Singapore's TidbiTs

Crossing the Causeway to Johor Bahru is a weekend ritual for many Singaporeans. With the favourable exchange rate (1 SGD ≈ 3.2 MYR), a day in JB means cheaper meals, affordable massages, and stocking up on groceries and toiletries — all within an hour of home. I frequently made the trip via the Transtar TS1 cross-border bus. Here's what to expect, how to get there, and how to plan your own JB day trip. 📋 Quick Facts Best time to cross Weekday mornings, 9–11am Avoid Friday evenings, Sunday evenings, public holidays Currency Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) Passport validity Minimum 6 months Travel time 30–90 minutes one-way (depends on queues) RTS Link opens End of 2026 (4 km, 5-minute ride, 10,000 passengers/hour) 🚌 How to Get to JB: Transport Options The options to cross into JB are wide. Here's a comparison to help you choose: Option From Cost (one-way) Pros Cons Tran...

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...

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 ...

In hot, humid and sunny Singapore, it is nice to take a dip once in a while to beat the heat. You can find swimming pools in many housing estates. The entry fees are cheap. Only $1.50 during weekdays and $2 during weekends. Children below 18 and senior citizens fees are half the price. The pools are open almost everyday from 8:00am to 9:30pm. They are closed once a week for maintenance, usually in the middle of the week. They are spacious complete with lounge chairs. And there are also slides at the kids pool like the one shown in the photo here. This one is at Pasir Ris. You do not have to bring the little ones to the pricey water theme parks. Public pool complete with slides at Pasir Ris Sometimes we can see children and students with instructors doing their swimming lessons in the public pools. So while using the pools is cheap having swimming lessons may not! But if there is rain, which is common in tropical Singapore, especially during year end monsoon season, you can't swim ...

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...