Heart Space #58: Top 10 things about Bahamas
I guess it's typical to write such a note, especially that I have spent almost a year in this place.. Maybe even more than when I studied in Australia.
1. Clear turquoise waters and the pristine beaches
This has to be the 1 thing that I can never forget. The waters in Nassau is already pretty awesome, but if you go to the nearby island, the colors will simply take your breath away. These waters, coupled with the fine sandy beaches will put out Sentosa's beaches to shame... seriously. These folks love their beaches and they seriously take good care of it.
2. Road and Traffic
Something that I have to get used to quickly when back in Singapore. The drivers here are the most courteous I have seen so far. Their car horns, are for expressing gratitude for giving way, and not for cursing and yelling at folks who drives a tad too slow or road hogging. You can almost get out a petrol station, a busy road junction after 5 cars... In Singapore, you probably can't get out even after 5 minutes. Another great thing is that once there are sirens, the cars will all move to the sides and wait for the ambulances or police to go through. I must also mention that no cars will then tail gate them... so unlike in Singapore.
3. Crowd
Along with the culture and the beautiful scenery, it has to be the absence of huge crowd everywhere. I do not need to queue for long to get a seat in a restaurant, nor long queues in shops. Even their local transport such as the buses, no one is ever in such a rush to get in or out of them. There's always time for the next one.This is definitely something I will miss from here.... when I go back to Singapore, for it will feel that i am not in my own country.
4. Service Standards
The service culture is simply fantastic. Maybe it is due to the fact that 75% of their economy is by tourism, but nonetheless, it is in their culture, their blood. I have yet to receive a bad service from the service industry here, in fact, I am almost always satisfied.
5. Food
Finally something that I am sitting on the fence. I really miss the varieties of Singaporean food. There's also little raw ingredients for the wifey to cook things that we get back home. I do like their cuisine, just that I am not that crazy over them. I love Goombay soda drink, conch fritters, cracked conch, Daiquiri and their fresh seafood... groupers, lobsters etc.
6. It's nearer to US than to other Caribbean islands
As my colleague puts it, it's easier to get to US, and we did on 2 occasions. Wifey and Faith love those trips there. We enjoyed Miami and Orlando with the outlets shopping, Disneyland and the tons of good food that we had there. Of course.. we love ordering stuff from Amazon and praying that the packages reach before we fly back to Bahamas.
7. Family life
What can I say about this... we spent more time as a family, doing stuff, chilling, going to the beach than all our time combined in Singapore. I so going to miss this place, this lifestyle...something that I should try to maintain even when back home.
8. Safety
Never take safety for granted, in fact anything for granted. This hurricane Irene showed us what you may possess today, may be taken away from you the next day. We must always pay attention to our surroundings, and more so especially when it comes to the well-being of your family. We also take for granted the level of security we have back in Singapore where we can go out till late at night, knowing that it is pretty alright to do so.
9. Groceries, Supermarkets and Stores.
US comes close to Singapore when we talk about huge supermarkets with tons of things to buy. At least the supermarkets here have no long and winding queues that takes forever to pay even for 1 item. Also they have young kids to help you pack and push your trolleys to the car. Maybe this would prevent folks from pushing the trolleys home...
10. Culture.
It's never enough to talk about their culture. What I love about their culture is the way the praise the Lord in everything they do.. yes, including launching of e-services.. and how they put their families in front of everything else. Being with their loved ones, doing things for their siblings are very evident in their daily lives. How often have you organize a birthday party for your brother or sister? We Singaporean should seriously reflect and take a moment to ask ourselves, what truly matters?
I guess it's typical to write such a note, especially that I have spent almost a year in this place.. Maybe even more than when I studied in Australia.
1. Clear turquoise waters and the pristine beaches
This has to be the 1 thing that I can never forget. The waters in Nassau is already pretty awesome, but if you go to the nearby island, the colors will simply take your breath away. These waters, coupled with the fine sandy beaches will put out Sentosa's beaches to shame... seriously. These folks love their beaches and they seriously take good care of it.
2. Road and Traffic
Something that I have to get used to quickly when back in Singapore. The drivers here are the most courteous I have seen so far. Their car horns, are for expressing gratitude for giving way, and not for cursing and yelling at folks who drives a tad too slow or road hogging. You can almost get out a petrol station, a busy road junction after 5 cars... In Singapore, you probably can't get out even after 5 minutes. Another great thing is that once there are sirens, the cars will all move to the sides and wait for the ambulances or police to go through. I must also mention that no cars will then tail gate them... so unlike in Singapore.
3. Crowd
Along with the culture and the beautiful scenery, it has to be the absence of huge crowd everywhere. I do not need to queue for long to get a seat in a restaurant, nor long queues in shops. Even their local transport such as the buses, no one is ever in such a rush to get in or out of them. There's always time for the next one.This is definitely something I will miss from here.... when I go back to Singapore, for it will feel that i am not in my own country.
4. Service Standards
The service culture is simply fantastic. Maybe it is due to the fact that 75% of their economy is by tourism, but nonetheless, it is in their culture, their blood. I have yet to receive a bad service from the service industry here, in fact, I am almost always satisfied.
5. Food
Finally something that I am sitting on the fence. I really miss the varieties of Singaporean food. There's also little raw ingredients for the wifey to cook things that we get back home. I do like their cuisine, just that I am not that crazy over them. I love Goombay soda drink, conch fritters, cracked conch, Daiquiri and their fresh seafood... groupers, lobsters etc.
6. It's nearer to US than to other Caribbean islands
As my colleague puts it, it's easier to get to US, and we did on 2 occasions. Wifey and Faith love those trips there. We enjoyed Miami and Orlando with the outlets shopping, Disneyland and the tons of good food that we had there. Of course.. we love ordering stuff from Amazon and praying that the packages reach before we fly back to Bahamas.
7. Family life
What can I say about this... we spent more time as a family, doing stuff, chilling, going to the beach than all our time combined in Singapore. I so going to miss this place, this lifestyle...something that I should try to maintain even when back home.
8. Safety
Never take safety for granted, in fact anything for granted. This hurricane Irene showed us what you may possess today, may be taken away from you the next day. We must always pay attention to our surroundings, and more so especially when it comes to the well-being of your family. We also take for granted the level of security we have back in Singapore where we can go out till late at night, knowing that it is pretty alright to do so.
9. Groceries, Supermarkets and Stores.
US comes close to Singapore when we talk about huge supermarkets with tons of things to buy. At least the supermarkets here have no long and winding queues that takes forever to pay even for 1 item. Also they have young kids to help you pack and push your trolleys to the car. Maybe this would prevent folks from pushing the trolleys home...
10. Culture.
It's never enough to talk about their culture. What I love about their culture is the way the praise the Lord in everything they do.. yes, including launching of e-services.. and how they put their families in front of everything else. Being with their loved ones, doing things for their siblings are very evident in their daily lives. How often have you organize a birthday party for your brother or sister? We Singaporean should seriously reflect and take a moment to ask ourselves, what truly matters?
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