12 things Singaporeans take for granted (but shouldn’t)

Given their ubiquity, it’s easy for many Singaporeans to take HDB flats for granted. But where else in the world can subsidised public housing, replete with unique designs (such as the infamous red-tiled HDB block in Tampines), be found? While older HDB flats continue to charm with colourful retro designs, new flats impress with their sleek and modern exteriors. Don’t forget the playgrounds, gardens, and fitness and sports spaces that accompany HDB flats – although HDBs are public housing, facilities are included in HDB estates to ensure that residents can lead a well-rounded and healthy life. 

Singapore’s status as a garden city goes hand in hand with an abundance of wildlife. In Singapore, monitor lizards, monkeys, otters, chickens, and the occasional wild boar roam freely, sometimes wandering into urban areas and wreaking havoc. And, in rare cases, injury, so keep your distance if you happen to encounter any wild animals, and stick to observing from afar. In more controlled settings, Singapore is also home to dedicated wildlife experiences - a must-visit for animal lovers, the Mandai Wildlife Reserve is a one-stop destination that includes the renowned Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, River Wonders, and the new Bird Paradise park. 

With a plethora of local fare including chicken rice, laksa, and char kway teow, you'd be hard-pressed to choose one staple dish to rep this tropical food paradise. But there's no denying that the best ones are whipped up in the kitchens of hawker centres. Not only are they tasty and authentic – made with recipes passed down through generations – but are also cheap. A plate of chicken rice costs less than $5, and at some places, nasi lemak costs $2 a pop. You can even savour the flavour of the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred meal at Chinatown Complex’s Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle.

Our diminutive size has its perks. We’ve got six main MRT lines connecting every corner of Singapore – that’s pretty solid for a country that’s just a little red dot on the map. It takes about an hour on the MRT to get from Pasir Ris in the east to Jurong in the west. You don’t have to wait long for the trains, either. Plus, we’ve got buses, taxis, and Grab to bring us from point to point too. Whichever you choose, getting to your destination is a cinch, as long as there's no traffic or breakdowns. 

Countries like Mexico, Hungary, and the United Kingdom have about eight public holidays, so count your blessings that Singapore has 11 public holidays. These public holidays mostly celebrate cultural and religious festivals such as Chinese New Year, Vesak Day, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Hari Raya Haji, Deepavali, and Christmas. Not many countries practice this despite being multicultural. This year, we get three public holidays falling on a Friday and one on a Monday this year. And long weekends are great for playing tourist in your own backyard.

In the grand scheme of things, Singapore is tiny. As mentioned, it takes about an hour to travel from Pasir Ris to Jurong by train. Imagine doing so by car – you’ll be there in a jiffy. You can also get around easily on foot. It takes you about 15 minutes to walk from one MRT station to the other. Most attractions are located near an MRT station or bus stop, so it’s hard to get lost. And if you’ve got the urge to splurge, there’s always a mall (or two, or three) located near an MRT station, so you’ll always be spoilt for choice. 

Having all four seasons is overrated – there are only a few hours of daylight squeezed in a day during wintertime, and sleet isn’t fun. With summer weather all year round in Singapore, it makes chilling on the beach, and exploring the great outdoors something you can do almost every day. And if you need to escape the heat for a bit (or shelter from the rain, there are plenty of indoor places with air-conditioners working overtime. Count yourself lucky to be living in a tropical paradise like Singapore.

From gargantuan gardens introduced by Sir David Attenborough in Planet Earth II, to nature reserves and botanical heavyweights like the Singapore Botanic Gardens and Gardens by the Bay, there's a reason why Singapore is also known as the 'Garden City'. First introduced in 1967 by former Prime Minister, the late Lee Kuan Yew, the city has worked towards surrounding itself with an abundance of lush greenery to make life pleasant for all its inhabitants including people and animals. While the sprawling urban patchwork of skyscrapers, HDB flats, and the daily hustle and bustle contribute to life in Singapore, there is still a plethora of green oases for a tranquil respite.

Singapore is a melting pot of cultures, religions, and languages. And thanks to the mandatory English and Mother Tongue subjects in primary and secondary education, many Singaporeans are bilingual. Some are even trilingual. Nonetheless, we’ve been speaking rojak from young, mangling a perfect sentence of English with Hokkien, Malay, Chinese, Tamil. The result? Singlish, which is universally used and understood in the country no matter one’s mother tongue.

Many of the city’s tourist attractions including Gardens by the Bay, Resorts World Sentosa, and Wildlife Reserve Singapore offer different ticket prices. Citizens and permanent residents can enjoy admission at a discounted rate compared to foreigners. Most museums including National Gallery Singapore and National Museum of Singapore also offer free entry for citizens and permanent residents.

For a city that loves its food, one thing's for sure: you'll never go hungry at any time of the day, whether it's 4pm or 4am. The city has many great supper spots to keep your hunger pangs in check, especially when the late-night craving hits. Some of them are even opened round the clock. And speaking of 24-hour joints, there’s the famous Mustafa Centre for last-minute shopping, and ORTO for prawning under the stars. 

With Singapore Police Force and Civil Defence Force’s crime-busting, fire-fighting, rescue and emergency ambulance services – as well as help from low-key vigilantes out there – Singapore is generally a safe place to live and visit. You can leave your belongings on the table in a cafe while you order your coffee at the counter, and clock in your daily intake of fitness at night with peace of mind. But low crime doesn't mean no crime. It’s key to always stay vigilant.