Singapore's TidbiTs

With options almost negligible to travel overseas for holidays during the pandemic, there is no stopping us from travelling or holidaying domestically, well, minus the airplane. Using the Singapore Rediscover voucher to offset some of a staycation cost, a holiday in an airport mall may not be everyone’s cup of tea. But then Changi Airport and Jewel is unlike any other airport or shopping mall. One can get apprehensive staying in an international airport, albeit landside area, coming into contact with travellers, but the airport terminals were closed. Plus, it was during a heightened alert where dining-in was not allowed and so we thought it was going to be kind of dull. We were wrong! So, let’s start with the check-in into Yotelair. It was a breeze. After filling-up a simple health declaration form, we were given our room keycard. The cabin room is kind of small, but has almost everything that you may need, but then staying indoors in a hotel room for the whole stay was not the idea ...

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 ...

Most who head to Pasir Ris will invariably think of Wild Wild Wet, a water theme park, and Downtown East that contains the E-Hub mall. Downtown East and E-Hub are synonymous with each other. Very close to Wild Wild Wet and Downtown East and hiding in the eastern corner of Singapore is the mangrove forest and swamps, home to mudskippers, the amphibious fish that can live both in water and land (you really have to look hard as they blend very well with the environment and has the colour of brownish mud) and otters! Pasir Ris mangroves forest are part of the larger Pasir Ris Park . Other marine creatures that you may spot are crabs and they are several different species of crabs including the brownish tree-climbing resident epiphytic crab called Eppy. Its full name is Episesarma singaporense. It is also known as Singapore Vinegar Crab , well as the name implies, this crab can be cooked, eaten and pickled with vinegar! It is a native crab. As you walk along the boardwalks you may see moun...

Forget about expensive gyms with their hard selling tactics and a place you are unlikely to visit more than twice or perhaps thrice in a year. You can always go for their free trials and then disappear unless they can convince you and then they also disappear. There are fitness centres or outdoor gyms in the parks and beaches across the island, and they are free. You can exercise and listen to the sound of nature at the same time or to the sound of kids playing if the fitness centre are next to a playground. You can find these exercise centres at MacRitchie Reservoir , at Punggol Waterway Park, at Pasir Ris Park , at Changi Beach and East Coast Park, and at practically in all housing estates. For many people the exercise corners are just a few steps away from their flats or apartments. No membership fee required. Public gym in the park Some of fitness centres equipment are meant for seniors which are great for the aging population here and we are already in the super-aged zone. There ...

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...