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Expats, do you think Singapore is that boring place?

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joegymfit
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Expats, do you think Singapore is that boring place?

Post by joegymfit » Tue, 11 Sep 2007 6:31 pm

I am doing some research & hope to tap some valuable feedback from any foreign expats working or living in Singapore.

Singaporeans, please do not comment. I seek only foreigners.

The boring question is: Do you find Singapore is such a boring place to you? If you think so, please do not mind to write a few of your opinion on where & why do you think Singapore is boring.

Thank you.

By the way, I am a working Malaysian here for the last decade. So, Singapore is not new to me.

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Makan24-7
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Post by Makan24-7 » Tue, 11 Sep 2007 6:46 pm

Does the opinion of a Malaysian who's lived abroad for a number of years and recently moved to Singapore count? :) Let me know. Heh heh

TAJ
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Post by TAJ » Tue, 11 Sep 2007 10:18 pm

Yep, I'm pretty bored - mum with two boys of 7 & 9. Even when husband is back from business trips there isn't that much to do. I HATE shopping with a passion and there are only so many times you can eat out. So, as a girl who grew up in Devon ( UK coast) and left the New Forest (also coastal), and who loves sailing and walking, I think I can honestly say that city life is not for me. Having said that, I can see that Singapore could be a great place for a young professional couple with time and money to spend. I will continue to absorb the cultural experience as much as I can before heading home with a smile on my face!

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Post by sundaymorningstaple » Tue, 11 Sep 2007 10:34 pm

Yep. 25 years here. I find it's like watching paint dry. The rest of the region is okay as there is still thing to see that aren't poorly designed and executed by the STB.

That ought to go good in your GP or Thesis.

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SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers

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Post by TAJ » Tue, 11 Sep 2007 10:43 pm

Trying not to be a cynical newcomer, but I couldn't help overhearing a group of groomed expat ladies in Tanglin Mall todaywho all greeted one another with the 'darling, how are you?' and all responded with 'fantastic, I've been sooooo busy'.
Doing what, I ask myself - if you were so busy why are you here in a place that I consider a grocery essential?
It's a funny old world and I can't help thinking that people lose their sense of what is 'real' - go sailing in the Whitsunday islands with whales breaching, or throw yourslef down the slopes of Thredbo on a snowboard!
As I said before, I really will try to absorb the cultural experience of Singapore, but I will never accredit the country with 'the best place to live in the world' award!

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Post by ukdesigner » Tue, 11 Sep 2007 10:59 pm

TAJ, just changing the subject slightly but where in the new forest? I'm guessing near Lyndhurst!!!
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Post by TAJ » Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:03 pm

Almost,
A wonderful town called Lymington - right by the coast with walking along the sea wall or sailing right on the doorstep. Of course, not the same number of sunshine hours as Singapore but, hey, when the sun does shine it's a pretty special place to be!!

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Post by ukdesigner » Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:08 pm

that was my 1st choice but i just realised i put lyndhurst down!! bugger. There's a nice cafe at the bottom and round the corner of the high street... mrs something or other that does good breakfasts and teas if I remember correctly. Haven't been there for a while mind you.
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Post by TAJ » Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:16 pm

Yeah, I believe you! Of course you were right first time! The cafe has changed hands a couple of times but still does a wicked bacon sandwich. Opposite a pub called The King's Head. which usually creates the hangover that necessitates the fry-up the following morning! Where does one get a decent bacon sarnie in Singapore, anyway?

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Post by ukdesigner » Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:21 pm

still struggling to actually to make it to a place to find out!! Everytime I wake up and think about it its too late! And to be honest they wont know how to make one with the right amount of grease and fat required to cure a decent hangover anyway. I mean they can't even make a decent vodka mix here without stuffing the north blooming pole in your glass!! hahahaha
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Post by TAJ » Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:31 pm

Sounds like you've been here far too long. As a newcomer I allow myself a degree of cynisism - an outsider just observing. So, when I ask people how long they've lived in Singapore and they reply that the came here for two years.....fifteen years ago, how am I expected to keep a straight face? Remember all the wonderful things about England - the celebration of seasons (daffodils emerging after a long winter), pubs with log fires and real atmosphere, perhaps Lymington is one of those 'best kept secrets', so I won't divulge any more!

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Post by ukdesigner » Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:35 pm

only been here 2 months and NEVER want to go back to the UK. Far to cold, too much rain etc etc. Quite happy here. Think I'll have fun in educating them how to drink properly and how to make one aswell. Maybe I should open a bar!!
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Post by TAJ » Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:40 pm

Wish you all the luck in the world. Have lotsa fun and 'go for it' with the bar idea.
Frozen Marguerita is my thing so you'll need plenty if tequilla, ice, lime and a good splash of sense of humour.!
Think Tom Cruise in Cocktail and I'm sure you'll make a killing . Look forward to the opening night party

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Post by huggybear » Wed, 12 Sep 2007 8:46 am

TAJ wrote:Yep, I'm pretty bored - mum with two boys of 7 & 9. Even when husband is back from business trips there isn't that much to do. I HATE shopping with a passion and there are only so many times you can eat out. So, as a girl who grew up in Devon ( UK coast) and left the New Forest (also coastal), and who loves sailing and walking, I think I can honestly say that city life is not for me. Having said that, I can see that Singapore could be a great place for a young professional couple with time and money to spend. I will continue to absorb the cultural experience as much as I can before heading home with a smile on my face!
Singapore is completely boring. If you're a young professional couple with time and money to spend. You are not spending it in Singapore. You are buying tickets to get the hell out of here. I have trips booked every weekend through October. Thank God for Tiger's 2-1 deals. Great place to be based to travel the region ... but if you lived in a real city (Tokyo, HK, London, NYC, Paris) you probably could spend 5 years exploring that one city alone. you need about 5 minutes to explore singapore.

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Post by audiojunky » Wed, 12 Sep 2007 9:31 am

huggybear wrote:
TAJ wrote:Yep, I'm pretty bored - mum with two boys of 7 & 9. Even when husband is back from business trips there isn't that much to do. I HATE shopping with a passion and there are only so many times you can eat out. So, as a girl who grew up in Devon ( UK coast) and left the New Forest (also coastal), and who loves sailing and walking, I think I can honestly say that city life is not for me. Having said that, I can see that Singapore could be a great place for a young professional couple with time and money to spend. I will continue to absorb the cultural experience as much as I can before heading home with a smile on my face!
Singapore is completely boring. If you're a young professional couple with time and money to spend. You are not spending it in Singapore. You are buying tickets to get the hell out of here. I have trips booked every weekend through October. Thank God for Tiger's 2-1 deals. Great place to be based to travel the region ... but if you lived in a real city (Tokyo, HK, London, NYC, Paris) you probably could spend 5 years exploring that one city alone. you need about 5 minutes to explore singapore.
HB - not really fair to compare Singapore with NYC or London or Paris!! Spend a few good years in a sleepy town in CT or PA and you will love Singapore with a passion!!!

So the question really boils down to ... is Singapore boring ... compared to what??? If you compare with NYC, Paris etc. of course it is ... but compare it with some town in CT or PA, and you'll get a different picture.

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