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Hi, I'm due to join a ship in Singapore and was wondering if anyone has any specific advice about what to take/not to take in my luggage as I hear Singapore is quite strict? Such as I think it would be wise to take anti-malarial pills to that part of the world but as they can be bought without a prescription I don't know if Singapore customs would have a problem with this? Any other things such as *cough cough* naughty films *cough cough* as well.
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Singapore customs when signing off a ship, are strict jobsworths. I had to throw away most of my cigarettes, as well as my knife. Not sure about joining in Singapore, but if you are bringing drugs through, make sure you the prescription with you. Better yet, get them whilst you're in Singapore. Or just drink Gin and proper tonic whilst you're there. Less side effects, I believe you can still get proper quinine tonic water at the better bars. -
As for the porn, they've searched my bag, but never even turned on the laptop or looked at my external hard drive. The airport is very busy, they've got more important things to look for than a few dirty movies.Comment
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If you have any video's about DP on your hard drive, just clarify to them which kind it is
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"Crazy like wild wolves threatened by fire, send them all to the bottom of the sea."Comment
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"Approval from the Ministry of Manpower is required for a foreign national to give a talk on ‘racial, communal, religious, caused-related or political topics’."
i know it is considered bad taste to talk about politics religion or money but making it a crime seems excessive.Comment
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I am not kidding when I say don't take chewing gum with you! It is banned!"Any damn fool can navigate the world sober. It takes a really good sailor to do it drunk." - Sir Francis Chichester.
"Waves are not measured in feet or inches, they are measured in increments of fear." - Buzzy Trent
"Careers at Sea" Ambassador - Experience of General Cargo, Combo ships, Tanker, Product Carrier, Gas Carrier, Ro-Ro, Reefer Container, Anchor Handlers.Comment
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I second Hatchorder, the import of chewing gum is banned in Singapore.
Lewis, the reality is that other countries are fully entitled to their own laws. For some countries these stricter laws (when properly enforced), make a safer and better environment for the majority of citizens. For those that do feel oppressed, they can move. Singapore is an incredibly safe and clean country, where I'd rather live a hundred times over then most places in the UK.
I presently live in a country which is in an islamic absolute dictatorship, yet have never had such a great quality of life, in a wonderfully safe environment. The parks are open with children in them until 10pm at night without fear of muggers, needles or trouble. The bars are on the whole safe and comfortable places to enjoy a drink, and in fact GM has his second home here (oh how the wealthy live!).
Sorry to go a bit off topic, but just wanted to exemplify that different laws aren't something to fear, but simply adhere to when you are abroad and you may come to embrace the countries values.Comment
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Oh how I wish I was wealthy...Originally posted by AncientMariner View Post
I don't just have a second home there, I actually grew up and went to school there and everything AM has said about the place is true. Provided you don't go around breaking their laws then it is a lovely, somewhat frustrating at times, place to live and the people there are fantastic. Well worth a visit if you've got some time off and are bored...I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.....
All posts here represent my own opinion and not that of my employer.Comment
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I thought alcohol was banned in Islamist countries?Originally posted by AncientMariner View PostComment
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Ha! There as bad as the UK!Originally posted by HarmlessWeasel View Post
?Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn?t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.?
? Mark TwainmyBlog | @alistairuk | flickr | youtube Views and opinions expressed are those of myself and not representative of any employer or other associated party. Comment
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Varries greatly from country to country. Some banned, some completely legal, some banned but not inforced, some banned for locals but ok for foreigners, some you need a license.Originally posted by HarmlessWeasel View PostComment
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Yeah, I thought so too, until I spent some time in the afore mentioned Islamist Absolute Monarchy, and discovered the hotels bars were chock full of locals with a few odd western guests.Originally posted by HarmlessWeasel View Post"Crazy like wild wolves threatened by fire, send them all to the bottom of the sea."Comment
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Kuwait, Saudi, Sharjah (one of the UAEs), Yemen, Iran, Afghanistan and Libya have total alcohol prohibitions. Most of the other middle eastern countries tolerate or allow alcohol as long as you behave well. In the UAE of course alcohol is freely available, but you are supposed to have a license to consume it apparently.
Here in Oman, its available in bars and pubs as well as military and government clubs. There are alcohol shops which you need a license to be able to enter, and that license is linked to your salary (10% of your salary iirc?).
Sometimes when I see TV programs on places like Blackpool at chucking out time, I think that maybe they have got the right idea here. Drink, have fun and behave. If you don't, enjoy prison food.Comment
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What you tend to find in most countries in the world is that the more the governments repress the peoples basic instincts, the more of a wild underworld they have.Originally posted by Ducki52 View Post
Examples are such as Morocco and Saudi Arabia, both have kind of pretty Islamic government, and both have a devious side, Morocco being a haven for weed, one of the world biggest producers, and Saudi Arabia having a huge population of male to male intimate relationships, again unofficially one of the most in the world, both outlawed in Islam but so popular in both countries.Comment
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