I've been living between Dubai and Singapore for about a year now, and I must say, Singapore has really been a marvel. Its efficient public transport system, accessibility, walkability, and overall design stand out. As someone who's lived in Dubai my whole life, it isn't the flashiness that gets me but the care and thoughtfulness that went into making the city livable for everyone.
One of the things I was quite fascinated by in Singapore was the architecture. The blend of modern skyscrapers with traditional buildings creates a unique skyline.
I really appreciated that skyscrapers were limited to the central city areas. As someone who complains about light pollution, the stars were very visible at night, which is something I rarely see!
I also loved how walkable it is; the greenery and pedestrian paths are integrated, as are the cycle lanes. There are plenty of shaded areas for when it rains, and I love how the pathways are surrounded by trees for extra cover from the sun.
I can't overstate how impressed I am with how disability-friendly everything is: ramps, elevators, braille signs, tactile paving, audible crosswalks, and so much more. It's one of the main reasons I can see myself living in Singapore someday. I can picture growing old there yet keeping my independence and self-sufficiency for longer.
The MRT system is also super efficient and easy to use. I never had to wait long for a train or bus, and the Apple Maps integration made it effortless. Arrival times were accurate, routes were clear, and there was no random app to download and forget about. Living in Dubai, it surprised me that this level of integration isn't more common.
Also read: Perhentian-Malaysia.