Dos and Don’ts When Visiting Singapore

[Akshay Koranne]

One of the most vibrant and popular destination in Asia, Singapore is renowned for its cleanliness and a garden city with unique cultural fusion of Malay, Indian, Chinese and European immigrants. The city is clean, efficient and safe city because of its laws, enforced strictly for people to follow. However, the different racial groups in the city that retain their own religious and cultural identity including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Taoism and Buddhism, sometimes cause confusion and conflicts.

If you are planning to go on one of your holidays in Singapore, keep the following travel tips, the dos and don’ts that will help you enjoy the rich and diverse culture of the city. If you aren’t planning your trip now, visit Singapore and be a part of its rich experience.

To start with, you should know about the travel taboo in Singapore. There are laws in the city that are related to littering, chewing and selling gum, jaywalking and smoking in public area and they are enforced in urban areas rather strictly. You should abide by the law and never litter, sell or chew gum, smoke in public or jaywalk as these offences are punishable by jail or even death. Apart from these laws, let’s look at the list of don’ts and dos if you are to visit Singapore.

Don’ts

Dropping a cigarette butt at the end of the street or smoking illegally can lead you to fine. Do not litter as there can be an officer nearby, dressed in plain clothes and mixing in the crowd. If you have committed the offence for the first time, you may have to pay a fine of 120 US dollars. They may also ask you to watch a video that will educate you about the ill-effects of littering. If you happen to be a repeat offender, you will be forced to take part in a Corrective Work Order.

Don’t vandalize in Singapore. This includes refrain from creating graffiti of any kind. Singapore is stricter than many countries as far as vandalism is considered. Offenders may be caned or even jailed.

Do not feel obligated to tip as tipping is not a culture in Singapore. While holidays in Singapore is all fine and happy, you are not expected to tip but you are still welcome if you really want to.

There is no real need to carry cash here and so, do not stuff your wallet with a lot of cash. Most restaurants and stores accept cards. Even if you find that your card cannot be accepted, in Singapore you are never far from Plus ATM or Cirrus.

Dos

Ask for the price of your food before ordering it. This is important as in many smaller places, prices on food items can be high despite the establishment’s decent appearance. This is relevant especially when you order seafood. You can find some crab and fish dishes priced at a few hundreds, even in small cafes.

Get a copy of the local Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) guide for travelling in the Subway. It is the most popular and convenient mode of transport in Singapore, especially during the peak hours, when the roads are packed with vehicles.

Locals in Singapore have a habit of reserving tables and chairs with tissue papers or umbrellas while visiting a coffee shop or hawker centre. Look out for packets of tissue papers and umbrellas if you don’t want to get into an ugly spat. Tables can be a prime real estate during lunch time, which is why you should check before taking a seat at the table.

Always bargain a little when you are not in a fixed price outlet. Sellers will, at most, reduce the price of their products by 10%, so do not push your luck too far or you will end up offending the person. You can freely shop around, as many vendors sell similar items and price differences between the shops may take you by surprise.

The temperature in Singapore is hot and humid, which make it necessary that you dress accordingly. Pack light cotton garments but do not go to other extreme. If you step into a religious building where you are showing a little too much skin, Singaporeans may not take it very well.

These tips will help your holidays in Singapore be more enjoyable and safe.