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So this is it! The end.....
I've been here just over 5 months now and I'm leaving next week! Wow, where did all that time go? Anyhow I just wanted to finish this blog off with a brief update and an overview of my time here in Singapore.
Since my last blog I've been up to Thailand to Koh Samui for a long weekend. Fantastic fun, caught up with a good friend, had a few beers (well, more than a few actually) and saw a bit more of Asia. Thats the beauty of Singapore, so close to so many amazing places. I've also continued to explore the country including a turtle farm and Chinese Gardens, and just generally got on with life here. I'm almost used to the heat too!! Carried on with working and playing football, plus the odd drink now and again. Yep, all in all I've carved a pretty good life here in my 5 months. But I feel its time to go, so I head to Australia next week to catch up with friends over the festive period, then onto New Zealand next year on a year visa for more adventuring! Having too much fun to stop and head home now.
I think its fair to say I've struggled keeping this blog going. I'm not a great writer, and I'm not even sure anyone's reading! Plus as with all things once you get settled somewhere life stops being interesting, and 'blog-worthy', and the monthly task of writing becomes that little bit harder. But I do want to sum up my time in Singapore, not least because if anyone is actually reading maybe they're thinking of coming out here. When I was looking a blog was exactly the kind of thing I wanted to read, find evidence of someone else having come out here and had a good time. Sadly I didnt find it, but decided to take the leap anyway, a chance I'm really pleased I took. But hopefully the other intrepid travellers out there will be pondering a trip out to Singapore on the new working visa and wondering just how viable it is. Any maybe just maybe they'll stumble upon this.....
So in summary, Singapore is a great little place to live! I have had a really amazing experience here, and learnt alot about myself, but also the local area and what its like to live in Asia generally. Its not all been plain sailing. Unlike the rest of the working holiday visa's, Singapore is not really set up for backpackers wanting to stay longer than a few days. The casual work market is small and the standard of living can be very expensive, especially the beer!! Its been a struggle at times to be honest. The high price of rent has put me way out of town, and the price of beer has made it harder to socialise and go out. Plus most expats here seem to be earning alot of money, which makes it all the more galling!! But despite all that I really would recommend Singapore as a place to check out. There are plenty of jobs out there if you're flexible and the minimum wage is good. And living out of town aint so bad given how good the local transport is, plus how small the country is anyway! You can get about without too much bother.
It took me a little while to get settled and meet people but once I did I found the locals very friendly and alot of expats in the same boat, not having a big friendship group and wanting to socialise a bit more. And a big bonus has been the guys I've met through playing football. All good guys from all over the world and its been really cool to feel a part of something. As is always the way with these things now I'm leaving I'm feeling really settled! And I cant emphasise enough just how great a location Singapore is for travelling. You can get EVERYWHERE, and so much of Asia is so close. Its a brilliant base, and good fun to hang out in too.
So yeah, there you go. I've made it to the otherside and I'm proud of my time here. I hope in years to come more people head out here on a whim because there really is alot to see, and alot of fun to be had. You wont be disappointed!
Right, I'm off to Australia to have a well earned cheap beer! Hope this has been helpful to at least one person. Please do email if I've tempted you!
Until next time lah
Ralph
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