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...

Singapore is not all concrete blocks and skyscrapers. You will be surprised there are nature reserves and parks all over the island, and one of the preserved nature areas is an island called Pulau Ubin or granite island. Singapore is actually made up of a total of 64 islands, though some islands have been combined so the number is lesser now. Do you know that the word pulau means island in Malay? And the word ubin means stones or specifically the Jubin tiles that used to come from the many stone quarries on the island. Pulau Ubin is a laid-back boomerang-shaped rustic looking island located at the eastern corner of Singapore. The island, about 1,000 hectares or ten times the size of Gardens by the Bay, is the only preserved kampung island left intact in urbanised Singapore. Previously Pulau Ubin supplied granite for major construction works in Singapore including the Horsburgh Lighthouse on Pedra Branch and the Raffles Lighthouse. The last active granite quarry on the island, Aik H...

Changi was famous for its coconut plantations in the 1800s. By 1845, Changi Point was already a fashionable retreat for picnics and beach parties. At Changi Village, also known as 14 1/2 milestone Changi Road, prior to World War II, many facilities sprouted to serve the British officers and families of the Royal Air Force. Before British colonisation, the area around Sungei Changi or more commonly knows as Changi Creek, which is a short river that runs next to Changi Beach Park, was inhabited by indigenous Malay communities. These kampongs or villages relied on the creek for fishing, which was the primary source of livelihood back then. The livelihoods of kampong residents living in Changi were shaped by the area’s resources and geographical landscape. While some villages were sustained by coastal trades, other inland villages relied on agriculture. Now, Changi Village is still a rustic village at the eastern corner of Singapore where the tallest building is barely five storey high d...