Category: Singapore Events

This Outdoor ‘Escape Room’ Sent Us All Over Chinatown – Here’s How To Ace The Game

Always wanted to go on a treasure hunt? Now you can at Whisper of the Guardians!

The 3rd event of its kind, brought to life by LockdownSG and Think Out Events, this year’s epic adventure will take place in and around Chinatown.

Previously, we wrote about the premise of this adventure. Essentially, a shop house owner found an old scroll containing information leading to a hidden treasure that’s been left behind since WWII. You have been hired to decipher the scroll and find the elusive treasure.

Our DiscoverSG ambassadors took up the challenge and had a blast journeying through Chinatown, trekking past famous (and some not so famous) paths on their quest to find the booty.

Having gone through the experience themselves, here are their golden tips to finding the treasure–and don’t worry, there are no spoilers ahead!

Cheryl: “It’s Very Challenging.”

“It was very challenging–perhaps a little too challenging because we had to get loads of hints from the gamemasters.

Get ready to crack your brains and burn some calories!”

Dawn: “Interact With Your Environment.”

“The game used real, physical things that are there in Chinatown to help you find clues for the next step. 

Be prepared to have your brains fried at the end of the day. I don’t think it’s easy, but it’s worth the try!”

Shivon: “Dress Comfortably And Prepare To WALK”

“The ‘touring’ of this game will actually be like a history excursion which makes studying our history damn fun!

Dress comfortably and prepare to stroll down the whole of Chinatown. You’ll be surprised to find a lot of places where you can take nice OOTDs.”

Jia Min: “Familiarize Yourself With Chinatown Beforehand”

“We basically learnt how to read maps for those of us who didn’t already know how, and practice our map skills for those who do.

Pro Tip: Read more about Chinatown! Maybe know the roads, dress comfortably, don’t bring a big bag, and most importantly, enjoy yourself!”

Vanessa: “Work As A Team”

“I liked how it required us to think thoroughly for each challenge and puzzle and the whole group contributed in one way or another.

Before starting, it would be good to mentally prepare yourself for a lot of time spent on this adventure! And be mentally prepared for very difficult challenges.”

Catered to groups of 6, Early Bird Tickets are still available from now to 8 May at only $228 per team! Tickets include a 1 time entry into the award winning Chinatown Heritage Centre (worth $15, valid for 3 months), which can be used at your own leisure!

There you have it! DiscoverSG’s take on this intriguing journey to find the hidden treasure. Are you up for the challenge?

Click LockdownSG and ThinkOut Events on Facebook!

Whisper of the Guardians
Where: Registration at Chinatown Heritage Centre, 48 Pagoda Street, Singapore 059207
When: 
Price: $228 per team of 6 (early bird)/ $258 (from 8th May onwards); $45 per pax

Also read This Unique Honey Cheesecake Is The Sweetest Way To Say ‘I Love You Mum’

5 Harsh Realities Of Working In S’pore You Won’t Want To Hear But Should

As students, many of us had these grand visions of what we would do and who we would be when we were older. We sat restlessly in our lecture halls and classrooms, yearning to be done with school and for our lives to finally begin–to get a job, to make money, to have the life that we wanted.

And then we graduated and we realized the real world–the working world–was a lot harsher than it seemed.

Working in Singapore definitely has its downsides, and the sooner you wise up to them, the better you are for it! Here are 5 harsh realities of working in Singapore you may not want to hear, but should definitely take note of!

1. There Is No “Perfect” Job 

Sorry to burst your bubble, but there is no such thing as a “perfect” job. The factors behind a perfect job have been uttered, memorised and taken to heart by many before us. Good pay, strictly 8 – 5, personally meaningful and no stress. The truth is, more often than not, people don’t land their dream jobs, and even then, every job has its own set of challenges.

Our tip? Get a job in the industry you love! It may not necessarily be the perfect job or even the exact role you’ve been eyeing but it’ll get your foot through the door, and that’s what counts! Plus, it’ll get you experience in the field you’re keen to get into!

2. Paper Qualifications Don’t Guarantee You A Top Notch Paying Job 

Gone are the days when a Bachelor’s Degree would guarantee a great paying job in the field of your choosing. While paper qualifications are by no means worthless, hiring managers are more likely to look at your experience and soft skills than the fact that you only got a ‘B-‘ in your second semester.

The “graduate’s pay” you were promised before you stepped out of school is not exactly accurate. The likelihood is you’re going to have to take a pay-cut before you even start your first job!

Our tip? Get experience before you even step out of school. Internships, career fairs and part time jobs will allow you to establish networks even before graduating. Talk to people who have been in the industry for a couple of years. They will tell you the career progression and what’s a decent pay grade to start with!

3. Technology = Working 24/7 

Technology is a double-edged sword, especially in the work place. With the increase in usage of Whatsapp, email notifications on smartphones, and work group chats, your bosses might find that there really is no reason work can’t be done once you clock out.

If your job has demanding hours or your boss and colleagues are workaholics, it can be difficult to completely stop responding to emails and messages once you leave the office.

Our tip? Play it by ear. Your colleagues are just like you. They NEED a few hours to completely relax, so watch how they “side step” and “siam” office issues after the clock strikes 5. If it really bothers you, speak to your colleagues and your boss about what can be done to ensure work doesn’t eat (too much) into life.

4. Office Politics Is Inevitable, But Don’t Get Sucked Into It 

Remember how project work in university used to be the bane of your existence, because it truly brings out the worst traits in people? Who knew project work would actually be the perfect example of how working as a team in the office would be?

You might be stuck with a slacker, a control freak or even a no-show. While it used to be deadlines and grades on the line, what’s at stake now is your job. You’ll meet your fair share of bootlickers and saikang warriors. When promotion period comes around, don’t be surprised when other people’s attitudes make a 180. Scary? YES.

Our tip? Stay above the office gossip which can be so enticing but toxic once you get into it. If your office is prone to bootlickers and the people around you are toxic to work with, it may be best for you to look for a job with a better work culture.

5. Staying Stagnant = Redundancy 

We all know by now that technology is constantly evolving and that tech giants are constantly coming up with new ways to leverage technology to better our way of life. While this means our lives become a whole lot easier (when was the last time you opened a physical map?) it has also rendered a whole lot of jobs redundant.

While we can sit and wait to become victim to job redundancy and the volatile job market, the better (and more proactive) option would be to look out for opportunities to upgrade your job skills. Upgrading your skills would lead you to better job opportunities, pay raises and even job promotions.

Our tip? Look out for opportunities to upgrade your skills like Career fairs by e2i will have you meeting employers and other job seekers, so you can have a more accurate picture of the current job market.

Todo Todo Skills Marketplace 

We can all agree that finding the right job can be tough and climbing the ranks can be even tougher. Many of us millennials have either only been though internships or have just clinched our very first full time job, and are navigating the unfamiliar waters of the working world.

Todo Todo Skills Marketplace, an NTUC & PA collaboration, brings together a one stop access to all that we need – career profiling tools, mentorship, industry minds, HR leaders and job opportunities. Every burning question you’ve had about job prospects and what to expect from the field can be answered at this 2-day career fair.

From networking sessions to talks on how to establish a startup, the Todo Todo Skills Marketplace is the perfect place to pick up advice and tips on landing your dream job or clinching that job promotion you’ve been eyeing.

If you’re a fresh grad looking for a job opportunity or a working millennial, head down to Todo Todo Skills Marketplace! After all, you can never get too much help getting ahead in this competitive job market!

For more information, head to Apple or on Android. With its stylish, user-friendly interface, with everything you need all in one place, it’s the perfect tool to stay ahead of the game!

Todo Todo Skills Marketplace
Address: Our Tampines Hub
Date: 30 April – 1 May
Time: 9am – 8pm

Also read, These 8 Soundbites Will Have You Rethinking About The ‘Future Of Jobs’ In Singapore

*SCAPE Is Hosting An Open-Air Market Of The Future – All You Need For Payment Is Your Phone

If your idea of a perfect weekend involves browsing and exploring markets for cool, unique finds, there’s a new market coming to town you definitely want to check out: The DBS PayLah! X *SCAPE Palooza.

Happening on 5 – 7 May at *SCAPE, this weekend market will see over 100 vendors selling everything from fashion, food to lifestyle products, and more than a few social enterprises will also be there!

Shop the collection of chic, minimalist bags at ThreeOneTwoFive and and Sot n Wable; unusual bites from Risotto Chips; and many, many others!

And if shopping doesn’t do it for you, surely some exciting Virtual Reality games will. Step into the worlds of your favourite video games, as titles including Call of Duty and Star Wars will be available to play through VR headsets!

Singapore’s First Ever QR Code Bazaar

There’s just one thing—at this market, the only currency accepted is digital currency. That is, QR codes and payments made via the DBS PayLah! app!

Essentially, DBS PayLah! is a mobile app that functions as your personal digital wallet. Like a regular wallet, you can send and receive money instantly, but minus the inconvenience of not having enough cash, not having exact change, etc.

If you don’t bank with DBS/POSB, no worries! Non-DBS/POSB customers can also use the app by simply linking it to a local bank account.

This first ever QR Code bazaar is jointly organized by DBS and *SCAPE, in support of Singapore’s move towards becoming a Smart Nation.

Excited to attend? Just be sure to have the DBS PayLah! app downloaded before heading out!

For those new to the app, make sure to download DBS PayLah! and enter the promo code “PAYLAH505”. This will give you S$5 cash credit to spend—and hey, we won’t say no to free money. Just make sure to do it quick because only the first 10,000 new sign-ups will get it. This promo is only valid until 30 May.

So, mark these dates in your calendar! Shop to your heart’s content and experience the convenience and lightness of going cash-free!

Download the DBS PayLah! app on Apple or on Android.

DBS PayLah! X *SCAPE Palooza
Date: 5 – 7 May 2017
Time: 1pm – 9pm
Address: *SCAPE Playspace

Also read This Island-Wide Heritage Trail Will Have You Rediscovering What It Means To Be S’porean