Audience: Outdoor

Like Staying Up Late? Check Out These 6 Night Activities!

Suffering from insomnia? Or perhaps your body clock is all over the place after a week of hardcore midnight studying? With most malls only operating until 10 PM, there are not that many night activities to do.

In addition to exploring Singapore after dark, here are six night activities you can participate in to tire yourself out!

1. Night Cycling

Get in touch with your sporty side and learn more about Singapore while you’re at it! Night cycling is a superb way to explore the island without having to spend a ton of money. All you need is safety gear, a pair of headphones, a bicycle (you could also rent), and a bottle of water!

If you’re a first-timer, check out the East Coast Park to Changi Village cycling path for a night of yummy eats, amazing finds, and quiet roads. If the East is a little far for you, you can also try cycling around the Holland Village neighbourhood down to the city where you can watch local attractions twinkle in the moonlight.

Also, read Cycling Routes In S’pore Just Got Better – Round Island & Coastal! & Cycle X Makan – 5 Best Food And Night Cycling Paths In SG

2. Chit Chat

What’s better than staying up? Staying out! Since there are not that many 24/7 coffee shops in Singapore, your best bet would be to hit up Starbucks for a coffee/ tea or two while you catch up on some studying, work or just people watch/ chit chat the hours away.

We suggest going to a 24/7 coffee shop where there is outdoor seating, so you can enjoy some fresh night breeze, and not have to endure hours of nose-drying air-conditioning. Plus, free Wifi… What a score!

Starbucks at Orchard Cineleisure (other outlets available)
Address: 8 Grange Road Singapore 239695
Tel: +65 6733 0684
Opening Hours: 24/7

3. Watch a Midnight Movie

We love midnight shows! With only a handful of people in the cinema, the experience becomes a lot more private and intimate. Best of all, movies selected to screen in the middle of the night are usually pretty scary. Imagine walking out of a horror movie at 2 AM and strolling down an empty street. A lot more intense than 9 PM, right?

4. Put the Sing in Singapore

What do you think of when you see strangely irrelevant music videos (usually of varying backdrops of Singapore and/or models running down a beach), microphones, a tambourine and snacks? Of course, Karaoke. Sing to your heart’s content with affordable midnight karaoke options. Many of these karaoke operators also serve food and drinks, so there is absolutely no need to worry about being hungry.

Teo Heng KTV Studio (other outlets available)
Address: 865 Mountbatten Rd, Singapore 437844
Tel: +65 6345 6513
Opening Hours: 1 PM – 1 AM Sunday to Friday, 12 PM – 2 AM on Saturdays

Party World KTV (other outlets available)
Address: 177 River Valley Road  #03-03 Liang Court Shopping Centre Singapore 179030
Tel: +65 6333 5533 or +65 6333 5588
Opening Hours: 2 PM – 6 AM Daily

5. Go prawning

Allergic to seafood? We are sorry! But for everyone else, prawning remains as a great option to kill some time. Enjoy the cold night air while you wait for these orange fellas to take your bait! Even better, this is an excellent opportunity to spend some time with your friends as you talk over fishing rods. At the end of the night, you could even munch on what you’ve caught and cooked. Talk about a perfect way of enjoying what you worked hard for.

Hai Bin Jurong
Address: 241 Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim, The Village, Singapore 629143
Tel: +65 6265 2598
Opening Hours: 24/7

East Coast Prawning 
Address: 1020 East Coast Parkway, #01-06, Singapore 449878
Tel: +65 62273330
Opening Hours: 24/7

6. Dim sum for supper

Get your fill of dim sum, also known as dian xin, for supper! These restaurants tend to open till late. In fact, some even operate until the morning, just so you can eat all the xiao long baos that you want. Our favourite dishes include the custard egg buns (also known as ‘liu sha bao’), rice noodle rolls (or ‘chee cheong fun’), and salted egg and butter ribs!

Mongkok Dim Sum
Address: 214 Geylang Road Lorong 8, Singapore 389274
Opening Hours: 4 PM – 5 AM Monday to Friday, 10 AM – 5 AM Saturday and Sunday

Swee Choon Tim Sum Restaurant
Address: 183-191 Jalan Besar, Singapore 208882
Tel: +65 6225 7788
Opening Hours: 6 PM – 6 AM daily, closed on Tuesdays

Go ahead, tell all your night owl friends about these night activities. After all, the night is always still young. Don’t forget that while the MRT closes by midnight, there are still Night Rider buses you can take to save some money and get home safely!

Also, read Play Till Late! 5 Hangout Spots So You Can Munch & Play The Night Away

Our Lives Have Changed Since Pokemon Go! 12 Things Every Player Can Relate To!

Pokemon was the first true love for many of us 90’s kids. From collecting decks of Pokemon cards, to playing obsessively on the Game Boy, to catching up with the latest episode of the anime series. Our favourite after school activity was trying to outdo the super annoying Pokemon Go Is Available For Your Country!” email came in last Saturday, you made a sharp U-turn and rescheduled all your plans.

Of course, your girlfriend matters too but first…Pokemon! But wait, there’s a rare Pokemon at her place? Bonus la!

4. Your dinner looks familiar

Erm…is that you Mr. Krabby? #sorrynotsorry #guiltynotguilty #foodie

5. Queuing for food is more enjoyable now

“Aiyoh why so long queue one”…and a wild Charmander appears! Swee la!

6. You give funny names to your Pokemon…but that only lasted a day

At one point you just stopped renaming them and just stick to their Pokemon name.

7. You attempted/thought of going Poke-hunting via the MRT

MRT Y U move so fast? My Abra abracadabra liao! *cries*

8. Screen-shotting wild Pokemon in awkward situations

EH EH EH…privacy please!!

9. You feel sorry for Magikarp

Look at that poor fish! Someone give Magikarp some water plzzzzzz…

10. You went to a park/garden after X years

When was the last time you actually went to the neighbourhood park? Probably many many moons ago. If you’re wondering, that’s Jurong’s Chinese Garden by the way!

11. You drag your pet out

“Sorry doggie… you look like you need some exercise”… But actually you’re just too scared to walk alone cause of hungry ghost and all.

12. And you realised you’re not alone

Pokemon trainers unite to be the very best!! Sorry hungry ghosts, we’re just living out our long forgotten childhood fantasy! (But just in case, read Better Safe Than Sorry? But These 10 Hungry Ghost Superstitions Are Unbelievable!)

We know the idea of catching ’em all is fantastic, but please be mindful of your surroundings! Being too engrossed in the game is inviting danger and Medium

Also, read Play Till Late! 5 Hangout Spots So You Can Munch & Play The Night Away!

Singaporeans Are Going Crazy Over Pokemon Go! Here’s The Evidence!

When baked cheese tart hit our shores, we thought the queue was crazy. But when Pokemon Go landed in Singapore, Singaporeans take crazy to a whole new level!

Day or night, shine or very hot sunshine, Singaporeans are all out Poke-hunting and we have the evidence!

1. Hougang is gungho…real gungho

When word about “rare” Pokemon such as Gyarados was spotted at Block 401 of Hougang Avenue, the precinct gained notorious reputation overnight.

2. ….doesn’t matter day or night

Hot sun? What hot sun? Nothing is hotter than a Charizard that I’m about to catch!

3.  Punggol Park is not spared either

It’s normal to see a park with people in sports attire but in flip flops and their smartphone on their hands? That’s the Pokemon effect!

5. Yishun Park at night

Dear, we’re not going to the movies tonight. Instead, let’s go catch some Pokemon! Pokemon Go – redefining date nights.

6. Orchard Road

How to get a bunch of youths going on a public holiday? Organise a Poke-crawl on National Day!

The event started at 1pm (read: hottest time of the day) and yet our Singaporean youths braved the heat to be the very best! In fact, the turnout was so massive that Poke-crawlers were chased away by the security staff of ION!

7. Orchard At Night

Just look at how everyone sits together so uniformly! It sure looks like they’re about to start a choir performance! Actually, they’re sticking as close as possible to leech from each other’s lure.

8. Chinese Garden, Jurong

It may look less crowded in this picture but the Chinese Garden is a hot spot for Pokemon GO players as it houses 20 rest stops and 3 gyms. It’s very spacious so it’s great for people who don’t like crowd.

9. Vivo City

We Singaporeans are all about efficiency. If we can get our shopping done at Vivo and catch some Pokemon too, why not?

10. Bishan Park

Remember how people used to say that Bishan Park is really scary at night? This was taken at 1:30am and the park is still lively and buzzing!

11. East Coast Park

East Coast Park is home to one of Singapore’s most haunting ghost stories. It’s one of those places people try to avoid going to at night. But ever since the launch of Pokemon Go, we’ve seen some really brave Singaporeans. And it’s the Hungry Ghost Festival now…

Do you have evidence of the Pokemon Go craze in your neighbourhood? Drop us a comment and share with us!

Header image source: Straits Times

Also, read Pokemon Go Guide: How To Catch Pikachu & Where To Catch ‘Em All

Pokemon Go Guide: How To Catch Pikachu & Where To Catch ‘Em All!

The Pokemon Go craze has hit Singapore. Unless you live a social-media-free life, your news feed is probably swamped with all things Pokemon. Like it or not, this craze is probably gonna be around for a couple of months. Whether you’re already playing, or late to the game, here’s our guide that will help you ace Pokemon Go!

Hidden Tips Every Trainer Should Know

Get A Pikachu When You Start

Incense is extremely useful if you want to bring Pokemon towards your location. To activate Incense, tap the Pokeball, followed by ‘Items’ and click Incense (make sure you have Incense in your inventory, otherwise, get it at Pokestops). A robot vacuum cleaner looking item will show up and you’ll need to tap it one more time to activate it. A clock will appear and count down for 30 minutes. Incense works really well when you’re on the go. If you activate Incense when you’re static, you’ll only be able to lure one Pokemon in every 5-6 minutes.

Make Good Use Of Pink Petailed PokeStops

Once you’ve reached Level 5, you’ll be able to access gyms and put your mons in battles. Gym battles can be a little chaotic mess of tapping and swiping (tap to attack, swipe to dodge). During battles, you should keep your eyes at the series of squares underneath your Pokemon’s HP bar. When all the squares turn blue, you can unleash your mon’s “Special Power”. You can only use this special power once per battle.

Catching Pokemon For Candy

Where To Catch ‘Em All?

Now that you’ve got some tricks up your sleeves, head to these hot spots around Singapore to expand your Pokedex. Just remember to be aware of your surroundings! Don’t put yourself and others in danger.

1.  Orchard Road

Just look at the number of PokeStops! No surprise that Singapore’s most happening road is one of the most happening places to Poke hunt. According to  eight Pokemon Gyms and 78 Pokestops can be found at 4 parks –  Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari, River Safari and the Singapore Zoo. The WRS has also developed Poke maps to help Trainers get the most from their hunt. One word of advice: Animals generally do not like intruders. Do not enter any of the animal exhibits!

4. MRTs

[caption id="attachment_12097" align="alignnone" width="870"] Image source: maxres

Also read: Better Safe Than Sorry? But These 10 Hungry Ghost Superstitions Are Unbelievable!

8 Houses In Singapore So Extravagant, You’ll Wonder What The Owners Do For A Living

Though our Singapore island is tiny, the number of stunning green homes you can find is not small. Whether you’re into lush greenery or the use of natural materials in houses, we have sourced out Singapore’s most beautiful green homes.

1. Centennial Tree House / Wallflower Architecture + Design

As the name suggests, the Centennial Tree House features a hundred-year-old frangipani tree. With the intention to create a protective enclosure of solitude, Wallflower Architects designed the house with fixed timber screenings and a lush wall of polyalthia. This combination allows natural breeze to comb through the house, refreshing the sheltered corridors and living spaces.

2. Wall House / FARM

The Wall House has two blocks – a two-storey block with the main living and master bedroom area, and a single-storey block that houses the entertainment areas. The design and inspiration for this house come from classical Chinese Gardens. Views are borrowed through cutouts and vistas, and sight lines and spaces overlap.

3. Maximum Garden House / Formwerkz Architects

Building a green home with no compromises in style and comfort is what Formwerkz Architects strives for. As garden spaces are often hard to come by in dense urban places, Formwerkz Architects designed a green curtain wall and green roof.

Not only beautiful and functional, they also serve to improve the building’s performance. The design of the sloping roof is perfect for spending family time outdoors in a creative way. With a design that is both practical and contemporary, Maximum Garden House is a lovely family refuge, where affection and warmth are heavily encouraged.

4. Andrew Road / A D Lab

Singapore’s residential architecture can no longer rely on idyllic sites and spectacular views to inform its spaces. This house is a perfect example – it is situated at a major vehicular intersection along a busy and noisy highway.

The architect addressed this matter by lowering the communal facilities around a sunken garden. This focuses the views inward. As you step inside, all interiors are connected to a central courtyard, where inhabitants can relax. Apart from its aesthetic features, its swimming pool cools the atmosphere during warm days.

5. Cluny House / Guz Architects

This house in Cluny allows inhabitants to live with nature. With lushly planted roof gardens and greenery, Guz Architects creates a space that integrates seamlessly with the surrounding nature.

With its main focus on the central water court, the project sensitively generates a comfortable, luxurious, yet sustainable family home. This house is so huge, you’d feel that you’re living in a holiday villa resort!

6. Winged House / K2LD Architects

Situated on a uniquely shaped triangular plot, the Winged House frames the site with two prominent forms of trapeziums. The home was built around three existing majestic palm trees of 20-meters high which are located in the centre of the plot.

By using vertical timber screens, the house is easily ventilated yet has privacy and protection.

7. No. 100 / Greg Shand Architects

Located in Singapore’s luxury seaside residential enclave of Sentosa Cove, this house sits on a double plot facing a lake and an island green of Sentosa Golf Club.

The design is based on emphasising the primary views to the rear while maintaining privacy. To create views over the pool to the golf course, the design is anchored around a double height living room space.

8. Meera Sky Garden House / Guz Architects

The Meera Sky Garden House is a multi-layered four-storey house with gardens and greenery at all levels. The front and rear of the building terraces allow each storey to have visual or actual access to greenery.

These stunning green homes sure inspires us to work harder and dream big. Even if your goal is a cosy and manageable house, these green homes sure provide some great ideas for decor and style! If you’ve seen other gorgeous green homes in Singapore, do share it with us!

(Header image by Guz Architects)

Also, read Stuck In Singapore? Here Are 10 Uncommon Places To Visit For A Different Kinda Fun!