Archive for June, 2018

Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Festival (30 June–8 July 2018)

June 30th, 2018 365days2play

This year’s Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Festival will be back again in a couple of days’ time, and if you’re a plant and nature lover like I am (or I like to think I am), you mustn’t miss out on this! Even if you don’t like spending time outdoors, now would be a good opportunity to enjoy Singapore’s first UNESCO Heritage World Heritage Site, as there will be numerous activities going on:

  • Concerts at the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage
  • Movie screenings
  • Guided tours of the various parts of the Botanic Gardens
  • Roving Performances
  • Activities such as mass yoga, children’s activities, exhibitions
  • Free entry to the National Orchid Garden
  • etc

This year, the Heritage Festival will also focus on plants used by indigenous cultures of Southeast Asia, including Singapore. What are some of these plants you may ask? Think Elephant yam, coconut, torch ginger, sweet potato, curry leaf and kedongdong amongst others. Learn more about these plants, and get a chance to taste them, as the Gardens’ cafes, restaurants and retail outlets will be showcasing various menus and programmes featuring these edible plants during the Heritage Festival.

I had the opportunity to have a quick media preview of what is to come. Scroll down to see what is in store for this year’s Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Festival! Also check out the official Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Festival 2018 site online.

 

Visiting the Gardens

Heritage Tours

Singapore Botanic Gardens Bandstand and raintrees

Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage (6)

I have been to the Singapore Botanic Gardens numerous times, more often than the average Singaporean I would suppose, but I still learn something new every time. For example, did you notice that the rain trees surrounding the bandstand look particularly yellow? Those rain trees were deliberately chosen to be planted here. Only 1 in 1,000 rain trees exhibit this yellowish leaves characteristic.

Attend free guided tours available on 30 June, 1,7 and 8 July to increase your knowledge on history, ecology and plant and animal life. The tours are free but on-site registration is required. Check out my instastories for video snippets of my tour around the Botanic Gardens.

 

National Orchid Garden

Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage (15)

Read more »

Posted in 1.0 Media Invites, What's on? Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , Comments Off on Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Festival (30 June–8 July 2018)

Colonial Club–A new place to have kaya bread and kopi at Changi Airport + favourite dishes from yesteryear

June 27th, 2018 365days2play

[Media Invite]

For Singaporeans who love visiting Changi Airport for food, or tourists to Singapore looking for a quick and relatively affordable local meal in a restaurant setting, do check out the recently opened Colonial Club. As the name suggests, this restaurant boasts dishes from Singapore, Penang and Malacca (Hainanese-style western delights, Nyonya dishes and other local favourites) that were once popular during the colonial era, but with a modern dash of chef’s creativity.

I certainly hadn’t heard of Roti Ayam nor Kapitan Chicken Curry nor Inche Cabin Chicken, but you don’t really need to have heard of them to enjoy the dishes at Colonial Club. Most of the dishes are, give and take a little, quite similar to what we already have in Singapore. In fact, if you’re a purist, you may not actually enjoy the dishes here. For example, yellow noodles are used in the Nyonya Laksa, and it also comes with a soft shell crab. These are items not usually associated with laksa. It would be best to come here with an open mind, or imagine the dishes to have different names (instead of associating them with what you are familiar with), for a more enjoyable time.

Scroll down for pictures of what I tried during the media tasting.

Colonial Club - Signature Colonial Club Nasi Lemak $15.90 (1)

 Signature Colonial Club Nasi Lemak $15.90

Read more »

Posted in 1.0 Media Invites, 1.3 Casual Restaurants Tags: , , , , , , , Comments Off on Colonial Club–A new place to have kaya bread and kopi at Changi Airport + favourite dishes from yesteryear

7 unique places in Singapore to watch the Fifa World Cup Russia 2018

June 21st, 2018 365days2play

1. Watch it with tourists all around the world – Changi Airport

Photo Credit : Changi Airport

I may be biased since I live in the East, but I think Changi Airport is the best place to catch the Fifa World Cup. It’s probably the only place in Singapore you can mingle with tourists from around the world to watch the World Cup for free, and in air-conditioned comfort! Sure, the pubs and all at Boat Quay will probably see its fair share of foreigners, but you probably have to pay for a drink at the very least. And because the screen is so huge, even if you don’t snag one of the seats, you can still get a good view of the live action.

Terminal 3, Departure Hall North, Public Area (Near Skytrain To T1)

Read more »

Posted in 1.9 Others, Food, What's on? Tags: , , Comments Off on 7 unique places in Singapore to watch the Fifa World Cup Russia 2018

Gardens by the Bay Flower Dome – Begonia Brilliance

June 20th, 2018 365days2play

Anyone who has never gone to the Cooled Conservatories at Gardens by the Bay ought to really make a trip there. The experience is really amazing. The best part about it is that you can enjoy a beautiful garden-like setting in cool air-conditioning, even when you’re in hot and humid Singapore! It’s also a great place to bring young children to expose them to nature, without them getting too sweaty and irritable.

I missed the Tulip Mania which usually happens in April. I brought Edward to Tulip Mania 2016 and Tulip Mania 2017 when he was 2 months and 1 yr old respectively. OMG how he has grown, I miss his baby looks!! I guess I’ll be saying the same thing again come next year and I look at this year’s photos! Anyway, I was at the Flower Dome a couple of weeks back to check out the Begonia Brilliance and Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree. I didn’t know there are so many types of Begonias, and it seems they can look quite different. You’ll see what I mean when you scroll down for the pictures.

Gardens by the Bay Flower Dome - Begonia Brilliance (22)

Gardens by the Bay Flower Dome - Begonia Brilliance (9)

Which picture looks better? Me being the main photographer, there are loads of pictures of Edward with Papa. And this is the only picture of me with Edward! Or perhaps Papa is just more photogenic?

Read more »

Posted in What's on? Tags: , , , , , , , , Comments Off on Gardens by the Bay Flower Dome – Begonia Brilliance

70 Best places in Singapore to watch the 2018 Fifa World Cup Russia

June 14th, 2018 365days2play

Need some ideas on where in Singapore to watch the 2018 World Cup held in Russia? How about 70 ideas??? Scroll down to see the list of places sorted by location. This includes places to watch the World Cup for free (bring your own food and drink), as well as good cafes/pubs/restaurants. Practically every single establishment is having some sort of drinks promo, special dishes and even contests. Click on the blue links to find out more.

Make sure you check the screening schedule of the individual locations, as not all the matches might be screened. More people in Singapore are expected to watch the World Cup outside this time round because Russia’s time difference with Singapore is much more favourable. I’ve consulted an “in-house expert” and these have been listed as some of the more popular matches at convenient timings. So if you want to go soak up some World Cup atmosphere, follow this list! The timings below are all noted in Singapore time.

  • 16 June Saturday 6pm – France vs Australia
  • 17 June Sunday 11pm – Germany vs Mexico
  • 18 June Monday 8pm – Sweden vs Korean Republic
  • 19 June Tuesday 8pm – Colombia vs Japan
  • 21 June Thursday 8pm – Denmark vs Australia
  • 22 June Friday 8pm – Brazil vs Costa Rica
  • 23 June Saturday 11pm – Korea Republic vs Mexico
  • 24 June Sunday 8pm – England vs Panama
  • 27 June Wednesday 10pm – Korea Republic vs Germany
  • 28 June Thursday 10pm – Japan vs Poland

Round of 16 schedule is not out yet. And of course not forgetting the quarter-finals, semi finals and Finals on 15 July Sunday 11pm. Or check out the Match Fixtures Schedule in full, so you can choose your favourite matches to watch!

–> 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Match Schedule

Related image

Places to watch the World Cup for free!

  • Changi Airport – Terminal 3, Departure Hall North, Public Area (Near Skytrain To T1) as well as several areas in Transit Area. Participate in quizzes and games and win Changi Gift Cards worth up to $5,000.
  • 55 Community Clubs and Centres around Singapore
  • McDonalds – 22 locations around Singapore including Downtown East, Tampines Mart, Marine Cove ECP, Boat Quay, AMK Park, Sengkang Sports Complex and Jurong Bowl. (Well almost free, since food here is so cheap)
  • SAFRA Clubs – All SAFRA clubs will be screening ALL matches live! Non-SAFRA members (who are not members’ 2 guests) will have to sit at the non-member area. Pre-event activities include football carnival, lucky draw and fan packs.
  • Our Tampines Hub – 1 Tampines Walk Singapore 528523
  • OCBC Arena at Singapore Sports Hub – 5 Stadium Drive Singapore 397631

Hotels in Singapore

Parks in Singapore

East Coast Park

Other Parks in Singapore

 

CBD (Raffles Place, Tanjong Pagar, Shenton Way)

  • Boulevard – 12 Marina View Asia Square Tower 2, #01-04/05 Singapore 018961
  • Bull and Bear – 31 Pekin Street #01-01 Far East Square, Singapore 048761
  • The Exchange – 8 Marina View, #01-05 Asia Square Tower 1 Singapore, 018960
  • McDonalds
    • Springleaf Tower
    • Boat Quay

City Centre (City Hall, Orchard Road, Marina Bay)

Boat Quay

Robertson Quay

  • Boomarang Bistro and Bar – 60 Robertson Quay #01-15 The Quayside Singapore 238252
  • Brewerkz – #01-05/06 Riverside Point 30 Merchant Rd Singapore 058282
  • BQ Bar – 39 Boat Quay Singapore 049828

Clarke Quay

  • Cuba Libre – Clarke Quay, River Valley Road, #01-13, 179021
  • McGettigan’s – 3A River Valley Road, Merchant’s Court, Singapore 179020

East Singapore

  • Boulevard – 5 Changi BusinessPark Central 1 ChangiCityPoint, #01-72 S486038
  • Brotzeit – 126 East Coast Road, 428809
  • Ikura Japanese East Village – 430 Upper Changi Road, #01-01 East Village S487048
  • Our Tampines Hub – 1 Tampines Walk Singapore 528523
  • Moa Tiki – 5 Changi Business Park Central 1, #01-70/71 Changi City Point, 486038
  • See East Coast Park F&B outlets above under Parks section

North Singapore

North-East Singapore

Add me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter if you want to be kept up to date with the latest happenings in the food and lifestyle scene in Singapore!

Posted in 1.9 Others, Food, What's on? Tags: , , Comments Off on 70 Best places in Singapore to watch the 2018 Fifa World Cup Russia
« Older Entries
%d bloggers like this:
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...