Have to dash but we’ve had 2 expat postings there and we had a blast! I would go back in a heartbeat.
Super clean, super safe - but - super hot and steamy. It’s 85 miles north of the equator so has an equatorial climate....2 monsoon seasons a year so there is usually a storm late afternoon with copious amounts of rain, although the storms are over in less than an hour. I loved the climate, although some don’t. It gets light at 7am and dark at 7pm, give or take a few minutes, all year round. No dusk or twilight, it’s like a light switch going on and off!
My kids went to Tanglin Trust and United World College of SE Asia - both excellent non-profit making schools. I do know that they tend to have wait lists though.
Top tip: try to live in a Condominium or a cluster house. You will get a swimming pool and often a tennis court, some larger ones have a club house/barbecue pits, squash courts and maybe a mini-mart. You will quickly make friends on a condo and playmates for your kids.
Food is amazing at the hawker centres. Western (inc British food) widely available at the supermarkets (it was a British colony) but the wet markets in local neighbourhoods best for fresh fruit and veg, fish and nick nacks.
Lot of things to do; cycling or roller blading is popular. See if the company will sponsor a membership of the British Club, Hollandse (Dutch) Club - which is cheaper than the British Club. Sorry no time to post a link but google their websites!
Definitely join ANZA (open to all nationalities); they are a great social organization and I volunteered there for years.....also lots of sports activities for kids including soccer, netball:
Http:www.anza.org.sg
PS; bikes and barbies are expensive....take in your shipment if you can!