Category: Uniquely Singapore

Rice Burgers Are So Mainstream – MOS Burger Releases 3 New Pasta Burgers

Joining the likes of interesting food creations like the McDonald’s Chocolate Pie and KFC’s Zinger Mozzarella Burger, is our family favourite, MOS Burger!

MOS Burger has just launched an Italian Pasta Burger which replaces their buns with pasta.

Who Needs Buns In Burgers?

As part of their 25th anniversary in Singapore, MOS Burger released three Burger di Pasta which is exactly what it is, pasta in a burger form.

Best part, they’re so cheap and underrated, you probably won’t face any long queues.

Their launch was so low key, barely anyone noticed when they launched these new items.

They have 3 different options for you to choose from: Beef Bolognese ($4.30), Teriyaki Chicken Mushroom Sauce ($4.70) and a vegetarian option, Caesar Salad ($3.50).

The Burger di Pasta is currently only available in two outlets, Plaza Singapura and Marina Bay Financial Centre.

So hurry on down before they remove these burgers from their menu.

Are you planning on giving these burgers a try?

MOS Burger Plaza Singapura
Address: 68 Orchard Road, #B1-01 Plaza Singapura, Singapore 238839
Opening Hours: Mon – Sun: 10am – 10pm
Contact No.: 6883 0026
Also Read If You Love Muah Chee, You’ll Love This New Bubble Tea By Playmade

(Header Image Source: MOS Burger Singapore Facebook)

If You Love Muah Chee, You’ll Love This New Bubble Tea By Playmade

If you’re not familiar with Playmade by 丸作, they previously caused a stir in the local bubble tea community with their interesting pearl flavours.

From Burnt Caramel to Pink Cactus and Black Sesame, Playmade has certainly carved a niche in the existing bubble tea market.

Nutty Sensation

Playmade has come up with a brand new drink for those of you who love your traditional desserts.

That’s right, from now till 21 March 2018, the Peanut Milk Tea With Muah Chee Pearls ($1.90) will be available at both Playmade outlets.

No prizes for guessing what local dessert inspired this particular milk tea flavour. While the Muah Chee pearls have been around since January as a limited time pearl flavour, the accompanying Peanut Milk Tea is new.

The Peanut Milk Tea with Muah Chee Pearls will only be around for another 2 weeks, so head down to any Playmade outlet and get yours today!

Playmade
Address: 108 Depot Road #01-03, Singapore, 100108
Opening Hours: Daily: 11am – 8pm
Contact no.: 9067 7297
Website

Address: 10 Tampines Central 1, #01-59, Singapore, 529536
Opening Hours: Daily: 10.30am – 10pm
Contact no.: 9067 7297

Also read Ditch The Macs Queue For Chocolate Pie And Go For Legit Ones At Windowsill Pies

Nathan Hartono’s First Mandarin Single Is A Weird And Wonderful Bop

In case you haven’t heard the screams from crazy fangirls (it’s mainly us), Singapore’s second musical son, Nathan Hartono has released his first Mandarin single, “爱超给电”.

Following his participation in the famous Sing! China competition back in 2016, Nathan Hartono is now a nationwide household name.

Electricity

The single was released exclusively in China on 7 February 2018, before its global release across all digital platforms on 9 February 2018.

The song is basically the mandarin rendition of his previous English single, “Electricity”. While “Electricity” is smooth and poppy, “爱超给电” is more dancey and catchy than its English counterpart.

The music video sees Nathan Hartono decked out in Japanese-inspired looks by Yohji Yamamoto, surrounded by colourful characters, props, and dancers.

The music video aesthetics reminds us of a mix between Lady Gaga and Snakehips. From a lady resembling the Statue Of Liberty, to the masked dancers, and the vogueing pairs, this music video has no shortage of interesting characters.

Also, what even is that Pig suit?

Aside from the weird and wonderful outfits, we also get gratuitous shots of topless Nathan Hartono in various parts of the music video.

If you haven’t seen it, watch the music video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9t6HOxCd4k&feature=youtu.be

If the thumbnail doesn’t make you want to click on the video, we don’t know what would.

We cannot wait for more music from Nathan Hartono. In the meantime, this song will be on loop.

Also read The Definitive Guide To Ladies Night Promos In Singapore That Don’t Involve Alcohol

(Header Image Source: Warner Music)

Former Japanese Idol-Turned-Solo Artist Estelle Fly Debuts Her First English Single “Blue”

Singapore has had rather prominent home-grown musicians. From JJ Lin and Stefanie Sun to The Sam Willows and Sam Rui, the local music scene has improved by leaps and bounds.

An up-and-coming musician is Estelle Fly, a Singapore-based artist who used to be part of the Japanese pop idol scene. In 2010, she was part of girl group MYnT and Japanese anime song idol group Sea*A for 3 years, from 2011 to 2013.

Since the disbandment of Sea*A, Estelle Fly has gone solo as a Youtuber and musician, creating and building her own sound – one that she describes as a mix between R&B and Pop.

Her Solo English Debut

On 31 January 2018, Estelle Fly debuted her first English single, “Blue“.

The single, produced by Osaka-based producer Soleil Soleil and Jason Gelchen of Singapore’s Homeground Studios, is a groovy R&B pop track about a girl’s first encounter with unrequited love.

While the song isn’t immediately catchy, it grows on you. We found ourselves humming to the tune of “Blue” in the most random moments and now it’s on loop.

The song is now available on Spotify.

Watch the music video for “Blue” below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmL97GoQz8w

Also read Have A Fab February With These 10 Food And Events To Check Out With Bae

(Header Image Source: Estelle Fly)

6 Picture-Perfect Staycation Ideas That Suit Both The Budget And Lavish Traveler

If we had it our way, most of us love to go on extended vacations to exotic locations – if we had the time and money to do so. But, just because you can’t leave the country doesn’t mean you can’t have a fun, restful holiday.

Whether you’re looking for a cheap getaway, or have a little extra cash to splash for a special occasion, we have some ideas for where you and your partner, friends, or family can go for a holiday, right here in Singapore.

$100 – $150

1. XY Hotel Bugis

A relatively new addition to the boutique hotel scene is XY Hotel Bugis. Located in Kampong Glam, XY Hotel Bugis’ design and rooms feature a unique blend modern art, while staying true to the local heritage.

While its exterior is deceptively minimal with its black and white design, step inside and you’ll find a space that’s overflowing with personality and interiors punctuated with bright pops of colour.

Think rattan chairs in bold hues of pink, green and indigo, and neon lights in the common areas. All 15 of their rooms also feature quirky murals.

At XY Hotel Bugis, each room has its own distinct vibe and charm. The handiwork of designers both local and overseas, some rooms feature pop art-style murals while others feature more abstract paintwork.

Located just minutes away from OG hipster area Haji Lane and Arab Street, you won’t have to venture far for some amazing – and halal – food. And if you’re feeling restless at night, you can always head to the 24-hour Mustafa Centre to do some late night (or early morning) shopping!

A Superior room will set you back $130 – $160 per night, while the Deluxe room will cost $140 – $170 per night.

XY Hotel Bugis
Address: 11-13 Jln Klapa, Singapore 199325
Contact no.: 6788 1001
Facebook

2. Rabbit Carrot Gun

If you want a change of pace from hotels and boutique hotels, here’s a staycation spot that’s more unique – Rabbit Carrot Gun.

Rabbit Carrot Gun is a restaurant and ‘hotel’ rolled into one. On the ground floor of this refurbished shophouse is a bustling casual dining restaurant that serves up all your brunch favourites, while the second storey comprises 3 rooms for guests.

The Kubric Suite ($139) is a bright and airy room with bold art adorning the walls, The Rabbit’s Retreat ($165/night) comes with a bath tub and, and The Terrace Suite ($145/night) is the biggest of the three, featuring a private roof terrace.

If you don’t live in the East side of Singapore, this would be a great opportunity to explore parts of Singapore you’ve never ventured to before. Our tip? Bookmark all the good food you want to try in the area to make the best of your stay in the East.

Rabbit Carrot Gun
Address: 47 – 49 East Coast Road, Singapore 428768
Contact no.: 6348 8568
Website

$150 – $200

3. Mercure On Stevens

If you take the bus or drive to Orchard Road, you may have noticed two buildings that have recently sprung up along Stevens Road.

There’s also the newly-opened Winestone lounge which offers both indoor and outdoor terrace seating. With its chill vibes, Winestone is a great place to unwind with friends over shared plates of raclette and freshly bakes pizzas and bread.

Mercure On Stevens
Address: Orchard District, 28 Stevens Road, #01-02, Singapore 257878 
Contact no.: 6491 6100
Image Credit: Image Credit: Sassy Hong Kong[/caption]

We absolutely love their bathrooms and can imagine spending hours relaxing in their luxurious bath tub.

For a 5-star retreat, their price tag isn’t too hefty, with prices starting from $230 a night. With plenty of greenery and marble, we think plenty of amazing photos will come out of your stay here.

A huge plus point when you stay here is that you will have no lack of options when it comes to nightlife. With Clarke Quay just a 5-minute drive away and Orchard Road within walking distance, you won’t have to worry about being bored and having nothing to do after dark.

Hotel Fort Canning
Address: 11 Canning Walk Singapore 178881 
Contact no.: 6559 6770
Image Credit: Gardenasia Facebook[/caption]

Nestled in the Kranji Countryside, the three villas here are spread across over two hectares of land. Each villa is decorated with its own distinct style: English (Begonia Villa), The Orient (Camellia Villa) and Contemporary (Daffodil Villa). The villas here are designed after the colonial houses of yore, and come with their own walk-up staircase!

With each villa leading straight to the pool, you’ll surely be tempted to take a dip, especially in sunny Singapore. Other amenities here include a tennis court, amphitheater, and billiards table, so get off your devices and enjoy the beautiful outdoors while you’re here!

The villa rates are standardized across the board, with weekday stays (Wed, Thu) priced at $280++/night and weekend stays (Fri, Sat) priced at $350++/night.

Gardenasia FarmStay Villa
Address: 240 Neo Tiew Crescent, Singapore 718898   
Contact no.: 6898 9111
Image Credit: Image Credit: Image Credit: Want to win a 3D2N stay (with breakfast for two) at Mercure Singapore on Stevens? Simply like and follow TwentyxThirty on Facebook, and tag someone you’d like to share the staycation with!*  

*Terms & Conditions apply.

This article is written in collaboration with TwentyThirty.

Also read Aliwal Urban Art Festival Is Back, And It’s Bringing Food Trucks, Glamping And Amazing Music

(Header Image Source: Gardenasia Facebook)

Aliwal Urban Art Festival Is Back, And It’s Bringing Food Trucks, Glamping And Amazing Music

The Aliwal Urban Art Festival is back for its fifth iteration on 20 January 2018, and you know it’s serious when they close off the road on Aliwal Street.

This time, Aliwal Urban Art Festival has leveled up their programmes to include skateboarding, glamping, dancing, freestyle football and many more!

Art At Aliwal

For those of you who love to bust a move, there’s The Get UP to Get DOWN featuring ScRach MarcS. Held at the Aliwal carpark, this all-out block party will feature music from the 60s all the way to 2009. There might even be a soul train.

What’s an urban art festival without urban art? Presented by RSCLS and The Blackbook, there will be a RSCLS Detour, which takes you around Kampong Glam to learn more about the history of urban art in Singapore.

That’s not all, there’s also Spin Cycle, where 3 artists use a puzzle canvas to create interactive artwork that visitors can play with. There will also be a Terrainware Tent Challenge where you get to pit your skills against outdoor gurus to glamp at the Aliwal Urban Art Festival.

Music At Aliwal

No urban art festival is complete without music and Aliwal Urban Art Festival does not disappoint.

Festival-goers can expect live performances from Bakers In Space, Mean, Sobs, Vandetta, and Eatmepoptart. That’s not all, other musical highlights include FFIN from Slugwife, Ras Irie, and Koflow.

Skate And Play At Aliwal

Skaters can also test their skill and flex their creativity at the Best Line and Best Trick contest at the Firing Line. There’s even prize money to be won!

There’s even a Skate Drop-In Clinic where newbie skaters get to learn from the best coaches in Singapore, in a safe and supervised environment.

Soccer buffs can also test their skills at the Street Football Challenge and pick up some freestyle skills from the pros.

Eat And Shop At Aliwal

Of course, you don’t have to go hungry at the Aliwal Urban Art Festival. There will be a bunch of food trucks available at the Aliwal carpark.

For those who are there for the shopping, there’s the Brilliant Corners Artist Market where you can expect to find limited edition art prints, custom tees, magazines, and 12″ records.

Aliwal Urban Art Festival 2018 is the must-go art event that’s part of the Singapore Art Week. Bring your friends and family down to Aliwal Street on 20 January 2018 for a night of crazy fun!

Aliwal Urban Art Festival
Venue: Aliwal Arts Centre, 28 Aliwal Street, Singapore, 199918
Date: 20 January 2018
Website

Also read Here Are All The Concerts To Look Forward To In 2018 So Far

(Header Image Source: Aliwal Arts Centre)

What’s In A Year: We Rounded Up 10 Trending Moments In S’pore That Defined 2017

This has been quite a year for the world. For Singapore. Trains broke down, Presidents took office, and students flashed the middle finger on national television.

Oh, and the nation gushed over a 50 year old man.

But that’s not all that happened. We’ve rounded up the most Singaporean things that made our 2017.

Singapore’s 2017 In A Nutshell

1. Racial Harmony Exemplified

In January, there was a Malay wedding that was in the vicinity of the path of an ongoing funeral procession and the guests at the Malay wedding stood still out of respect for the procession.

If that isn’t the most textbook representation of our racial harmony, we don’t know what is.

2. Uber Brings People Together

Singapore is a small country. The fact that we have so many people condensed into a small space, forces us to interact with strangers in various situations.

And in this cluster of people, 2 strangers managed to find love in an Uber. A part-time UberPool driver picked up an Air Stewardess while he was working, where they had a casual conversation about her occupation.

Following that encounter, he found her again through the power of social media and now they’re attached. Sometimes, love happens where and when you least expect it.

3. NSF Is STOMPed For The Right Reasons

NSFs receive a lot of flak from the public. Most of the time because they’re sitting on seats in the MRT. It got so bad to the point where commanders were actively telling their recruits NOT to sit when they’re taking public transport.

But that’s not what this NSF was STOMPed for. In March this year, this NSF was seen sheltering an elderly lady in a wheelchair at Pasir Laba Camp.

Is that not the sweetest gesture ever? It’s very heart-warming to see such scenarios.

4. Cow In Yishun

Given how urbanised Singapore is, we don’t see farm animals around housing estates at all (not anymore, that is).

Then there’s this cow in Yishun. No we’re talking about a mean lady. We’re talking about a literal cow. The kind that goes “Moo” and is stereotypically white with black patches (or black with white patches).

Long story short, the court denies the return of the phone to the parent.

The moral of the story here, is that privilege will not save you from rule-breaking.

7. The Man Who Drank The Elixir Of Life

In July, the nation was shook by the sudden discovery of the Man Who Never Ages.

Yes we’re talking about ChuanDo Tan. The 50 year old that looks way younger than his age allows.

The former model-turned-photographer’s secret to staying young and buff AF, is working out religiously.

Not forgetting really good genes too.

We’ve never seen the nation come together for something positive, since National Day 2016.

8. The Kid Who Flipped The Nation Off

National Day this year was brilliant, as usual. But the icing on the cake wasn’t the fireworks.

It came at the end of the live broadcast of the National Day Parade.

A student from Henry Park Primary School (bless his heart) was seen flashing his middle finger at the camera at the end of the parade, when the performers were gathered for the finale.

The nation gasped, processed what happened, and laughed. Well, most of us laughed anyway. Parents were shaking their heads and teachers were scrambling to find the boy.

Long story short, he was found, reprimanded and counselled. But it was still a good laugh.

9. A New President

In September this year, there was a lot of controversy regarding the reserved election, but eventually the nation moved on and a new President was elected.

Mdm Halimah Yacob, previously the MP of Jurong GRC, is Singapore’ first female President. She was declared President-elect on 13 September this year and inaugurated the day after.

10. Flowers For Patients

In November, volunteers at BloomBack, a social enterprise, recycled wedding flowers and turned them into 300 bouquets that were handed out to patients at St. Andrew’s Community Hospital, Banyan Home, and the Salvation Army.

The flowers, worth more than $10,000, were collected from a wedding dinner the night before. Not wanting the fresh flowers to be tossed in the bin, BloomBack decided to give these flowers a new purpose.

Sometimes, small gestures can really make one’s day.

Also read Here Are All The Concerts To Look Forward To In 2018 So Far

Grab Is Playing Santa This X’mas – Lets You Redeem Gifts With Your GrabRewards Points

We are now just 10 days away from Christmas!

Amidst all the Christmas cheer, here’s one more reason to celebrate. If you’ve been an avid Grab user, Grab has a present (or many presents) for you.

From 11 – 23 December, the Grab Christmas Store is popping up at Plaza Singapura – and you won’t have to spend a single cent. The first and only store of its kind, you can shop over 88 gifts, ranging from accessories and beauty products to homeware and books, using the GrabRewards points you’ve accumulated.

For 2,000 points, you can choose from a selection of cups, bowls, and jewellery. For 4,000 points, you can get a jar of premium jam by Straits Preserves. And for 6,000 points, you can choose from body scrubs and fragrant candles.

And if you manage to rack up 40,000 points – that’s A LOT of Grab rides – you get to choose from what we think are the best items of the lot: a JBL portable bluetooth speaker and a XiaoYi Action Cam, just to name a few.

And that’s not all.

For even more Christmas rewards, check out the GrabRewards Catalogue inside your Grab app. If you see something you like, redeem it via the app, and pop by the Grab Christmas Store to collect it.

Grab users, be sure to check how many GrabRewards points you’ve accumulated and redeem them ASAP! All items are only available while stocks last so don’t be afraid to be kiasu!

Grab Christmas Store
Address: Plaza Singapura, 68 Orchard Road, Singapore 238839
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm
Date: 11 – 23 December 2017
Website

Also read 8 Best Fish Soups In S’pore That Will Have You Savouring Every Last Drop

(Header Image Source: Grab)

Wah Seh, Here Are All 27 Singlish Words That Made It Into The Oxford English Dictionary

Wah, Singapore has really come a long way. And we’re not referring to our infrastructure or GDP.

We’re talking about Singlish lah.

In the past, Singlish was frowned upon by the government. But today, Singlish words have made their way into the Oxford English Dictionary (OED).

Here’s a list of all 27 Singlish words and other Singaporean things that are officially in the Oxford English Dictionary.

Singlish Exclamations

Our exclamations are now official words! How crazy is that? There’s Aiyah, Aiyoh, Lah, and Wah.

How Lah made it into the dictionary is really beyond our understanding. Are the people at OED expecting the rest of the world to use the term?

As in, “David was saboed to take the shift this weekend.”

Singaporean Food

Yes, local food made it into the dictionary. Char Kway Teow, Char Siu (BBQ Pork), Chilli Crab, and Teh Tarik are now included in the menu dictionary. We’re just happy they included Teh Tarik.

(Header Image Source: Unsplash)

Ngee Ann City, Bishan And 6 Other Places You Didn’t Know Were Once Cemeteries

Did you know that Singapore has had over 21 cemeteries in the past? However, Singapore only has 3 active cemeteries now. The Lim Chu Kang cemetery, Pusara Aman Cemetery and Pusara Abadi Cemetery.

Due to the land scarcity that we face, graves had to be exhumed and cemeteries were cleared to make way for urban development. Today, many buildings stand atop old burial sites.

From HDBs to shopping malls, we’ve compiled a list of the places that were once cemeteries.

A Land With A Past

1. Fort Canning

Before it was Fort Canning, it was known as Bukit Larangan, which means “Forbidden Hill” in Malay. Built on it was an early Christian cemetery that was established there in 1822, and closed in 1865.

Following the closure of the Bukit Larangan Cemetery, the Fort Canning Cemetery was established.

The doll was subsequently removed by SMRT staff. But it is still creepy.

3. Novena MRT Station

There was another Jewish cemetery that was recorded to be located just north of Moulmein road, adjacent to Thomson Road and Newton Road. It was established just before the First World War.

However in 1985, the cemetery was closed and the area was reclaimed for the development of a then-new MRT station.

If you look at the map, the only MRT station there is Novena MRT station.

4. Ngee Ann City

The site where Ngee Ann City is standing on, used to be a Teochew Cemetery called ‘Tie Swah Ting’. It was established by the Ngee Ann Kongsi, a Chinese Teochew charitable association in 1845.

The cemetery spanned 72 acres of land and housed 25,000 to 30,000 graves. However, in 1957, the cemetery was cleared and some of the land was acquired by the government.

A 10-storey Ngee Ann building was built on the land, though it was demolished in 1985. Today, the Ngee Ann City Shopping Complex and Civic Plaza can be found at this old burial site.

Even though it has been disproved by Ngee Ann City’s architect, there is still a rumour going around in Singapore that the complex was designed to look like a Chinese tombstone.

Do you see that the flagpoles resemble joss sticks and the fountain in the civic plaza resembles wine offerings?

5. Caldecott Broadcast Centre

Caldecott Hill used to house a Chinese cemetery. The land was purchased to be used as a burial ground for Chinese people. However, the cemetery was closed to build a mansion.

Oddly enough, a fire broke out and razed the mansion to the ground, killing the whole family. The old Mediacorp Caldecott Broadcast Centre used to be situated on the hill.

Today, Woodleigh MRT station sits on part of the old cemetery and HDB has commenced work on turning the area into a housing estate with HDB flats and private houses that will be complete by 2018.

7. Bishan

Before Bishan became Bishan, it was a World War 2 battle site and subsequently a Chinese cemetery known as the Kampong San Teng cemetery.

The Chinese cemetery was eventually closed to make way for HDB estates and the kampong was renamed from San Teng to what we now know as, Bishan.

Honourable Mention

8. Bukit Brown

Did you know that Bukit Brown has an MRT station?

Yes, you read that right. Bukit Brown MRT station. If you’re squinting at your phone trying to spot Bukit Brown MRT station on the SMRT map, you won’t find it.

Bukit Brown MRT station is located somewhere between Caldecott station and Botanic Gardens station.

It is currently not in operation as the ‘station’ is located at an empty plot of land that’s smack dab in the middle of the Bukit Brown cemetery and the Chinese cemetery at Mt. Pleasant.

However, the government has announced plans to build a 4-lane road which will cut through Bukit Brown cemetery and the rest of the cemetery will be cleared to make way for new public housing town in 40 year’s time.

Singapore is a small country and eventually all cemeteries will have to make way for housing development. Would you live in an estate built over an old cemetery?

Also read Katy Perry Is Coming Back To Singapore In April 2018 For Her ‘Witness’ World Tour

(Header Image Source: Flickr User Nicolas Lannuzel)