Navigating the '2B' Motorbike License in Singapore

My ultimate objective was to have the flexibility of riding our newly purchased scooter & not just be a pillion rider (passenger). So began the journey that was to acquire the motorcycle 2B licence in Singapore...

A few helpful observations to start off with. I was filled with promise when I saw a flow/block diagram displaying the pathway to obtaining my licence. Unfortunately, the diagram is incomplete and incorrect.

Some helpful things to know:

• There are 3 driving schools/test centers on the island.  

1. Singapore Safety Driving Center (SSDC) located North of the island (i.e. Woodlands)
2. Bukit Batok Driving Center (West)
3. Comfort Driving Center (East)

Given the amount of classes and trips to the center, I highly recommend picking one that is close to home or work depending on when you envisage you will complete your lessons.

• Singapore Traffic Police do not distinguish between scooters and motorbikes. Whilst we own a scooter, my lessons and the test will be completed on a manual motorbike. 
• Unlike some countries (Australia), there are two theory tests required for a licence in Singapore. For motorbike riders, they are the Basic Theory Test (BTT) and the Riders Theory Test (RTT). For motor vehicle drivers, it is the Final Theory Test (FTT), instead of the RTT.

Tips to condense the 2B Motorbike course:
1. When you enrol in the course, book a Basic Theory Test (BTT) slot immediately. I waited until I could complete the classroom theory lessons, but considering the lead time is almost 2 months, you will be sure that you can do the lessons before the test.
2. Enrol in the P0 (Practical Lesson #0) immediately. I discovered today, upon trying to obtain my PDL (Provisional Drivers Riders licence) that I am meant to complete this practical lesson first!

More to come...

Considerations when moving condos in Singapore

A slight deviation from the usual travel tip, I would like to share a 'moving house' tip. 

As with anywhere, there will always be local quirks that occur when moving house. Whilst I was extremely excited at the prospect of a new abode with a balcony, I though I should share some factors that we hadn't considered when looking at removalists:

• Condo Move in/Move out fee - This fee can range from $30 up to $100. It is per condo (so in theory, if both your old and new residences charge this then you are up for an extra $200). This fee is borne by the client and is generally excluded from removalist quote.
• Condo Moving Deposit -This fee is also per condo, and in my condo it is $2,000! It is refundable, assuming no damage was done during the removal and generally the removalist will issue a cheque.
• Condo Move notification forms - Not a financial cost, but a pain. This varies between companies, some do it for you whilst others require you to complete yourself
• Boxes deposit -Admittedly, this is a handy feature in Singapore. Once a removalist company has completed a site inspection, upon securing your business, they will send you a predetermined amount of boxes for you to complete your packing. No need to hunt around your local supermarket! The deposit amount is usually $1-$2 per box and is refunded when the removalists come to pick up the box about a month later when you  have finished unpacking. Ingenius! (Presuming the condition of the boxes are acceptable)
• Moving Blackout days - I was informed by the removalists that many condos ban moving on Sundays, perhaps in honour of the day of rest? To add to this, my condo only permitted a "half day" move on Saturday. Whilst this might not cost you extra, it may cost you in precious annual leave.
  
• Stair surcharge - If you have the luxury of living in a walk up (ie your dwelling is not serviced by a lift and is not on the ground floor), recognise that you may have ongoing costs and surcharges with any delivery you have. From memory, it can be $10 per flight of stairs for deliveries from Ikea
• Hard Rubbish Removals - If you live in a HDB, you are entitled to potentially 3 bulk item removals per month. Unfortunately, this does not cover condos. When we purchased a new couch, they didn't have an arrangement to remove the old furniture so we had to separately source a company to pick up and dispose of the old couch.

Keep the change Xx

Jetstar Singpost Instructions

Thought this might be helpful - If you're like me and 
a) Have decided to pay via Singpost for Jetstar flights to avoid being slugged a credit card "convenience" fee
b) Don't actually know what is required for the Singpost machine
c) Didn't have enough foresight the first time to write this down...

Keep the change Xx

<Source: Jetstar Payment site... but strangely nowhere on the FAQ?>

Payments can be made at all Singapore Post Offices, and Self-Service Automated Machines (S.A.M.)
Please have the following handy when you make your payment:

1. Jetstar Asia Booking Reference Number - available on the Confirmation (next) page
2. Total amount due - per the payment summary below
3. NRIC/FIN
4. Name of person traveling
5. Contact number

Payment modes available

• Singapore Post Offices cash, NETS
• S.A.M. NETS

How to pay at SingPost or via S.A.M.

Over the SingPost Counters (click here for a list of outlets)

1. Walk in to any SingPost post office and present the above details to the Counter staff.
2. Payment can be made either in Cash or NETS
3. Upon acceptance of the payment, the SingPost staff will issue a printed receipt.
4. We will update our records the following day.
5. For check-in, just bring a print-out of your itinerary or the receipt.

SingPost Self-Service Automated Machines (S.A.M.s) (click here for a list of their locations)

1. Go to any S.A.M. kiosk
2. Select 'Jetstar Asia' to make your payment.
3. Enter your Booking Reference Number and touch OK to continue.
4. Enter the Total Amount and touch OK to continue.
5. Enter your NRIC/FIN and touch OK to continue.
6. Enter the Name of the person traveling and touch OK to continue.
7. Enter your Contact Number and touch OK to continue.
8. Check your Payment Details and touch OK to continue.
9. Review the Summary and touch OK to continue.
10. Use NETs to complete your transaction.
11. A receipt will be then be issued.
12. For check-in, just bring a print-out of your itinerary or the receipt.

Tips for a trip to Singapore (from an Aussie)

Here are some tid bits that I have gathered in my trips to Singapore. I wish someone had given me the 'heads up' before I moved to the little Red Dot <-- For starters, that is what Singapore is called.

Alcohol
Singapore is renowned for having expensive alcohol, so I made the mistake of stocking up in Aus. I actually discovered later that it is actually cheaper to buy alcohol from Singapore airport (duty free) than it was to purchase in Australia. The limit is 1L per person.

Hawker Centre/Food Court Etiquette
In the traditional hawker centres and modern airconditioned food courts such as Ion, many Singaporeans reserve a seat before they order their food. It makes complete sense as there is nothing worse than walking with a tray of hot herbal soup without a place to eat it. The verb is to 'chope'. Now in terms of what you can 'chope' with, I've seen handbags (not recommended), umbrellas, tissue packets as well as even empty tissue paper packets signal that a seat is taken. As they say, when in Rome...

One more thing, given the bargain prices for a mee goreng, serviettes/tissues are few and far between, so be prepared to purchase them.

++
When I first started dining in Singapore, I was unaware what '++' meant. Basically, it means that on top of the price you pay, you have to pay 10% service charge and on top of that, 7% tax. This results in a 17.7% increase in the cost of your meal. As a small rule of thumb, if someone is taking you to your table and there's a serviette, expect ++!

Groceries
Now I have to say, having a Coles and Woolworth duopoly in Australia really gives you a small town perception of how many brands of grocery stores exists. Below is a list/brief description of the grocery stores I have identified:

• NTUC Fairprice
• Cold Storage (Apparently more expensive than Fairprice. Depending on the location, the stock may be quite tailored to expats e.g. abundance of meat, alcohol etc.
• Giant - I love Giant, it's got a Costco type offer, buy in bulk generally groceries, but there's also homeware and appliances (Certainly in the Vivo store). The items are on shelves (rather than pallets) which makes the experience a little less 'ALDI'. My tip is to avoid Giant on weekends, this place gets crazy.
• Sheng Siong  - I haven't been here yet, but it's meant to be very budget, maybe like Franklins?
• Marketplace by Jasons "Your Lifestyle supermarket" (If you have an expensive lifestyle that is...)

Department Stores
Again, being from Australia and only having access to Myer and David Jones, I am constantly surprised how many department stores there are on this tiny island AND how different their ranges are i.e. they don't actually stock 60% of the same stuff!

At Orchard, there are your more premium department stores:

• Takashimaya (from Japan)
• Isetan (from Japan)
• Tangs (Originated in Singapore)

At Bugis there is the more middle market department stores:

• OG
• BHG

Elsewhere on the island:

• Robinsons <- Feels a bit like Target, mainly focusing on shoes and clothing
• John Little <- This barely counts as a department store, it was like a scaled down version of Kmart
• Marks & Spencer
• Metro (never been)

Electrical

• Courts - My only warning of Courts is that the selection online is broader than the selection in store. When I was looking to purchase an office chair, I was told that their office chairs are rarely on display in a physical showroom.
• Harvey Norman

This post is WIP, so I will try and include more insights as I progress. Before I sign off, I will quote an ad that I saw on Singaporean TV.
"Low Crime doesn't mean no Crime".
Whilst Singapore is overall safe and organised, as with any travel, mind your belongings.

Xx Keep the change!