Singapore's TidbiTs

Kampong Glam is one of the oldest settlements in Singapore, whose history dated before Raffles. This area was to become the home of Sultan Hussein Shah, whom Sir Stamford Raffles recognised as a legitimate successor to the Johor empire and, who in 1819 signed a treaty with the British East India Company, to establish a trading post in Singapore. Gazette in 1989, Kampong Glam is now a conservation area near Bugis with art-deco, early, first and second transitional and late-style shophouses. Raffles zoned Kampong Glam as a Malay area, as part of his town plan as one of the ethnic areas or quarters, the other being Chinatown and European town. Bugis was named after the Buginese people from South Sulawesi, Indonesia, who settled there during the 1800s. There were already Buginese living around the palace area, but they moved further up closer to Rochor area once Sultan Hussein Shah with his entourage from Riau settled there. The palace, Istana Kampong Glam, was built by Sultan Ali, his so...

This is year 2020. A very challenging year for tourism worldwide battered by Covid-19 pandemic. In Singapore to encourage locals to patronise and support tourism industry, the government will be giving out each Singaporean adult aged 18 and above $100 voucher consisting of 10 x $10 in which can be used specifically for staycations , attraction tickets and tours as part of SingapoRediscovers (Singapore Rediscovers) initiative. Yotelair staycation at Jewel Dubbed by some as Singapoliday, the vouchers will be valid for seven months starting early December 2020 till end June 2021. For under 18, adult Singaporeans will be able to purchase up to six subsidised tickets for attractions and tours, each at $10 off. So even if you cannot go to Singaporeans perennial favourites such as Japan or South Korea to enjoy snow, you can still have winter experience at Snow City right here in Singapore. It will never be the same as the real thing but it is in Jurong and perhaps you can combine the visit to...

Once known as the Malay Emporium of Singapore and although it was developed later than the more glamorous and historical Kampong Glam , Geylang Serai has long been associated with the Malay community of Singapore with history of the area dated back to early 19th century. It is one of the oldest Malay settlements in Singapore. Located between Changi Road and Sims Avenue, the main attraction of the larger Geylang Serai is the busy Geylang Serai Market, affectionately known amongst the Malays as Pasar Lama (old market). Pasar Baru (new market) is the opposite building called Joo Chiat Complex, which was completed in 1985 on the site of the former Changi Market. Designed like a traditional Malay house, Geylang Serai Market comprises two storeys consisting of a wet market on the ground floor and a cooked food or hawker centre on the upper floor. It was first opened in 1964 by the first prime minister of Singapore Lee Kwan Yew. It was redeveloped in 2009 and reopened in 2010. It is the go-t...

Museums and heritage centres offer wealth of information about the history, tradition and culture of the country and its people. There are many artefacts on display for the public to appreciate what the country has gone through in the past and offer glimpse of hope for the future. For the arts museums or galleries, they offer arts lovers and the public in general venues to appreciate and understand arts, however abstract and modern they may be. Most museums are free, at least for the locals. And for tourists too on certain days such as during public holidays or on Fridays. However, there are exceptions like the Changi Museum , which is free for all visitors, locals and foreign. There is a separate post dedicated to Changi Museum . While most museums are free (entry fees apply for foreign visitors except Changi Museum and few others), if you end up eating at the many upscale restaurants and cafes dotting some museums, your outing can be an expensive affair. However, the setting of the r...