First off, happy birthday, Singapore! Today they celebrate 54 years of independence from Malaysia.

Onto business. My first international flight was to Singapore. I’ve been there a total of three times in just a couple of years, and I probably will visit again. Here are a bunch of reasons that traveling to Singapore is usually the “gateway drug” for many, especially Filipinos.

Flights are Affordable

This is especially true if you’re from within Asia. A lot of what we call “budget carriers” (simply, airlines that provide lower fares) have flights to Singapore, for less than $100 US. If you’re lucky, there are travel fairs and seat sales that might get you even lower prices! If you’re there for only a few days and don’t plan on buying too many souvenirs, you can even skip the suitcase all together and just take a carry-on luggage or backpack, which saves a big chunk off your airfare.

Their Visa Policy Is Superb

Most countries within Asia have an agreement for visa-free entry, and that includes Singapore. Most cases, you’ll only need your passport and get stamped on arrival.

Amazing Mishmash of Culture

It may surprise you, but as of data from 2015, the country is mostly Chinese in its population, followed way behind by Malays. The third largest population is Indian. There are countless others including of course, Filipinos, Eurasians, and other migrants from all over the other side of the world. With this in mind, the city-state of Singapore is filled with so much culture that comes not only from its immediate surroundings, but from nearly everywhere else thousands of miles away.

Food, Food, and More Food

Laksa, dollar ice cream, roti prata, coffee, salted egg everything, steamed chicken rice… you name it and Singapore’s got it. There’s so many “hawker centres” which are essentially almost synonymous to the night markets you find elsewhere in Asia. These centers of cooked food, often open-air, are scattered all over Singapore. You can find not just snacks and street food, but full meals as well. Definitely an experience to never pass up. Plus, if you feel like it, there’s plenty of Michelin Star restaurants too, especially within Marina Bay Sands.

Nearly Everybody Speaks English

One of the reasons it’s easy to tour Singapore is the fact that nearly everyone speaks English. While at varying levels, everyone can pretty much understand each other. Singlish, or colloquial Singaporean English, is sort of like creole and adopts words from other languages like Malay, Chinese, and even American slang.

So sentences like “I’ll go to the bus stop and wait there for you,” can be said along the lines of, “I go bus stop wait for you.” Or if you want to tell someone, “that’s not good,” you can simply say, “no good lah.” (Lah is very often used! If you don’t say it much, people can kind of tell you’re not local.)

Simple and often lacking tenses, people can still communicate with native English speakers and vice versa that way. It’s easier to adapt once you’re there, so don’t be intimidated.

Universal Studios Singapore

USS is one of four(!) Universal Studios theme parks in Asia (the others being in Japan, and upcoming ones in South Korea and in Beijing, China). As such, it is currently one of the most accessible international theme parks in the continent. Opening in 2010, USS has about 21 attractions open at a time including 6 roller coasters.

Personally, I recommend going there for two days since there’s so many things to do and places to visit. When I went there, it even started raining so we were given free raincoats. I’ll probably write about USS on a separate post because this experience is just so exciting that I can’t share everything here!

Marina Bay and Gardens By the Bay

Many are unaware, but a big chunk of Singapore is actually reclaimed land. The Marina Bay area is one of many reclaimed areas in the city-state – Changi Airport, Universal Studios, and many more are also products of landmining and reclamation.

The astonishing silhouette of the Marina Bay Sands hotel is a unique symbol you can easily spot when looking at the skyline. The nearby ArtScience Museum, in the shape of a lotus, is just as eye-catching. Walk a little bit more and you would find yourself at Gardens by the Bay, which is breathtaking both day and night.

Across the bay is the world-famous Merlion, where tourists abound, taking photos of them “catching” the water from its mouth for good luck. To get there, people have to walk along the helix bridge and the millennium bridge, the later of which was created in celebration of Singapore’s 50th year of independence from Malaysia.

It Is a Shopper’s Mecca

There’s so much you can buy in Singapore at amazing prices. It’s famous for the many malls all over the city, as well as shopping centers all over Bugis Street (pronounced “boogie”), as well as in Chinatown and Little India. You can buy anything from clothes, to weird food, to quirky items, and of course, delicious snacks and refreshments. There’s even a sex shop or two, especially in the Geylang area, which I’ve been told is a red light district.

Their Discipline Is Something to Aspire

If you’ve heard a bizarre rumor that chewing gum is illegal in Singapore, it is not a rumor. In fact, that ban has been in place since 1992. The only kinds allowed for its residents are dental, nicotine, and therapeutic gum. Anything else and you could be fined or even put in jail. As tourists, however, we are allowed to bring up to two packs of gum, and it’s not illegal to chew it. It’s the act of disposing them in public – such as beneath benches – that will cause trouble. But to be safe, just don’t do it.

In addition to this infamous chewing gum ban, you will notice how Singaporeans and its other permanent residents are so disciplined. Whether it’s traffic rules, standing on the proper areas at the train station, not drinking in public beyond 10 PM, and many other laws and customs, you’ll appreciate how well-disciplined the people in Singapore are.

In fact, their discipline is so great, you will generally feel safe even at odd hours of the night. Lord knows I’ve walked around alone at 11 PM without getting catcalled or robbed – something I never experience in most cities.

Just a Bus Ride Away from KL

Albeit 5 hours away via bus, Kuala Lumpur is yet another destination people often bundle with their visit to Singapore. If you’re pressed for time, you can also take a plane ride which I imagine is only for a couple of minutes – the wait time at the airport might actually be longer than the flight itself!

Tourism is Relatively Affordable

While Singapore has established itself as one of the wealthiest places in Asia, it’s actually pretty okay to spend money as a tourist. Even with an average salary during my first ever trip there in 2012, I only spent less than $100 US in pocket money for four days. Even in my trips last year, I never spend beyond $100 US at a time, which is usually 4-5 days per trip. Having over $500 is more than enough, if you want swanky experiences or more expensive food. Usually my spending money covers my own expenses, experiences, as well as souvenirs!

Transportation is Cheap and Efficient

if you take the MTR (their subway) or bus to go around, you should be fine. Grab is available, and reasonably priced. I once booked a trip from the airport and into the city in a very nice car for $19 SGD into the Geylang area, and then $14.50 SGD when I was going home from Chinatown back to the airport. Trains and buses are usually on time, and if you want, you can also rent bikes such as via GrabCycle and Ofo, among others.

The Airport Is a Tourist Destination In Itself

Skytrax has named Changi Airport as the best in the world for seven years in a row, having received the title 10 times in total, and with good reason. It’s not just its efficiency in checkins, transfers, and arrivals, too. In fact, one look inside the airport and you would consider it a tourist destination all its own. Some would have a day-long layover here and make a day of it without even stepping outside of their terminal. With its own movie house, swimming pool, art installations, sunflower garden, arcade, and many more, who wouldn’t mind staying?

Obviously, there’s so many other things to explore and experience within Singapore. I’ll write more about these individual experiences. Stay tuned! Once you’ve visited, you’ll be sure to come back for more, and it will definitely entice you to explore other countries as well.