A few quirky things about Singapore that surprise almost every visitor — small details that explain a lot about how life there actually feels.
In Singapore, fun facts comes down to a few things: chewing gum is banned (mostly), singapore is one of only three surviving city-states, and singlish is a real language.
Since 1992, importing and selling chewing gum is illegal. It was banned because gum jammed MRT door sensors. Therapeutic gum (nicotine, dental) is allowed with a prescription.
Tip: You won't go to jail for chewing gum — but selling it can result in fines up to S$100,000.
Along with Monaco and Vatican City, Singapore is a sovereign city-state. The entire country is smaller than New York City. Despite its size, it has one of the highest GDPs per capita globally.
Singaporean English blends English, Malay, Tamil, Hokkien, and Cantonese into something unique. 'Can' means yes. 'Lah' goes at the end of everything. The government tried to suppress it but gave up.