Singapore Expats

Hello,

My wife and I are likely moving to Singapore from the US in a few months. I was wondering if anyone had suggestions on stuff to bring that wasn't obvious - i.e. things that, once you were there, you wished you had brought. We have a short list of stuff like our clothes, a few electronic and kitchen items, our dogs, and some other personal effects, but I'd like to benefit from the experience of those that have already made the move

Thanks!

djfiii wrote:a few electronic and kitchen items

Note that Singapore has 220-240 volts, 50 Hz and uses that s#!+, ugly-huge, three-pronged UK plug. More here: http://treehouse.ofb.net/go/en/voltage/Singapore

Also, bring sandals.

The best all-round general advice, I think, came from one of our regulars, road.not.taken. If it isn't marked dual voltage switchable on it, leave it home. Most can be purchased here cheaply and left/garage sold when you leave here.

ahh bummer, I have a fantastic juice extractor that I'm not going to want to leave behind.

anything other than sandals? as an example, one of my wife's coworkers said Advil is only available by prescription there, so we were going to bring a large bottle, sufficient to last at least until we visit the states again. I'm just trying to discover other little things like that, where once you start to get settled, you think to yourself "hmm, this would have been easier if I had just brought that from home...."

anyhoo, thanks for the tips!

Rubbing alcohol is uncommon here and if you do find a bottle, it's relatively very expensive.

djfiii wrote:ahh bummer, I have a fantastic juice extractor that I'm not going to want to leave behind.

anything other than sandals? as an example, one of my wife's coworkers said Advil is only available by prescription there, so we were going to bring a large bottle, sufficient to last at least until we visit the states again. I'm just trying to discover other little things like that, where once you start to get settled, you think to yourself "hmm, this would have been easier if I had just brought that from home...."

anyhoo, thanks for the tips!

Nurofen (Ibuprofen) also.
You can buy a transformer if you are that attached to your juicer. Or buy another juicer here (there's a big range in Harvey Norman)

Tip on Rubbing alcohol, we've found in Mustafa $5.50 for a 500ml, compared to $4.70 for a 150ml at Watson.

Bring Nyquil if you use it.

Good walking shoe or sandal.

If you're bringing any water filter (pitcher type), do bring also the replacement filters. Ours is a Pur brand one, and I can't seem to find its replacement filter here in Singapore.

Also bring a sense of humour otherwise you wont survive here

Best advice so far

nakatago wrote:
Note that Singapore has 220-240 volts, 50 Hz and uses that s#!+, ugly-huge, three-pronged UK plug.

The safest household connector, Type-G, I think you mean :p

djfiii wrote:
anything other than sandals? as an example, one of my wife's coworkers said Advil is only available by prescription there, so we were going to bring a large bottle, sufficient to last at least until we visit the states again.

If it's prescription only, then you'd be breaking the law bringing it into Singapore. They don't like drug smugglers much over here

missis wrote:
Nurofen (Ibuprofen) also.

You can get Ibuprofen here over the counter, but only in little packets of six or twelve. Much prefer the bottles of 1500 from the States..."dancer candy" we call it in my biz

curiousgeorge wrote:

missis wrote:
Nurofen (Ibuprofen) also.

You can get Ibuprofen here over the counter, but only in little packets of six or twelve. Much prefer the bottles of 1500 from the States..."dancer candy" we call it in my biz

You can always ask for a script from the doctor (when you're there next time) so that you can buy it in larger quantities from the pharmacy.

curiousgeorge wrote: The safest household connector, Type-G, I think you mean :p

Doesn't change the fact that it's s#!+-@$$, ugly-huge. It can make a celfone adapter twice as huge.

Gosh ~ we've covered this so many times. There are lots of lists and suggestions in other posts/topics. Djfiii, search the forum, you'll come up with lots of wisdom. Good luck.

All good tips, thanks!

I tend to use Advil and Ibuprofen interchangeably, so perhaps I am confusing the two. I definitely don't want to smuggle anything in It might be the case that she was told you can only get Ibuprofen in tiny packets (as opposed to by scrip only), and that we should bring one of those big jugs with us.

If it were me, I'd go to COSTCO and load up on all over=the-counter items I use and health & beauty stuff I know I can't find in Singapore as well. In fact, that is what I do every year while I'm home. Sunscreen in the US is much better and cheaper than it is in the US and hydrocortizone and antibiotic ointments are only available through a pharmacist. If I don't need it, one of my friends do. I also bring back the big bottle of real vanilla which costs 20 times what it costs here in the US and nuts. Yes, I like to bake.