Thai auntie next door and cooking together. Doing the same thing with the Japanese auntie next door. The great mix of locals and expats in this area. Counting Luis Vuitton bags on Orchard (incl the rip-offs).
Aliya
The lovely lovely lovely warm weather all the time.
Discount dave
"Moving out sale... 50 % off" Sign, and business still going, 12 months later
or "Limited period only... up to 50% off"
"Madam this carpet is very rare" (Like it is rare for me to sell it below 400% mark up)
"Madam, just cannot get these any more in Singapore"
"Madam this piece is 80 years old"
linguist
'Ya loh' , 'Si Meh' , 'Ya La' , 'Aiyo' and all the terms used by the neighboring aunties sitting around in the coffee shop sipping hot beverages every morning.
too much
* the weather
* like minded friends
* travel
* freedom (very little chores)
* babysitter
* quality family time
* tax rate
* shopping
* swimming every day
* taxi's costing $5
* Orchard Xmas lights
ABCer
Long shopping hours.
Long sunny days.
Shopping centres opposite train stations.
Just compare with Australia- shops close by 5.30-6pm......
taxi drivers
taxi drivers who think they're saving gas by alternatively stepping on the gas pedal then coasting.
NE
The coming couple of months of blue skies, sunshine and fresh breeze.
Brew
I always miss the local coffee when I am traveling away, can't start the day without my Kopi Si Siu Tai
Fried Mars Bar
I would miss:
Sitting in a Chinese coffee shop drinking Tiger beer getting tanked with my local friends.
Going into pubs and chatting with other expats who have travelled a lot and led exciting lives.
Long romantic night walks with my wife (with me drinking lots of beer by the sea) on East Coast Park while my Singaporean mum-in-law watches our kids.
The food.
Little India & geylang coffee shops
Boat Quay pubs
Orchard Road
Good Taxis with very funny taxi drivers
The dead brilliant public transport
Safe Streets
Cheap holidays to Bali & Lombok
The giant durian
Sushi that doesn't cost an arm & leg
Efficient hard-working people etc
GodsHamster
Getting a head massage when getting a haircut - Ah.. Bliss
squeeze me
Drinking my coffee from a plastic bag. With a straw!
For full:
http://www.expatsingapore.com/forum/index.php/topic,38137.30.html
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edited by jetta because of dead link. -
i've lived in singapore.. i've lived abroad for a short while of 3 years...
we do have a lot to be thankful for
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AND!!!!!!
u can get to pretty much anywhere in singapore in less than an hour in a car!!!!!!!!!!!!
and frequent buses!!!! omg, after 6 i have to wait AN HOUR for the bus. tsk
and cheap cheap cabs
i'd rather wait an hour in the COLD than to get a cab here 
a 5 minutes cab ride is $6+ -
Food 24/7. I miss that ALOT.
Paying for purchases with a NETS card.
Using a transitlink card on public transport. -
u r wrong.Originally posted by no-no:u can get to pretty much anywhere in singapore in less than an hour in a car!!!!!!!!!!!!
lky said we can do so in 20 mins. -
no more transitlink card anymore !!! EZlink it's called now...Originally posted by jetta:Food 24/7. I miss that ALOT.
Paying for purchases with a NETS card.
Using a transitlink card on public transport.
I miss cheap medical and dental and cheaper parking !! -
ben!!!!!!
beri cold hor? how did u cope with the last few snow days. u lucky lah, no need to drive. -
fedup with the ice that is on the ground now.. slipping and sliding all the time.Originally posted by littlestream:ben!!!!!!
beri cold hor? how did u cope with the last few snow days. u lucky lah, no need to drive. -
aiyoh, walk careful hor. i kena black ice the other day. lucky didn't fall otherwise, sure jia lat.Originally posted by ben1406:fedup with the ice that is on the ground now.. slipping and sliding all the time.
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SPG hos!!!
They are like flies sticking to dead meat.
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drinking coffee from a condense milk can or plastics bag with a straw i thought its unique.
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Hear, hear on cheap medical and dental. Parking is cheaper here - it's free.Originally posted by ben1406:no more transitlink card anymore !!! EZlink it's called now...
I miss cheap medical and dental and cheaper parking !!
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lol! I knew you folks will find that interesting. :-) It's the little things like coffee in a can/plastic bag, or the reversed jacket trend that really bring a big smile.
After reading that I felt a little nostalgic. Come to think of it, I have been living aboard for some 13 years and I haven't been back for the last 5 years. Time to visit yes? When is A380 flying again?
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Aiyah? Same same! About 13 years away and my last visit was four years ago. Time to visit? That's a yes. Everytime I visit, I spend the first week just eating. I don't want to visit anyone, I just want to eat.Originally posted by VSE:lol! I knew you folks will find that interesting. :-) It's the little things like coffee in a can/plastic bag, or the reversed jacket trend that really bring a big smile.
After reading that I felt a little nostalgic. Come to think of it, I have been living aboard for some 13 years and I haven't been back for the last 5 years. Time to visit yes? When is A380 flying again? But I can only afford cheap US airlines. -
erm....i don't see your nick in the expat list leh. which part of the world are you in?Originally posted by VSE:lol! I knew you folks will find that interesting. :-) It's the little things like coffee in a can/plastic bag, or the reversed jacket trend that really bring a big smile.
After reading that I felt a little nostalgic. Come to think of it, I have been living aboard for some 13 years and I haven't been back for the last 5 years. Time to visit yes? When is A380 flying again? 
yeah, time to visit lo. remember to eat~~~~
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Oh that expat list huh? I am in LA, Calif.
Btw, Jetta, Jin Patisserie (www.jinpatisserie.com) is the place owned by the ex-SIA girl. I visited the cafe a while back here in Venice. It's a hip cafe but the chocolates are so-so. I didn't quite faint and find myself waking up to Wonka's factory. Pastries are desirable. Check out Spring Bouquet. I hate to say this, but it can be a pretentious hangout for cool artists and Paris Hilton wannabes.
I think eating will be on my agenda. I don't really care much for shopping. But I am craving for Pulau Ubin somehow, the rustic kampung lifestyle. -
VSE,
You've been added to the Expat List. -
Are you alone up there? Or with family? We should arrange a meet up between you, moi and arapahoe, one fine day.Originally posted by VSE:Oh that expat list huh? I am in LA, Calif.
Btw, Jetta, Jin Patisserie (www.jinpatisserie.com) is the place owned by the ex-SIA girl. I visited the cafe a while back here in Venice. It's a hip cafe but the chocolates are so-so. I didn't quite faint and find myself waking up to Wonka's factory. Pastries are desirable. Check out Spring Bouquet. I hate to say this, but it can be a pretentious hangout for cool artists and Paris Hilton wannabes.
I think eating will be on my agenda. I don't really care much for shopping. But I am craving for Pulau Ubin somehow, the rustic kampung lifestyle. -
Meia: thanks for the add.
jetta: Here with my wife and our kids: a latrodectus mactans, a brachypelma albopilosum and a free-roaming phodopus sungorus. Afraid pple might freak out if I use non-sci names. I did think about that Indonesian food fair as a gathering point. Not sure if they have it during the winter months though. -
lolol i had to wiki those names.. wun the phodopus sungorus get eaten by the other 2..? lol..Originally posted by VSE:Meia: thanks for the add.
jetta: Here with my wife and our kids: a latrodectus mactans, a brachypelma albopilosum and a free-roaming phodopus sungorus. Afraid pple might freak out if I use non-sci names. I did think about that Indonesian food fair as a gathering point. Not sure if they have it during the winter months though. -
wah lau eh...........your pets~~~~~~~~~~ oops, i mean kids.Originally posted by VSE:Meia: thanks for the add.
jetta: Here with my wife and our kids: a latrodectus mactans, a brachypelma albopilosum and a free-roaming phodopus sungorus. Afraid pple might freak out if I use non-sci names. I did think about that Indonesian food fair as a gathering point. Not sure if they have it during the winter months though.
eeww............