Like to party?
The Register: Singapore's also got a reputation for having a hard partying scene, especially among expats. Is that your experience, too?
Douglas Baigrie: It was certainly the case when I first came out here. These days I tend for a more sedentary weekend and tend to prefer the barbecue circuit to the partying.
The Register: A couple of Singaporeans I know say they have "staycations" whereby they check into a local hotel for a few days for their holidays. Is that a thing you've done or encountered?
Douglas Baigrie: I have heard of this but have yet to meet a local who has done so and have never heard of an expat talking about doing so. Hotels here are expensive affairs and tend to be fairly high quality, so I could see the attraction if all you are going to do is be pampered in the hotel and spa. However, there are many cheap flights to interesting and exotic places within a few hours' reach and most expats choose to go on long weekend trips to these sort of destinations.
The Register: How do you cope with it being so hot every day of the year?
Douglas Baigrie: When I first arrived, I used to have to travel from air-conditioning to air-conditioning. That is not a hard thing to do, pretty much everywhere including the public transport is air-conditioned. I have adjusted somewhat, though. You learn to walk in the shade and not in the sun and to walk slower so as to reduce sweating. Wearing short-sleeved shirts helps, but you can't always do that.
The Register: How's your chilli consumption capability evolving?
Douglas Baigrie: I have progressively increased the amount of chilli I like to have in my food; now I am at the same level as the majority of locals, if not a little higher. Unfortunately whilst my palette has evolved to enjoy the fire, my nose still seems to run if I eat a lot.
The Register: What will you miss Singapore if you go home?
Douglas Baigrie:The trees and plants everywhere, even on the streets and expressways, the cleanliness and the general safety and low crime in the country.
The Register: What's your top tip to help new arrivals settle in?
Douglas Baigrie: Don't lose your patience. Some things happen slower here and can be seen as overly procedural. Losing your patience won't help and it may slow you down.
The Register: What advice would you offer someone considering the same move?
Douglas Baigrie: Visit first. Try to work out what your budget will be and look at what areas you can afford. The cost of living here is very high (highest in the world in 2014) and you may not get the location and the lifestyle you think. The vast majority of expats live in the south. Travelling further up north you will be in a more localised environment which may not suit everyone.
The Register: A hypothetical Reg reader finds themselves in Singapore with a weekend to kill. What should they do?
Douglas Baigrie: Visit Sentosa, the "holiday island", and enjoy the white sand beaches and/or the theme park. In the evening, visit Marina Bay and enjoy the views from the tall buildings, take a river boat ride and eat by the river. The next day, visit the zoo and night safari, which are quite open compared with UK zoos and have a wide selection of animals, including some, such as the orang-utans, that roam about in the park.
Have you moved to a foreign land to ply your trade? If so, tell me about your adventures by dropping me an email. Especially if you live in South America: we haven't had one of you yet. ®
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