Tax Free Shopping

There are times when looking like a tourist is smart advice — especially when an overseas shopkeeper asks if you’d like a VAT (Value Added Tax) receipt to qualify for a tax refund.

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Such rebate programs, available only to nonresidents, are commonplace in Europe. But there are a growing number of countries around the world where you can also get a refund — if you follow the right steps, beginning from the moment you make the purchase.

Slideshow: Best tax-free shopping surprises

Singapore kicked off the refund trend in Asia in 2004, and was soon followed by Indonesia, Japan, Korea, and Thailand. Unknown to many travelers, Mexico began offering tax refunds in 2008 (just a year after Canada canceled its rebate program for individual travelers).

VAT and GST (Goods and Services Tax) place the tax burden on the end consumer, chargeable in the place where the merchandise is used. In many places, purchased goods taken out of the country by nonresidents aren’t subject to the VAT/GST, which ranges from 5 percent in Japan to 25 percent in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. Even so, you usually have to pay the tax, at least temporarily, when buying an item. That’s why you’ll need to file the appropriate papers for a refund when you’re ready to leave.

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There are procedural nuances from place to place, but the basics are the same around the world. Buy your goods from an authorized tax-free-shopping merchant. Make the minimum required purchase (as low as $17 in Argentina, as much as $300 in Australia), if there is one, and have the clerk fill out the necessary tax forms. Bring your passport for identification. At the airport, show your goods to the Customs Office before you go through security, and have your tax forms stamped. You can then pack the goods into your luggage and check in (except in Australia, which requires you to carry on your tax-free purchases, apart from wine and oversize items). After you pass through security, submit your forms at a tax-refund kiosk for an immediate refund or to have a check mailed to your home.

Beware, though, that many countries charge a commission on refunds. If you want the refund credited to your charge card, expect to pay $4 in South Africa. Israel has a sliding commission scale, ranging from as little as 5 percent to a high of 15 percent, depending on the refund amount. Mexico charges a whopping 35 percent commission.

No matter where you do your tax-free shopping, remember:

Find out the minimum purchase requirement, if any, for a single item or total amounts, as well as the step-by-step procedures. Get details on dozens of countries from tax-free-shopping operators premiertaxfree.com and global-blue.com. Look for merchants’ signs or window stickers that say Tax-Free Shopping or VAT Refunds. Shop around. A lower price at a nonparticipating merchant might be a better deal than a higher price at a participating merchant, despite the refund. You’ll almost always need to show your purchases to a Customs Officer at the airport or seaport.

A refund might not add up to much money after all is said and done. But the bottom line is whether you want that money to end up in your pocket or with the excise man.

Unforgetable Story from a Thai Nightclub in Singapore

A friend of mine told me that there was a Thai nightclub that played live Thai music in Singapore. It's on the opposite site of Clarke Quay. So I decided to check it out. 

I told my freind if inside we found 'cayotes' or anything fishy I would leave. Inside, it reminded me so much of a pub RCA (a clubbing street in BKK). There were a big stage with runway in front, lots of cocktail tables n high chairs, lounge area, and dj booth at the back. It was a very simple set up very standard nothing spectacular. Even the loo was so similar to the one at Route66 pub in BKK. I felt ok about the place n couldn't wait to hear the music. 

The Thai band started to play at 10.45. I missed Thai music so much and to hear it live must be terrfic. Unfortunately it sucks. They will never ever be able to sing like this in any club in BKK. Maybe they are good karaoke singers but not stage performers. I could only hope that the band would do better later but it didnt, with some exception to a few singers that night. 

Well at the beginning I could not understand the logic of this club at all. Imagine every song the band performed, there were at least 2 singers, sometimes 8 or 10. They played about 10 songs per one round and the singers were all diffrent! If my calculation was correct they might have more singers than customers during low season. Considering Singapore is a very expensive city, how could they split the income n still survive! 

It became more interesting when a group female dancers were on stage. They barely moved, seriously a trunk of a tree could make more moves than these girls were doing. Singers and dancers dressed quite similarly n difficult to differentiate them. 

More surprisingly, the club was almost packed n most of the customers were local who hardly understood any word of Thai. Why would they enjoy the music or anything here?

Not too long the answers came right at my table 

I met a girl, the one made some moves on the stage, Thai, age at 25 meters early 20 up-close hmm not so sure, in her short dress, talking to some guys next to my table. She overheard me talking to my friend in Thai so she greeted us. And the conversation began: 

Me: (nosy me) How long have u been working in SIN? 

The girl: Just 3 weeks n about to leave next week. 

Me: aw why so short?

The girl: I don't have work visa sis. I came here as a tourist. 

Me: oh I thought you guys work here for a long period of time. 

The girl: no no no most of us works only for a month at one place. After that we move on and some will go to KL but I will go home. 

Me: I see. One month is quite an eperience already huh. But how did you know that they offered a job here?

The girl: words of mouth ka. My sis knew about it n she told me to come. Ah it's my turn to be on stage again. See you in a sec. Don't go home. 

........ After a few songs .........

Me: hey i hardly see u dance :P aren't u supposed to dance to earn money (as being a dancer)?

The girl: not really. Me: eh? And there are so many dancers n singers. How can u guy split the money? Singapore is so expensive where do u stay?

The girl: oh someone arrange a place for us to stay n provide free meal. Here I can get some snack for free too. You want some? 

Me: no thanks. But I didn't see you dance so much on stage. (not being sacastic but still didn't get the answer)

The girl: Why should I? Dancing on the stage doesn't bring me any money you know. Money is here. I need to talk to customers asking them for money. This week is bad. I didn't earn much. The best week i got 20000 thb (700 usd)! *smile 

Me: ah then u better talk to customers now don't stick with me :P (as I hv no money to give)

The girl: nah that's ok I feel bored n tired too. 

After a short while I left but the conversation kept bothering me. Ok it's not completely new but it's the first time I had a chance to talk to them like this. Some say this poor girls don't have a choice. Many of them are 'forced' to do so. But today I learned that a lot of them made their own choices seeking for the fortune in this way. And not only girls, I saw some male singers that could hardly reach the notes, mingled with middle age female customers too. 

I think in every society there is a group of people who are willing to pay for a short-term happiness and in every society there is a group of people who are willing sell to it. Thing is the porportion of these groups are getting big n obvious. Are we, Thai people, using our great smile n hospitality in a wrong way? Are we taking life not so seriously? Are we admitting to the claim of being sabay sabay (easy easy)? Can we accept that this is normal? 

I dare not to answer.

Cheap Things to Do in Singapore

Singapore is an expensive place to visit. There’s no way around it. The small city state is priced relative to the United States, which is a lot more expensive than its neighbors! On a small stop-over trip, this isn’t a problem. However, on a big trip through the region, a trip into Singapore can elicit sticker shock, and it can turn people away if they are trying to do the area on the cheap. However, for those still wanting to visit this country, there are still many ways to travel around Singapore without breaking the bank. Check out these free activities you can do:

The best places to cool off in this very hot city are the underground malls where the A/C is cranking and all the city is connected. You’ll be able to move around most of the city and never expose yourself to the heat and humidity. Since it gets cool at night, it can save you from having to pay extra for A/C at your hotel or hostel. Moreover, you can spend your afternoon wandering underground Singapore without spending any money.

Singapore has some great food, but many of the restaurants are expensive. However, one of the best places to eat is Little India, where great Indian meals cost as little as 5 Singapore Dollars. Make sure you find the places where you can eat with your hands! They are the most authentic and local places. You’ll probably be the only Westerner in there, though, so be prepared for people to stare. However, eating at these places was the most fun I had in Singapore.

Read More : http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/cheap-things-to-do-in-singapore/

Singapore’s Gay Status Quo

ince Singapore is the only developed country in Southeast Asia, it is tempting to assume that all the country’s values and institutions are likewise modernized when compared to surrounding nations.

Unfortunately, Singapore lags behind even countries like Thailand in terms of social attitudes toward homosexuality. As a gay traveler in Singapore, you should be mindful of these laws when visiting gay establishments and engaging in homosexual activity.

History of Gay Rights in Singapore

Singapore has only been independent since 1959. Prior to this, it was part of Malaysia (from 1946, when Malaysia gained independence from the British Empire) and prior to that, a British colony. Singapore was under control of the Japanese during World War II.

During the British colonial period, British laws on homosexuality were applied in Singapore, which prohibited male-male sexual relations. Strangely, female-female sexual relations were legal under British law.

Homosexuality was legal when the Japanese ruled over Singapore, since male-male sexual relations have never been illegal in Japan.

Once Singapore became independent, it drafted its own laws regarding homosexuality. Most notably Section 377A of the Penal Code, which deemed sexual relationships between two consenting, adult men illegal.

Current Singapore Laws Regarding Homosexuality

Section 377A of Singapore’s penal code is alive and well today: It is still technically illegal to perform male-male sex acts in Singapore, although the laws are only rarely enforced.

Also illegal are “outrage of modesty” (Section 354), obscene signals (Section 294a) and prostitution and solicitation under the “Miscellaneous Offences Act.”

Only since 2007 have oral and anal sex been legal among consenting heterosexual and lesbian couples in Singapore. Prior to that, only heterosexual intercourse was technical legal and although female homosexuality was also legal, it is unclear which types of lesbian sex acts were legal and illegal in Singapore.

Singapore Gay Clubs and Saunas

When I arrived in Singapore in September 2010, my former roommate Kenneth and I almost immediately departed the room his mother had won for us at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands Hotel in search of Singapore’s gay nightlife.

The majority of Singapore’s gay nightlife is concentrated in the  Tanjong Pagar neighborhood of central Singapore, located very near the city’s Central Business District. Here, you’ll find bars and discos like Superstar, lockerroom and Tantric.

Tanjong Pagar is also home sleazy saunas like Cruise Club, where it isn’t at all uncommon to see full-on sex occurring. You’d never know that homosexuality was technically illegal in Singapore by visiting any of Singapore’s gay bars or gay clubs.

- See more at: http://leaveyourdailyhell.com/2012/02/27/singapore-gay-scene/#sthash.u70HDzls.dpuf

where to live in Singapore?

a lot of discussion on Facebook this morning about how ( or where) expats can find "the better place to live in Singapore" made me re think what it was like when we first came here five years ago..... first of all, there is NO 'better place' for everyone to live.

everyone is very different with very different needs and wants.

IF you are in the process of moving here or just 'thinking' about a possible move, then you are obviously wondering where you may end up living....

and you - as in the family unit - will learn that Singapore is a small, heavily urbanised, island city-state in Southeast Asia, located at the southern tip of the Malayan Peninsula between Malaysia and Indonesia. Singapore has a total land area of 778 km² and 193 km of coastline. It is separated from Indonesia by the Singapore Strait and from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor. 

Singapore is not large by any stretch of the imagination. It is about 25km running north-south and 48.2km running east-west.

Singapore has reclaimed land with earth obtained from its own hills, the seabed, and neighbouring countries. As a result, Singapore's land area has grown from 581.5 km² in the 1960s to 710.2 km² today, and may grow by another 100 km² by 2033.

OK, so now you have an idea where Singapore is in relation to other surrounding countries and you now know the size of the island. But where to live is THE question!

You will need to ask yourself a lot of questions, so get out the notepad and pen.

If you have children, where are they going to attend school?

what school, secondary level, primary, nursery school or even university?

would you feel more comfortable to live "where all the expats live"?

or would you prefer to live "in the heartlands' to experience more of the local culture?

where will the 'bread winner' be working?

in most cases it will be the husband that is working and so you - as a family unit -  need to find somewhere to live that will be within easy access to his workplace.

You will need a Property Agent. Get one as soon as possible and stay with that one only IF you get on well with them and they KNOW what you are looking for.  Every agent here uses the same database of properties.... so it comes down to personal preference as to who to use. Give them a list of your priorities and make sure they understand your needs and your budget. Please feel free to CONTACT ME if you would like the name of the property agent we used for this apartment. She was very helpful.

Will you have a vehicle?

some do, many do not.

if you are in the latter category ..... do not fear!  You will be able to get around Singapore quite easily via public transport. In fact probably far better than you did in your own 'home country' wherever that may be.  Public transport in Singapore is quick and easy to get elsewhere within the island, even more so now that the new Circle Line is opening this weekend!

BUT ... as seen in the above map, you would not choose to live near Changi Village (the red arrow on the right) if the bread winner is working at the IBP (International Business Park) in Jurong (the red arrow on the left) for example. You can do it by train, though it will take one hour and 10 mins on the MRT. (train)

If you are coming to Singapore due to work, locate where the workplace is on the map of Singapore.  From that point, take each of the main roads or train line out by about "20 minutes"... of course this is probably going to depend on the scale of the map you are using!

If you are looking at the map according to the MRT (rail lines) then it is approx three to four minutes between each station. That might give you a better idea!

Look at Jurong East MRT (station) on the map above, which will be the one at the end of the red line (the North-South Line) on the left of the map ..... it will take approx 15 mins to get to Kranji MRT heading north or approx 15 mins to get to Queenstown MRT on the green line heading south/east.

From Juong East MRT it takes about 35 mins to get Orchard MRT with one 'train change'.

This will help you plan where to live by to traveling to work using the MRT.

When we had to move from Bukit Batok last January. I used the same principle ... where to live that would be easy for John to get to work at Jurong?  We needed to live somewhere cheaper and the Pasir Panjang Road area seemed to fit that bill. I looked at the map and anywhere along the MRT lines was going to be expensive, so checked all the bus routes coming away from where he works.... there were at least 8 bus routes that I could "follow".  As I "followed" each bus route I made note of the condo's to check. I found one on Pasir Panjang Road with a bus stop right outside the door that will take him to work with 20 minutes!

I am not saying how we did it will work for you ...... but it maybe a  way of starting to consider "where to live". Add in where the children are to go to school, what you can afford, where you need to shop etc.You may not be living in a condo, you may decide to live in a 'landed house' or a HDB (Housing Development Board) apartment. There is a lot to consider and it usually will come down tp what you can afford or what is convenient for work, school or shopping.

Cheaper will give you less convenient places to live as in shopping, schools, transport etc. But you - as in the family unit - need to work out your own priority. Some expats get the whole 'package deal' complete with car, accommodation, schooling etc, so really have no 'need' to worry about costs!

But there are others that do - or will - need to weigh up the costs in relation to convenience.

I do most of my shopping on-line so do not worry too much that I am a long way from a supermarket. If I do go shopping and end up carrying far too much back, then it is 'convenient' to grab a cab. Cabs here are not expensive and it costs me usually $4.00SGD to go from the supermarket to home.

Most stores do a home delivery of large items too.

Public transport in Singapore is safe, clean and easy to use, be it to work, school or going out of an evening. The two following images will show you 1, at a bus interchange and 2, on a bus.

Read More : http://leonefabre.blogspot.com/2011/10/where-to-live-in-singapore.html

Rokok Mentol Dorong Kecanduan Lebih Hebat

Menurut penelitian, kebiasaan menghisap rokok dengan rasa mentol dua kali lebih sulit dihentikan daripada rokok biasa.
Penelitian di Amrik menunjukkan bahwa rokok mentol sama bahayanya dengan rokok biasa namun biasanya para perokok mentol lebih sedikit yang berusaha untuk mencoba berhenti merokok.
Sebenarnya cara terbaik bagi para perokok mentol untuk berhenti adalah dengan mengganti rokok mereka menjadi rokok biasa.
Dari 1,535 perokok yang diuji oleh tim peneliti Amrik pada tahun 1985, 63% responden mengatakan bahwa mereka lebih suka rokok mentol.