Singapore's TidbiTs

Durians are tropical fruits. Considered by many as King of fruits of South-East Asia. Whether durian is the most favourite fruit here, that is a bit subjective given its' famous pungent smell that some find simply overpowering. It has that distinctive special smell or odour, that you can smell a kilometre away. Ok, that's an exaggeration. Probably 10 metres away. Some loath it, many love it. Green and thorny outside. Yellow, soft and fleshy inside. Do you know that that there are durian trees in Singapore and durian is indeed native to Singapore? A street named Lorong Lew Lian bears testament to it. Lew Lian is a Hokkien word for durian. There used to be durian plantations in the vicinity of Lorong Lew Lian (Lew Lian Lane). The scientific name for durian is Durio zibethinus. Duri is a Malay word for thorns, hence the name durian which means thorny fruit. And yes you can find durian trees in Pulau Ubin and at Mandai and some odd ones at other parts of Singapore as well. During...

A squarish-shaped potong ice-cream held together with wafer biscuits or sandwiched inside a slice of coloured bread depending on your preference. And it's only a dollar and fifty cents at most. Licking the yummy icy cold ice-cream is great in our hot and humid weather. You can find the portable or mobile potong ice-cream vendors (mostly middle-age or elderly uncles and aunties ) in their modified motorcycles complete with box freezers at parks, beaches, pasar malam (night markets), outside MRT stations, along Singapore River , at the Esplanade , even along trendy Orchard Road, in-front of Takashimaya department store. They will usually find a shade under a tree or put up a big umbrella for shade. These ice-cream vendors can also be found outside industrial offices or estates so office workers can also enjoy this cooling dessert that can be enjoyed during their lunch-hour! Thus, enjoying ice-cream need not be an expensive affair and can be enjoyed while you are strolling in the p...

Beyond the popular Swedish beef balls well-known all over the world just like its ubiquitous blue carrier bag, many people head to IKEA store for its affordable household items. While most items like furniture certainly cost much more than $5, there are many useful household accessories that cost less than $5. Big plastic chopping board for only $2.90, glass bottle jar with lid for $3.90, stainless steel cutleries holder for $4.90, wall clock for only $1.90 (battery is extra of course but you will only need one AA battery), a set of four clothes hangers for only a dollar, a cushion for $4.90, cups or mugs for $2.90, plant pot for $3.90, simple self-assembled shelves for $12, and many more. They do sell potted plants, well, like a nursery. A small potted plant sells for about $5. You can get the pandan, a common plant , in IKEA. Beyond that, furnitures will sell in the hundreds, but if you are looking for quality and would not mind paying a bit more, do shop around elsewhere too. Someti...