Never been to Singapore, know nobody, moving in 6 wks

[x9200]

Don't get a vespa, unless you want to end up under the wheels of a taxi in the first month of your stay. The locals seem to think the less road tax you pay, the more they have a right to drive at you!

Why this hardly ever happens to me and if, it happens with the same frequency regardless I am riding or driving a car? These are the riders who vastly contribute to such behavior. It is surely better to wait a week or two and observe the traffic first but majority who ride here every day will tell all the same: it is not (more) unsafe to ride here. As mentioned dozen of times already you have to learn the patterns and behave responsibly.

[JR8]

Only downside is there are (or were) only two condos, Trellis Tower and Oleanders Towers. Not sure of prices right now, but that area might be worth looking at.

I've been starting to look recently, and Oleander will definitely be within poster's budget. $3300-3800/month for 2bed there.

Thanks, interesting!

As I recall our rent was $3500 and rose to 3800 after a year. That was a 3 bedder, of c 1200ft2. But bed 3 was very small, more of a childs bedroom... it was used as my home-office/study. Next time I think we'd be fine with a 2 bedder, as we typically have guests to stay only every few months.

Trellis backs right onto the PIE, so you get that sort of permanent background rumble. It has a nice big pool though. But the units are more $ and smaller than you'd get at Oleander, plus you;re on the wrong side of Lorong 6 to 'get to anywhere' except a 24hr 7-11 at Block 163 which of course is pretty basic and $$$. It was built on the site of an old biscuit factory.

Oleander is a little older, and on the 'right side' of Lor 6. There are covered walkways almost the whole way to the MRT and town centre. Just around the corner (50 yards away, at Block 150) are a couple of auntie shops (local grocery stores), a doctors etc. If anything is odd about Oleander it is that there seem to be very few right angles in the architecture. Presumably this derives from the towers being cylindrical, and c5-6 units on each floor. But even the pool is the strangest shape (Google Maps it if curious*!) making swimming laps a challenge ... more swimming 'semi-circles'.


*Edit to add: but be aware much of the pool in the satellite image is obscured by the huge glass screen that sits about 20-30m high over much of the pool. It's kinda orange/yellow glass in the design of an oleander flower. Might sound a bit odd until you see it at first hand, when it makes *very* good sense!

[vishalgupta2]

I can add some Apple stuff.

My iPhone was from AT&T and my contract was done. It took a simple 15 mins call to AT&T to get it unlocked.

[zzm9980]

I can add some Apple stuff.

My iPhone was from AT&T and my contract was done. It took a simple 15 mins call to AT&T to get it unlocked.

And now that AT&T unlocks, you can find online services that will unlock for you for about $25 usd. Most of these are small shady shops that know a CSR or someone at AT&T making $8/hr who does it for them. Sounds sketchy, it is, but it works, i know a dozen or so people who have used a couple.

[vishalgupta2]

I can add some Apple stuff.

My iPhone was from AT&T and my contract was done. It took a simple 15 mins call to AT&T to get it unlocked.

And now that AT&T unlocks, you can find online services that will unlock for you for about $25 usd. Most of these are small shady shops that know a CSR or someone at AT&T making $8/hr who does it for them. Sounds sketchy, it is, but it works, i know a dozen or so people who have used a couple.

wow!

Thanks for the info

[taxico]

i'm not up to date with technology... but i remembered when i unlocked my phones (t-mo), it was a painless affair.

i always told them i was going overseas and needed to use the phone with an overseas sim pre-paid card, and they were happy to call me back and guide me through the process.

i assume it's probably the same for att...?

[zzm9980]

i'm not up to date with technology... but i remembered when i unlocked my phones (t-mo), it was a painless affair.

i always told them i was going overseas and needed to use the phone with an overseas sim pre-paid card, and they were happy to call me back and guide me through the process.

i assume it's probably the same for att...?

Every phone model has a different unlock process. iPhones are controlled by a central backend at Apple. Some older phones had built in functions which would unlock the sim if you just entered the proper code.

[Sares_85]

Hi Kelstra,

My partner and I are moving to singapore in January as well (we are both 27). I will be working as a research fellow, and he will be looking for work when we get there in project management. would love to know how you guys go! we are currently looking up places for rent etc..