How do Singaporeans live? Healthy lifestyle in Singapore

After a trip to Singapore, we compiled a list of fascinating facts.

Most of them are based on our personal experience- on what we ourselves encountered during the trip, and we learned some funny moments while preparing to visit the country.

In any case, the facts are interesting and we hope that you will be interested to read them.

Facts about Singapore

1. Many are interested in the question " Singapore is a country? "Or is it, after all, a city? So, Singapore is both a city, and a capital and a state at the same time!

2. The name Singapore comes from Malay " singa "- lion and Sanskrit " pur " - city".

3. The national flower of Singapore is orchid Vanda Miss Joaquim, which, due to its vitality and thanks to its year-round flowering, has become a symbol of the country, as a sign of Singaporeans' desire for progress.

4. Singapore is located mainly on one big island, but it also includes 63 other small islands - most of them are uninhabited.

5. Singapore is in the top 20 smallest countries in the world- its area is 715 sq. km (for comparison, the area of ​​St. Petersburg is 1440 sq. km).

6. About 4.5 million people. The main population is Chinese (78%), Malays (14%), Indians (7%) and Europeans. According to rumors, about 400 Russians also officially live 🙂

7. The symbol of the city is fish with a lion's head - Merlion, and every September there is a holiday dedicated to this mythical animal

9. Singapore is located almost on the equator and the sun is very insidious here You can get sunburn even when the sky is overcast.

10. Torrential tropical rain are possible throughout the year, which is why locals often carry umbrellas with them, which some also use as protection from the sun.

11. In general, the dark color of the skin is not held in high esteem here - cosmetic stores skin whitening products occupy more than one shelf and are located, as a rule, in the most prominent places.

12. Singapore ranks second place in the world in terms of population density, located in the ranking between two dwarf states - Monaco and the Vatican.

13. national language considered Malay, it is on it that the national anthem is performed ( Majulah Singapura), but there are four official languages ​​- English, Chinese, Tamil, Malay. In addition, there are language mixtures - "Singlish" ( singlish) and "Manglish" ( manglish).

14. Citizens of Russia You can stay in Singapore in transit for up to 96 hours. Despite the fact that you can get to Indonesia in 10 minutes by public bus, and reach Indonesia by high-speed ferries, the visa-free regime is valid only if you have an air ticket confirming that you are going to leave the country by plane.

15. Changi International Airport in Singapore is the largest aviation hub in all of Southeast Asia, its passenger traffic is more than 36 million people a year.

16. In 2012 Changi Airport ranked second in the list of the best best airports in the world according to the Airports Council International (ACI). The airport has several orchid gardens and goldfish ponds, and one of the terminals even has a swimming pool. In the departure area there are computers with free internet access and special playrooms for children.

17. Sea port The country is also one of the largest in the world (at the same time, 1000 ships can be in the port), in addition, it has been repeatedly recognized as the best and most environmentally friendly in Asia.

18. For high fines and strict laws, Singapore is jokingly called " fine city"(play on words in English, fine- "beautiful" and "fine")

19. There are really a lot of fines in the city. For example, for spitting on the ground, smoking in public places, throwing garbage, eating food in transport, crossing the road in the wrong place, a fine is due from 500 Singapore dollars(400 USD). The full list of actions subject to punishment in the form of a fine amounts to dozens.

20. One of the most comical fines is the fine applied if, after watering the flowers, under the pot there is water left in the saucer. The fact is that water attracts mosquitoes, and the city authorities have almost completely eradicated these insects, thanks to which they got rid of epidemics of fever and malaria in the country.

21. In addition to fines, there are violations for which Physical punishment(in addition to imprisonment, of course) in the form of blows with cane sticks - attempted murder, robbery, theft, rape, vandalism, and so on.

22. Along with judicial corporal punishment, it is also popular in Singapore home punishment of children- Special, lightweight cane sticks are even sold in stores for these purposes. American justice, in which children sue their parents for a slap on the pope, just rests =)

23. Also in the country there is the death penalty(via hanging), it is used for the most serious crimes - particularly brutal murder, drug trafficking, corruption, treason and an attempt on the life of the president.

24. Singapore is one of the world leaders in number of death sentences– from 1991 to 2004 they were executed more than four hundred times (mostly drug dealers were in the loop).

25. In Singapore legalized prostitution. According to official figures, more than 10,000 girls work on Geylang Street.

26. Due to its judicial system and legislation, Singapore is considered one of the most safe and law-abiding countries, and the crime rate here is one of the lowest in the world - you can safely walk around any quarters of the city both day and night.

27. There are almost no police officers on the streets, but they hang everywhere cameras, both overt and covert- with their help, control over the order is carried out.

28. In many apartments, they hang on the door combination locks with a thin chain, which are hung more for pro forma than for security purposes.

does not have natural resources and imports not only sand, but even fresh water from .

30. Singapore is in the group " East Asian tigers", along with South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong, are countries that have made a giant economic breakthrough, literally in 30 years turning from third world states into advanced countries.

31. Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew, who led the government from 1959 to 1990, became famous for his toughness and intransigence in anti-corruption issues, which he was able to successfully eradicate, making rapid economic growth possible. To the question " How did you manage to fight corruption?", he replied " Start by planting three of your friends. You know exactly why, and they know why."

32. Another indicator in which Singapore is a leader is it's health. According to the US financial and economic information agency Bloomberg ( The World's Healthiest Countries 2012), the health status of Singaporeans is the best in the whole world. At the same time, according to the overall quality of life index, the country is in 11th place.

33. One of the reasons for the excellent level of health is considered to be tasty and healthy national cuisine of Singapore. According to Forbes magazine, the country ranks second (after Japan) for the quality of local food that has a positive effect on health, physical form and longevity.

34. Many gourmets love Singapore for variety of dishes- due to the mixture of national (Chinese, Malaysian, Indian) cuisines, as well as significant Western influence, it is easy to find culinary creations to your taste here. One of the important features is that regardless of the level of the restaurant and prices, the food is always fresh and of high quality.

35. Not only cuisines are mixed here, but also ways of eating food - local residents, depending on the type of food, deftly use both with a stick and a spoon, and with the right hand(The left hand is considered unclean and is not used for eating).

36. Very popular here self-cooking food. Restaurant patrons are given ingredients to dip into a pot to make a fresh soup or stew, or a frying pan filled with sizzling meat to turn over and fry until desired condition. Especially for these purposes, in many restaurants on the tables are small gas stoves

37. Medium life expectancy Singapore residents are 80 years old - this is 14 years longer than the same indicator in Russia.

38. In terms of economy, Singapore is also ahead here, it is the 4th leading financial center world after London, New York and Hong Kong, more than 130 world banks are concentrated here. The inflation rate is kept at the level of 2-3%, and according to the ranking of the Economist Intelligence Unit, Singapore is the most competitive city in Asia in terms of doing business.

39. Average income Singaporean - $ 34 thousand per year.

40. About 100 thousand people live in the country. dollar millionaires(almost 3% of the country's population). The city even has a separate "millionaires' quarter" - Keppel Bay


41. Computer registration legal entity in Singapore takes only 10 minutes. They say that in 2009, Medvedev, a well-known lover of electronic technology, while visiting Singapore, registered a legal entity for the sake of testing. face, and a year later, local authorities turned to the Russians with a question about taxes - it seems like they opened a company not in jest, but seriously, and no one thought to close it.

42. Such a popular phenomenon in Asia as slum unknown to Singapore. Once in any part of the city, you will see the relative cleanliness and order.

43. Our Indian friends rent a three-room apartment 15 minutes walk from the center. Although the rooms are rather small, the renovations are simple and the kitchen has been converted from a balcony, they pay 1900 SGD for it(almost 50,000 rubles). Moreover, according to them, if you rent an apartment further from the center, then significant savings will not work, prices are approximately the same everywhere.

44. One of Singapore business cards is a unique five-star hotel Marina Bay Sands, consisting of three two hundred-meter 55-storey towers. On the roofs of the towers there is a platform sky park in the form of a ship, which, among other things, has a 150-meter pool. Entrance to the observation deck costs 20 SGD, but you can swim in the pool only if you are a hotel guest, and tourists are allowed to go to the pool once a day, at 14:00 and only for 15 minutes

45. There are two ethnic areas in Singapore - Little India ("Little India") and Chinatown ("Chinatown"). Initially, these areas were created for the adaptation of immigrants, but now they have lost their original significance and remain cultural centers where you can taste traditional cuisine and buy national goods.

46. ​​Dishes in one of Indian restaurants, which we visited turned out to be really Indian, but the sizes and prices differ significantly, and the sizes are 3 times smaller, and the prices are 3 times higher, while the service is authentic - slow and sloppy. Masala tea was brought in traditionally small thimble cups, casually splashing it on the saucer as usual :), although this did not affect the taste in any way, as excellent as in India.

47. Quite a lot throughout the city free public toilets- they are quite clean and they even have toilet paper (which is quite atypical for Asia).

48. Quantity Chinese lanterns, with which the streets of Chinatown are decorated cannot be counted - they hang literally everywhere

49. The Mid-Autumn Festival(Mid-Autumn Festival) - an ancient holiday of family unity and thanksgiving is celebrated in Chinatown in September during the period of the fullest and brightest moon - a symbol of abundance, harmony and prosperity.

50. Traffic jams carried out by the authorities from two sides at once. Firstly, public transport is well developed here, and secondly, owning a car is a rather expensive pleasure: in order to acquire personal transport, you need to buy at a special auction driving license- its cost is about 60,000 SGD and it is issued for 10 years.

The cars themselves, due to duties, are expensive, and besides, you need to pay a rather big fee. for registration and registration. Well, in addition - in Singapore there are many toll road sections, bridges, tunnels and interchanges. Each car is equipped with a payment terminal, with the help of which bank card the required amount is automatically debited. Thus, only wealthy people can afford cars here, which, however, are not so few.

51. Singapore is one of the 9 countries in the world where sales begin new Apple technology . Here, as well as in the USA, a system is widespread according to which iPhones are sold relatively inexpensively when making a contract with mobile operator for several years.

52. Very popular in Singapore brand clothes and accessories - wherever you look, Louis Vuitton, Mont Blanc, Gucci and Prada are everywhere.

53. Especially popular Louis Vuitton bags- despite the fact that prices for them start at $ 800, every third young lady in the city walks with them. At the same time, many tourists visit the LV store (which is located near Marina Bay) as a museum - it stands on the water and looks very unusual from the outside.

54. Despite the fact that Singapore is called " stone jungle", in almost every district of the city there are sports fields and a park with an abundance of greenery, where you can relax and breathe fresh air. Almost half of the territory of Singapore covered with greenery gardens and national parks.

55. They say that Singapore is built on everything the canons of Feng Shui- its landscape and architecture are consistent with this doctrine of the influence of energy flows on a person.

56. Every evening, next to the Marina Bay promenade, laser show- water from the fountain is sprayed with small sprays, creating a screen on which, under the musical accompaniment from the speakers, an image is projected. The laser show is free and available to everyone, and therefore, it is better to come in advance - as a rule, there is no shortage of people who want to

57. The only night race in the world Formula 1– "Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix", held in Singapore.

58. fountain of wealth- the world's largest fountain (28 m), which is even listed in the Guinness Book of Records. It is especially beautiful in the evening, with multi-colored illumination.

59. singapore zoo is considered one of the best zoos in the world, in which animals are not in cages, but roam freely around the territory. The ticket price is 20 SGD, but most visitors agree that this is one of the most justified expenses in Singapore.

Despite the fact that a little more than half a century has passed since Singapore gained independence, during this period the state has become one of the richest in the world. The metropolis and the state of the same name are located on the small islands of Southeast Asia, where local culture and the European vector of development are intertwined. Life in Singapore is characterized high level, lack of corruption and crime. This Asian metropolis is chosen, as a rule, by migrants from higher education and qualifications.

In Singapore, Eastern and Western cultures coexist peacefully. This is a multinational state that was a British colony for several decades, for some time under the Japanese protectorate, for a short time - part of Malaysia. Today, the majority of the population is Chinese, they make up almost 80 percent. Indigenous people - Malays - a little more than 13%, the rest - the Japanese, immigrants from India, England, Taiwan.

Various world rankings and facts about the country show that the quality of life in Singapore is comparable to that of the developed world powers. Despite the lack of minerals and fertile lands, the authorities have built a diversified economy, the electronics industry, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and the service sector have been developed. The country has the world's largest port.

The fashionable streets of the metropolis are always perfectly clean and well-groomed. Despite the fact that Singapore is ranked 13th in the ranking of the most expensive cities in the world, the standard of living of the population is quite high due to decent salaries. There is no change of seasons in the country. It has a humid, hot climate all year round, which is not suitable for everyone. Most of the local population has adapted to the equatorial heat, but it is difficult for foreign citizens to get used to it.

Russian communities

Our compatriots began to come to this exotic Asian country from the beginning of the nineties, after the collapse Soviet Union. The metropolis is dynamically developing, famous for its cosmopolitanism. This is not the most popular destination for emigration, and Russians in Singapore make up a small community. Today, the number of our compatriots in the republic is about two thousand people.

The bulk of Russians who have settled in an exotic country are specialists who speak English fluently and have a good education. Finding a job in a metropolis will be possible only with high qualifications and practical experience. You can organize your own company.

But life in Singapore for Russians is not limited to business and work. There are several non-profit organizations who arrange events for compatriots. Websites are being maintained on the Internet where you can find out a lot of useful information about the features of the employment of foreigners, local legislation, way of life, search and rental of housing. In the metropolis there is the Parish of the Assumption of the Mother of God of the Russian Orthodox Church.

What languages ​​are spoken in Singapore

This Asian state was a trading center both during colonialism and after gaining independence, which attracted people from Asian countries and other regions. This affected the local language situation. According to the Basic Law of the Republic, the following are official:

• English;
• Malay;
• Chinese;
• Tamil.

If we talk about what language is the main one in Singapore, then this is Malay. Such linguistic diversity reflects the multinational character of the territory. In total, more than 20 languages ​​are spoken in the country, but the main ones for communication and teaching in educational institutions, doing business, is English. Almost all residents of the Asian state speak this particular language in addition to their native language.

Education system

Its principles are accessibility, an individual approach to each student, education of tolerance, meritocracy. There are preschool institutions where kids from the age of three are taught to communicate with peers, draw, sculpt, read, and spell. Children in kindergartens are divided into groups: younger, middle, older. Whether to send kids to these institutions, parents decide. Institutions are paid, some work under the auspices of religious organizations.

Banking sector of the country

This area is actively developing here. Today there are more than a hundred local commercial structures and 45 foreign representations. The total amount of their assets reaches 259 billion US dollars. The banking sector provides services to individual and corporate clients. In the first case, it is supposed to open a personal account for withdrawing and storing earned finances. This can be done by foreign employees of Singaporean companies, students.

To open a corporate account, a local firm will need to prepare a package of materials, which includes: information about all shareholders, registration certificate. Each co-owner of the company will be interviewed, the papers will be studied, after which the application will be granted or rejected by the bank.

Responsibility for violation of laws

Not so long ago, Singapore was the poorest country inhabited by drug dealers, pirates, smugglers. The tough policy of the authorities on the prevention of offenses helped the republic to turn into a prosperous state, among other things. Severe laws apply here, failure to comply with which threatens with huge monetary sanctions, physical punishments and the death penalty. Thanks to this, the crime rate in Singapore is at a minimum.

Legislation provides not only fines for offenses, but also corporal punishment. For participation in gambling, elements of corrupt acts, you can earn stick blows. Rattan pole vaulting is approved by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Singapore. Similar punishment is applied in schools, in families.

Special whipping sticks are easy to find in local stores, parents actively use them for educational purposes for both boys and girls. This makes you respect the laws and not break the rules with early childhood. Social work is constantly carried out with minors, so children from an early age realize that the law must be followed and rarely violate it again.

Singaporeans clearly know that they will be fined for throwing a piece of paper on the sidewalk, smoking in the wrong place, riding the subway or bus. This state of affairs ensures the cleanliness on the streets of the metropolis, which is rarely found anywhere else. In Singapore, you can forget your bag or phone on a street bench and, returning after some time, find them in the same place, since a long prison term is required for theft. The Republic uses the death penalty. Such capital punishment threatens serious crimes, including possession and distribution of drugs.

Entertainment and recreation

Singapore is a country of high technologies, where cellular communications and the Internet are characterized by excellent signal strength and quality. Almost every hotel and cafe has Wi-Fi. Free access is a rarity in the metropolis, available only at the airport and some expensive hotels.

Features of the country - its unique geographical position and free territory status. This expands Singapore's ability to trade in handicrafts, art and goods produced by neighboring Asian countries. In addition, the metropolis is known for the presence of the most diverse exotic food - these are Chinese, Indian, Malay dishes. Many restaurants and cafes offer both national Asian cuisine and dishes from European countries. It is possible to dine on the roof of a skyscraper.

Entertainment in the republic is represented by an abundance of clubs, karaoke bars and discos. Locals recommend all tourists to visit the zoo, where rare animals live: Sumatran tigers, pygmy hippos and golden monkeys. In aquapark " Undersea world» you can admire beautiful colorful fish and marine predators, go scuba diving. In Singapore, there are many gardens and greenhouses, there are beaches, ferry and canoe holidays are offered.

Image copyright AFP

Singapore was recently named the most expensive city in the world. In light of this development, we have decided to re-publish our popular expat guide for those who are still thinking about moving to this city-state.

Imagine a large metropolitan city where cars rush along environmentally friendly highways, the streets are polished to a shine, and repair is considered as important as maintaining sanitary standards.

A city where four major nationalities (Chinese, Malays, Indians and Eurasians) live peacefully in tropical landscapes with a large community of foreigners who live and raise children here without fear of crime or the slightest manifestation of disrespect.

A city whose parks, museums, cultural institutions and architectural monuments can be envied by the capital of any country.

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It is no coincidence that Singapore occupies high places in the lists of the best cities - both for work and for life in general. The reasons for this are numerous.

"Singapore is all about convenience," says International Market Assessment analyst Richard Martin, who describes himself as an "older expat."

But every utopia has its drawbacks. The cost of living in Singapore continues to rise at an incredible rate - especially when compared to neighboring Indonesia and Malaysia.

In 2015, this city was recognized as the most expensive in the world (according to the analytical division of the British Economist magazine).

AT recent times dislike for foreigners began to grow in Singapore. According to official statistics for 2014, out of the 5.6 million people who make up the population of this city-state, 1.32 million are labor migrants.

The expatarrivals.com website and other resources estimate that the number of expats in the country is about 600,000, if we take into account only specialists and executives who are more highly qualified, receive higher salaries and often come to the country on a work visa.

Under the new legislation, for all positions with a salary of not more than 12 thousand Singapore dollars (about 600 thousand rubles) per month, the employer is required to select employees exclusively from local within two weeks before offering this work foreigners.

Searching for a job

However, Singapore continues to be a magnet for foreign professionals, especially in the fields of marketing, finance and information technology.

Qualified personnel are in demand in the field of communications, cargo transportation, mechanical engineering and advertising.

Representative offices of such large corporations as Microsoft, American Express, Bain & Co, Gunvor Group, Capital Land, DBS Bank, BBDO, McCann-Erickson and Edelman operate in the city.

Singapore is also home to most of the popular and influential media - BBC, ESPN, Discovery, Asian Food Channel - that cover the situation in Southeast Asia.

Not everyone knows that, in addition, there are a number of refineries and oil companies in Singapore, including, for example, Shell Eastern Trading.

In addition, the city has invested heavily in the development of the National Research Institute and entire areas such as Biopolis and Fusionpolis, where scientific research and industrial development are carried out, especially in the fields of biomedicine, microelectronics and chemical engineering.

True, the level of salaries in the country as a whole is quite high. According to a study conducted by HSBC Bank in 2014, 45% of expats (that is, almost half) receive more than 250 thousand Singapore dollars (12.5 million rubles) per year.

In the same study, 62% of labor migrants said that their income in Singapore was higher than in their home country.

“Housing, alcohol, cars, any imported goods are rising in price,” says Roberto Versace, an Italian-born financial manager. “Every time I come to New York or London, everything seems very cheap. And, as far as I know, many Europeans end up choosing to go back."

Financial questions

The biggest rises in prices are for exactly those goods and services that are in demand among expats: housing, education in international schools, medical care and various small pleasures - for example, good wine.

High import duties on imported cars are common throughout Asia, but Singapore is a special case. Local motorists have to shell out huge amounts not only for the cars themselves, but also for tolls, maintenance, gasoline and parking - all designed to limit traffic.

So, a BMW 320i sedan costs SGD 223,800 (more than 11 million rubles) there, and a 10-year car ownership permit can cost SGD 60,000 (3 million rubles).

Luxurious three-room apartments in the city center can be rented for 10 thousand Singapore dollars (500 thousand rubles) per month, although there are many more modest options.

To meet the budget, it is best to try to negotiate with your employer on the provision of a good social package.

Keep in mind that many Singaporean companies simply prefer to raise wages instead of paying for children's education or other expenses.

But Roberto Versace, who has lived in Singapore for nearly five years, warns that "housing benefits are becoming rarer. Only the highest paid professionals can count on such care for themselves."

Domestic issues

Many people speak English. If you have a work visa, then purchase all household amenities such as a local bank account, credit card, telephone and Internet, it will not be difficult.

The city is considered safe in all respects. You can safely drink water from the tap, let the children play in the yard, and those who are older can even wander around the city.

“Moving, renting a house, obtaining a work permit in Singapore is easier than in any of the eight or nine Asian cities where I have lived,” says Richard Martin. “In addition, there is a whole crowd of expats from all over the world, so friends It's easy to get started. There are great clubs and hobby groups. Many people ride bicycles."

Housing and taxes

Part of Singapore's appeal comes from the fact that it is still somewhat of a tax haven.

Local taxes can not be called extortionate: if you spend less than 183 days a year in Singapore, you don’t have to pay anything, and if you spend more, then the maximum tax rate is 20%.

"That's the compromise," explains Versace. "Prices are high, but taxes are lower than in the West."

Obtaining a visa

Singapore traditionally welcomes the involvement of foreign specialists to develop the country's economy.

Here, not just "work visas" are issued, but a whole flexible system of entry permits for labor migrants, depending on the category. A separate category is provided even for artists.

Most of the professionals employed in the country, such as bank employees or managers, have such work visas.

To receive, you must have a salary of at least 3,300 Singapore dollars (165 thousand rubles) per month.

Pros and cons of living in Singapore

While there are many benefits to living in Singapore - safety, convenience, delicious food, great schools and quality medical care - there are downsides too.

Singapore is located almost directly on the equator, so lovers of the change of seasons, fresh breeze or skiing are unlikely to like it here.

Thoughtful architectural solutions and air conditioners only partly mitigate this circumstance.

The average temperature is kept at a level slightly above 30 degrees Celsius (usually hotter during the day) both in summer and in winter, the humidity is also constant - 80%.

The rainiest months are November, December and January, although frequent short showers occur throughout the year.

Living in a consumer society can also be exhausting. Numerous shopping centers are certainly great, but on the days of sales or the appearance of new Vuitton handbags or iPhones, huge queues line up at the checkout counters.

“On the outskirts you can see the real Singapore,” says Versace, “but the city center has already fallen victim to globalization: everything is replete with the same brands that can be found everywhere. And while prices are constantly rising, the service does not always match them.”

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Strict laws and high fines have largely helped turn Singapore into the state it is today. The country is even jokingly called fine city (a play on words in English, where fine is "beautiful" and "fine").

Here you can’t smoke, litter, and even eat in the wrong places - for example, you won’t be able to have a bite to eat in public transport. Trash again - get a sign "I littered" and you will clean the street all weekend. You will be fined for driving without a seatbelt, but for speeding you can be jailed.

Penalties are provided for foul language in public place and even for an unflushed toilet. They say that some elevators have detectors, and if suddenly someone shits inside, the elevator will be blocked until the police arrive.

Also it is forbidden to connect to someone else's Wi-Fi network: This behavior may be considered hacking. Until recently there was a law prohibiting walking naked on own apartment if the neighbors suddenly see it.

Some crimes are punishable by caning. But the most serious punishment awaits those who are in any way connected with the use and distribution of drugs. For such a violation, as well as for the brutal murder provided for the death penalty: In Singapore, this figure is one of the highest in the world.

Due to its strict judicial system and legislation, Singapore is considered to be one of the safest countries in the world. There is a very low crime rate, and most of the prisoners are traffic offenders. There are many cameras in the city that keep order, and there are practically no policemen. You can safely walk the streets both day and night.

3. Singapore has a healthy lifestyle

A small stadium near my house.

The authorities of the country are trying to accustom residents to a healthy lifestyle. Recourse again to restrictions and prohibitions: for example, hookahs, electronic cigarettes and snuff are prohibited here. Alcohol cannot be bought after 10:30 pm, and frightening pictures are printed on cigarettes. But the healthy lifestyle policy is not limited to prohibitions.

Almost every yard has exercise equipment and treadmills: you can work out there for free. And there are many sports complexes in the country where Singaporeans do, for example, yoga, pilates. Classes are held in courtyards, and even in shopping centers: for example, a free zumba is held near my house every Thursday. If you live in a better residential complex, then there will definitely be a gym and a swimming pool. Clubs are created for the elderly: in addition to attending sports events, people of advanced age can spend their leisure time in them, for example, walking in the park.

Attention is paid to healthy nutrition. Many products are labeled in stores with Healthy Choice stickers.- this is the food in which, for example, less sugar, a lot of fiber, no trans fats, and so on. There are even lotteries: buy more products with this icon, register in the application and collect points.

Various kinds of healthy lifestyle marathons are often held in the country - for example, weight loss marathon with the opportunity to win prizes or a step marathon where you walk 1,000 steps every day and enter the prize draw. And this is not to mention running marathons, of which there are a lot: for both children and adults.

Together with a high level of medical services and high social responsibility, these conditions are bearing fruit. The average life expectancy in Singapore, according to 2017 data, was 83 years.

4. An unusual person lives in this country - Mr. Toilet

Me and Jack Sim.

A man with an unusual "profession" lives in Singapore: his name is Jack Sim and he is known as Mr Toilet. Jack patronizes the World Toilet Organization, and in 2001 he even came up with such a holiday as Toilet Day (November 19, if you happen to want to celebrate).

Joking aside, the organization is really doing useful things: educating about hygiene, helping to create and maintain a normal sanitary environment. The idea is to take care of people's health (unsanitary conditions and water pollution are bad for it). For example, this organization has done a great job in India, where, as we know, the culture of hygiene is very, very bad.

I had the honor of meeting Jack personally, and even considering the sensitive subject he spoke about, he motivated worse than Schwarzenegger. He said that he built a lot of business projects, and then at the age of 50 he realized that life is not eternal, but you want to do something useful for the world - that's how he created his organization.

The Malay language has the word chope [chop], which means "seal" or "stamp". And in modern "Singlish" (a local dialect, a mixture of Singaporean and English) -"take a seat at the food court with napkins and other items"(I'm not kidding, this is a literal translation).

That is, in Singapore you can reserve (stamp) a table for yourself at the food court, simply by putting a pack of tissues, an umbrella, a travel card, a plastic bag, a bottle of water on it, and that's it! No one will take it and take a place, and everyone will know that it is already taken here.

Of course, if you forgot your napkins or an umbrella on the table, then perhaps after a couple of hours the staff will still remove them, but this is not certain. People will crowd, meet and part, and lonely napkins on a lonely table will lie like an indestructible monument to the Singaporean "chop".

6. A car is a luxury

Firstly, taking into account registration fees and fees, taxes and fees, buying a car is already a tidy sum - about $100 thousand(and this is only the lower threshold of prices). Secondly, in Singapore there are many toll sections of roads, tunnels, the cost of parking also flies a pretty penny. In such a harsh way this small country is struggling with traffic jams and pollution of the planet.

At the same time here well developed public transport: Well-equipped buses, rail and subways run regularly, there is a light rail system and bicycle paths. There are various nice features in transport: free entrance to the metro until 7:45 (only in the city center), inexpensive night buses, etc.

7. It's very hot in Singapore. But at the same time it's cold

Eternal summer reigns in Singapore: the temperature rarely drops below +30 degrees Celsius. Therefore, if you are going to this country, then be sure to bring sunscreen and a hat- otherwise you will quickly slide down the wall from heatstroke.

And local shopkeepers, subway and bus workers, and office clerks miss the coolness and keep the temperature down. air conditioners at a maximum of 16 degrees Celsius. Air conditioners are almost everywhere here - just imagine what the temperature drops are. To be honest, I just can’t get used to this feature, so I have to constantly carry a sweater with me.

8. Something about the peculiarities of the local style

In general, most Singaporeans are similar to Europeans: they like to dress well and adore brands. True, there is some trick: due to the humid and hot climate, flip flops and flip flops are the most comfortable and comfortable shoes here. Therefore, you can come to many restaurants in these simple shoes, and no one will even look askance. If a dress code is required for some event, then they add that it is forbidden to come in flip flops.

Men, by the way, are not allowed to come to the office in shorts, and they may not be allowed into a restaurant in this form. There is also an old Chinese tradition that tells them not to cut their nails: in this way they used to show that you are not a laborer and do not dig in the ground. Alas, such characters can be found quite often: such a “manicure” looks so-so.

9. Most families have housekeepers.

Many local families have their own female housekeepers.(they are also called "maida"). These are women who come to work from the Philippines, Indonesia or Sri Lanka (often this is almost the only opportunity for them to earn money) and usually live in the master's apartment, but more often it is just a tiny room without a window, which is more like cupboard. "Maida" does all the household chores and looks after the children, while being content with just one day off a week and a vacation every 2 years. Of course, not all owners are so strict with their assistants and it happens in different ways.

They send all the money they earn home. Usually it is 500-600 Singapore dollars per month (23-28 thousand rubles). In addition to the cost of wages, the owners pay taxes and spend money on the food of the assistant.

In Singapore, they do not forget about the environment, education and the quality of medical care. The government is trying to apply all the most modern technologies(special sensors, unmanned developments) to provide its residents with maximum comfort.

The easiest way to move here is to study, as I did. At first, Singapore was polite to me, but a little distant. Over time, I settled down and got used to it, I really like it here. Singapore is such a hub of talents, a bridge between the worlds: I came here from Belarus and now I can move to anywhere in the world - and all thanks to my education received here. Yes, it is very comfortable here, but you have to pay with a part of your own freedom. And here everyone decides for himself whether he wants to live in such a city of the future or not.

Bonus: things to see in Singapore

If you are going to Singapore, then keep in mind that from November to February the rainy season reigns here (although usually the rain starts and ends pretty quickly and in the evening you will be greeted with a long-awaited coolness as a bonus). In general, you can come at any time (it's always warm and sunny here).

What you should definitely do in this city:

• See the famous hotel Marina Bay Sands with a rooftop pool. Staying at the hotel is quite expensive, and the crowds in the pool completely deprive you of the pleasure, so I would not advise living there. But the bar on the roof of the hotel is worth a visit. Look for the bar Ce Lavi: the price of entry will be the same as the price of entry to the observation deck, but you will get a free drink. And if you are a girl and the day of the week is Wednesday, then you can enjoy the privileges of the so-called Lady's Night - a day when admission is free and a drink is free (also in many bars in the city on Wednesdays).
• Go on a night safari and visit the zoo.
• Take a ride on one of the largest Ferris wheels in the world.
• Visit establishments in the cultural districts of Chinatown and Little India and go shopping on Orchard Road.

Have you been to Singapore? Would you like to go? Share with us in the comments.