Scoot to Singapore says Jared Simcox

When not running the Australian arm of multi-award winning, low-cost airline, Scoot,  their general manager, Jared Simcox loves to indulge his passion for diving.  “Personally, my mission is to tick off a dive in every Scoot destination – I’ve done four, which just leaves me 55 to go,” he says.

Jared’s roots have been firmly planted in all aspects of aviation. Having once dreamt of becoming a pilot, he has also experienced life as a musical tour manager in NZ and learnt the ropes as a young ground handler at airports in New Zealand.

He is also a passionate, self-confessed 'foodie' and when it comes to indulging Singapore ticks all the boxes for him and he admits he's very lucky that he gets to travel for work, and visit Singapore regularly to spend time with the Scoot team at HQ. 

"Singapore is this perfect hybrid of very, very, modern, mixed with very old – there’s something for everyone regardless of your travelling style which I really like. It’s a city that works, and despite having a population of 5.4 million people it doesn’t feel crowded or congested. It still feels like Asia."

Jarad says he likes to seek out local experiences as soon as he hits the ground. "If there’s one thing you should do if you love to eat, it’s hit the local hawker centres. They buzz with locals, sounds, smells and tastes that culminate in a melting pot of cuisine with roots from throughout Asia, India and the Middle East. I have a thing for Satay sticks, which to me are meat flavoured candy, serious, serious goodness. My favourite place to get Satay is the East Coast Lagoon Hawker centre, where you can sit right next to the beach and chow down on Satay, Sea Food and a beer while watching the ships heading past the coast. It’s only 7 kilometres from the city on the ECP, but feels a million miles away."

If you’re feeling more adventurous then Jared highly recommend heading to the Changi Village hawker centre. "It’s one of the larger ones and boasts a huge variety of culinary goodness and bustles and flows with a kind of organised chaos unique to Singapore. Don’t expect to see any tourists, though, this is a local spot. Nasi Lemak is the go-to dish here and is widely considered the national dish of Malaysia which has been adopted by Singapore. Only diners with an open mind and empty stomach need apply."

Jared says Singapore offers many hidden gems if you’re prepared to get off the beaten track. "Singapore is one of the safest cities in the world, which means exploring the back streets is an option. Go where the locals go, find people who don’t speak your language and hang with them. It’ll change your life."

"Find 28 Hong Kong street for a cocktail (unmarked door, amazing Negroni’s), head east down North Canal Road to Lucky 69 for a couple of beers, turn left down Lor Telok to O Comptior for a quick bite, then get stuck into the madness of Circular road. You’ll find beer pong on the street, all girl Singaporean punk bands playing live shows, Karaoke, street food, you name it…  Expect to be out late here, very late.If you have the time, getting around Arab Street is a highlight, especially in the early evening when the light catches the Mosque and the smells of coffee and street food fill the air."

If you have a weekend in Singapore Jared shares a few must do’s.

"The Marina Bay Sands is the building you see in every ad for Singapore, it’s a modern engineering masterpiece and if you’ve got the cash I highly recommend staying a night here. You can still get a pass to head to the roof and take in the view even if you’re not a guest, which at the end of the day is what it’s all about. I recommend getting here early and beating the crowds, you won’t spend a long time so leave yourself the rest of the day for exploring."

"Conveniently right across the road is The Gardens by the Bay. It is widely regarded as one of the most sophisticated environmental projects in the world, and in a word, is spectacular. You’ll need a half day to get around all the nature, sculptures, design, and architecture the makes this place so special."

"As soon as you think you’re all natured out, hop a taxi (they’re cheap in Singapore) and rock over to Sentosa to wrap up the day with one, or a few, Singapore slings on the beach, watching the sunset over the bay."

"Enjoying Singapore is all about being open to new experiences. My buddy and I went wakeboarding at East Coast Lagoon with some locals, made complete fools of ourselves (well, I did) and made friends who we spent the evening throwing around a Frisbee with, eating, drinking and exploring the city. The people here are friendly, welcoming, and have a tonne of knowledge that will take you off the tourist trail and emerge you in the local experience."

Since Scoot’s launch in 2012, the highly visible, yellow liveried and quirky airline, has quickly risen to become a benchmark and trendsetter in the low-cost market segment.  Winning AirlineRatings.com top award, three years in a row, and with plans for a long haul European expansion later this year, 2017 is shaping up to be an exciting year for Scoot.  Its sister airline Tigerair (Singapore) will be fully integrated under the Scoot brand by year-end, and Scoot will take delivery of its new 787 Dreamliners fitted with crew bunks for long haul flights, enabling it to fly further and higher.

All of Scoot’s 787 Dreamliners are equipped with in-flight wi-fi, in-seat power outlets and ScooTV streaming in-flight entertainment, which allows wireless streaming of movies and television shows to guests’ personal devices, offering guests constant connectivity and entertainment on board.

Guests may also select from the ScootBiz premium cabin, or ScootInSilence (quiet cabin with no under 12’s), Stretch and Super seats in Economy that provide more legroom for greater comfort.

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Alison Carmichael-Rulten

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