Category: Uniquely Singapore

This Local Instagram Account Is Turning Dabao-ed Hawker Food Into Works Of Art

We Singaporeans love food.

We love eating it, admiring it, taking pictures of it–we love anything and everything to do with food.

If you’ve ever dined at a fancy restaurant, or in fact, tried replicating a famous chef’s recipe at home, you’ll know the world of difference presentation can make.

A simple salad can be transformed into a work of art, depending on how you plate it.

One local Instagram account is reinventing the way we see our humble kopitiam food by re-plating it fine dining style. We have to say, the results are impressive. They also make us very, very hungry.

Dabaogram 

Dabaogram (@dabaogram) is the brainchild of Daren, Josh and Brian, and one mystery chef, who goes by the alias ‘Vanesse’.

At first glance, Dabaogram looks like the carefully curated Instagram account of a fine dining restaurant.

Doesn’t seem too unusual or unique, does it? That is, until you realise these exquisite dishes aren’t from fancy restaurants but from somewhere you would never expect: our neighbourhood kopitiams.

As its name suggests, all the images lovingly (and expertly) curated on Dabaogram were dabao-ed from various local coffee shops and hawker centers. The team then reassembles the dish, before photographing them for the world to admire.

Crafted by hand, with minimal effects and garnishes, Dabaogram manages to transform your run-of-the-mill roasted duck noodle and prawn mee soup into breathtaking works of art.

While the account now has about 34 posts and 150 followers, we’re expecting their follower count to jump to the thousands once Singaporeans catch wind of Dabaogram.

Now, if only we could get the team behind Dabaogram to plate our daily duck rice and char kway teow every time we head out for lunch.

Also read, 10 Shiok Experiences And Eats To Turn Things Up A Notch The Second Half Of May [15-31 May]

DJ Calvin Harris Announced As Final Headlining Act At This Year’s Singapore Grand Prix

Another huge name has been added to the 2017 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix concert line-up: Calvin Harris.

The Grammy award-winning producer, songwriter and powerhouse DJ is set to perform on the third night of the Grand Prix, closing off the race weekend with a full-length performance.

He joins an already star-studded line-up including Ariana Grande, The Chainsmokers and OneRepublic. Other international acts who will be performing are Seal, Duran Duran, George The Poet and Lianne La Havas.

To catch Harris’ performance, get your hands on any three-day race ticket (S$298 and up) or any Sunday single-day ticket (S$198 and up)

For ticketing information, click here.

(Top Image Credit: The Chainsmokers & Ariana Grande To Perform Here In September – And They’re Not The Only Ones

With Over 1,000 Stalls, This Year’s Geylang Bazaar Will Keep You Coming Back For More

The month of Ramadhan is a few weeks away and while it holds plenty of cultural and religious significance for Muslims all over the world, that doesn’t mean the rest of us can’t join in on the festivities.

Two cultural events worth checking out every Ramadhan are the annual Hari Raya Light-Up and the Geylang Serai Baazar. This year’s light-up is centred around the cultural and historical aspects of Malay culture.

Hari Raya Light-Up 

This year’s Hari Raya Light-Up will feature a 4.4-metre-tall wau (a kite originating from the Malaysian state of Kelantan), a stage area formed by a 12-metre-wide sampan and decorated arches standing at 13-meters and 9-metres tall.

This year’s light-up stretches over 2.25km, spanning Sims Avenue and Changi Road, and comprises 900,000 LED lights!

This year’s Hari Raya Light-Up will see the addition of a new, temporary exhibition. Housed in a structure modelled after the weaves of a ketupat, the exhibition serves to educate the public about the history of Hari Raya and of the Geylang Serai area.

Geylang Serai Bazaar

The Geylang Serai Bazaar is returning with more than 1,000 makeshift stalls selling both traditional and fusion snacks. Happening from 25 May to 24 June, look out for “poke bowls”, candy floss burritos and “rainbow planet” ice-cream buns.

The annual bazaar spans Geylang Serai market, Joo Chiat Complex and Haig Road. Cultural performances are set to take place every weekend near Kampong Kembangan Community Club. For cultural buffs, catch free screenings of P Ramlee’s films on the big screen.

If you’re a Singaporean (or foreigner) who is keen on getting their hands on some delicious eats, head on down to the Hari Raya Light-Up. Our advice? Bring that portable fan and lots of cash!

Hari Raya Light-Up
Where: Around Sims Avenue and Changi Road 
When: May 20 – Jul 7

Geylang Serai Bazaar
Where: Geylang Serai Market, Joo Chiat Complex and Haig Road 
When: 25 May – 24 June 

Also read, DBS Marina Regatta Is Bringing The Beach To The Bay, With lululemon Workouts, Potato Head’s Coconut Bar & More!

These Memes By SPCA Are Not Only Adorable, They Help To Save Lives Too

If you’re anything like me, you spend a fair amount of time each day stalking cute puppies on Instagram, and watching gifs and videos of cute animals.

Who can resist cute animals on the Internet?

Given our affinity for memes and gifs, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has decided to spread the message of adoption in a language and form we millennials are sure to understand: Memes.

The “Adopt A Meme” Project 

Each meme was crafted with the personality of the featured animal in mind, and even gives you details including their gender, age and when they came into the care of SPCA.

[caption id="attachment_26092" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Image Credit: Also read, DBS Marina Regatta Is Bringing The Beach To The Bay, With lululemon Workouts, Potato Head’s Coconut Bar & More!

Engineering Is The Future, And Why Their Workspaces Are Actually Really Appealing To Millennials

Tell someone you work in engineering, and chances are, they think you work with grease and machines parts.

It is not an inaccurate picture, but with the perpetuation of tech-dominance, engineering has evolved into a career of the future.

Looking past the engineering of yesteryear, the engineering profession today touts the use of big data and high-end technology while working in impressive workspaces guaranteed to drop your jaws.

Engineering = Bulletproof Job of the Future?

The world today thrives on innovation. To maintain this inexorable forward thrust, the technology that supports cannot stagnate either. As such, the onus lies on engineers to not fall behind.

This is a harrowing thought indeed.

Micron data analyst Kegan Ang, who works with schematics, statistics and Big Data in the Planning Department (like a Central Command Centre), shared the perks of working for a company that provides extensive support for education.

Micron also partners with the local polytechnics to offer SkillsFuture Earn & Learn programmes for specialist diplomas. There are also in-house training programs that employees can participate in to up-skill themselves.

To job-seeking millennials out there, on-the-job education comes as an attractive incentive. Financial support aside, these perks also create a workspace that nurtures its staff, as opposed to utilising them as human robots to meet ends.

And if we’re talking about bulletproof jobs, working in a sector upon which the future relies (since the Internet of Things cannot work without memory cards, which Micron manufactures) sounds like a pretty stable gig indeed.

With an invite to Micron, I visited Fab 10, one of their 4 semiconductor facilities, to personally take a look at the workspace of a modern day engineer.

Micron Technology, Inc

Micron Technology Inc. is one of the wafer fabrication companies in Singapore which produces a global supply of memory chips (even the ones in your HPB tracker watch).

This U.S. multi-national giant employs approximately 7,500 workers in Singapore, and hires staff from various disciplines within Engineering.

In modern engineering, Kegan says that an engineer’s work is evolving into sophisticated, high tech work. So it’s not just about going out in the hot sun and getting sweaty and dirty.

For example, in Fab 10 clean rooms where memory chips are made, the room has to be free from random particles therefore, you cannot even tear paper in the room.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZJzLQJMdXs

Engineers have to smock-up as the air in the Fab 10 floor is highly controlled for foreign particles.

To automate the transport of silicon wafers used to make memory chips, Front Opening Unified Pods (FOUPs) below are used.

Modern clean rooms are automated, with ceilings lined with tracks upon which the FOUPs travel.

Kegan’s job involves monitoring the progress of the automated processes, which means he not only has to know how the processes work, but also analyses how to improve production time, and troubleshoots where necessary.

A Space To Break The Rules

One aspect of engineering that used to put me off was the image of a ‘checklist’ work style, so imagine my surprise when I learnt about their “TED Talks”.

A platform for engineers to share ideas on how to improve systems, these talks also encourage engineers to trail-blaze new technology. Promising ideas are not swept under the rug and can actually be adapted and realised by the company.

For naysayers who think these conferences are limited to the more senior, scrap that thought. Kegan shared that despite being a new employee, he already had the chance to be on this stage of open-sharing (i.e. the “TED” talks) twice.

Engineering Is Vital To Singapore’s Future

In recent years, Singapore has been championing more opportunities for further education in engineering, such as via the Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) for various engineering skills and the Electronics and Precision and Machinery Engineering Cluster’s Place-and-Train Programmes.

The Labour Movement has been expanding its U Associate network to include more than 40 professional guilds (termed U Associates) such as the Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES), to develop training and progression opportunities for their professional members, such as the Engineers Progression pathway with a three-tiered scheme below.

But despite the increasing prominence of engineering as a career, I admit to still having harboured a skewed perception of what modern engineering was like, before hearing about modern engineering jobs from Micron and one of its engineers, Kegan Ang.

Trashing stereotypes of unattractive, dead-end work cultures, what I learnt that day truly showed me the future.

The Labour Movement is working closely with tripartite partners (i.e. the government and businesses) to help working people into future jobs, such as those in sunrise industries like engineering. 

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

NUS Opening 140 Modules To Alumni Sounds Good, But Not If You Read Closely

Yesterday, the National University of Singapore (NUS) announced that it will be opening 140 courses to its alumni over the next three years. This comes as part of its efforts to promote lifelong learning.

When something sounds too good to be true, it often is. Before you get excited and start making plans with all your ex-uni mates from NUS, here are some things you should know about the courses being made available to you.

1. It will only be free for one year

Don’t be misled by the headlines. While alumni can attend for free for the first year (August 2017 – July 2018) of this three-year offering, the subsequent two years will not come at completely zero cost.

While the $3,000 to $3,500 per module course fee will be waived, a student service fee of $261.85 will be charged per semester.

2. NUS Alumni can only take a maximum of 2 modules over the 3-year period

Before you get excited thinking about going back to school, you should know that you can only take a maximum of 2 modules. Not per semester, not per year, but for the entire 3-year period. You are also limited to taking only one module per semester.

3. Modules you are eligible for heavily depends on your degree/major

Most of the modules offered are at the post-graduate level, with entry pre-requisites including Bachelor of Engineering/Science/etc., or the stricter Bachelor with a specified major. More lenient pre-requisites include Bachelor degree relating to a particular are of study (e.g computing), with only a handful of courses available with zero pre-requisites.

Being a Psychology major who studied in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, who also took a couple of business modules, I can see from a quick glance that I am only eligible for a total of 15 unique modules out of 140, spread over the 2 semesters—most of which are offered by the School of Business.

These modules include Project Management, Decision Analytics Using Spreadsheets, Legal Environment of Business. From the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, which offers courses with no pre-requisites, I am also eligible to take Social Entrepreneurship and Value-Focused Negotiation.

4. Representation of Arts and Social Sciences courses limited

For those who studied at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences like I did, you’ll be disappointed to know that only 2 modules are offered by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences during AY2017/2018: Prescribed Texts In Literature and Seminar in Chinese Pragmatics. To attend, you must have an NUS Honours degree (2^nd Class and above) or equivalent, or a good Bachelors degree.

Before you get excited thinking about returning to your alma mater and giving your uni experience a do-over, taking modules you missed out on or learning things you didn’t get the chance to back when you were in school, these are some things you may have missed that are worth taking note of.

As far as these courses are concerned, it’s not about learning for the sake of learning or to expose yourself to different things—it’s much more about deepening your knowledge in your existing field.

(Top Image Credit: Isem.nus.edu)

Also read NUS Clinches 1st Place In Asian University Ranking For Third Year Straight; NTU Rises To 3rd

DBS Marina Regatta Is Bringing The Beach To The Bay, With lululemon Workouts, Potato Head’s Coconut Bar & More!

If you’ve been spending all your hours cooped up in the office rushing to meet deadline after deadline, we think it’s time to get out and feel the warmth of the sunshine on your face again.

Where, you ask? Look no further than the CBD. This 1-4 June, DBS brings the beach to you.

Back for its sixth edition, the DBS Marina Regatta will see the return of Singapore’s first and only urban pop-up beach at Marina Bay.

Dubbed “Singapore’s Biggest BayFest”, there’s no place like the DBS Marina Regatta this summer.

From lying in a hammock with an ice cold cocktail, to taking lululemon yoga classes against a scenic backdrop, to tackling Singapore’s largest inflatable water obstacle course, the DBS Marina Regatta has something for everyone!

Here are some amazing highlights at the DBS Marina Regatta!

1. Sip On Cocktails at Potato Head’s Coconut Bar

Bali beach lovers will be familiar with Potato Head, an essential stop for anyone heading over for a vacay.

Fret not if you’ve never been there; Potato Head will be bringing its renowned Coconut Bar to the DBS Marina Regatta. Sip on the bar’s fresh coconut cocktails and beers, and be transported to paradise!

Where: Bay Beach – Singapore’s only pop-up urban beach

2. Make A Splash At The Giant Inflatable Water Obstacle Course

Last year, the DBS Marina Regatta brought a five-storey water slide to the Bay. This year, it’s bringing “Battle Bay”, a massive inflatable water obstacle course with nine obstacles spanning 11,000 square feet! Do you and your friends have the mental and physical chops to finish the Battle Bay?

Tackle the course as an individual or a team of four, and stand a chance to win cash prizes if you or your team clock the fastest time. With both bragging rights and $8,000 up for grabs, you’ll want to start training now.

To take part as a team, sign up An illustrated projection of the Marina Bay skyline[/caption]

For a brief respite from the sweltering heat, step into the Bay Dome, one of two majestic domes at the regatta. Standing at 7.5 metres tall, you’ll get to immerse yourself in Singapore’s largest interactive art dome and add your personal touch to an illustrated projection of the iconic Marina Bay skyline.

Create your own unique characters and watch them come to life on the projection. Watch the canvas evolve as characters stream in and create a dynamic and vibrant landscape!

Where: Bay Dome
Price: Free

4. Work out with lululemon

Fitness enthusiasts, this one’s for you. Popular brand lululemon will be collaborating with Yoga+ and WeBarre to bring you a curated line-up of yoga and barre classes at the Bay. Complete all classes and receive a special surprise from lululemon!

Work up a sweat with fellow fitness enthusiasts! Who knows, maybe you’ll make a new friend or two!

Classes are free, so hurry and sign up at 5. Get Ultra-Ready at the DBSMR X ULTRA Countdown Party [caption id="attachment_26062" align="alignnone" width="1500"] Image Credit: Artist’s impression of Marina Regatta 2017[/caption]

With such a fun and exciting array of activities to participate in at the DBS Marina Regatta, there’s no reason to stay indoors this June! So get out there and have some fun!

Follow DBS on Facebook for more updates or visit

Also read Nothing To Do In Tiny S’pore? This Bank Is Making It Its Mission To Bring More Life Here

15 Local Filmmakers Are Teaming Up On One Film Project – And You Can Be A Part Of It

Many of us know Singapore’s story by heart.

We know the landmark events and key figures who helped shape our nation into what it is today. But how many of us truly know who we were? The people, the lives, the stories that made up the tapestry of our nation?

15 Short Films – From The Ground Up is a collaboration between Blue3Asia and the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) that aims to bring these untold stories to life through the medium of film.   

15 Short Films – From The Ground Up

15 Short Films will see 15 local filmmakers and online creators including producer Daniel Yun, Pop Aye’s Kirsten Tan, YouTuber Jian Hao Tan, and many others, coming together to tell the stories of real Singaporeans.

Told and interpreted in a diversity of styles, this series of films uncovers the stories of the people we were, spanning Singapore’s history, from post-independence till the turn of the millennium.

Each film will run for 5 – 10 minutes, each centering on one Singaporean. Starting in June, these films will be released both online and on traditional platforms.

At the end of day, 15 Short Films has one objective in mind: to show that giving, and the compassionate and inclusive side of us has always been there.

Funding From The Ground Up 

This project will be 100% crowd-funded, where foundations, corporations, and individual Singaporeans can all play a part in bringing this film project to life.

To contribute and find out more about this project, visit 15 Short Film’s crowd-funding page.

Also read, Ho Seh Liao! The Govt Is Giving Out S$120M To Help Out HDB Homeowners

This Digital Playground Has No Slides Or Swings, But 5 Virtual Worlds To Lose Yourself In

It’s probably safe to say that we’ve come to a point where technology lets us do amazing things we never thought was possible.

MOSH! (Moshi) is definitely proof of that. The first interactive digital family edutainment park in Singapore, it makes use of technology to redefine our idea of play. 

[caption id="attachment_25983" align="aligncenter" width="5120"] Image Credit: This is an almost magical twist on the classic paper planes we all played with as children. 

[caption id="attachment_25978" align="aligncenter" width="1100"] Image Credit: Maybe you’ve been to the S.E.A. Aquarium.

[caption id="attachment_26034" align="aligncenter" width="570"] Image Credit: Ever wanted make your own fireworks display?

[caption id="attachment_25977" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Image Credit: Leave the real world behind in this cute land of the MOSH!cots. 

[caption id="attachment_25982" align="aligncenter" width="1100"] Image Credit: You’ll probably be tired after a day of play, so drop by the cafe for a yummy boost!

[caption id="attachment_25979" align="aligncenter" width="2591"] Image Credit: Palawan Kidz City Sentosa, 31 Beach View, #03-01, Singapore 098008
Opening Hours: 10 AM – 9 PM, Last Admission: 8 PM
Admission: Child (age 3 – 12 Years): $22, Adult: $28, Senior Citizen (age 55 years and above): $20, Family Bundle (Admits 1 Adult, 1 Child): $48
Contact no.: 6238 8296
Newly Opened LuLu’s Lounge Brings The 60s’ New York Back Alley Club To Singapore’s Nightlife Scene

Newly Opened LuLu’s Lounge Brings The 60s’ New York Back Alley Club To Singapore’s Nightlife Scene

A new night spot has opened up in town and it’s burlesque dancers, inventive cocktails, and old school nostalgia galore!

LuLu’s Lounge is not your average club. A unique nightlife concept, the quirky lounge comprises a dance floor, outdoor terrace and a dynamic entertainment line-up.

You won’t find any 18 year-olds getting wasted here. Lulu’s is firmly pitched at the more refined crowd.

The adult-oriented lounge is made for the mature crowd that wants to party, but in a less intense clubbing environment.

[caption id="attachment_25941" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] Image Credit:

Be prepared to be taken on a musical journey that starts off with live jazz.

It then progresses to old school, hip-hop funk or dancehall as the night goes on and morning comes.

[caption id="attachment_25942" align="aligncenter" width="1904"] Image Credit:

LuLu’s must-try drinks (starting at $24) are cocktails with a coy twist.

‘Big Coconuts’, for one, is very similar to a Pina Colada, but with a tangy, sour punch, and vodka.

[caption id="attachment_25944" align="aligncenter" width="836"] Image Credit:

If you’re familiar with Bang Bang and Employees Only, LuLu’s is opened by the same people, Sarissa and Joshua Schwartz.

The husband-and-wife duo draws inspiration from a fictional character, Lulu.

[caption id="attachment_25934" align="aligncenter" width="2000"] Image Credit: