Since few years ago, Di has invited me over, especially she has her own place now. On 2023, I planned to transit 8 hours in Singapore but that stupid airline (Qantas) changed the date, and on top of that a delay when you already reached airport. And another unannounced delay in Sydney too! Terrible!
She is one of many (well not many compare to 150millions of Indonesians) that are lucky enough to have the money to leave homeland and work the ladder up and settle. The work was really hard work if you are from working middle class that does not have a wealthy parents to sponsor you all the time. But same feather flock together. As a young smart software engineer what life can you have in Jakarta at 2008? So she moved to Singapore and applied for a job. She stayed, I sadly brokenheartedly had to return back, not to mention broke LOL.
But again, the timing was not right. Di has to do alot of meeting with the team in other continent, after her full office hours. The week I was there, the meeting was every single night. We just caught up in the kitchen and chatted. Not even over coffee or snack. Poor Di.
I did not have much plan. As 5 days was a short one, so did not have a proper plan. Like what would you expect from a metropolitan city (nation) with currency higher than NZD. Shopping is not a good idea.
SHOPPING
Let's check the 24 carat Gold they have. It is in their culture, and after Lunar New Year, seems like everyone wearing red knit bracelet with 1 golden charm. I enjoyed to enter each jewellery stores. Some just assuming I was looking for a gift to a new born. It is part of their culture. They are amazingly overpriced compare to Surabaya. With more designs, still does not cut it. I feel like they are cute and pretty, the 999% golden color are stunning but they are soft. It can get deformed easily.
Other stuffs, Indonesia has cheaper price. Look at Asics, new model Gel Nimbus 27 you can get for 260NZD. In Singapore, they give discount Gel Nimbus 26 for 205 SGD. I m glad I did not shop that much.
TRANSPORTATION
My cousin lend me her EZ link card, BUT special edition. With cute images on the card, but it does not show the $ amount in it! Pretty but useless. I had to ask to information kiosk the $ amount left. I told the officer will it be enough till I left Singapore, he said yes. It only cost you $2 per trip max all over Singapore. Was too excited about it, I hopped out in and then I had to top up the card as it was out of balance.
I get used to with slower pace in New Zealand, and that make me nervous. Bus driver in Auckland usually will let you sit and then drive off. In Singapore, I knew it and was well adjusted to, no time to waste. As soon as the last person hop up, door closed, drive off. Some steps in the bus were steep for asian size but it does not seem a Health and safety issue, at all. Everyone will start to stand and line up in the door 300m before the bus reaching the stops. And this is in suburb area, not the young professionals in downtown, 50% are elderlies.
I just once got to upper part of double decker bus and quite regret it. For Christ sake, this people are all rush rush. I do not enjoy this vibe. If you are keen of big city life's kind of vibe, it is the best place. Singapore never fails to revamping herself to lure tourists every single seconds. On my last visit the train route/lines was 5 or 6, on 2015. Now it is....I lost count, lol, did not plan to take a ride to all of them. But it does make the mobility in a shorter time. I once got lost in Dhoby Ghaut train station. Now it has more than 4 levels. I cannot imagine Tokyo train station, or London's but I will be get a better readiness.
CITY LIGHTS
I landed on 6pm SGT, was starting to get dark. I only had internet in the airport, it means I have to know where I will alight and walked to get to the block. I was nervous if it was dark it would be harder. Again, I compared it to Auckland suburb LMAO !
Till 11pm there are people everywhere and the building block number are all well lit! Where have you been......
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| I kept swearing to smash this phone. Rubbish |
FOOD
I compared to the price on 2009. For common food like carrot cake, fried kweetiau there was a raise only like $2.5. Within 15 years, that is low! Compare to NZ, every year, food price hiking $1 in average, to compensate the rise of minimum wage.
And foodcourt seems to close 12 hours or more! 7am the breakfast stall selling porridge or chinese fried donut opens but close after 2pm I think. Some stalls open afternoon till midnight. And the hawker seems busy around the clock even after 9pm. I said to my friend, really, Singaporean love food, and they are still slim!
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| Hawker center |
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| A food court in Terminal 4, Changi. Look flash but more affordable then the malls in downtown. |
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