Overview & Geography
Singapore: Island, City and State
Population: 4.4 million
Area: 683 km2
During colonial times, Singapore was an infamous trade point due to its central location in South-East Asia, boasting a whole variety of dodgy opium bars, nightclub districts and armies of rickshaws. Back then, the city was used as a trading harbour by the British. After independence from Malaysia in 1965, the former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew has shaped Singapore`s economic success story, coming from a third-world status. In the meantime, Singapore has become one of the most modern metros in Asia. The impressive skyline is made up of numerous glass buildings where all the leading international companies have their local subsidiaries. If you take a walk through the city, you will soon realize that in terms of modernity and infrastructure, this city could even be model for many western metros.
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You have to be lucky to find a building which does not look like it is being renovated every second year or only build up in the last few months. Similarly the spotlessly clean parks, streets and municipal establishments are impressive. "Singapore - a fine city" is often cited as the reason for that cleanliness. In fact, it is true that the official fines, e.g. for throwing away a cigarette or a chewing gum (S$ 500) are exorbitantly high. However, in reality it will only hardly come to the enforcement of these fines. By the way, after a long ban on chewing gums on the island, one can buy them since 2004 in pharmacies.
In spite of all modernity, Singapore has retained many of its old appeals, which perhaps only become obvious at second sight. This contributes to the fact that the island is one of the most popular tourist destinations in South-East Asia. In Chinatown you can still meet the augurs, calligraphists and Buddhist monks. In wonderful Arab Street you will still hear the shouts of the Imam every other hour. And in the many secluded alleys of little India, you can buy the freshest spices, beautiful saris and visit one of the numerous Hindu temples.
In Singapore there is a mixture of Chinese, Malaysian and Indian culture. People of these countries have settled over the past few centuries in Singapore and live together in a rather peaceful way. The Chinese are the largest part of the population, followed by the Malaysian and Indians. Apart from that, there is a very large expatriate community of around 800.000 predominantly Europeans and Americans. Apart from the interesting cultural melange, this mixture build the foundation for the culinary variety of the country. It is often said that one can find the best Asian cuisine in Singapore. The numerous "Foodcourts" are places where one finds a multitude of small foodstalls and seating facilities for the patrons. In fact, every day of the week one can taste a different speciality there, be it Malaysian, Chinese, Indian, Phillipine, Vietnamese, Thai and a lot of other options. A wholesome meal including a softdrink will cost you around 5 SGD. Considering the cheap prices and good quality of the food, it is not really worth to cook at home. Most likely, you will gain a few pounds of weight by living in Singapore for a longer period of time.
Singapore is a very successful state in terms of its economy, which is reflected in the partially rather materialistic viewpoints of many young professionals there. There is the saying that, in order to have made it, you have to own the 5 C`s: Cash, Car, Credit Card, Condomenium and Country Club Membership. In recent times, the government strives to add another "C": Children. Actually the birth rates are declining since years and this is a measure to counter this development.
Singapore consists of a main island and is surrounded by numerous smaller islands. There is a land connection to Malaysia via Johor Bahru (JB) in the north. The people of Singapore often use their weekends for shopping trips, playing golf or visiting their second house in the cheaper neighbouring country. In former times, most of the main island was covered by dense jungle, today however most of the landmass has been developed. Furthermore, land reclamation has happened by land-filling the sea.
In Singapore, there is a tropical climate with almost constant temperatures throughout the year. Temperatures are in between 24 C to 34 C. However, humidity is extremely high, occasionally reaching 100%. This goes along with frequent, but mostly quite short, rainshowers. Sometimes, one can watch a bright summer sky and in less than 15 minutes dense clouds start accumulating followed by extreme rainshowers and 20 minutes later it`s back to the original state. Thus, it is advisable to always carry an umbrella around.
The Economy
Singapore is the South East Asian finance and hightech capital. The country heads the tiger states of Asia with a GDP per capita of 31,400 USD (2006) which is one of the highest in the world. It is composed by around one third of industrial production and two thirds of the service sector. Agriculture plays only a very marginal role due to the small land area. The unemployment rate is almost at all-time low levels of around 3% (2005). The largest trade partners are Malaysia, the USA, China and Japan.
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It is noteworthy that, in contrast to most of its Asian neighbours, corruption levels are extremely low in Singapore. The economy depends a lot on exports, especially in the area of electronic products which took its toll during the global recession around the year 2000. Things have massively improved in the meantime with a GDP growth rate of 6,4% in 2005. Due to the lack of corruption, excellent infrastructure, low cost base and a qualified workforce, it has been possible for the country to attract Foreign Direct Investments of more than 3000 multinational companies. Most of these companies are from the US, followed by Japan and Europe. Currently the government strives to establish Singapore as a biotech capital and thereby attracts foreign companies in the sector and high-calibre scientists.
Living in Singapore
Money in Singapore
The currency in Singapore is the Singapore Dollar (SGD, S$). One SGD subdivides into 100 Cents. Currently, one SGD equals around 0.5 EURO or 0.6 USD (December 2005). Mostly, paper notes are in circulation (2, 5, 10, 50, 100, 1.000 und 10.000 SGD). The 10.000 SGD notes was invented by the former British colonialists and mainly meant for the interbank trade. However, today the extraordinarily high note also enjoys a high popularity among the local business world.
Debit cards with the "Maestro" logo can be used at most ATMs, also creditcards like in most other metros of Asian countries. Mostly, a service charge will be levied of around 10 SGD per payout. This charge is usually lower with debit than with creditcards. If one decides to bring cash from home, it is advisable to change that into SGD in one of the banks. The exchange rates in hotels are often not as good. A better and safer option is to carry around Traveller`s Cheques. In most of the larger companies, the salary will be paid to a local bank account at the end of the month. The account in Singapore can be opened fast and unbeaurocratically with a letter from the employer.
Budget Planning
In Singapore one will need a similar to budget like in many other western cities. The most costly variable will be the rent for a room or apartment in Singapore. For a small, clean room which is not too far from the center one has to budget at least 600 SGD/month. The more you move away from the Central Business District (CBD) the more cheap the rents will become. In the suburbs close to the border to Malaysia, Woodlands for example, one could find a small apartment for around 400 SGD. However, in this case also the transportation time of around one hour each way to the CBD will have to be considered.
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In one of the many foodcourts one can eat very well and rather cheaply at all times of the day and night. An average meal including a softdrink costs around 5 SGD. Excessive partynights will be the biggest threat to your budget in Singapore. Due to high taxation, alcohol and cigarettes are quite expensive. For example, in a normal bar a beer (0,33 l) would cost around 6 SGD. Cocktails start at around 15 SGD.
All in all, with around 1.400 SGD/month, one would have a rather comfortable style of life with the one or other excursion (e.g. to Malaysia). The salary for international interns in Singapore depends on various factors. Generally, the internship salaries are in between 600-1.500 SGD/month. Of course there will be differences, e.g. in the area of investment banking where top interns earn up to 5.000 SGD/month. The media industry would be in contrast to this where the salary for internships is often below the 500 SGD mark or even no pay at all.
Communications
Most foreign mobile phones can be used in Singapore, as the same frequency standard is in use. It is advisable to get a pre-paid plan, e.g. from SingTel (starting at around 20 SGD). The costs for calls and SMS are very low compared to western standards. One SMS will only cost around 0.02 SGD. For long-distance calls to friends and family at home one can use Skype or Jajah. Most Internet cafes also offer a very cheap VoIP facility.
Internet penetration is very high in Singapore and the government is actively supporting new technologies in IT. During the internship, one will often have the possibility to write short emails during working hours. In case you need to manage some more emails or like to play some online games, you can visit one of the man internet cafes. Almost all cafes have very high connection speeds and costs will hover around 3 SGD per hour. Moreover, many apartments offer a wireless connection facility for your own laptop.
Transportation
Regarding transportation facilities, one has the following options to choose from: MRT, Bus and Taxi. The MRT (Mass Rail Transport) is a rather cheap and fast way to reach all important points of the city. Most of the lines are frequented every 5-10 minutes. The same hold true for the buses. The numerous stations are well distributed throughout the city and the system functions very punctual and in high frequency. The third option is to take one of the many taxis. For that, you simply give them a sign on the side of the street or you can queue up at one of the many Taxi Points located on all major commercial and shopping complexes.
Rickshaws have had a little revival during recent years. Occasionally, one will see some of them which attract customers mainly through the blasting pop music. Apart from that, the street view is quite beautiful with lots of luxury cars such as Mercedes, BMW, Rolls Royce, Lexus, Ferrari or Lamborghini in a high density.
Accommodation
Due to the geographical small area of Singapore, the relatively high standard of living and the multitude of international companies and their employees, rental levels are relatively high in Singapore. The average prices for 1 bedroom apartments in Singapore range from S$ 600 up to S$ 1200 per month, depending on location, facilities (Minimum standards mostly include TV and Air Con) and size. Budget hotels are available from S$ 40 per night. These prices refer to locations from where the main business districts are reachable within reasonable timeframes per foot or MRT (Mass Rapid Transit System).
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For interns it is advisable to move into one of the numerous apartment complexes. There you have the advantage to get to know other interns and your neighbours relatively fast. Especially in the beginning it is useful to quickly establish the first contacts and make some activities together. A positive side-effect are the facilities which these complexes offer such as swimming pools or a gym. If access to these should not be included in the rent, one will be able to negotiate reasonable prices. What would be more relaxing after a hard days work than to enjoy some quality time in the Jacuzzi with a cocktail or a cool beer. High speed internet access is often included in the rent, otherwise costs are comparatively low. Moreover, one can upgrade the apartment to a serviced apartment in exchange for a top-up fee which will then include the weekly cleaning maid and other pleasant services. You will have a hard time without aircondition in Singapore, it is very advisable to take a room with this facility. The extra 50-100S$ per month will be worth it, considering the sometimes extreme humidity.
Often one will find a little shopping mall in these apartment complexes, where it`s quite convenient to quickly get the necessities of everyday life. You can also give your pants and shirts for drycleaning there (e.g. Drycleaning of a shirt and ironing for 3 SGD). At the same time, you can take a quick dinner or book a trip for the weekend.
Working Life
Usually there are five working days in Singapore, only rarely six. The average weekly working time is 46.3 hours and the average salary lies at 3.329 SGD/month. Almost all of the multinational companies in Singapore have five working days, from Monday to Friday. Consequently, this will also be the working time for interns. Moreover, it is likely that an intern will get the one or other day off from office, apart from the usual holidays, for excursions into the region, etc. There are numerous national holidays during the year. Following are the holidays for 2008:
01.-02.01.: New Year's Day
07.-08.02.: Chinese New Year
21.03.: Good Friday
01.05.: Labour Day
19.05.: Vesak Day
09.08.: National Day
01.10.: Hari Raya Puasa
28.10.: Deepavali
08.12.: Hari Raya Haji
25.12.: Christmas Day
Leisure Activities
Directly in the city, one will find numerous places which are worth visiting. One of them is Chinatown, which was created in 1821, when the first Chinese immigrant started settling on the island. There you will find a lot of old, renovated buildings of historical significance which were built according to the ancient Chinese architecture. Chinatown is a very lively place with lots of bistros and restaurants, which can be divided into the following blocks: Kreta Ayer, Telok Ayer, Tanjong Pagar und Bukit Pasoh.
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In Little India the visitor will find a completely different world. This colourful quarter originated around the same time like Chinatown. Along Serangoon Road one can find many beautiful Hindu temples and shrines where marriages happen frequently during weekends. It is also an excellent and rather cheap place to taste some great Indian food. Strolling around the numerous small shops and stalls with the spices, fabrics and antiquities is very recommendable.
A little further away from the city one can visit the Singapore Zoo for a night safari. Most of the animals there are night-active which means that a night safari provides the ideal opportunity to see leopards, lions, hyenas and many other creatures in action. Interestingly, there does not seem to be an actual fence before the territory of the animals which would allow for a direct confrontation with a little jump over a small stream.
Probably the most popular tourist attraction in Singapore is Sentosa Island which can comfortably be reached by public transport. There are several beaches with artificial bays and reefs, a zoo and the waterworld. Originally, this small island was built as a defence point against the Japanese in World War 2. There are around 20 attractions, among them old military buildings and arsenal.
A piece of history of Singapore during World War 2 can be experienced in the Changi Prison Chapel and the attached museum. During the conflict with the Japanese, over 50.000 soldiers and civilians have been detained there. The exhibited letters and photographs document the terrible times there.
A little bit further south of Singapore are some very beautiful islands of Indonesia. The first ones, Bintan and Batam, can be reached in less than one hour from Singapore. A visa can be issued fast and cheaply from the ferry point. Especially Bintan is very popular among the inhabitants of Singapore to relax after a stressful week. This is reflected in the various hotel resorts in the north coast of the island which offer all inclusive holiday packages. If you would like to see a bit more of the island, it is recommendable to make a trip to the city or directly go there with the ferry from Singapore. There one will find less hotels on western standards, however the ones you will find are considerably cheaper than on the north coast. Furthermore there is the advantage that you have the opportunity to experience a real part of Indonesia, probably due to much less tourists there. For a little bit more adventure, it is also possible to hire a motorbike and explore the island on your own.
Apart from these attractions, Singapore is ideal due to its central location in South East Asia as a hub for trips to the neighbouring countries. The no-frills carrier Air Asia offers several destinations at cheap rates. Bali, Penang, Sumatra, Bangkok and East Malaysia can be reached in only a few hours by flight. To explore Malaysia in the north, it is advisable to do the trip with one of the many private bus operators in Singapore. In this way, one can have a very economical short trip e.g. to Kuala Lumpur (KL) or the paradisical Tioman and Rawa islands in the very south east of Malaysia. These islands can be reached by ferry in less than one hour from the harbour town Mersing.
Singapore Nightlife
Singapore offers an amazing choice of restaurants, bars and clubs, which offer something for every taste. Some famous establishments can be found on the island, such as infamous Zouk techno and house disco, where the international who-is-who of the DJ circuit can be found, or restaurants like the Indochine which is very renown.
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The flip-side of the coin are the mostly quite high fees for entry and drinks. However, all girls have an advantage here, due to the frequent ladies nights (mostly Thursday or Friday).
To start the night, it is recommendable to visit one of the many beautiful restaurants at Boat Quay or Clarke Quay. Both districts are directly besides the Singapore River and offer an exciting choice of restaurants of various categories, pubs and bars. There it is possible to have an exquisit dinner in a stylish atmosphere. A glass of red-wine and the pleasant sweeping of the river is completed by the amazing nightly skyline of the city. All sportfans can later switch to one of the many pubs with live stream of the latest games on wide-screen displays. For everyone else, there is a big choice of alternate activities. How about a Pub and Club-crawl? Most locations are concentrated on a few districts of the city: 3 Quays (Boat, Clarke, Robertson) and Fullerton Road. Highlights are: Attica Wednesdays and Fridays, Ministry of Sound, Zouk (most famous disco) and Chjimes. Entry prices depend on the DJ line-up and range in between, 15 - 30 SGD (mostly incl. 1 free drink).
Preparation & Visa
Once the overall aim of getting an internship in Singapore has been achieved, one can start the travelling arrangements.
As an intern in Singapore you will need a visa. This will either be the Training Employment Pass (TEP) or Training Work Permit (TWP). Apart from filling out the TWP or TEP form, you will have to provide your company with various documents regarding your studies, passport copy etc. It is recommended to provide this information as accurately as possible and according to the specifications set forth by the Ministry of Manpower (MoM) in Singapore. Your company will then file all these documents with the MoM to get the TEP or TWP. The TWP is usually the safer option (almost always approved), however the company has to arrange for a security deposit and pay a little monthly levy, which makes some of them hesitant to apply for this visa.
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For your reference, please see also:
www.mom.gov.sg/training_work_permit
www.mom.gov.sg/training_visit_pass
It should be noted that some companies have a special status with the MoM or other authorities which means that a TEP or TWP may not be needed. Very few companies also allow their interns to come on a tourist visa and prolong that every month by going to JB and then back to Singapore, which is actually not perfectly legal.
In case of the TEP, one will have to do a tuberculosis and HIV test within the first two weeks of arriving in Singapore.
Please check with your national Singaporean embassy regarding passport requirements and deviations according to nationality.
Usually the intern will have to arrange for health insurance by himself. For example, Allianz Insurance offers a good insurance package at around 150 SGD/month. In terms of vaccinations, some authorities recommend the following ones: Hepatitis A and B, Diphtherie, Tetanus and Polio.
