Saturday, March 11, 2006
Singapore "The Lion City"
Singapore is like San Francisco in that it's on the water and is a self-enclosed city/state (San Francisco is a city/county.) It's a financial and physical safe harbour residence for expats and especially Southeast Asia's ethnic Chinese population who will want places to stash their money and their families in times of ethnic strife. Unfortunately, even as recently as 1998, there have been mob actions against ethnic Chinese in the region. Singapore is a safe place, lah.
It's also very tourist-friendly with everything being organized, in English and people polite and friendly. You'll notice that even the immigration desks are low-rise counters with candy for you and the agents don't sit way high up on a podium.
Singapore - Transportation
http://www.comfort-transportation.com.sg/rates_charges.html
Great train system - but can take a while. Should study the maps before arrival from Malaysia.
Taxis are clean and well mannered - but various extra charges.
Airport is one of the best in the world!! It's a very interesting shopping mall with sales, promotions, game-show contests, gym, outdoor swimming pool - everything you'd need to really enjoy your stop-over or departure. The best souvenir is one of their local women's magazines with their little freebie bags.
If I have a choice, I like to route my planes thru Singapore just to see the great view of the ships and island, and to enjoy a few minutes inside the airport.
Singapore - TRAIN
When you arrive from Malaysia, you'll stop inside Singapore at the new WOODLANDS stop. Get off the train, go through immigration and get back on the train to its final destination. The Railroad Station is a bit far on the west side.
When you depart, you'll first clear Malaysian Immigration and then the Malaysian Customs will stamp customs card. Then get on the train. Do not lose the train ticket or either of the forms because there is no visa in your passport these documents prove you entered Malaysia legally.
After a 45 minute ride youÂll have to clear Singapore Immigration and Customs. Go to the last two counters on the right, as they are usually the least crowded. At this point, Singapore Immigration will grant your exit visas.
Once you actually arrive in Johor Bahru, Malaysia nothing happens as you're in Malaysia. So technically you enter Malaysia before you leave Singapore.
SINGAPORE LINKS
http://www.sg/
http://sg.yahoo.com/
http://www.smrt.com.sg/
http://www.smrt.com.sg/smrt/index_travel_time.htm
http://app.stb.com.sg/asp/index.asp
http://www.virtualtourist.com/vt/
http://us.visitsingapore.com/frameset.asp
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/south_east_asia/singapore/
It's also very tourist-friendly with everything being organized, in English and people polite and friendly. You'll notice that even the immigration desks are low-rise counters with candy for you and the agents don't sit way high up on a podium.
Singapore - Transportation
http://www.comfort-transportation.com.sg/rates_charges.html
Great train system - but can take a while. Should study the maps before arrival from Malaysia.
Taxis are clean and well mannered - but various extra charges.
Airport is one of the best in the world!! It's a very interesting shopping mall with sales, promotions, game-show contests, gym, outdoor swimming pool - everything you'd need to really enjoy your stop-over or departure. The best souvenir is one of their local women's magazines with their little freebie bags.
If I have a choice, I like to route my planes thru Singapore just to see the great view of the ships and island, and to enjoy a few minutes inside the airport.
Singapore - TRAIN
When you arrive from Malaysia, you'll stop inside Singapore at the new WOODLANDS stop. Get off the train, go through immigration and get back on the train to its final destination. The Railroad Station is a bit far on the west side.
When you depart, you'll first clear Malaysian Immigration and then the Malaysian Customs will stamp customs card. Then get on the train. Do not lose the train ticket or either of the forms because there is no visa in your passport these documents prove you entered Malaysia legally.
After a 45 minute ride youÂll have to clear Singapore Immigration and Customs. Go to the last two counters on the right, as they are usually the least crowded. At this point, Singapore Immigration will grant your exit visas.
Once you actually arrive in Johor Bahru, Malaysia nothing happens as you're in Malaysia. So technically you enter Malaysia before you leave Singapore.
SINGAPORE LINKS
http://www.sg/
http://sg.yahoo.com/
http://www.smrt.com.sg/
http://www.smrt.com.sg/smrt/index_travel_time.htm
http://app.stb.com.sg/asp/index.asp
http://www.virtualtourist.com/vt/
http://us.visitsingapore.com/frameset.asp
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/south_east_asia/singapore/
