invisible

Posting this as a question to get feedback mostly from locals, but if visitors who are well travelled around Singapore could contribute, it would be good too.

Yesterday came back from short Batam/Bintan trip. I've never been in Batam in five years since moving to Singapore and have been to Bintan only once, (see the side note at the end about these).

One thing I notice quite immediately after arriving - how not and biting was sun in both places.

Please note - I've been living in Singapore for five years. I walk from my home to office 3-4 times per week, 45 min one way. I walk 4-5 hours every weekend, mostly at Kent Ridge/Hort/Telok Blangah/Labrador Parks but as well at McRitchie and East Coast Parks. I sleep without aircon. So you get an idea - I am quite well adapted to local climate.

But at Batam/Bintan I could not stay outside for more than 20 min - it was quite uncomfortable. At Bintan Resorts place I took stroll alongside the beach at 7AM, pretty much right after sunrise and when I was coming back 30 min later, it was already hot and sun was biting.

I observed the same phenomenon when going to Johor and strolling around old downtown - it is getting hot quite quickly and need to find a mall/cafe to cool down.

So the question is - does Singapore has its own microclimate or something else plays role here?

P.S. Side note - if anybody asks - I would not recommend going to Batam/Bintan except for specific purpose to go to non-touristy Indonesia with photo/selfie taken 'I've been there and planted a flag'. And two days are enough to see both islands and get out.

gilbertaue

I have lived her almost all my life and the same strikes me too.
Have you been to Malacca? It's worse than JB.

I honestly think it has something to do with the greenery - I can't see any other reason why. Can't be the water - as that is in abundance in Batam/Bintan as well as Malacca - can't be the build up - as Batam/Bintan don't have much high rise....

invisible

Been there three times and going again this weekend. You are correct - life there begins after 7PM.

Agree with greenery assessment - seems green areas do block/reduce heat. And while there are bunch of high rise buildings at CBD which might block sunlight, it would imply that at other places temp should be higher, but no - at East Coast Park, Geylang or Changi Village you have the same stuff.

Dieuwer

Plants add to atmospheric humidity by transpiration:

http://tropicalrainforesthboone.weeb...formation.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transpiration

kapitan

in the old days of LKY, he had explored the idea of encasing Singapore with an inverted glass bowl and thus he will be able to control the weather....

invisible

Any historical document supporting this?

gilbertaue

These type of things are written in stone and you don't question them!

invisible

Well, I am an engineer, questioning things and why they are done particular way is my job.

glennaa11

I've spent a good bit of time in SE Asia over the last decade or so. For my money no place I've ever been has felt as humid as Singapore. So even on a cloudy day I am drenched in no time when I go out and about. It is really stifling. So if you're saying those other places are even more uncomfortable I don't think I want to go there. :-)

invisible

'Spent time' != 'living'. I felt the same way when moved here 5 years ago but after 6 month I got adjusted.

I just returned from Malacca today. Despite the fact that it was mostly overcast last two days there, when sun was shining, it felt hotter there.

Ryvyan

As a local, I've always thought that the greenery is the reason for the cooler weather. For the average Singaporean resident, we're basically hopping from one air-conditioned place to another (or using underpasses), or walking under canopy at the parks, so the heat does not seem to be as bad.

I agree that parts of Indonesia and Malaysia feel hotter, but it could be because I'm there as a tourist so I tend to be out and about more than when I'm back home.

Currently it is a bit cooler here in Singapore (23 degree C haha), and people are breaking out their jackets already.

BuildingMyBento

In Singapore, at any given time are there more folks inside (i.e. somewhere with the a/c cranked) or outside?

Odd things one might think about when on a long layover...

SQ319

My mum says the reason why I always get a headache in JB from the heat is because there are not enough trees in Malaysia.

I believe her because (1) She's my mum, (2) She grew up in Malaysia before getting married and converting her citizenship.

invisible

Malaysia as a country definitely has more trees than Singapore. I am sure we are not going to argue on that.

Johor as a city definitely has less trees than Singapore. This is also obvious for anyone who spent some time in Johor.

BTW, surprisingly, Kuantan is way greener place than Johor, KL or Melaka.

ramondelapaz

you have adapted very well. when in singapore i limit outdoor walking to 30 mins at a time. very hot most days. will compare with penang when i visit next week.