“That is part of the beauty of all literature. You discover that your longings are universal longings, that you're not lonely and isolated from anyone. You belong.” F. Scott Fitzgerald
Monday, January 26, 2015
Travel blog: "how to"
Write a "how to" post. Explain how to do something in Singapore, first explaining how you did it, then explaining what the reader should/shouldn't do.
Night Safari is the first night-zoo in the world, and one of the most popular tourist attractions of Singapore.
I went there by 20h30 and stayed for 3 hours. I saw «The creatures of the night show» that amazed me and then I walked through the park. There is no cages ; only natural barriers that separate the animals and us. I saw plenty of little nocturnal animals but also tigers, leopards, lions and elephants! It was a great experience and the first time I went to a zoo at night!
The things that you should do :
«The creatures of the night show» = Nocturnal animals perform on stage showing their natural and unique behaviours and skills. It lasts approximately 20 minutes.
The tram Safari = It is best way to do your exploration of the park. During this 40-minute tour, your tram guide will fill you in on the special residents as you journey through 7 geographical zones of the world.
And the most important!!! DON'T FORGET YOUR MOSQUITO REPELLANT
The things that you should not do :
Take photos with the flash = it can annoy, scared or even hurt nocturnal animals. So please, take off the flash especially during the show.
Go in the first tram queue = it is obviously the longer and more useless. Begin with a walk through the park and finish later with a tram tour when most of the people will be gone.
I think you know how to have a nice expedition so it is definitely something to do during your next time in Singapore!
Hawker centres are crowded, noisy places in Singapore, full of stands where you can buy food from all over the world. These places have many delicious dishes to be tried… the problem is there are twice as many dodgy dishes with peculiar tastes! From personal experience, here are some tips to make it out alive with something nice in your belly!
• Practice chopsticks beforehand
Some hawker centres aren’t very good at cutlery; the best you can get is sometimes just a plastic fork and spoon, so knowing how to eat is an advantage not to be underestimated!
• Bring tissues
Hawker centres are completely deprived of napkins, and eating (especially with chopsticks) can sometimes be a messy business, so not having any tissues can be a nasty handicap. In fact, I even noticed in Chinatown that tissues were so important, people placed them on tables to show that they were reserved!
• Never trust the photos
To make their dishes attractive, the stall owners display photos; but don’t forget it’s never as attractive in real life…
• Ask if it’s spicy
If you don’t, chances are you’re going to eat something that will annihilate your taste buds after your fist mouthful! I can confirm this: twice, I went to eat in a hawker centre and didn’t ask, and I definitely regretted that afterwards…
• Listen very carefully
To not seem stupid asking “sorry?” ten thousand times, try to make out as much as you can over the constant noise of the centre. It’s important to understand what the seller is saying so you don’t get something you don’t want on your plate!
• If all goes wrong…
If you can’t find anything nice to eat, or if you’ve bought something disgusting, buy chicken rice. This is Singapore’s most famous dish, and yet its simplest too: just chicken and rice. This is extremely easy to find and cheap too – not over 5$. I did this once, when I forgot to ask if the dish was spicy; it’s a bit of a waste of money, but everything is so cheap in hawker centres that it doesn’t really matter.
• Try dessert!
In all the hawker centres that I visited, there were always some stalls where a cheap dessert could be bought; often fruit, for example. Try some! There are plenty of exotic fruits in Singapore!
Singapore is a colorful mix of ethnic groups and cultures from all over the world. Therefore a multitude of different religions are cohabiting within the city. So visiting Singapore is also visinting spiritual and religious places and buildings of different faith. I have visited in one evening a hindu, a buddhist and a sikh temples and found them gorgeous, unique and very inspiring. The architecture, the beliefs and the tradition are so different yet so many people are gathered around them! Here are some tips on how to enjoy, like i did, the different traditions and beliefs in Singapore!
* Respect them The number one rule when you are visiting a religious place is to respect the religion and the traditions. Obviously don't break the law or the rules, don't laugh at traditions that may be very different from what you are used to and try to not be loud. If you are respectful you will be able to visit and even ask question about the temple! Most of the time people are very friendly in that kind of buildings.
* Take pictures! Even if it feels innapropriate in the middle of sacred shrines and people in prayers, taking photos is not forbidden nor poorly looked upon! But avoid the flash : it could distrub the ones who are here on religious purpose.
* Dress-code We can't be specialists of all the different religions but most of the time, a decent outfit is expected. To not be ejected from the temples you will visit put pants or long skirts and cover your shoulders! Also take with you some kind of veil or headscarf : most of the religions want women to have their hair hidden!
* Shoes In most of the asian religions you are expected to take of your shoes before entering a temple! So put on some flip-flops and avoid sneakers which are always hard and long to take off and put on again.
Singapore public transportation system is huge and fast and it can take you almost anywhere without having to wait more than a few minutes. It is made up of a bus and a MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) system.
In Singapore, me and my exchange student had to take the MRT and the bus to go back home after school. That’s how I learnt all the rules of the public transportation system.
•To use public transportations, you need an EZ-Link card that cost S$12 and that is reloadable at a machine or a single trip ticket that you can buy at a machine for about 1S$.
•Then, you need to look at the maps. In Singapore, everything is in English and the maps are easy to read. Always make sure you are in the right line and listen to the names of the station in the MRT.
•If you take the bus, don’t forget to pass your card both entering and leaving the vehicle (in Singapore, you pay for the lenght travelled). Always raise your hand when your bus arrives or it will not stop.
•Never sit on reserved seats. These are for pregnant, old or handicaped people. If an old person arrives and the rserved seats are already taken, leave your seat. Aslo, during rush hours but your bagpack down not to bother other passengers.
•Always hold the poles ! If you are in a double-decker bus, always sit on the upper deck.
•When you enter or leave the MRT, mind the gap between the floor of the train and the station floor.
•Of course, don’t smoke, carry dangerous things or eat (especially durians) in the stations or the vehicles.
•If you are lost, ask someone where you are and how to go to your destination !
1) Yes, the flight from Paris is 13 hours long. And no, you won't be able to sleep more than 5 hours. But think positive : that leaves you 8 hours to catch up on all those movies you never had time to watch ! You can also have fun taking picture of your friends when they are finally sleeping...
2) Singapore has a tropical climate, and stays hot and humid all year long. Be sure to bring your summer clothes ! But don't forget your umbrella because it will be hot and sunny, but you could be surprised by a heavy rainfall. However, a 30° outside shower can be pleasant.
3) Singapore is the right place to take a Taxi ! You can hire one at any place, at any time, they are everywhere. Don't worry, even thought singaporeans are very bad drivers, together they manage to get you where you want quickly and without any problems. Usually.
4) Bring your camera ! You will be able to take all those beautiful pictures you saw on wikipedia. Singapore is a beautiful place where nature and modernism create this perfect atmosphere. A great opportunity to remind your family/friends the wonderful weather YOU have, by simply posting those pictures on all your social medias !
5) Try to visit as many places as you can during day time. During night-time, don't get to bed to early, and experience Singapore's wonderful Night Safari, or simply walk outside and enjoy Singapore by night. You will be jet-lagged anyways.
6) Try to go on top of the Marina Bay Sands. You will be able to see a wonderful view of Singapore from the sky. You can also watch all those tourists taking selfies. By the way : you are also a tourist so take this perfect selfie.
7) Eat a least once in a Hawker center, and try Singapore's famous "chicken rice". It is a very simple and cheap meal, but when you are hungry : keep basic.
8) Get lost. This may sound crazy, but the best way to understand a country is by getting lost. You can explore places you would never have found with a map. Just write down your hotel's address in case you get completely lost.
9) Try to make a break with your phone. This may be very hard, but you can't enjoy everything if you are always checking your phone. Taking pictures is great for memories, but try to moderate. No one will text you anyway.
10) Last but not least : Enjoy. Have a great time. Singapore is an amazing place that you might not be able to see again. So don't respect all those tips, and live this trip like you want to, but live it, feel it and love it at 100%. Make sure you won't regret anything. I believe that goodbye is not forever.
1) The first thing you need is two teachers willing to work hard during approximatively 5 month and to tolerate a group of 17 teenagers over excited ( to go there of course) during 10 days.
2) Then you will of course need to find a family so you can sleep some where : it's easier when people accept you in there house. If possible a nice family with who you will have a great time.
3) And of course a family means a host student with who you be for the hole time. With him you will discover Singapore and all its richness.
4) All of that is very useful but firstly you will need a passport, to get to paris then pass all the Airport check up with somme people trying to make joke about the fact that you come from the high school Charles de Gaulle to go to the airport CdG.
5) Once you are in the plane you now have to keep yourself busy during 13 hours! So the best thing to you is fall asleep before your neighbour so that you won't be awake when they are going to fall asleep on you.
6) So you are in Singapore, now pick up your suitcase and change yourself because the weather is going to be very different from the one you were use to.
Hope you will enjoy now that you know how to go in Singapore!
After our beautiful trip to Singapore in February, I'm going to present you a "How to beat the crowd in Singapore" tutorial :
HOW TO BEAT THE CROWD IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:
-while waiting for the bus or MRT, you shall not ook at your phone nor shall you read a book, pay attention to the buses coming at the stop!
-once the bus or MRT has completely stopped, wait for people to get off, beep your EZ link card and try to get seat on the upper floor if it is a 2 floor bus or get seats in the back if it is a regular bus, and simply try to get seats in the MRT, you'll see how fun it is! These seats are the best for avoiding getting sick because bus and MRT drivers are pretty crazy!
-When it is finally time to get off try to beat the crowd in the MRT stations so you don't get stuck in the flow of people going in (same for the bus)
HOW TO BEAT THE CROWD WHEN BOOKING A TAXI :
-well this is an easy one! When you are booking a taxi on the app, select "changi airport" as your final destination, and you will have a taxi in a minute!
-once uncle or auntie or boss has arrived in your driveway just get in the cab and innocently ask him to go to your real destination, he will either point out the fact that you had chosen to go to the airport and you will apologize to make him forget that or he won't even bother about it, the customer is king as we say in French! (BTW this trick has not been to invented by me, my host family taught it to me so I wouldn't get late to school)
So all the tips I gave you are the tips my host gave me and I respected them, and I can tell you they save a crazy amount of time!
My favorite part in preparing a trip is definitely packing. By chosing all the clothes and the stuff that you are bringing ; it allows you to imagine, to dream of your future travel and it puts you in the mood of wanderlust! However, since I am a hopeless scatterbrain ; my suitcase tends to end up full of pointless details and lacking of the essential things needed for my trip... To save you from repeating the same mistake ; here are some tips that I wish I had followed for my trip to Singapore :
-Make sure to leave some spare space in your luggage. Trust me ; shopping-wise, Singapore is the land of tentations. Infinite malls, shophouses, cheap souvenirs in Chinatown ; to restrein yourself would be the worst frustration!
-Put all your liquid products in a plastic bag. After a 13h flight, when you will be queasy, jet-lagged and exhausted ; you won't be in the mood of cleaning an explosion of shampoo in your toilet bag!
-Don't forget to bring a plug adaptor. At worst you can always buy one on the spot ; but spending your first day in a beautiful place (such as Sentosa island in my case) with no camera battery is not a pleasant situation at all.
-Bring some long-sleeved tops, pants or long skirts. Singapore is the crossroad of many different cultures ; which creates an unique patchwork of contrasting beliefs. Therefore you will have the opportunity to discover fascinating temples of varied religions (muslim, hindu, buddhist), on the condition of wearing an appropriate outfit!
-Slip a mosquito reppellent in your backpack. Singapore is such a multi-ethnic city that sometimes I tended to forget that we were in Asia ; but don't worry as soon as you arrive, mosquitos are here to remind you of the tropical climate! If you don't want to spend your stay with itchy legs, repellent is a must-have.
-Finally, one last thing to keep in mind while packing your clothes : LAYERS. Eventhough the climate stays hot and humid throughout the year, you will need some cardigans because of Singaporeans' burning passion for air-con. Visiting the city is a constant play of dressing and undressing depending on which of the two you will have to face : indoors' coolness or outdoors' overwhelming heat.
After our beautiful trip to Singapore in February, I'm going to present you a "How to beat the crowd in Singapore" tutorial :
HOW TO BEAT THE CROWD IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:
-while waiting for the bus or MRT, you shall not ook at your phone nor shall you read a book, pay attention to the buses coming at the stop!
-once the bus or MRT has completely stopped, wait for people to get off, beep your EZ link card and try to get seat on the upper floor if it is a 2 floor bus or get seats in the back if it is a regular bus, and simply try to get seats in the MRT, you'll see how fun it is! These seats are the best for avoiding getting sick because bus and MRT drivers are pretty crazy!
-When it is finally time to get off try to beat the crowd in the MRT stations so you don't get stuck in the flow of people going in (same for the bus)
HOW TO BEAT THE CROWD WHEN BOOKING A TAXI :
-well this is an easy one! When you are booking a taxi on the app, select "changi airport" as your final destination, and you will have a taxi in a minute!
-once uncle or auntie or boss has arrived in your driveway just get in the cab and innocently ask him to go to your real destination, he will either point out the fact that you had chosen to go to the airport and you will apologize to make him forget that or he won't even bother about it, the customer is king as we say in French! (BTW this trick has not been to invented by me, my host family taught it to me so I wouldn't get late to school)
So all the tips I gave you are the tips my host gave me and I respected them, and I can tell you they save a crazy amount of time!
How not to spend too much money in Singapore Travelling in Singapore can be quite expensive, and you don't watch it carefully, you'll lose all your money pretty fast. 1) Stay away from Orchard road. If you are a shopping addict or anything like that, this is definitely the part of town to avoid. This road is a constant following of malls. If you have to go, remember this: everything you see can be bought back in France. Maybe not in Burgundy, but in Paris. Except those Japanese shops over there… And this cookie seller… And… Just get away of this road! 2) Only eat in hawker centre or local restaurants. Food is very cheap in some parts of town. It is very easy to eat for less than 5 dollars. But whenever you get out of those cheap restaurants… You’ll pay the price of your error! 3) Don’t go to tourist places. They are awfully expensive (compared to not paying anything). And the worst part is that they usually have a souvenir shop at the end. This is a real threat to your dollars. 4) Get everything bought for yourself. This technique is self-explanatory, but quite difficult to set up. Indeed, you need either a host family or very rich parents/boyfriend. (strike out inapplicable parts) 5) Do not convert your euros into Singaporean dollars. You’ll soon see this solution is quite effective. Shopping is much less fun when you can’t buy anything. And let’s not talk about taking a cab. 6) Don’t get out of your hotel/host student house. Even though this solution may seem a bit radical, it is quite efficient. And cut internet too, in order to avoid online shopping. 7) Don’t go to Singapore. In my all lifetime, this is the best solution I’ve ever experienced to avoid spending money in Singapore. I once failed it, and I can tell you my wallet didn’t make out of the process as well as I wished. I am here talking of experience, and everyone whom I talked to agree with me on this point.
How to remember everyone at UWC (or at least look like you do)
As you know, UWC is huge (3000 students) and with all the people we met in a very short amount of time, it can get very confusing sometimes. That's why I decided to give you some tips.
-Unlike France, the most common way to say hello is by waving the hand, so this is very convenient if you don't remember the person. Whenever someone do that just do the same and everything will be alright.
-Sometimes, people will come and talk with you; that's the tricky part if you really don't remember the person. Firstly, if she doesn't ask you if you remember her, well, talk normally. If she does ask you, say yes and win some time. Look at some details who could give you indications. The shirt, for example. Indeed, it will indicate the grade of the person (white: grades 11,12 blue: grades 10, 9 and then it is green but I haven't met the grades below, so that's a thing in less to remember). Now you know her age. With that indicator, try to remember when you had the occasion to meet people from that grade (expedition, your exchange partner's friend, french classes..). You will probably remember the person after that.. if not, well look at your watch and say you're late and that you'll see her soon.
Today I am going to present to you a tutorial on how to make the most of your visit to Marina Bay Sands :
First of all, as any tourist, you want to have an overall view of what you are going to visit. So you should take a tour around the Marina Bay, walk by the Formula 1 race road, walk through and up the Gardens by the Bay. Then, while approaching the building, look up to your final destination : the rooftop, with its bar, restaurant, and pool with an overall view of Singapore. Then park your car, and continue your journey. Walk in the mall, and make the big smie everyone makes when they feel the air conditionning. Finally. Then go on, take a tour, shop a little bit. If you are 21 and above, venture inside the casino. This casino is a mix of asian and american games, and the players there are all about gambling. Then, when you are done with winning some money, use it to have diner. You should go to Mozza's, an italian restaurant serving also asian specialities, or simply to the best dim sums restaurant in the whole city, right beneath it. Once you have had a good meal, take a breath and jump inside the elevator to the 54th floor : you achieved your goal. You can now order something to drink and relax in the pool while taking pictures of the sun going down over Lion City.
Normally, if you follow this tutorial, you will have had one of the most joyful experiences you can have in Singapore. Oh, and if you have won a lot of money at gambling, you can always practice at the gym right below the ceiling and the book a suit to complete your experience at MBS.
Start by visiting the ethnical districts. It is a great way to know about all the different cultures living in Singapore! You can know more about religion and asian lifestyles ! Plus you can find very cute and cheap souvenirs. It’s also a good opportunity to eat and discover various flavors that will either delight your taste buds or anesthetize them. Food in those districts are often quite cheap, which is good for your wallet.
Always make sure you know exactly how much money you have. This is quite explicit but it is very important, in order to avoid being restrained in your shopaholic moments.
Make sure you don’t miss those cheap but very nice clothing stores. They’re flourishing in Singapore, it would be a shame not to buy anything there!
It is also quite important to know the equivalence in euros of what you are buying. It is a great tip to know wether you should better keep your money or if it’s a good deal.
Avoid finding yourself in Souvenir Shops. This is the best way to ruin yourself for not much. Plus, as said previously, you can find beautiful things in Chinatown or Little India for example, and at a very low price.
Do keep a few dollars safe (just in case). At the beginning, tell yourself this could be the perfect souvenir. It helps. Then, if you are totally ruined, you can use them. If you’re not, then you can use it for the last day (see below)
Finally, and this is the most important rule : Only the last (or second-to-last) day, you can allow yourself to go to Shopping Malls. Feel free to spend all the money you have left there.
And, when you come home, don’t feel remorseful if you have no money left, you’re not shopaholic, you’ve participated in the Singaporean economy!
I am going to tell you how to gain weight in few days in Singapore!
Singapore is a mix of different cultures and different ethnics. So it is very important to respect the customs of these cultures. Of course, it passes by the food. To please the people who receive us, it is necessary to taste all the dishes proposed, it goes without saying. Indian, Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Korean food, all of this looks so tasty!
When you visit the districts, it would be better to go in a restaurant which proposes food from the country represented by this part of the city. But of course, big problem: what to choose? So it that kind of situation, do not try to deny it, you order a lot of thing to taste as much as possible! The day after, same situation in another district, and it goes like this. You eat as much as possible because the food looks so tasty, unknown food attracts your curiosity. You do not see it, but you eat more and more every day. And then, after ten days you look at your feet and you cannot see them. You see your stomach. That moment when you remember that you ate like a horse but you are not ashamed! You also remember the smells of spices which rose on your nostrils. So pleasant isn't it? Do not feel guilty when you go back home it is not so grave as that looks like, you have just ten kilos more!
In Singapore, taking the car is not well-seen by the government. Indeed, to avoid traffic jams people are encouraged to take the public transports. However, there are some rules to follow. I’m going to deliver my own experience and to give you some tips and tricks to travel without problem. I took the bus to go to the UWC every school morning. Moreover I took the MRT (which is the local subway) to go to different places. The first error I made is to put my bus card back in my bag once passed the machine of the entrance (indeed, the bus as well as the MRT use electronic cards to validate your entrance and to get paid; there are machines inside and you need to pass your card in front of it). But I wasn’t aware that another machine was waiting for me at the exit of the bus: I had to find my card and everybody was waiting for me... According to me there are many lines and according to me the system is really effective and well made.
Dos: Let your place to old people and pregnant women (Respect is really important to old people and pregnant women everywhere in the world but it is particularly important in Singapore).
Respect the floor marking (As there are always a lot of people in the MRT station, they set a smart system: at the entrance of the MRT, there is a marking on the floor showing that the people inside should get out straight ahead and the people outside should enter by sides, so it helps to avoid collisions and problems)
Bring a sweat (You need to mind the air-cond in the busses especially and to always bring a sweat. Indeed, you risk getting cold).
Keep your card close to you (As you should have understood with my own experience, it allows not to make the bus and the passengers late)
Know where you are supposed to stop and what your stop looks like (there is no screen which indicates the next bus or [subway] stop, but instead of that there is a weak voice ... not so effective)
Be lucky to get your bus! (There is no real fixed schedule. The people know the approximate hour the bus is going to com but most part of the time luck plays a real role in it.)
Don’ts: Take the bus between 8 and 9 o’clock (There are jelly jams everywhere in the town at this time because everyone is going to work)
Skip the driver without saying “Hello” (Even if there are a lot of people behind you, make sure to be polite)
Be claustrophobic and agoraphobic (Indeed It is not rare to be in a MRT (or in a bus) completely filled where moving becomes difficult)
How not to get lost in Singapore : Singapore seems to be a great place where your dreams come true but it can easily become a real nightmare ! Find yourself surrounded by hundreds persons when you have leaved your small village two days before can quickly terrify you...! In fact, I was with me home student and we didn't know how to go to the closest bus stop, so we started to be really nervous but we asked a gentleman who told us how to go there ! So don't worry, I found a list of easy things to do !
1. First, you have to relax ! Are you lost ? Never mind ! Take a deep breath and admire the landscape, enjoy the sunshine ! You're in Singapore, the temperature reaches 33 degrees ; it is probably the opportunity to reapply some sunscreen because you do not want to burn.
2. Singaporeans are strongly different from Europeans, they won't ignore you if you need to know how to go somewhere ! That's why you should find a gentleman or a pretty asian girl and ask him/her how to get back on the right track, don't forget to take a selfie with your saviour !
3. Put your favourite sunglasses on and try to find a bus stop instead of an underground station because there won't be as much as people. Check the map with all the stop and find the closest stop from your hotel !
4. As we know, gain weight is easy in Singapore with all of the different foods and yummy products ! So if you want to start a diet, take your smartphone, find how to go home and start running !
5. Otherwise, call a taxi : you will get in a fabulous cab and come back to the hotel without any problems !
How to do great shopping in Singapore: First, Singapore is a great place to go shopping. In fact, there are a lot of different kinds of shops and malls. Singapore is not more expensive than Europe. At first glance, you will see the same brands and the same kind of shops that in France. For exemple, in Orchard Road, a lovely road with lovely malls. But If you want to find original stuffs, you need to look closely. There are a lot of small shops and hidden gems behind European shops. ION Orchard is one of the most famous mall: go behind the mall. You will discover a little boutique with many funny and crazy items that you'll never find in Europe, especially clothes and tech accessorizes. So, open your eyes! An other exemple of hidden lace, it is a small street beside Arab street. It's really close to Arab street but nobody sees it. You only have to take any of the small perpendicular roads from Arab street and you will fall in an other world. If you like small vintage shops or hipster's shops you will be in paradise. Don't forget to look closely: a lot of shops are very small and looks like small withe doll houses with handmade or vintage clothes.
So, to do original shopping in Singapore, you should open your eyes and look carefully at every place for a real Singaporean souvenir . Don't spend all your money in European shops!
How to do a great « Night Safari » ?
ReplyDeleteNight Safari is the first night-zoo in the world, and one of the most popular tourist attractions of Singapore.
I went there by 20h30 and stayed for 3 hours. I saw «The creatures of the night show» that amazed me and then I walked through the park.
There is no cages ; only natural barriers that separate the animals and us. I saw plenty of little nocturnal animals but also tigers, leopards, lions and elephants!
It was a great experience and the first time I went to a zoo at night!
The things that you should do :
«The creatures of the night show» = Nocturnal animals perform on stage showing their natural and unique behaviours and skills. It lasts approximately 20 minutes.
The tram Safari = It is best way to do your exploration of the park. During this 40-minute tour, your tram guide will fill you in on the special residents as you journey through 7 geographical zones of the world.
And the most important!!!
DON'T FORGET YOUR MOSQUITO REPELLANT
The things that you should not do :
Take photos with the flash = it can annoy, scared or even hurt nocturnal animals. So please, take off the flash especially during the show.
Go in the first tram queue = it is obviously the longer and more useless. Begin with a walk through the park and finish later with a tram tour when most of the people will be gone.
I think you know how to have a nice expedition so it is definitely something to do during your next time in Singapore!
How to make it out of a hawker centre alive
ReplyDeleteHawker centres are crowded, noisy places in Singapore, full of stands where you can buy food from all over the world. These places have many delicious dishes to be tried… the problem is there are twice as many dodgy dishes with peculiar tastes! From personal experience, here are some tips to make it out alive with something nice in your belly!
• Practice chopsticks beforehand
Some hawker centres aren’t very good at cutlery; the best you can get is sometimes just a plastic fork and spoon, so knowing how to eat is an advantage not to be underestimated!
• Bring tissues
Hawker centres are completely deprived of napkins, and eating (especially with chopsticks) can sometimes be a messy business, so not having any tissues can be a nasty handicap. In fact, I even noticed in Chinatown that tissues were so important, people placed them on tables to show that they were reserved!
• Never trust the photos
To make their dishes attractive, the stall owners display photos; but don’t forget it’s never as attractive in real life…
• Ask if it’s spicy
If you don’t, chances are you’re going to eat something that will annihilate your taste buds after your fist mouthful! I can confirm this: twice, I went to eat in a hawker centre and didn’t ask, and I definitely regretted that afterwards…
• Listen very carefully
To not seem stupid asking “sorry?” ten thousand times, try to make out as much as you can over the constant noise of the centre. It’s important to understand what the seller is saying so you don’t get something you don’t want on your plate!
• If all goes wrong…
If you can’t find anything nice to eat, or if you’ve bought something disgusting, buy chicken rice. This is Singapore’s most famous dish, and yet its simplest too: just chicken and rice. This is extremely easy to find and cheap too – not over 5$. I did this once, when I forgot to ask if the dish was spicy; it’s a bit of a waste of money, but everything is so cheap in hawker centres that it doesn’t really matter.
• Try dessert!
In all the hawker centres that I visited, there were always some stalls where a cheap dessert could be bought; often fruit, for example. Try some! There are plenty of exotic fruits in Singapore!
Singapore is a colorful mix of ethnic groups and cultures from all over the world. Therefore a multitude of different religions are cohabiting within the city. So visiting Singapore is also visinting spiritual and religious places and buildings of different faith.
ReplyDeleteI have visited in one evening a hindu, a buddhist and a sikh temples and found them gorgeous, unique and very inspiring. The architecture, the beliefs and the tradition are so different yet so many people are gathered around them!
Here are some tips on how to enjoy, like i did, the different traditions and beliefs in Singapore!
* Respect them
The number one rule when you are visiting a religious place is to respect the religion and the traditions. Obviously don't break the law or the rules, don't laugh at traditions that may be very different from what you are used to and try to not be loud. If you are respectful you will be able to visit and even ask question about the temple! Most of the time people are very friendly in that kind of buildings.
* Take pictures!
Even if it feels innapropriate in the middle of sacred shrines and people in prayers, taking photos is not forbidden nor poorly looked upon! But avoid the flash : it could distrub the ones who are here on religious purpose.
* Dress-code
We can't be specialists of all the different religions but most of the time, a decent outfit is expected. To not be ejected from the temples you will visit put pants or long skirts and cover your shoulders! Also take with you some kind of veil or headscarf : most of the religions want women to have their hair hidden!
* Shoes
In most of the asian religions you are expected to take of your shoes before entering a temple! So put on some flip-flops and avoid sneakers which are always hard and long to take off and put on again.
How to use public transportation in Singapore
ReplyDeleteSingapore public transportation system is huge and fast and it can take you almost anywhere without having to wait more than a few minutes. It is made up of a bus and a MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) system.
In Singapore, me and my exchange student had to take the MRT and the bus to go back home after school. That’s how I learnt all the rules of the public transportation system.
•To use public transportations, you need an EZ-Link card that cost S$12 and that is reloadable at a machine or a single trip ticket that you can buy at a machine for about 1S$.
•Then, you need to look at the maps. In Singapore, everything is in English and the maps are easy to read. Always make sure you are in the right line and listen to the names of the station in the MRT.
•If you take the bus, don’t forget to pass your card both entering and leaving the vehicle (in Singapore, you pay for the lenght travelled). Always raise your hand when your bus arrives or it will not stop.
•Never sit on reserved seats. These are for pregnant, old or handicaped people. If an old person arrives and the rserved seats are already taken, leave your seat. Aslo, during rush hours but your bagpack down not to bother other passengers.
•Always hold the poles ! If you are in a double-decker bus, always sit on the upper deck.
•When you enter or leave the MRT, mind the gap between the floor of the train and the station floor.
•Of course, don’t smoke, carry dangerous things or eat (especially durians) in the stations or the vehicles.
•If you are lost, ask someone where you are and how to go to your destination !
How to : Have a great time in Singapore
ReplyDelete1) Yes, the flight from Paris is 13 hours long. And no, you won't be able to sleep more than 5 hours. But think positive : that leaves you 8 hours to catch up on all those movies you never had time to watch ! You can also have fun taking picture of your friends when they are finally sleeping...
2) Singapore has a tropical climate, and stays hot and humid all year long. Be sure to bring your summer clothes ! But don't forget your umbrella because it will be hot and sunny, but you could be surprised by a heavy rainfall. However, a 30° outside shower can be pleasant.
3) Singapore is the right place to take a Taxi ! You can hire one at any place, at any time, they are everywhere. Don't worry, even thought singaporeans are very bad drivers, together they manage to get you where you want quickly and without any problems. Usually.
4) Bring your camera ! You will be able to take all those beautiful pictures you saw on wikipedia. Singapore is a beautiful place where nature and modernism create this perfect atmosphere. A great opportunity to remind your family/friends the wonderful weather YOU have, by simply posting those pictures on all your social medias !
5) Try to visit as many places as you can during day time. During night-time, don't get to bed to early, and experience Singapore's wonderful Night Safari, or simply walk outside and enjoy Singapore by night. You will be jet-lagged anyways.
6) Try to go on top of the Marina Bay Sands. You will be able to see a wonderful view of Singapore from the sky. You can also watch all those tourists taking selfies. By the way : you are also a tourist so take this perfect selfie.
7) Eat a least once in a Hawker center, and try Singapore's famous "chicken rice". It is a very simple and cheap meal, but when you are hungry : keep basic.
8) Get lost. This may sound crazy, but the best way to understand a country is by getting lost. You can explore places you would never have found with a map. Just write down your hotel's address in case you get completely lost.
9) Try to make a break with your phone. This may be very hard, but you can't enjoy everything if you are always checking your phone. Taking pictures is great for memories, but try to moderate. No one will text you anyway.
10) Last but not least : Enjoy. Have a great time. Singapore is an amazing place that you might not be able to see again. So don't respect all those tips, and live this trip like you want to, but live it, feel it and love it at 100%. Make sure you won't regret anything.
I believe that goodbye is not forever.
How to : Go in Singapore (in a school trip)
ReplyDelete1) The first thing you need is two teachers willing to work hard during approximatively 5 month and to tolerate a group of 17 teenagers over excited ( to go there of course) during 10 days.
2) Then you will of course need to find a family so you can sleep some where : it's easier when people accept you in there house. If possible a nice family with who you will have a great time.
3) And of course a family means a host student with who you be for the hole time. With him you will discover Singapore and all its richness.
4) All of that is very useful but firstly you will need a passport, to get to paris then pass all the Airport check up with somme people trying to make joke about the fact that you come from the high school Charles de Gaulle to go to the airport CdG.
5) Once you are in the plane you now have to keep yourself busy during 13 hours! So the best thing to you is fall asleep before your neighbour so that you won't be awake when they are going to fall asleep on you.
6) So you are in Singapore, now pick up your suitcase and change yourself because the weather is going to be very different from the one you were use to.
Hope you will enjoy now that you know how to go in Singapore!
After our beautiful trip to Singapore in February, I'm going to present you a "How to beat the crowd in Singapore" tutorial :
ReplyDeleteHOW TO BEAT THE CROWD IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:
-while waiting for the bus or MRT, you shall not ook at your phone nor shall you read a book, pay attention to the buses coming at the stop!
-once the bus or MRT has completely stopped, wait for people to get off, beep your EZ link card and try to get seat on the upper floor if it is a 2 floor bus or get seats in the back if it is a regular bus, and simply try to get seats in the MRT, you'll see how fun it is! These seats are the best for avoiding getting sick because bus and MRT drivers are pretty crazy!
-When it is finally time to get off try to beat the crowd in the MRT stations so you don't get stuck in the flow of people going in (same for the bus)
HOW TO BEAT THE CROWD WHEN BOOKING A TAXI :
-well this is an easy one! When you are booking a taxi on the app, select "changi airport" as your final destination, and you will have a taxi in a minute!
-once uncle or auntie or boss has arrived in your driveway just get in the cab and innocently ask him to go to your real destination, he will either point out the fact that you had chosen to go to the airport and you will apologize to make him forget that or he won't even bother about it, the customer is king as we say in French! (BTW this trick has not been to invented by me, my host family taught it to me so I wouldn't get late to school)
So all the tips I gave you are the tips my host gave me and I respected them, and I can tell you they save a crazy amount of time!
My favorite part in preparing a trip is definitely packing. By chosing all the clothes and the stuff that you are bringing ; it allows you to imagine, to dream of your future travel and it puts you in the mood of wanderlust! However, since I am a hopeless scatterbrain ; my suitcase tends to end up full of pointless details and lacking of the essential things needed for my trip... To save you from repeating the same mistake ; here are some tips that I wish I had followed for my trip to Singapore :
ReplyDelete-Make sure to leave some spare space in your luggage. Trust me ; shopping-wise, Singapore is the land of tentations. Infinite malls, shophouses, cheap souvenirs in Chinatown ; to restrein yourself would be the worst frustration!
-Put all your liquid products in a plastic bag. After a 13h flight, when you will be queasy, jet-lagged and exhausted ; you won't be in the mood of cleaning an explosion of shampoo in your toilet bag!
-Don't forget to bring a plug adaptor. At worst you can always buy one on the spot ; but spending your first day in a beautiful place (such as Sentosa island in my case) with no camera battery is not a pleasant situation at all.
-Bring some long-sleeved tops, pants or long skirts. Singapore is the crossroad of many different cultures ; which creates an unique patchwork of contrasting beliefs. Therefore you will have the opportunity to discover fascinating temples of varied religions (muslim, hindu, buddhist), on the condition of wearing an appropriate outfit!
-Slip a mosquito reppellent in your backpack. Singapore is such a multi-ethnic city that sometimes I tended to forget that we were in Asia ; but don't worry as soon as you arrive, mosquitos are here to remind you of the tropical climate! If you don't want to spend your stay with itchy legs, repellent is a must-have.
-Finally, one last thing to keep in mind while packing your clothes : LAYERS. Eventhough the climate stays hot and humid throughout the year, you will need some cardigans because of Singaporeans' burning passion for air-con. Visiting the city is a constant play of dressing and undressing depending on which of the two you will have to face : indoors' coolness or outdoors' overwhelming heat.
After our beautiful trip to Singapore in February, I'm going to present you a "How to beat the crowd in Singapore" tutorial :
ReplyDeleteHOW TO BEAT THE CROWD IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:
-while waiting for the bus or MRT, you shall not ook at your phone nor shall you read a book, pay attention to the buses coming at the stop!
-once the bus or MRT has completely stopped, wait for people to get off, beep your EZ link card and try to get seat on the upper floor if it is a 2 floor bus or get seats in the back if it is a regular bus, and simply try to get seats in the MRT, you'll see how fun it is! These seats are the best for avoiding getting sick because bus and MRT drivers are pretty crazy!
-When it is finally time to get off try to beat the crowd in the MRT stations so you don't get stuck in the flow of people going in (same for the bus)
HOW TO BEAT THE CROWD WHEN BOOKING A TAXI :
-well this is an easy one! When you are booking a taxi on the app, select "changi airport" as your final destination, and you will have a taxi in a minute!
-once uncle or auntie or boss has arrived in your driveway just get in the cab and innocently ask him to go to your real destination, he will either point out the fact that you had chosen to go to the airport and you will apologize to make him forget that or he won't even bother about it, the customer is king as we say in French! (BTW this trick has not been to invented by me, my host family taught it to me so I wouldn't get late to school)
So all the tips I gave you are the tips my host gave me and I respected them, and I can tell you they save a crazy amount of time!
How not to spend too much money in Singapore
ReplyDeleteTravelling in Singapore can be quite expensive, and you don't watch it carefully, you'll lose all your money pretty fast.
1) Stay away from Orchard road. If you are a shopping addict or anything like that, this is definitely the part of town to avoid. This road is a constant following of malls. If you have to go, remember this: everything you see can be bought back in France. Maybe not in Burgundy, but in Paris. Except those Japanese shops over there… And this cookie seller… And…
Just get away of this road!
2) Only eat in hawker centre or local restaurants. Food is very cheap in some parts of town. It is very easy to eat for less than 5 dollars. But whenever you get out of those cheap restaurants… You’ll pay the price of your error!
3) Don’t go to tourist places. They are awfully expensive (compared to not paying anything). And the worst part is that they usually have a souvenir shop at the end. This is a real threat to your dollars.
4) Get everything bought for yourself. This technique is self-explanatory, but quite difficult to set up. Indeed, you need either a host family or very rich parents/boyfriend. (strike out inapplicable parts)
5) Do not convert your euros into Singaporean dollars. You’ll soon see this solution is quite effective. Shopping is much less fun when you can’t buy anything. And let’s not talk about taking a cab.
6) Don’t get out of your hotel/host student house. Even though this solution may seem a bit radical, it is quite efficient. And cut internet too, in order to avoid online shopping.
7) Don’t go to Singapore. In my all lifetime, this is the best solution I’ve ever experienced to avoid spending money in Singapore. I once failed it, and I can tell you my wallet didn’t make out of the process as well as I wished. I am here talking of experience, and everyone whom I talked to agree with me on this point.
How to remember everyone at UWC (or at least look like you do)
ReplyDeleteAs you know, UWC is huge (3000 students) and with all the people we met in a very short amount of time, it can get very confusing sometimes. That's why I decided to give you some tips.
-Unlike France, the most common way to say hello is by waving the hand, so this is very convenient if you don't remember the person. Whenever someone do that just do the same and everything will be alright.
-Sometimes, people will come and talk with you; that's the tricky part if you really don't remember the person. Firstly, if she doesn't ask you if you remember her, well, talk normally. If she does ask you, say yes and win some time. Look at some details who could give you indications. The shirt, for example. Indeed, it will indicate the grade of the person (white: grades 11,12 blue: grades 10, 9 and then it is green but I haven't met the grades below, so that's a thing in less to remember).
Now you know her age. With that indicator, try to remember when you had the occasion to meet people from that grade (expedition, your exchange partner's friend, french classes..). You will probably remember the person after that.. if not, well look at your watch and say you're late and that you'll see her soon.
I hope these tips will be helpful.
Today I am going to present to you a tutorial on how to make the most of your visit to Marina Bay Sands :
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, as any tourist, you want to have an overall view of what you are going to visit. So you should take a tour around the Marina Bay, walk by the Formula 1 race road, walk through and up the Gardens by the Bay. Then, while approaching the building, look up to your final destination : the rooftop, with its bar, restaurant, and pool with an overall view of Singapore. Then park your car, and continue your journey. Walk in the mall, and make the big smie everyone makes when they feel the air conditionning. Finally. Then go on, take a tour, shop a little bit. If you are 21 and above, venture inside the casino. This casino is a mix of asian and american games, and the players there are all about gambling. Then, when you are done with winning some money, use it to have diner. You should go to Mozza's, an italian restaurant serving also asian specialities, or simply to the best dim sums restaurant in the whole city, right beneath it. Once you have had a good meal, take a breath and jump inside the elevator to the 54th floor : you achieved your goal. You can now order something to drink and relax in the pool while taking pictures of the sun going down over Lion City.
Normally, if you follow this tutorial, you will have had one of the most joyful experiences you can have in Singapore.
Oh, and if you have won a lot of money at gambling, you can always practice at the gym right below the ceiling and the book a suit to complete your experience at MBS.
How to regulate your spendings in Singapore.
ReplyDeleteStart by visiting the ethnical districts.
It is a great way to know about all the different cultures living in Singapore! You can know more about religion and asian lifestyles !
Plus you can find very cute and cheap souvenirs. It’s also a good opportunity to eat and discover various flavors that will either delight your taste buds or anesthetize them. Food in those districts are often quite cheap, which is good for your wallet.
Always make sure you know exactly how much money you have.
This is quite explicit but it is very important, in order to avoid being restrained in your shopaholic moments.
Make sure you don’t miss those cheap but very nice clothing stores. They’re flourishing in Singapore, it would be a shame not to buy anything there!
It is also quite important to know the equivalence in euros of what you are buying. It is a great tip to know wether you should better keep your money or if it’s a good deal.
Avoid finding yourself in Souvenir Shops. This is the best way to ruin yourself for not much. Plus, as said previously, you can find beautiful things in Chinatown or Little India for example, and at a very low price.
Do keep a few dollars safe (just in case). At the beginning, tell yourself this could be the perfect souvenir. It helps. Then, if you are totally ruined, you can use them. If you’re not, then you can use it for the last day (see below)
Finally, and this is the most important rule :
Only the last (or second-to-last) day, you can allow yourself to go to Shopping Malls. Feel free to spend all the money you have left there.
And, when you come home, don’t feel remorseful if you have no money left, you’re not shopaholic, you’ve participated in the Singaporean economy!
I am going to tell you how to gain weight in few days in Singapore!
ReplyDeleteSingapore is a mix of different cultures and different ethnics.
So it is very important to respect the customs of these cultures. Of course, it passes by the food.
To please the people who receive us, it is necessary to taste all the dishes proposed, it goes without saying.
Indian, Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Korean food, all of this looks so tasty!
When you visit the districts, it would be better to go in a restaurant which proposes food from the country represented by this part of the city. But of course, big problem: what to choose? So it that kind of situation, do not try to deny it, you order a lot of thing to taste as much as possible!
The day after, same situation in another district, and it goes like this. You eat as much as possible because the food looks so tasty, unknown food attracts your curiosity. You do not see it, but you eat more and more every day.
And then, after ten days you look at your feet and you cannot see them. You see your stomach. That moment when you remember that you ate like a horse but you are not ashamed! You also remember the smells of spices which rose on your nostrils. So pleasant isn't it?
Do not feel guilty when you go back home it is not so grave as that looks like, you have just ten kilos more!
Take the public transports in Singapore:
ReplyDeleteIn Singapore, taking the car is not well-seen by the government. Indeed, to avoid traffic jams people are encouraged to take the public transports. However, there are some rules to follow. I’m going to deliver my own experience and to give you some tips and tricks to travel without problem.
I took the bus to go to the UWC every school morning. Moreover I took the MRT (which is the local subway) to go to different places. The first error I made is to put my bus card back in my bag once passed the machine of the entrance (indeed, the bus as well as the MRT use electronic cards to validate your entrance and to get paid; there are machines inside and you need to pass your card in front of it). But I wasn’t aware that another machine was waiting for me at the exit of the bus: I had to find my card and everybody was waiting for me... According to me there are many lines and according to me the system is really effective and well made.
Dos: Let your place to old people and pregnant women (Respect is really important to old people and pregnant women everywhere in the world but it is particularly important in Singapore).
Respect the floor marking (As there are always a lot of people in the MRT station, they set a smart system: at the entrance of the MRT, there is a marking on the floor showing that the people inside should get out straight ahead and the people outside should enter by sides, so it helps to avoid collisions and problems)
Bring a sweat (You need to mind the air-cond in the busses especially and to always bring a sweat. Indeed, you risk getting cold).
Keep your card close to you (As you should have understood with my own experience, it allows not to make the bus and the passengers late)
Know where you are supposed to stop and what your stop looks like (there is no screen which indicates the next bus or [subway] stop, but instead of that there is a weak voice ... not so effective)
Be lucky to get your bus! (There is no real fixed schedule. The people know the approximate hour the bus is going to com but most part of the time luck plays a real role in it.)
Don’ts: Take the bus between 8 and 9 o’clock (There are jelly jams everywhere in the town at this time because everyone is going to work)
Skip the driver without saying “Hello” (Even if there are a lot of people behind you, make sure to be polite)
Be claustrophobic and agoraphobic (Indeed It is not rare to be in a MRT (or in a bus) completely filled where moving becomes difficult)
How not to get lost in Singapore :
ReplyDeleteSingapore seems to be a great place where your dreams come true but it can easily become a real nightmare ! Find yourself surrounded by hundreds persons when you have leaved your small village two days before can quickly terrify you...!
In fact, I was with me home student and we didn't know how to go to the closest bus stop, so we started to be really nervous but we asked a gentleman who told us how to go there !
So don't worry, I found a list of easy things to do !
1. First, you have to relax ! Are you lost ? Never mind ! Take a deep breath and admire the landscape, enjoy the sunshine ! You're in Singapore, the temperature reaches 33 degrees ; it is probably the opportunity to reapply some sunscreen because you do not want to burn.
2. Singaporeans are strongly different from Europeans, they won't ignore you if you need to know how to go somewhere ! That's why you should find a gentleman or a pretty asian girl and ask him/her how to get back on the right track, don't forget to take a selfie with your saviour !
3. Put your favourite sunglasses on and try to find a bus stop instead of an underground station because there won't be as much as people. Check the map with all the stop and find the closest stop from your hotel !
4. As we know, gain weight is easy in Singapore with all of the different foods and yummy products ! So if you want to start a diet, take your smartphone, find how to go home and start running !
5. Otherwise, call a taxi : you will get in a fabulous cab and come back to the hotel without any problems !
How to do great shopping in Singapore:
ReplyDeleteFirst, Singapore is a great place to go shopping. In fact, there are a lot of different kinds of shops and malls. Singapore is not more expensive than Europe. At first glance, you will see the same brands and the same kind of shops that in France. For exemple, in Orchard Road, a lovely road with lovely malls. But If you want to find original stuffs, you need to look closely. There are a lot of small shops and hidden gems behind European shops. ION Orchard is one of the most famous mall: go behind the mall. You will discover a little boutique with many funny and crazy items that you'll never find in Europe, especially clothes and tech accessorizes. So, open your eyes!
An other exemple of hidden lace, it is a small street beside Arab street.
It's really close to Arab street but nobody sees it. You only have to take any of the small perpendicular roads from Arab street and you will fall in an other world. If you like small vintage shops or hipster's shops you will be in paradise. Don't forget to look closely: a lot of shops are very small and looks like small withe doll houses with handmade or vintage clothes.
So, to do original shopping in Singapore, you should open your eyes and look carefully at every place for a real Singaporean souvenir . Don't spend all your money in European shops!