Living in Singapore

240 Pages·2012·32.58 MB·English

GETTING STARTED
WHERE TO LIVE
SCHOOLS & CLUBS
STAYING HEALTHY
OUT & ABOUT
HOME DÉCOR
BARS & RESTAURANTS
Living in Singapore
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EXPAT LIVING SINGAPORE
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Editor's Letter
o, you are considering living in Singapore or have
already arrived. You possibly don’t have a clue what to
Sexpect, other than it will be clean and safe – and hot!
I remember being so excited about our housing allowance
– until we arrived here and the realtors laughed at us. The
money would get us a tiny apartment near the Malaysian
border. We hadn’t realised how expensive cars were or taken
into account that even preschool education is fairly steep.
With our monthly magazine and this annual City Guide,
we hope to give you enough information to hit the ground
running, but also the contact details for you to follow up with
additional research if necessary.
Singapore is a wonderful place to live, but even more wonderful if you are not
wasting time or money making ill-informed purchases and decisions.
Is it worth living in a condo to start off with so that you meet people, or do you
really need your own garden? Can you rent somewhere near public transport, or
does it make sense to lease or buy a car? There are plenty of questions that need
to be asked before you get started.
Once you’ve made the initial decisions, you’ll need to get connected and
fi nancially sorted. Then it’s time for the fun! There are wonderful furniture outlets
to explore, places to eat and holiday options to consider.
The City Guide can also be viewed online, where you’ll fi nd masses of other
information on living here – if you know of others contemplating moving here,
let them know or pass them the link. We also have four other guides and various
social events to help you in more specifi c areas of your life; visit expatliving.sg
for more details.
Wishing you an easy transition!
REBECCA BISSET
Editor-in-Chief
Front Cover: Singapore Marriott Hotel by William Cho
2 CITY GUIDE 2012
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Editor-in-Chief Rebecca Bisset
Group Editor Shamus Sillar
Executive Editor Verne Maree
Editors Monica Pitrelli
Copy Editor Harriet Empey
Junior Editor Yusrina Yusoff
Editorial Assistant Michelle Ng
Online Team Katie Roberts
Rene Yutiampo
Client Services Manager & Production Sherah Brown | Leanda Rathmell | Maricel Jordan
Graphic Designers Michael Bernabe | Lia Subagijo | Jeanne Wong | Natasha Young
Subscriptions & Circulation Anna Tserlingas | Uma Kandasamy
Marketing & Events Michelle O’Connell | Laura Keeling
Business Development Harsharan Kaur
Advertising Sales, Singapore Karin Galley-Dick | Sarah Purchase | Danielle Rosetti
Lara Sage | Jacqui Young
Advertising Sales, Hong Kong Tracie Pangrazio
Finance Norliza Mohd | Karen Thomas
HR Juliet Keys
Contributors Lyan Bernales | Heidi Sarna | Hart Tan
Printed by Ho Printing Singapore Pte Ltd | hoprinting.com
CONTACT US
General Enquiries [phone] |
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CONTENTS
GETTING STARTED 9
The most basic tasks can prove to be a challenge 46
in a new country: opening a bank account,
connecting to internet services, deciding on
transport options – even making friends. Read
our survival guide for tips and testimonials.
PROPERTY 31
Now that you’re here, where will you live?
The options are almost endless, from high-rise
apartments in the city centre to garden homes in the
suburbs. Peruse our profiles of the various residential
districts and different housing types available.
HOME & GARDEN 59
Singapore offers a stunning range of furniture
styles, including sleek designer minimalism and
Raffles-style colonial comfort. If you’re lucky
enough to have a balcony or garden, you’ll
love the array of outdoor chairs and tables, too.
LIFE & FAMILY 93
Clean, safe and friendly, with inexpensive domestic
help, Singapore is wonderful for families –
whether you arrive with children or start a family
once you’re here. Schools are world-class, and
extra-curricular activities many and varied. 78
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CONTENTS
BODY & MIND 131
Aside from offering world-class healthcare and
state-of-the-art cosmetic surgery, Singapore
brims with beauty treatments of every kind,
ref lecting its myriad cultural tradit ions.
TRAVEL & LEISURE 179
Explore the island’s parks and gardens, lakeside
boardwalks and jungle trails. We’ve also listed
some of the most popular travel destinations,
so you can dive in and experience exotic Asia.
WINE & DINE 201
Culinary indulgences in this city range from
simple hawker fare to champagne brunches,
and everything in-between. Read restaurant
recommendations and tips on where to enjoy a tipple.
ADVERTISER LIST 234
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SUBSCRIPTION 236
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