Joanna's Singapore adventures

Singapore is connected by bridge to the south end of peninsular Malaysia. Crossing the border into Malaysia is quite a different experience of international travel than what I’m used to. The Singaporean public bus network doesn’t just cover Singapore, it also extends several kilometres into Malaysia. A trip from a train station in northern Singapore a bus terminal a few kilometres into Malaysia costs S$1.21 (AU$0.95, US$0.87). Coming from Australia where it takes hundreds of dollars and at least several hours on a plane or days on a boat to get overseas, the idea of travelling internationally at that price and on a city bus is a little mindblowing. I don’t think you could get 2 bus stops down the street in most Australian cities for that price.

Unfortunately Singapore and Malaysia did not co-operate by putting their customs and immigration centres together. That means you have to get off the bus at the customs centre for the country you are leaving, get back on the bus to cross the bridge, get off again at the customs centre for the country you are entering and then reboard the bus for wherever it is you are bound for. I must look like a shady character because both going into Malaysia and leaving Malaysia I was pulled over for bag checks. Coming from Malaysia to Singapore after you’ve cleared Malaysian customs and are just about to get on the bus there is a convenience store. I suspect they get a lot of business selling chewing gum. Chewing gum remains illegal to buy, sell and import in Singapore (with the exception of gum prescribed by a doctor for medical purposes) so some Singaporeans bring it back with them from Malaysia. Chewing gum takes on a whole new level of rebelliousness here!


Wikipedia article on the Singaporean chewing gum ban