Smuggling stuff into Singapore

Trip Start May 06, 2007
1
164
166
Trip End Jul 24, 2008


Loading Map
Map your own trip!
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
shadow

Flag of Singapore  ,
Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Singapore is known for its strict laws that are enforced with very high fines.  It's illegal to sell chewing gum (though it's perfectly legal to chew gum).  It's illegal to jaywalk.  It's illegal to bring durian on the subway.  It's illegal to not flush a public toilet after use.  It's illegal to own pornography.  It's illegal to litter.  It's illegal to walk around naked, even if you are inside your own house with the curtains closed.  Obviously, weapons of all sorts are illegal.  It's also illegal to bring anything that violates copyright laws into the country - like my copy Lonely Planet guidebook to Malaysia and Singapore and the copy dvds hidden away at the bottom of my bag (all purchased very cheaply in Vietman where copyright laws do not exist).  Luckily I was not stopped for a search at customs.

When we first arrived in Singapore, Michael and I went to meet with two of his former colleagues from Germany who now work in his company's Singapore office.  They had invited him out to dinner that night and he invited me to join them (with their permission first, of course).  After checking our email in the office (I've learned to take advantage of free internet access wherever it's offered), we were taken out to a wonderful Indian restaurant on a rooftop overlooking the river and downtown Singapore.  Not a bad way to start out.  After dinner we went over to Nico and Sandra's apartment and got settled in.  They were wonderful hosts and a lot of fun to hang out with.  The one dinner with Michael's former colleagues turned into two dinners and a lunch.  I'm not one to turn down free food, especially when it comes from restaurants a bit above my travel budget.

Adding to our social engagements, after dinner in Little India with Nico and Sandra on Friday night, we met up with Mark, an Aussie guy who lives in Singapore who I had met in Saigon.  He took us to an Irish pub filled with expats and live music.  We spent a few hours chatting before all three of us started to fall asleep and decided to call it a night.  Even with our busy social calendar, I managed to get in some shopping time in a couple of the massive malls, though I was very disappointed with Zara's summer line.

Singapore doesn't have too many tourist attractions, but there was one place that everyone, other travelers and Singaporean residents, said not to miss - the Night Safari.  The Night Safari is connected with the Singapore Zoo, but is only open at night (hence the name).  It's set up so that you go on a "Safari ride" through the different animal habitats, with a break in the middle to get off and explore some other exhibits on foot.  The safari ride itself was a bit cheesy, but there were some interesting animals to see.  By far the coolest part of the night was while we were in the flying squirrel habitat and a flying squirrel flew directly over our heads.  Unfortunately my gut reaction to something flying just a few feet above my head was to duck, so I didn't see its entire flight from tree to tree, but what I did see was really damn cool.

After a few days both of us had our fill of Singapore and were ready to move on.  Plus we both had flights to catch out of Kuala Lumpur (mine the day before Michael's), so it was time to say goodbye to our gracious hosts and pack our bags for my final Asian destination.
Slideshow Print this entry Singapore hotels