How life changes...

[FlyingBushPig Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close FlyingBushPig]

Re: How life changes...

Thanks a lot guys - some good useful info there. Fortunately we don't drink that much so should save a bit there. Love the hint re getting up high in the Condos, will definitely be taking that on board. The job's good but no, we wont be owning a house :roll: .

Not really that worried about 4WDing in Malaysia - it's a nice thought though. After spending the last 6 months crash testing cars I'll probably be avoiding Protons as much as possible (not sure I'm allowed to say that though :twisted: )

I'll be watching the media there with interest!

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: How life changes...

Not in my experience, Andrew. Tourists maybe, but living and working there, I had to earn every bit of respect with the locals.

Ah, perhaps times have changed a bit since my German uncle worked there a long time ago. You still get treated well out in public (maybe) but you tend to get ripped off trying to buy electronics.

Very important Phil to learn about "face" and not belittling or embarrassing people in public - very different to here.

Yes, very important. Best to learn what's good to say by hanging around the locals before opening your mouth.

There's a nickname in Cantonese for us whiteys. You might sometimes hear it whispered as you walk past - I never worked out if it was derogatory or just a bit of a joke :wink:

That would be "gwai lo" which means ghost person. It's a bit derogatory but can sometimes be non-offensive, like the use of black-fellas, depending on intonation and context, can be racist.

Love the hint re getting up high in the Condos, will definitely be taking that on board.

Don't go too high though because if the elevator breaks down, it's a long climb up with the shopping. When hunting for properties, just stand in the corridor and feel the wind and listen to the traffic noise coming from below. Also note the size of the elevator as it may limit the size of furniture you can buy. Ikea seems to be a big thing in Singapore and its probably related to the elevator size.

Try to choose a condo close to an MRT station as walking 1km might not sound far for Aussies but in the humidity, it can get tiring if you don't get used to it.

If you ever think about getting a maid to do the housework, be careful as there are untrustworthy ones who takes your valuables and run.

Not really that worried about 4WDing in Malaysia - it's a nice thought though

I'll find out a bit more as someone from Malaysia just asked me about sourcing air lockers for their Cruiser. I'm curious myself where they go.

[JoshF Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close JoshF]

Re: How life changes...

Being a white person, you will be treated like a king.

Not in my experience, Andrew. Tourists maybe, but living and working there, I had to earn every bit of respect with the locals.
Very important Phil to learn about "face" and not belittling or embarrassing people in public - very different to here.
There's a nickname in Cantonese for us whiteys. You might sometimes hear it whispered as you walk past - I never worked out if it was derogatory or just a bit of a joke :wink:

but as Singapore is a Mandarin speaking nation cantonese isn't much use, the term in Singapore is Ang Moh (hokkien dialect) and in my experience is not a belittling term and tranlates to red hair. The Catonese Gweilo translates to foreign devil.

treated like a king maybe 100 years ago not at all anymore, of 5 million people on the island 1 million of them come from somewhere else

If you want to brush up on your Singlish http://www.talkingcock.com has a pretty good dictionary to assist with translations

My suggestion is live on the east side Katong through Siglap and out to Tampines.

If you engage an agent to assit in finding a rental property you will be paying him one months rent, two months bond is pretty usual. The higher the floor the more you will pay, but economic conditions will dictate the rent. When I moved over (2000) the rent I paid on a 3 bed condo was $2400, asking $2800 per month, when I left 4 years later I was paying $1600 per month. The same unit was $4000 per month only 3 years before. Rents have probably risen since 2004.

If you are into narcotics in any way I would rid myself of the habit before arriving, very small quantities will get you into serious trouble. Whilst I was there a westerner was caught in a night club with 2 joints, he had all assets siezed and given 24 hours to leave the country

A Western diet is very expensive compared to local choices, beer and smokes are expensive. When I left in 2004 a carton of 24x330ml Tigers was $60 which was the same price locally for the tiger to be imported to Oz.

[William Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close William]

Re: How life changes...

If you are into narcotics in any way I would rid myself of the habit before arriving, very small quantities will get you into serious trouble. Whilst I was there a westerner was caught in a night club with 2 joints, he had all assets siezed and given 24 hours to leave the country

Wow really? That's quite lenient. I thought it was the death penalty... or was that for traffiking narcotics?

[JoshF Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close JoshF]

Re: How life changes...

If you are into narcotics in any way I would rid myself of the habit before arriving, very small quantities will get you into serious trouble. Whilst I was there a westerner was caught in a night club with 2 joints, he had all assets siezed and given 24 hours to leave the country

Wow really? That's quite lenient. I thought it was the death penalty... or was that for traffiking narcotics?

Considering the person lost all property he owned and all bank accounts for a very high paid job...

They have mandatory sentencing for narcotics offences, so a judge has no options. A young german lady (under 25) living in Singapore was caught with 40g of dope which was a life sentence category but after more study of purity it was deemed to be 20g so she only got 20 years.

My point was play by the rules in the country you are living in, don't expect what works in Oz to apply anywhere else

[FlyingBushPig Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close FlyingBushPig]

Re: How life changes...

If you are into narcotics in any way I would rid myself of the habit before arriving, very small quantities will get you into serious trouble. Whilst I was there a westerner was caught in a night club with 2 joints, he had all assets siezed and given 24 hours to leave the country

Wow really? That's quite lenient. I thought it was the death penalty... or was that for traffiking narcotics?

Considering the person lost all property he owned and all bank accounts for a very high paid job...

They have mandatory sentencing for narcotics offences, so a judge has no options. A young german lady (under 25) living in Singapore was caught with 40g of dope which was a life sentence category but after more study of purity it was deemed to be 20g so she only got 20 years.

My point was play by the rules in the country you are living in, don't expect what works in Oz to apply anywhere else

All ok here - it surprises most people that I've never even smoked a cigarette . With diabetes, I decided as a kid it wasn't worth trying, don't regret it one bit.

And I'm not into chewy either :roll:

Thanks for all the help. It seems we can get a condo for about Sng$2500 or thereabouts, maybe a bit more. Typically we are fairly simple people, not into expensive stuff generally. We rarely drink much, and are happy to eat as reasonably as we can with just a few nice extras. I'll be travelling 25% and all my expenses will be paid when I'm away. After all, the idea is to make enough so one day I can come back to get a house (or at least part of one).

[dershba Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close dershba]

Re: How life changes...

Good on you mate. I am sure you will enjoy every moment of living in Singapore. I lived there and Malaysia for four years and found it very hard to leave and come back to Aus. I also had 3 school age children who had the best life experience that anyone could have.

[mav Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close mav]

Re: How life changes...

Congrats Phil, I hope it is all you dreamed it will be up there.