Ris

I’m a Singaporean born and bred. I realise not many people know about it, but it's an amazing country to visit. I know how frustrating it can get when you can't find information on a country, so ask away =) I’m more than happy to help.

Want to know something about Singapore? Ask Ris a question

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Q: Hi Guru, Myself along with some 20 other people work in Singapore. Surprisingly the company that I work for in India has asked us to arrange for a One - Day trip to any place in or around Singapore. Company pays the expense! Just wondering is there any place which can be covered in one day. We have been to Sentosa, Pulau Ubin and Bintan. We expect that place to be entertaining, like any sea sport activity, swimming; any resort like place will also be fine. Please do let me know. Submitted By: Venky on the 4th January 2007 A: 3 options for a day trip that are left: 1. Charter a ferry to take you to all the southern islands: Sisters Islands, St. John's Island, Kusu Island you can go to the Ferry terminal at HarbourFront Centre for this. 2. Take a ferry to the INdonesian island of Batam. 3. Go to Johor Bahru (Malaysia) for some shopping and seafood.

Q: I'm going to Japan this winter and since there is no Japan Guru on this site, I decided to ask you about hostels in Japan, or in anywhere in the world actually. If the hostel states it HAS a curfew, what would usually be the time range of the lockout? Submitted By: Juicy on the 6th November 2006 A: Hostels usually have lockouts in the afternoons, for when they are cleaning the rooms. These usually run from about 11am to 4pm or so. As for night curfews, not many hostels impose such curfews as they presume that you are old enough to take care of yourself. Those that I have come across which do impose such curfews usually do not enforce them strictly. It only becomes a problem if say, there is nobody on night duty at the hostel and you get locked out if you get back late! A night curfew usually runs from 11pm to about 6am the next morening. However, the time ranges are vast, so it is best to check with the hostel you are going to by emailing them.

Q: Hey, I´m just wondering whether I will have to get a visa to enter Singapore?! And one more question: What is about part-time jobs? Is it easy to get one for a European girl? Submitted By: Jana Schattauer on the 15th May 2006 A: well, i need to know what is your nationality in order to tell you if you'll need a visa. what you can do though, is go to www.mfa.gov.sg that is the singapore ministry of foreign affairs. go to consular information, and then go to 'travel information for foreigners visiting singapore'. the website will tell you if you need a visa. part time jobs are not difficult to find in singapore, they pay about S$5 an hour on average. i don't think that singaporean employers have a problem with employing europeans, but the problem is getting a work permit. you can't work in singapore unless you have a work permit. this is unlike europe where you can enter any european country and get a job. if you need more information on work permits, visit www.mom.gov.sg or www.contactsingapore.org.sg but as you will see, most work permits are only granted to people who are staying semi-long term in singapore, you can't just go there and work and live there for a few months like you can in many other countries. in fact, i think nearly all work permits require you to have an employer who will help you with the application. singapore is a great place to visit for just a holiday though.

Q: DEAR SIR, I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD TELL ME FURTHER INFORMATION ON CONDITION IN A 10 BED MIXED DORM. WE ARE 9 PERSONS MADE OF 4 PERSONS UNDER 17 (8, 12, 15, 16) THE REST ARE ADULT. IN THIS 10 BED MIXED DORM IS IT POSSIBLE FOR ALL MEMBER OF MY FAMILY. COULD YOU PLEASE SPECIFY WHETHER SOMEBODY ELSE WHO ARE NOT MEMBER OF MY FAMILY WILL SLEEP IN THIS 10 BED MIXED DORM. ALSO PLEASE TELL ME WHETHER SHOWER/TOILET IS SHARED BY MY MEMBER OF FAMILY OR SOMEBODY ELSE WILL USE THE SHOWER IN THIS 10 BED MIXED DORM. BEFORE I COMMIT MY SELF TO THIS CONTRACT OR GIVE ADVANCE DEPOSIT I REALLY NEED CONFIRMATION ABOUT MY ENQUIRY. LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR EARLY REPLY. LILY. Submitted By: mohamed on the 11th May 2006 A: dear Lily, dorm beds are usually double-decker beds, so the younger children can sleep on the lower deck if you're afraid that they'll roll off the bed. if it's a 10 bed mixed dorm private ensuite, that means that the bathroom is attached to the room.this means that only the people in the room will have use of it. otherwise, if the website does not specify, and only says 10 bed mixed dorm, then chances are that you wil have to share the bathroom with everyone else in the hostel, and the bathroom will be located outside the room. yes, i think it is possible for all members of your family to stay in that room. however, because you are only 9 people, and the room is for 10 people, there is a possibility that you will have one more lone traveler come in and stay with you to take up the last bed. you can however, request when you check in that they leave that bed free so that nobody else comes in to stay with you. Depending on the season and depending on whether the hostel is fully booked up, they may or may not oblige you. alternatively, you can just pay for that extra bed to ensure that nobody else comes in to stay with you.

Q: DEAR SIR, I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD TELL ME FURTHER INFORMATION ON CONDITION IN A 10 BED MIXED DORM. WE ARE 9 PERSONS MADE OF 4 PERSONS UNDER 17 (8, 12, 15, 16) THE REST ARE ADULT. IN THIS 10 BED MIXED DORM IS IT POSSIBLE FOR ALL MEMBER OF MY FAMILY. COULD YOU PLEASE SPECIFY WHETHER SOMEBODY ELSE WHO ARE NOT MEMBER OF MY FAMILY WILL SLEEP IN THIS 10 BED MIXED DORM. ALSO PLEASE TELL ME WHETHER SHOWER/TOILET IS SHARED BY MY MEMBER OF FAMILY OR SOMEBODY ELSE WILL USE THE SHOWER IN THIS 10 BED MIXED DORM. BEFORE I COMMIT MY SELF TO THIS CONTRACT OR GIVE ADVANCE DEPOSIT I REALLY NEED CONFIRMATION ABOUT MY ENQUIRY. LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR EARLY REPLY. LILY. Submitted By: mohamed on the 11th May 2006 A: (repeated question)

Q: Hi, this is the first time for my family and i (4 of us) to book a hostel room. May i know what is the different between 4 bed mixed DORM Ensuite and 4 bed Private Ensuite? It is same if i book 4 beds in a DORM Ensuite? becoz it is cheaper. your early reply to the above is very much appreciated. Thank you. Submitted By: violet on the 4th April 2006 A: hello. the 4 bed mixed dorm ensuite and the 4 bed private ensuite should mean the same thing, i.e. 4 beds in the dorm room, with an attached bathroom. the only possible difference is that with the 4 bed mixed dorm ensuite, you could be sharing the bathroom with other people, eg where the bathroom is attached to 2 dorm rooms, but with the 4 bed private ensuite, the bathroom is only for the 4 people in that dorm room. however, this is highly unlikely, as usually 'ensuite' means that it is a private bathroom. in general, 1. 4 bed dorm- in one dorm room, there are 4 beds. 8 bed dorm- in one dorm room, there are 8 beds 10 bed dorm- in one dorm room, there are 10 beds etc 2. mixed dorm- mixed female dorm- only females makle dorm- only males 3. ensuite- bathroomin your room. booking 4 beds in a dorm ensuite could be different, eg if you book 4 beds in a 16 bed mixed dorm ensuite, you and your family will be sleeping with 12 other people =) hope this helps!

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