Indian tourist praises safety and convenience she experienced during Singapore trip
On Saturday (Oct 24), Yukta Sharma shared a series of cultural shocks from a recent trip to Singapore on X.
Hailing from Bengaluru, she visited Singapore for a week to attend the Token 2049 conference and explore the city at her leisure.
In a statement to MS News, the 25-year-old said that after studying Singapore’s history and Lee Kuan Yew’s role in the nation’s development, she was fascinated by how much the country developed in such a short time.
She first visited Singapore at 14 for a school debate competition but did not have the opportunity to explore the city independently.
On this trip, Ms Sharma looked forward to exploring the city freely at night “to get a full feel of what safety truly feels like”.
Ms Sharma would often walk or cycle home alone after partying late at night.
She appreciated that she did not feel the need to turn around to see if anyone was following her.
I remember walking all the way from MBS to Chinatown at 3am while listening to California Dreaming in my AirPods, and it felt so surreal.
Source: @yuktasbc on X
From clean toilets to swanky dinners
Ms Sharma also said every single public restroom she used was “super clean”.
She also observed that pedestrians would not jaywalk, even when there were no vehicles at the red light.
In another post, Ms Sharma shared that she enjoyed the “most expensive dinner” of her life at the top of Marina Bay Sands (MBS), where she soaked in the views.
Source: @yuktasbc on X
Ms Sharma said that everyone she encountered was friendly and helpful: “No one gave me a single uncomfortable stare, even in very local markets.”
She told MS News she had “lovely” interactions with the locals while walking around Singapore.
For example, older Chinese aunties and uncles would call her pretty, with such compliments making her day.
Ms Sharma also mentioned in the post that people sometimes flirted with her, but “no one makes it creepy.”
She later explained to MS News that such interactions occurred at nightclubs, where people would ask her or her friends out and offer to buy them drinks.
Overall, the vibe and energy in Singapore during that week felt beautiful.
Ms Sharma said she was inspired to post about her positive experiences because she was missing her time in Singapore and felt like sharing about her experience there.
She added: “The safety and freedom that I felt in that one week is something I have almost never felt here [in India].”
Netizens divided in response
Many netizens agreed that Singapore was a clean and pleasant city, sharing similar experiences of feeling safe on the streets late at night.
Source: X
On the other hand, some netizens were in disbelief that things like clean bathrooms constituted a “culture shock” in Ms Sharma’s view.
Source: X
Some began leaving hate comments, pointing towards her appearance and ethnic background.
Source: X
Some questioned her experiences of being flirted with, as public interaction is seen as rare in Singapore.
Source: X
One netizen chimed in, saying an Indian tourist’s appreciation of a foreign country should not come at the expense of criticising India.
Source: X
Ms Sharma unfazed by online hate, wants to return to Singapore
Ms Sharma observed that those based in Singapore were “quite happy that (she) had a great experience”.
However, she did not expect such intense vitriol simply from appreciating her time in Singapore.
She reiterated that she did not let the online trolls bother her.
“I know many of them are faceless accounts, and I have a thick skin and great friends who ensure that these don’t get to my head,” she said.
Ms Sharma told MS News that what might seem ordinary to others were culture shocks to her.
Back home, she had never seen a woman cycling alone at 3am or walked outside at that hour herself.
She said: “Being able to walk and cycle alone in Singapore at that time, without constantly looking over my shoulder, felt remarkable. Everyone deserves that freedom by default.”
In response to accusations of being biased, Ms Sharma told MS News she was not trying to make a simplistic comparison between Singapore and India.
I believe both countries have their own sets of challenges but it’s always good to (acknowledge) each other’s strengths and try to bring them up at home.
She pointed out that India is a much larger and more diverse country. However, she believed that in terms of safety, India can “learn from Singapore and make progress”.
When asked whether the online response deterred her from visiting Singapore again, Ms Sharma was certain that she would return.
She stated firmly: “It’s a place I’d recommend to almost everyone, and the hate online doesn’t change how much I love it.”
Singapore will always have a special place in my heart.
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Featured image adapted from Yukta Sharma via X.