#Singapore

Just like Hong Kong (Octopus), Seoul (T-Money) and London (Oyster), Singapore has a public transport card (Ez-Link). Like HK and Seoul, you can use this card for small payments in 7/11 alike shops.

This payment card works on all transport modes. Bus. MRT (metro). No matter who operates it.

Sadly it doesn’t work on taxis though.

Nonetheless. With a bunch of different players (SMRT, SBS, any other? But the same is true for London – and they have more players on the market) they have one simple unified payment system (and prices are the same no matter who is operating).

“Singapore is China, right? They eat dog there. So backward.”

I haven’t posted much since arriving here… That’s because life here is pretty straightforward and nothing is complicated.

The post office.

In Belgium buying stamps is usually ??????*** and, like in Singapore, I end up going to the post office and asking them to weigh it and stamp it.

However, unlike Belgium* (and most of Europe?) they have these handy machines.

Now running a Flightradar24 receiver in Singapore: T-WSAP38. Range is fairly limited due to surrounding buildings and not having an amplificator on the antenna. Not much I can do about that for now.

Stats here – click on top users: Yeri (#13 atm).

I guess I get to post now when flying to Brussels.

Flying SIN to BRU with Lufthansa.

BRU to MAD with Brussels Airlines (which I guess is now Lufthansa too) from 20/10 till 23/10.

BRU to BCN with Brussels Airlines from 27/10 till 31/10.

Leaving the 5th November to SIN again with Lufthansa and returning with Swiss (their brand new b777!) on July 6th.

Also changed blog timezone to Singapore.

My quest for opening a bank account in Singapore:

1. DBS: wanted utility bill < 3 months old of my residence in Belgium (which I didn't have -- most of the stuff is on my company's name). Payslips and other bank documents didn't count. Also 2hrs queue. -- (at this point I signed a tenancy agreement and had my own address/place/crib in Singapore) --
2. UOB: Required a physical Singpass (which you only get after you started working and your employer submitted your IPA).
3. Citi: IPA was enough, but tenancy agreement wasn't enough; they need the "stamp duty" proof. Also doesn't provide NETS. Getting a online banking token has to be "requested", and getting cards (and thus access) takes ~2 weeks
4. Went back to DBS with my tenancy agreement and IPA: opened bank account, got access to online banking, everything up and running in about 30 minutes. Downside of DBS Android app: seems to drain battery (requesting GPS high accuracy all the time for some reason; uninstalled for now as I'm not in Singapore until end of this month). Bank cards (did I mention I received them directly?) comes with Visa payWave. It's a Platinum (not sure why I received this -- seems standard as they didn't ask -- don't think they noticed my other credit cards were Platinum too) Visa debet card.

It's also worth noting I didn't receive my DBS text messages with my OTP in Belgium (Belgian number) while it worked in Singapore (same number). I assumed routing issues or my provider (Proximus) blocking their gateway. I tweeted them about the issue, they called me, tested alternate SMS routes while I was on the phone ("I sent several test messages, which one did you receive") and they waited on the phone until I managed to do whatever I was trying to do and made sure I got the OTP via text message this time. Great customer service!

With FlatTurtle we have people working for us via a Singaporean company, outsourcing. So I already transfer money every month to Singapore with BNP Paribas Fortis (~€40 fee), but for my rent deposit I wanted to try something new: enter TranserWise. Works really well and fast, and needless to say, the fees are much lower (more than half).

There. Relocating to Singapore for the time being. Becoming an expat.

Lufthansa BRU => FRA => SIN.

Back in Belgium in October for a bit though.

Auf wiedersehen for now. Be good Belgium.

Flying Turkish BRU to IST (A321), and Singapore Airlines (SQ/SIA; B772) IST to SIN. #Woohoo.

Let’s see if it’s really world’s best airline*. :)

Having a quick citytrip to Hong Kong (not Cathay this time, but Scoot (B789 Dreamliner) & Jetstar (A320)) and then returning in a little over two weeks just before Pukkelpop with Turkish (A333 & A332), together with Leanne.

• apparently Qatar surpassed SIA? Always heard SIA was best... :o

Edit: wrote this pre-terrorist attack and pre-coup… Quite less excited now.

Bru => Mumbai => Singapore => Kuala Lumpur & back again.

Also flying Air Asia… So let’s hope there’s no storm -.-)

You can find me at The Working Capitol in Singapore.