What to bring to Singapore?

[ttujess]

I am back home now for a couple of weeks and I am stocking up on sunscreen, cosmetics and shaving cream to bring back.

[missis]

All good tips, thanks!

I tend to use Advil and Ibuprofen interchangeably, so perhaps I am confusing the two. I definitely don't want to smuggle anything in It might be the case that she was told you can only get Ibuprofen in tiny packets (as opposed to by scrip only), and that we should bring one of those big jugs with us.

Yes, I should have been clearer on my post. You can get Nurofen in small packs but the most annoying thing is that you have to get it from the pharmacist him/herself. In the Guardians near me the pharmacists start work late, have a lunch break and it seems that whenever I need stuff that they have to dispense they are not there.

[beppi]

Bring an open mind and a good sense of humour.
Everything else is available here.

P.S.: I wouldn't bring dogs or other animals, as the import procedures are troublesome (quarantine!) and costly. I also doubt that a temperate-climate dog would like tropical conditions.

[snowqueen]

I wish I'd bought my George Forman grill but other than that you can get most things here that you can back home the only problem is, is that it will be more expensive here.

Suncream is expensive and you can't get lower factors, probably due to the obsession for white skin. Which brings me onto face creams. If you/your wife has a favourite brand you may want to stock up on a few bottles. A lot of the creams contain whitening agents and my favourite brand Oil of Olay is double what I pay in the UK.

Baby clothes are crazy prices here and the best stocked shop for essentials is Mothercare but again, it costs nearly double what I would pay in the UK so I tend to make the most of the sales when they are on here. Either that or I save it for when I can get baby clothes from the UK supermarkets or Target/Big W whenever I go to Oz.

[Saint]

Bring an open mind and a good sense of humour.
Everything else is available here.

Copycat

Anyway, just realise the OP is American so will need to discover a sense of humour first

[sundaymorningstaple]

Anyway, just realise the OP is American so will need to discover a sense of humour first

[curiousgeorge]

I wish I'd bought my George Forman grill

Suncream is expensive and you can't get lower factors, probably due to the obsession for white skin.

For George Forman style grill, head to Tangs basement. Three or four similar machines available there.

Living pretty much on the equator, with British skin I am glad for the high factor sun creams...oddly high incidents of melanoma amongst expats who treat the sun like a 24/7 vacation and end up overexposed!

Trying to find a clicky regarding the sun thing...can't lay my hands on it right now. I do remember kidney stones are prevalent too, according to the article. Drink more water!

[AndyD]

P.S.: I wouldn't bring dogs or other animals, as the import procedures are troublesome (quarantine!) and costly. I also doubt that a temperate-climate dog would like tropical conditions.

10 cents bet you’re not a dog owner… You can’t throw in a comment like that out the blue, they are family members and loved as such, not just put in the garage sale pile when you’re packing…

Ignore anyway, dogs are fine here…

[beppi]

P.S.: I wouldn't bring dogs or other animals, as the import procedures are troublesome (quarantine!) and costly. I also doubt that a temperate-climate dog would like tropical conditions.

10 cents bet you’re not a dog owner… You can’t throw in a comment like that out the blue, they are family members and loved as such, not just put in the garage sale pile when you’re packing…

Ignore anyway, dogs are fine here…

I adopted a Singapore stray cat years ago, who despite being born here always had heat rashes (according to the vet!) and scratched her fur until bare skin was visible.
We took her with us to Europe, where she developed a beautiful fur and was obviously happier and healthier.
When we returned to Singapore, we left her with my Mom and believe this is in her best interest (not only because of the excessive paperwork and quarantine required here).
I still miss her, so we Skype every week (with my Mom).

[JR8]

If you use lip-balm, 'the Original Chapstick', you'll know nothing else is the same. Bring a stock, as you can't get them in SG (or anywhere else I've seen in Asia)...

p.s. keep in mind most white goods/appliances are designed for 60cm wide units. Might as well leave bigger baking trays etc at home...

[nakatago]

If you use lip-balm, 'the Original Chapstick', you'll know nothing else is the same. Bring a stock, as you can't get them in SG (or anywhere else I've seen in Asia)...

FYI, there's "the Original Chapstick" in the Philippines.

[road.not.taken]

Our dogs and cats are just fine here, no worries. I'd say their quality of life in Singapore is higher by a few measurements then if we lived a typical 2 income life in the US. We did leave behind a 12 year old Maine Coon cat when we moved to Singapore originally, but for most cats & dogs, Singapore is great. I'm not sure I'd make the move without them.

[djfiii]

Bring an open mind and a good sense of humour.
Everything else is available here.

P.S.: I wouldn't bring dogs or other animals, as the import procedures are troublesome (quarantine!) and costly. I also doubt that a temperate-climate dog would like tropical conditions.

heh, we have two dogs and they are like our kids so we will definitely be bringing them, but we are aware of the cost / inconvenience of quarantine. One of them is an english bulldog, so we are also aware of the heat concerns. Fortunately her favorite activity is sleeping on the couch in the A/C

[djfiii]

Bring an open mind and a good sense of humour.
Everything else is available here.

Copycat

Anyway, just realise the OP is American so will need to discover a sense of humour first

Ouch!

Well, fortunately my wife and I are very well traveled and are probably unlike the stereotypical American (the wife actually lived and worked in London for 2 years). I expect we'll fit in very well with the expat crowd

Thanks for all of the tips!

Sunblock, chapstick, foreman grill, Ibuprofen. Check!

[JR8]

One of them is an english bulldog, so we are also aware of the heat concerns. Fortunately her favorite activity is sleeping on the couch in the A/C

God, sounds just like my wife!



(Only joking sweetest!)



p.s. Another thing to watch, is bedding/bed-linen sizes. If you're bringing US beds/mattresses bring enough linen, as all your (US) sizes are different... I've racked my brains and honestly can't think of anything else that you're really going to miss (i.e. can't get in SG)