Singapore's TidbiTs

When people think of Changi, the first thing that comes to mind is our famous Changi Airport. But on 15 February 1942 , Singapore came under a new master: Japan. The city was renamed Syonan-To , meaning "Light of the South." Life on the island changed dramatically. Many people feared Japanese brutality and suffered from a lack of food and other supplies. Changi gained prominence during World War II when the Japanese used Changi Prison — originally built by the British in 1936 — as a prisoner-of-war (POW) camp. Thousands of Allied soldiers were detained under harsh conditions and interned as POWs . The Changi Chapel and Museum is a small but deeply moving museum in the eastern corner of Singapore that depicts the darkest days in Singapore's history. It is a tribute to those who fought for Singapore. Inside are remnants of Changi Gaol , photos, letters, and personal artefacts of the POWs — highlighting their imprisonment, suffering, and daily life, and how the human sp...

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 ...

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...

📍 Marina South Pier  |  🚢 Ferry from $15  |  ☀️ Best: Dry Season (Feb–Oct) Island Hopping 📋 Table of Contents Introduction Ferry Services & Booking Lazarus & St. John's Islands Sisters' Islands Marine Park Kusu Island Island Histories Wildlife & Nature Essential Tips Introduction Think Sentosa is Singapore's only island escape? Think again. Just off the southern coast lies an archipelago of hidden gems — pristine beaches, sacred shrines, and thriving marine life — all accessible by a short ferry ride from Marina South Pier. Beyond the well-trodden shores of Sentosa, Singapore's Southern Islands offer a completely different experience. These include St. John's Island , Lazarus Island (Pulau Sekijang Pelepah), Pulau Seringat , K...