Smart suit in Singapore
Business student Brent Coleman is loving Asia’s top financial hub.
What inspired your move, and how long have you been there?
During my time at Hamilton Boys’ High School I decided I wanted to study business at university. I saw Asia as a brilliant destination to further my studies, given the region’s economic vibrancy and Singapore’s position as a leading financial hub. I was awarded the Asia New Zealand Foundation Singapore Scholarship and Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia to study here, and have been doing so for the past three years.
What do you do there? Iama student at the National University of Singapore.
What are the greatest advantages to living there?
Singapore’s Changi Airport is a major hub with direct flights to almost every corner of the globe. There are many low-cost carriers such as AirAsia and Jetstar to travel inexpensively within the ASEAN region, while further afield most major airlines have at least one flight flying through weekly.
Disadvantages? The sweltering heat can often be troublesome, especially when wearing a suit to meetings and gatherings in the city centre.
How expensive is it compared to New Zealand? How much is a beer? The trick in Singapore is to live like a local and in doing so your money will go much further. Alcohol is famously expensive here, with a pint averaging around SG$16 (NZ$17). What do you do in your spare time? I enjoy exploring new parts of Singapore. Despite the country’s small size, there is
'The trick in Singapore is to live like a local and in doing so your money will go much further.' Brent Coleman
always something new popping up around the island. I also enjoy spending time with friends travelling the region, meeting for meals, and relaxing at the beach. What’s the local delicacy and would you recommend eating it? Singapore is a food mecca for visitors – famous ones are Hainanese chicken rice, char kway teow, chili crab, roti prata and bah kut teh. Singapore is littered with hawker centres, which are a collection of food stalls serving
delicious, authentic food. My favourite food spots include Zam Zam, Komala Vilas, 363 Katong Laksa, and Swee Choon. Easiest way to get around? The MRT train network and the buses are highly reliable with great coverage of the island. I would highly recommend the Citymapper app which informs you of the best travel routes island-wide. What’s the shopping like? The most famous shopping destination is Orchard Road, with all the designer brands you could imagine. For ultra-premium brands the Marina Bay Shoppes is a great place to shop.
Best after-dark activity? Night cycling from East Coast Park is an enjoyable activity by night, being able to cycle all the way into the city centre as well as into the suburbs and eating midnight snacks at late-night hawker centres. The Night Safari is also lots of fun and basically operates like a zoo by night. Best time of year to visit? Anytime from January until about August is best as Singapore for the past few years has experienced a haze in the latter part of the year. What are the top three things you recommend for visitors? One: Experience the food – go explore the streets, the hawkers, and experience the taste of authentic Singaporean culinary offerings. One such place is Lau Pa Sat, which is downtown and offers many local foods, though the locals would argue it is too touristy and expensive. Two: Try your hand at Singlish – Singlish, or Singapore English, is a construct of English infused with Malay and Chinese dialects. Get ready to add ‘‘lah’’ to the end of most sentences and laugh along with the locals at your attempts at localisation! Three: Venture over to Sentosa Island for a fun day of Universal Studios, the beach, indoor skydiving, ziplining, and many other activities on an island basically resembling a massive theme park.
Besides family and friends, what do you miss most about home? Pies! Nothing beats a steak, cheese and bacon pie from the local bakery! How easy is it for you to get back to NZ? In recent years many new flights have opened up with the Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines alliance now flying direct from both Auckland and Christchurch. Other low-cost options include AirAsiaX and Jetstar, which have short stopovers in Australia.
For Kiwis looking to move there, which industries are seeking fresh talent? Traditionally, Singapore has been very strong in banking, oil and gas, shipping and logistics. Singapore is now looking forward to the future investing heavily in technology and entrepreneurship attracting talented individuals from around the world.
If you know an expat who wants to share inside knowledge of their home away from home, email travel@stuff.co.nz with Expat in the subject line.