2-2-2024 (SINGAPORE) An Australian tourist from Sydney has declared that Singapore is his “actual hell” and he will never visit the country again. The traveller, known as Matthew, expressed his unpopular opinion on TikTok, stating that out of the 50 countries he has visited, Singapore is the one place he has no desire to return to.
Matthew, a 32-year-old consultant, visited Singapore in both 2014 and 2022 but had consistent negative experiences during his stays. In a three-minute video, he outlined four reasons why he was unimpressed with the city-state. Firstly, he described it as an “absolute concrete jungle,” comparing it to the tall high-rises and bustling atmosphere of his hometown, Sydney. While he did acknowledge enjoying his stay at Marina Bay Sands and the view of the Gardens by the Bay, he felt that overall there were nicer places to visit.
One aspect that disappointed Matthew was the lack of distinct Singaporean culture. Despite exploring areas like Chinatown, Little India, Arab Street, and the Singapore Botanic Gardens, he found Singapore to be a Western city with no apparent differences from Sydney. In contrast, he mentioned that when he visited other parts of Asia such as China, Thailand, Japan, and the Philippines, he could easily identify the unique cultural aspects that shaped those countries.
Matthew also expressed his disappointment with the perceived rudeness of Singaporeans. He claimed that the people he encountered were cold and unfriendly, often ignoring his attempts at conversation without so much as a smile or a nod. He recounted being denied entry to two bars in Chinatown, being told they were only for locals. He found this interaction to be strange but not necessarily negative.
Furthermore, Matthew mentioned the lack of souvenir options in Singapore, expressing his love for trinkets but being unable to find any during his visits. He settled for a Merlion snow globe as a memento. Despite his negative experiences, Matthew did mention that he might consider returning for a 24-hour stopover to give the city another chance.
Matthew’s TikTok video garnered mixed responses from netizens, with some disagreeing with his assessment of Singapore while others agreed that some Singaporeans can be rude. Many users offered suggestions on places to explore when he returns to the city. Matthew, in response to the comments, stated that he was not surprised by the reactions and clarified that there was nothing inherently wrong with Singapore, but he believed there were better destinations to visit.
@nomadmatthew Unpupular opinion: There is one country I wouldn’t travel to again…. Anybody else? #nogotravel #wontreturn #traveltok ♬ original sound – Matt in Sydney
