Sunday, April 27, 2008

Crossing Into Malaysia

Tuas Second Link


There're advantages for being a small country such as Singapore.

1. You can get to any part of Singapore within two hours
2. Being an island, you can easily find a nice stretch of beach
3. Our country is small enough to allow street lighting on all main roads

Being small also allows you to visit our neighbouring country - Malaysia - with very little hassle. No long bus journey to reach the crossing point to the next country. Tuas Second Link is an alternative crossing into Malaysia. Opened in 1998, the bridge helps to ease congestion on the other link called the Woodlands checkpoint.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Building With Rich History

City Hall





Location:
3, St Andrew's Road

Getting There:
Take an MRT to the City Hall station and then ask for directions

What Can You Do:
If you're a history lover, you would definitely want to visit Singapore's City Hall. Completed in 1929 and was previously known as the Municipal Building, the City Hall proved to be THE building when it comes to historical significance. The British used the building as a government building to manage the running of Singapore. So too did the Japanese during their occupation of Singapore. The steps of the City Hall also played an important historical role when the Japanese surrendered to the British on these very steps.
The City Hall was also a chosen site where our first National Day was held in 1966. Currently, the site is closed for renovation, but it's still well worth the visit.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Singapore's Largest Wetlands

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve




Address:
301 Neo Tiew Crescent Singapore 718925

How to Get There:

Driving:
Getting to the wetland reserve is by no mean an easy feat. From Seletar Expressway (SLE), look out for a large brown signboard on the left of the expressway. After that, turn left into Turf Club Avenue.

Shuttle Bus:
You can take a shuttle bus from Kranji MRT Station. Click
here to find out more.

What do you need to bring along:
- Cap/ Hat: To protect your face from the sun
- Insect Repellent: To prevent the mozzies from getting to you
- Sun Block: Hot sun, even under the canopy of the trees

What Can You Do:

Tucked away in the far corner of Singapore, it is unconceivable that an island so small and developed as Singapore could see such biodiversity, all in a small parcel of forest. But the obscure location allows the wetland to co-exist by itself and will only see visitors who are interested in learning more about nature.

During my short one hour at the wetland reserve, I was totally excited with the sightings of egrets and herons, large monitor lizards, and even otters.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Easing Your Pain

Picture taken off the Tiger Balm website


The first time I'd ever heard a foreigner using our product was when I visited my mom's friend in Germany in 1995. Even before we arrived in her country of chic Mercedes and BMWs, she had contacted us to bring along boxes of Tiger Balm.
I know that my grandparents and parents swears by it, and I'd also used this blam whenever I had a tummy ache or a headache. This traditional formula was first concocted for the imperial court of China more than 100 years ago. Just imagine, you're using the ointment of what past Emperors of China have been using!
Well, the person who concocted this formula is the late imperial herbalist - Mr Aw Chu Kin, whose children moved his business to Singapore. The balm has henceforth been a mainstay of homes in Singapore. Try buying a couple of bottles. It's definitely affordable.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Electronic Road Pricing

The Electronic Road Pricing Gantry



Sometimes, great solutions comes with a price, no pun intended. The Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) is the first-of-its-kind electronic toll system that helps to empty the pockets of drivers like myself. Singaporeans have always complained that buying cars are way too expensive. A basic car could cost you US$28,000 in the 1990s. Prices have dropped but owning a vehicle will still burn a big hole in one's pocket.
If you plan to rent a car, taking to the road is not that difficult. The drivers here may not be the courteous of the lot (i.e. Filtering into lane without signalling), but they are generally quite harmless.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Mount Faber

This is not the tallest hill in Singapore (That title goes to Bukit Timah Hill), but it's one that has commercialisation written all over it. Standing at 105 metres, the hill avail visitors with a panoramic view of the islands to the south, and government housing and the central business district to the east. In the past though, the hill was used by the British as a signal station and later an observatory.

What to Do There

Relax with Nature

The best time to visit Mount Faber is on a weekday. There's no need to jostle with the crowd and the entire place, because of its serenity, seems to have been prepared solely just for you. There's also a park on the upper most top of the hill.


Possibly the highest standing tree on Mount Faber

Dining

To soak in the full view of the surroundings, you might like to consider visiting Mount Faber in the evenings. There are a couple of
dining places here that'll provide you with a view that may not be as lovely as The Peak in Hong Kong, but it still offer one of the best views within Singapore.

Cable Cars

Mount Faber is also the place to try out an interesting ride -
The Cable Car. I remember my parents taking my on this breathe-taking ride when I was much younger. Try this ride just before sunset. It'll offer you with the loveliest of all view.

How Do I Get There?


Well, you can take the grab a taxi, or if it's over a weekend or a public holiday, you might want to take a bus. If you're game enough, you might also want to take a hike up. Check this link for more information on how to get to the summit.

View of the South

View of the East