Solo traveller says she went 3 days in S'pore without speaking to anyone
A solo traveller's confession that she hadn't spoken to a single person during her three days in Singapore has gotten Singaporeans talking.
TikToker @ellgrayyy, who appears to be from the United Kingdom, shared a five-second video clip of herself walking through Chinatown with the subtitle: "Day 3 of solo travelling and you realize you haven't spoken to anyone in 3 days…"
"Oops… am I going to be able to string a conversation still," she joked in the caption.
The video, which was posted on Nov 14, has since garnered more than 155,000 views, 12,000 reactions and 380 comments at press time.
'We mind our own business but we're still friendly'
Singaporeans had plenty to say. Many pointed out that locals aren't the most chatty with strangers, but conversations aren't impossible.
"To me that's bliss. We in Singapore speak English btw," said one TikToker.
One quipped: "As a person from Singapore, sometimes I don't speak for days too."
One netizen wondered: "How you order food without talking?" While Ellgrayyy didn't reply, one wisecrack said: "By Grab food."
Not everyone saw the lack of conversations as a bad thing.
"Actually this is the best part of solo travel for me, but I'm an extroverted introvert," one user said.
"Traveling solo + living alone + working from home. I can go weeks without talking to anyone," another added.
Ellgrayyy responded: "I enjoy it sometimes too! Then realise I forget what my voice sounds like."
Others suggested she break the ice.
"We aren't quite used to start(ing) convos with strangers but if you strike one, likely you will get a response. We are reserved but actually still very friendly!" said another.
A Singaporean TikToker summed it up neatly: "Facts. We pretty much mind our own business most times, but we cool to talk too."
From her other TikTok posts, the visitor seems to have enjoyed her four days in Singapore, especially the hawker food, areas such as Kampong Glam, Little India and Marina Bay, and the MRT.
Many also chimed in with friendly recommendations, from cycling in Pulau Ubin, to checking out the quirky wonders of Haw Par Villa.
When someone urged her to try the classic local breakfast of kaya toast, kopi and soft-boiled eggs, she admitted sheepishly: "I feel I'm doing a disservice not trying it but I'm not a fan of a runny egg."
