Singapore's TidbiTs

Bukit Batok Nature Park is often called the Guilin of Singapore , as it resembles the famous karst mountains of Guilin in China. Locals affectionately know it as Xiao Guilin — xiao being the Chinese word for "little" or "small". The park's granite quarry-turned-lake, framed by towering cliff walls, has become its main attraction and a favourite spot for photographers. For those living in the western part of Singapore, it offers a peaceful respite from city life. 📋 Quick Facts Location Bukit Batok East Ave 2 & Ave 6 Size 36 hectares Opening hours Open 24 hours daily Parking Along Bukit Batok East Ave 2 (99 lots) Nearest MRT Bukit Gombak (NS3) — 8 min walk Entry fee Free Time needed 1.5–2 hours for a full walk 🗺️ Where Is It? The park is not at the extreme west like Jurong Lake Gardens, but sits closer to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve to the east. A 1.8 km park connector links the two nature parks, making...

Coney Island — also known as Pulau Serangoon or Serangoon Island — is one of Singapore's best-kept secrets for a nature day out. Located off the northeastern coast within the town of Punggol, this 81-hectare island feels a world away from the city despite being just a short bus ride from the MRT. With no electricity, no piped water, and no shops on the island, it is as close to "unspoiled" as Singapore gets. Pair it with Punggol Point and the surrounding park connectors, and you have the makings of a perfect half-day or full-day adventure. 📋 Quick Facts Also known as Pulau Serangoon, Serangoon Island, Haw Par Island (1930s–50s) Size 81 hectares (Coney Island Park) Opened October 2015 Opening hours 7am – 7pm daily (gates lock at 7pm sharp) Entry fee Free Nearest MRT Punggol Coast (TE29) — 20 min walk; or Punggol (NE17/PTC) — Bus 84 Time needed 2–3 hours for a full walk 📖 A Bit of History Coney Island has had more na...

Tucked away in the western end of Singapore, within the Jurong Lake District and not far from the Chinese and Japanese Gardens, lies the picturesque and family-friendly Jurong Lake Gardens . It is Singapore's third national garden — the first being the historic, UNESCO World Heritage-listed Singapore Botanic Gardens, and the second the futuristic Gardens by the Bay with its two cooled conservatories and 18 Supertrees. Unlike its siblings, Jurong Lake Gardens is a "people's garden" — designed for families, fitness enthusiasts, and nature lovers rather than for botanical research or tourism spectacles. Spanning 90 hectares , it comprises three distinct gardens: Lakeside Garden (opened 2019), the newly reopened Chinese Garden , and the Japanese Garden — both of which returned in September 2024 after five years of extensive redevelopment. 📋 Quick Facts Total size 90 hectares (3 gardens combined) Opening hours Lakeside Garden: 24 hours. Chinese ...

Public or community libraries can be found in almost housing estates. Some libraries are even housed in shopping malls and arts galleries! How cool is that. You can shop, eat (not in the libraries, of course) then nourish your brain in the libraries. And to sleep, yes to sleep. And it's free. You can read some books or magazines, or the daily newspapers for free or watch some audio-visual materials from one of the computers dotting inside the libraries. There are comfy seats for you to read. Some are too comfy that can make people snooze. You can also surf internet on your laptop, tablet or iPad using the complimentary wireless@sg WiFi. The libaries are air-conditioned so they are good place to escape the heat and humidity outside. Though just like cinemas, many libraries air-conditioning are set at winter temperature, so bring along a light sweater if you plan to stay in libraries for an extended period of time. A public library The central, regional and public or community librar...

A ride on the MRT typically cost less than $2. But you can travel FREE on the MRT if you tap out before 7:45am at 16 stations in town. They are Orchard, Somerset, Clarke Quay, Chinatown, Outram Park, Tanjong Pagar, Lavender, Bugis, Esplanade, City Hall, Raffles Place, Promenade, Bayfront and Marina Bay. That means you have to leave your home by 7am-ish to enjoy this free ride. If that is too early for you still can get 50 cents discount if you tap out between 7:45am to 8:00am. But if value your sleep more and would not mind the crush you can always ride during the 7:30 to 8:30am peak hour. Being early allows one to enjoy breakfast at the office canteen or some coffee shop or perhaps at one of many fast food outlets that serve tasty breakfast. You can have the cheap roti prata for breakfast or a breakfast meal of porridge at KFC. A bowl of porridge plus a cup of coffee is $3.60. Or pick one of those $1.80 breakkies from Old Chang Kee. They sell nasi lemak, mee siam, porridge , etc., al...