Getting to Singapore from Malaysia is supposed to be just a bus ride away and very simple to do. I purchased my ticket to Singapore from the Melaka bus station the morning of with no problem. I then read the “TOURIST CONDITIONS” on the back of the ticket and rule #3 stood out to me:
“Bus will depart if passengers take more than 20 minutes at customs and immigration. Company is not responsible for delayed passengers.”
I thought “oh great… I hope this doesn’t happen to me” and well guess what happened to me? Yup just that, I was left at the border entering Singapore. I had never been left at any border since I’ve started traveling. I had no control over how long it took me to get through customs and immigration, I was a bit pissed and kept thinking “now what?”. I then spotted someone who I had seen earlier on my bus because we had very similar backpacks. Lucky for us we were left stranded at border of Singapore… one of the most efficient countries in the world. Right next to where our bus was supposed to leave from were public buses leaving every few minutes. We asked which one went to where we were going “Little India” and were told to wait for it. 5 minutes later we were on our way to where needed to be, not a big deal after all. This was the 1st sign of how meticulous Singapore is.
I spent a week in Singapore and enjoyed a bit of luxury, swimming at the worlds highest infinity pool & was overwhelmed walking down Orchard Road (Singapore ritziest street). The entire time though as I walked around to get from place to place or explore any part of Singapore I was kind of shocked at everything. I guess I must admit that this was my first time back in a First World Country in over year. Yes I have spent the last year traveling through developing countries and it’s been shocking, but I got used to the chaos. I was shocked for so many reasons upon arriving in Singapore and made several observations of the city/state. Here are a few:
- Everything is clean and organized.
- Even constructions sites are very clean and organized.
- You can never really get lost because every street actually has a street sign.
- Everyone one waits for the red man to turn green before crossing the street.
- Everyone seems so civilized and minding their own business.
- You will find no jay walking signs everywhere and an arrow pointing to the nearest intersection.
- No one shows any emotions.
- It seems like everyone has a smart phone and is on it at all times.
- I didn’t see a single cop the entire week I was there.
- You have so many restrictive laws and can be fined for just about anything.
- Surveillance cameras are everywhere and it’s creepy.
- Even all the hotels, hostels & resorts have so much surveillance.
- It has a lot of vegetation for a concrete city.
- It’s almost too perfect.
- Utopia - is a community or society possessing highly desirable or perfect qualities.
- Police State - is a state in which the government exercises rigid and repressive controls over the social, economic, and political life of the population.
I love Singapore. Been there twice and plotting to return. Wish I could live there. Nothing creepy about it.
Yes Sheena, I’ve heard so many people love it. Hope you get the chance to visit again or maybe even live there.
We’re glad we went, but it wasn’t a favorite of ours. I do want to go to that pool though
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Yeah it wasn’t my fav either Kent. As for that pool expect to spend a night at the hotel to get access & well it’s not cheap like at all.
I had the same feeling about Singapore… I mean beautiful and all, very safe, enjoyable walks… but there’s something missing. Freedom?
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Exactly Giuilia, I never quite felt FREE… i felt restricted and as if I was being watched every minute. I did though feel safe and thought it was beautiful too, but yeah I’d rather feel free.
I felt like this in Colombia!!! I felt eyes watching me wherever I went. I found it to be really suffocating!
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Really in Colombia? Very interesting Andi, had never heard that about there. It is hard to enjoy a place when you feel suffocated. That is a great word to describe it. Why didn’t I think of that?
Just saw on tv that for this year, Singaporean are the saddest people in the world in contrast to Filipinos that is 4th among the happiest
Oh wow I didn’t know that Louis. I could so see that… because it’s crazy there. In a very weird way. I feel sorry for them.
Hi, I’m a Singaporean and I agree with you on some of the points you mentioned above. Practicality (and maybe selfishness?) is deeply ingrained into our culture which is why we don’t mind other people’s businesses. It’s a pity that with the advancement in technology, we have become more absorbed into our iphones and devices. Sometimes, you can see a family or couple having dinner where both of them are on their iphones and not talking to each other which is really really sad and increasingly, more common nowadays.
Singapore may be a police state because the government wants us to be a stable country to attract investors etc. We may be the fastest country in the world to go from being developing to developed but all these are at a expense of relationships, freedom of expressions, etc. I think Singapore is a good, safe and stable country to live in, but not really a country that allows you a lot of freedom and be happy in.
Hi Ling, I love that you mentioned about the family being connected to their devices during dinner, because I saw one & the entire dinner they did not say a word to each other. What I found interesting was that when I went to the movies to watch ARGO one of the commercials was about THAT. It showed parents being on the phone while their children were doing something, the children on their phone while their parents were talking with them and so on. It was interesting to see, but I think that applies to the whole world today. I see that so often… and is why I try not to have a smart phone, I don’t wanna be so connected. I am connected enough with my laptop.
I did love that Singapore felt safe at all times and agree it is stable and growing, but at what cost?
Quote: ‘Everywhere I walked I would see surveillance cameras; I would sometimes even see up to 20 of them in one room. Its sick, they are recording you from every angle possible and from anywhere in the city you may be. The other thing I found strange was that no one would show emotions. It seemed like everyone was a robot coming to or from somewhere.’ That sounds just like London to me, to be honest! I guess after living in London for three years I was used to the surveillance and the lack of emotion when I got to Singapore.
I loved the city – the architecture (especially around Marina Bay), the different neighborhoods (Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam), and how you still had all the hawker food centers even though it is such a developed city – but even all the suit-wearing office workers would gather at a hawker food stall during their lunch break! Also loved all the parks, the beaches on Sentosa Island, the street art in Kampong Glam. Already looking forward to returning one day!
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Dani, I have heard that about London. I learned more about it when I read a book on BANKSY he hates the CCTV everywhere. Anyway so about Singapore it’s an amazing city no lie there, but I mean I just couldn’t get over all these observations I kept making over & over again. I don’t know if it’s on my list of countries to return any time soon. Now I wonder what I will think about London when ever I visit it???
Hey Jaime, first time on your site. I had exactly the same feelings about Singapore. I’ve added a link in my sig to a bunch of street photos I took, some are surprisingly similar to yours, I think you’ll enjoy them. You’re not alone with your opinion – it just seems to get more and more obvious each time I visit this strange island nation. But, I always enjoy myself, and will return again and again.
Hi Nate, thanks so much for visiting my site. I’ve visited yours on many occasions because I am a HUGE fan of your photography. Thanks for sharing your Singapore photos with me. I hadn’t seen them so will now! Yes it’s a very strange island nation indeed and everyone says they will return again and again, but I don’t think I will. I don’t know I loved that it was interesting, but lacked the SPARK I find in some of the countries I love.
I quite enjoyed Singapore when I visited. It was almost the perfect mix of Asia and Western Culture for me as it lessened the reverse culture shock I had when I flew to Australia.
That said, I kinda missed the chaos of Asia when I was there. It was too clean, too business. I missed the little rush of getting lost and not finding your way. In Singapore, it was next to impossible to get lost, what with all the signs and efficiency of the transit system (which, at home, I kinda wish we had). I would take issue with your “no feelings or emotions” thing as when I tripped over my feet I had some people laugh at me. I also had a free place to stay from a complete stranger. And within a few minutes of arriving, a local took time to explain the subway system and direct me to which ticket I should buy based on how long I was staying.
Though you will be hard-pressed to find me knocking CCTV and it’s abundance in our lives. Without it, my laptop would never have been recovered after being stolen!
An interesting discussion though could be had with how far we will allow surveillance in our lives in exchange for the lack of privacy.
Corey yes I could so see Singapore as a great transition point from the chaos of SEAsia and the normality of a 1st world country. Everything you mentioned about Singapore is what I didn’t like about… I missed it all. Singapore was so perfect… and it was no fun in that part. Even though that was the case I enjoyed it. I guess CCTV is good for somethings but like you mentioned HOW FAR WILL WE ALLOW it in our lives in exchange of no privacy??? I meant because you don’t have any in Singapore that is for damn sure.
I visited Singapore back in 1996
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I was not impressed. It lacked the chaos of the rest of Southeast Asia, which provides the region so much of character. I found it sterile and boring.
Since, I’ve read a lot of positive things about Singapore. If I’m in Southeast Asia again, it might be worth a revisit.
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Oh wow Erik, so even in 1996 it missed the chaos of the rest of SEAsia? Yeah I think you will see that it’s changed so much since then and it would be interesting to see what you think about it now. Oh man… that’s gonna be insane.
I have heard mixed reviews of Singapore. I don’t know, I kinda like chaos.
Oh I know what you mean Ayngelina, I like the Chaos too.
Singapore is a melting pot of cultures, it’s so multicultural that it hardly feels like a particular place, instead more like a global city. I loved it. The food there is incredible. I had the best Thai food there
I agree with you on that Izzy… it’s such a melting pot that it brings so many amazing things together.