Singapore has a Community Club in every area. Get the programme of your nearest one or find it on line. You can go there to learn Chinese. Pick up leaflets in several languages. Read a local newspaper.
The club often has a coffee shop, a Starbucks, or Chinese and Western fast food at reasonable prices. You often see a small pond with goldfish.
Jurong Green Community Club sign. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
This sign can be shown to people speaking any of the four official languages of Singapore. If you were eating at the hawker centre (cheap outdoor eating area with kiosks) opposite this building, you could still find your way, or direct a friend, by taking a photo of the sign. Arrange to meet your friend outside the main entrance of the community centre, or at the nearby bus stop which has seats, then walk to the coffee shop or hawker centre nearby.
Problem
I often go to a Community Club in Singapore. I get off the bus and don't know which way to go.
In Singapore it is important to tell the bus or taxi driver or passenger or passer-by whether your Community Club is North or East or South or West, because often two Clubs are within walking distance of your destination bus stop.
If you are going to a community club more than once, photgrph the sign board outside with the name in English and Malay in Chinese. Print it out. Alternatively keep it handy on your phone. Then you can remember it. Also show it passers-by when you want to ask the way.
If you photograph the building, and show them the photo, and they have just passed it, they may be able to point along the road, even if they don't know the name of the building.
Many people in Singapore are very helpful. They may bring out their phone and try to find directions for you.
If you have printed off the map, or saved it in your phone, you don't have to wait while they key in their password, go to the website and so on.
MRT Station
You could also photograph the station, your hotel, or your favourite nearby restaurant. Make sure everybody in your family or group has a picture of the hotel in case they get lost.
Hotel Photos
An internet picture of your hotel is handy when checking in. In Wales we tried to check into the Castle Hotel when our booking was with the Castle View hotel. In Phoenix, Arizona, we stopped at the Holiday Inn, which had no record of the booking, and eventually, when we insisted we had a booking, the receptionist realised there was not only another Holiday Inn but several. Arriving from England, we had no idea that Phoenix was a huge city with several hotels from each chain.
If you can photograph the street name with your hotel, you can find the street on a city map and enlist the aid of the concierge in any nearby hotel.
Photograph of Buona Vista station name. Photo by Angela Lansbury.
MRT Station
You could also photograph the station, your hotel, or your favourite nearby restaurant. Make sure everybody in your family or group has a picture of the hotel in case they get lost.
Hotel Photos
An internet picture of your hotel is handy when checking in. In Wales we tried to check into the Castle Hotel when our booking was with the Castle View hotel. In Phoenix, Arizona, we stopped at the Holiday Inn, which had no record of the booking, and eventually, when we insisted we had a booking, the receptionist realised there was not only another Holiday Inn but several. Arriving from England, we had no idea that Phoenix was a huge city with several hotels from each chain.
If you can photograph the street name with your hotel, you can find the street on a city map and enlist the aid of the concierge in any nearby hotel.
New Bridge Road, Singapore. Photo by Angela Lansbury.
Korea
I remember being terrified to leave my hotel in Korea. I could not speak or read Korean. I thought I would never find my way back, even though the station was only 'just around the corner'. If I had taken a photo of my hotel, a shop or building every few paces, and the station, I could have made my way there and back, either with a taxi or walking.
Now you know how to find your way around a foreign city, you can have the courage to consider booking some far away places.
USEFUL TRAVEL WEBSITES (in alphabetical order)
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
https://www.state.gov/travel/ (USA advice for US citizens travelling)
Both sites also have useful general advice about specific countries.
China
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china (Advice on China.)
Greece
http://www.visitgreece.gr/
Israel
https://new.goisrael.com
Korea
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto
Russia
visitrussia.org.uk
Singapore
http://www.visitsingapore.com/en/
UK
visitbritain.org
USA
visit-usa.com
Korea
I remember being terrified to leave my hotel in Korea. I could not speak or read Korean. I thought I would never find my way back, even though the station was only 'just around the corner'. If I had taken a photo of my hotel, a shop or building every few paces, and the station, I could have made my way there and back, either with a taxi or walking.
Now you know how to find your way around a foreign city, you can have the courage to consider booking some far away places.
USEFUL TRAVEL WEBSITES (in alphabetical order)
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
https://www.state.gov/travel/ (USA advice for US citizens travelling)
Both sites also have useful general advice about specific countries.
China
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china (Advice on China.)
Greece
http://www.visitgreece.gr/
Israel
https://new.goisrael.com
Korea
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto
Russia
visitrussia.org.uk
Singapore
http://www.visitsingapore.com/en/
UK
visitbritain.org
USA
visit-usa.com
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
Please share links to your favourite posts.
Please share links to your favourite posts.
No comments:
Post a Comment