There Is A "Pasar Malam" During the Holidays

A night market, also known as "pasar malam", held near Tampines MRT
Picture taken on 8 September 2016, 7:01pm

"Pasar Malam" is Night Market in malay and you can usually spot them during the holidays. Almost anything you could think of, you can find it at these night markets, whether it was a travel adapter, new cutlery, bottles of bubbles to blow, school shoes or a mattress or pillow. It is practically a shopping dreamland, and they sell things at affordable prices as well.

You Can Get Fined For Practically Anything

Different Types of Fines in Singapore
Picture taken on 29 August 2016, 2:46pm

You can find these signs everywhere, from MRTs to lifts and void decks. Hence, Singapore is called a "fine" city as well.

You See "Mama Shops" at Void Decks

Local girl buying snacks from her local "mama shop"
Picture taken on 1 September, 3:12pm

"Mama Shops" are local convenience stores in Singapore that is often located under HDB flats. These shops hold sentimental values to residents who live nearby, mainly childhood memories. It's distinct from regular convenience store as the goods are placed compactly and is usually non-air conditioned. Despite so, children love coming to "mama shops" and buy their favourite snacks and games.

There Is A Dustbin Everywhere You Go

Another dustbin spotted at a short distance away from a dustbin. One dustbin at one side of a public basketball court and the other at the other side.
Picture taken on 31 August 2016, 6:27pm

Singapore, also known as a clean and green city. Well, there's a reason for this and that is the large number of dustbins we have all around Singapore, be it at the void decks or local parks. Everywhere you go, a dustbin will always be nearby you so there is no reason to litter. Passing by 3 or dustbins in Singapore is absolutely normal.

You Hear Multiple Languages in a Sentence.

Singaporean girl buying ice cream at Orchad
Picture taken on 2 September 2016, 4:32pm

I was queuing behind a girl the other day and I overheard this conversation: 

          - Ice cream uncle: "Eh, so le ai durian ice cream 和一个 potong ice cream, red bean si boh?"

          - Girl: "Yes, 谢谢 uncle." 

This is something many Singaporeans associate with and indeed, many of us do use multiple languages or dialects in a sentence, myself included.

People "Chope" Seats With Tissue Packets

People avoided this table in a kopitiam as there a tissue packet lying on it.
Picture taken on 1 September 2016, 12:13pm

With a packet of tissue or umbrella placed on a table, we signal our temporary "ownership" of a table, and wander off to order our food. Other Singaporeans who come across tables with tissue packets on it will instinctively know that the table is taken and will carry on to find another table. It's amazing how this single act allows people to read each other minds, almost like telepathy.

Your friendly neighbours are almost never the same race as youself

A Muslim household in the forefront and a Chinese household in the backgroundPicture taken on 2nd September 2016, 11;02am

Living and growing up in multiracial and multi-religious Singapore, it never comes as a surprise when your neighbours turn out to be of a different race as compared to yourself. In fact, it's something you welcome; something would feel amiss otherwise. Whether Indian, Muslim, Chinese, Eurasian, or whether you choose to display that fact in the form of decorations at your doorstep, living close to and interacting with people of other races is something that can never be removed from the life of a person living in Singapore.

It's not a strange sight to have two different temples side by side

2 Temple, Sri Krishnan Temple (left) & the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple (right)
Panorama taken on 2 September 2016, 12;35pm

The two temples are located just adjacent to one another on Waterloo street. Having two places of different worship side by side may be a rare sight to foreign visitors, but it is not a surprising sight to behold at all for Singaporeans considering our multi-racial and multi-religious society.

Signs are often written in more than one language

Emergency Exit sign written in 4 different languages on an SBS Bus
Picture taken on 5 September 2016, 1;17pm

Being a multi-racial society, all one really needs to do is to take a look around to see that unique trait that separates Singapore from other countries, and to be reminded that one is still in home sweet home -- especially if one wakes up on the bus after hours of dreaming of faraway lands.

The Same Type of Noodle is being Cooked Differently

Same type of noodle cooked in 3 different ways

Picture taken on 2 September 2016, 7:24pm

These dishes have very different styles of cooking, that being of Indonesian, Chinese and Indian (from left to right). However, despite all looking vastly different, the dishes all have the same name -- Mee goreng. This fact is not particularly surprising though, given that all Singaporeans have a mutual love of food, one that was bound to be influenced by the different cultures of the people in Singapore. This variety of styles only simply presents the multi-faceted society that Singaporeans live in.

There are Abnormally Long Queues

One end of the queue of people buying Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tarts in ION Orchad

Picture taken on 9 September 2016, 2;30pm

Queuing up in Singapore is a dynamic and cultural experience that only Singaporeans would understand, in other words, a quintessential way of life for Singaporeans. We are known for our love of queuing. People don't mind waiting in line for hours just to get what they want, be it food or Hello Kitty stuffed figurines.