Location: Bishan

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

Verdict Is Out! Michelin Bib Gourmand Singapore For Best Food Under $45

Where to get the best Curry Laksa? Which hawker stall has the best Hainanese Chicken Rice? Don’t know where to bring your tourist friends for the best Chai Tow Kway?

Worry no more because some of Singapore’s best eateries have been awarded a”Bib Gourmand” (high-quality menu at reasonable prices) by the very first edition of the Singapore Michelin Guide! So who made the cut? Here are the 34 hawker stalls, restaurants and food establishment that made the list.

What is Bib Gourmand?

“Not quite a star, but most definitely not a consolation prize, the Bib Gourmand…is a just-as-esteemed rating that recognises friendly establishments that serve good food at moderate prices. ” In Singapore – the meal must be under SGD$45 to qualify.

Michelin Bib Gourmand Singapore – Hawker Stalls

Without further ado, here’s the full list!

1. Claypot Laksa – Alexandra Village Food Centre

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23. New Ubin Seafood – Sin Ming Road

24. Peony Jade at Keppel Club (Cantonese) – Bukit Chermin Rd

25. Shish Mahal (Indian) – Albert Street

26. Song Fa Bak Kut Teh – New Bridge Rd

27. 328 Katong Laksa – East Coast Road

28. True Blue Cuisine (Peranakan) – Armenien Street

(image credit: Image source: Image source: Bismillah Biryani[/caption]

33. JB Ah Meng Kitchen (Cantonese) – Geylang Road

34. Sin Huat Eating House (crab rice noodle) – Geylang Road

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Header image source: Clearing All Your Doubts – How Exactly Does The Michelin Guide Work?

Look How Far Singapore Has Come! We Compare The Now & Then

Walk down memory lane, and discover Singapore now and then.

Rated the world’s most expensive city, Singapore has grown and become a modern metropolis in just over 50 years. Well, Singapore didn’t start as an economic giant nor with its dense amount of high-rise residential and office buildings. It is amazing how Singapore has grown during a short span of over 50 years.

We bet you didn’t know how some of these places had looked before it was developed!

Bishan Park

Completed in 1988, Bishan Park was one of the biggest parks in Singapore back then. It featured ponds, a lake, a football field, a fragipani gardens, and a “floating amphitheatre”within its 42 hectares of greenery. Paddle boats were available for rent and fishing at the ponds were available in 1990s.

In 2012, the park was renamed Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park after a major revamp. It now has a high-tech safety warning system, and several spots for recreational activities. A great place for families to gather, the park has now become a popular spot for residents to enjoy picnics and partake in activities.

Kallang River

Before its clean up in the early 1980s, Kallang River was crammed with lighters and tongkong – a type of light wooden boat. It even reeked of rotting waste and dirty sewage. During the clean up, pig farms, duck farms, street hawkers, latrines were removed. The whole clean up process took 10 long years.

Today, waterfront condominiums dot the area. This place has also grown to become a residential and lifestyle district. In 2014, the Sports Hub took over the old National Stadium. It now has a 55,000 capacity with a retractable roof, as well as an indoor aquatics arena.

Capitol Theatre

Before re-opening in 2015, the Capitol Theatre had offered a 1,600 seater cinema to patrons in Malaya. Its concave neo-classical facade plastered with movie posters had defined the street of Stamford Road and North Bridge Road. It was the place where many couples had their first dates back in the 60s!

18 years after its last cinema patron in 1998, the historic Capitol Theatre finally re-opened in 2015. Now, the mixed-use complex comprises four buildings – Capitol Theatre, Capitol Building, Stamford House and the new Capitol Piazza. Fun fact: We bet you didn’t know the Capitol Theatre is the biggest single-screen cinema in South-east Asia, with 900 seats available!

The Cathay

Entertaining generations of Singaporeans over 80 years, The Cathay started out as the first air-conditioned theatre in Singapore. At 16 storeys high, it was Singapore’s first “skyscraper” and it remained the city-state’s tallest building until 1954. This building was also used by the British administration and Japanese occupiers.

After the war, it re-opened as a cinema and hotel. Its Chinese restaurant was one of the most popular dining choices in town. However at the end of 1970, the hotel closed due to space constraints. It then became an office space for a period of time. Do you know Singapore’s first arthouse cinema – The Picturehouse was built here in 1987?

The Cathay re-opened in 2006 after a period of closure for an overhaul in 2000. Its 1939 front facade was restored. It is now a vibrant mall with an eclectic mix of entertainment, retail, and food and beverage stalls.

Fullerton Building

Completed in 1928, the Fullerton was Singapore’s largest building. It housed the General Post Office (GPO), a number of government offices, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Singapore Club. This was Singapore’s landmark. Many travellers and ship captains around the world recognised it. During 1928 to 1996, letters, money orders, and parcels were sorted and dispatched in the GPO and the Singapore Club occupied the upper floors. It was the “busiest and best-known building” in Singapore.

By 1960, after the Singapore Club had moved out to make way for government offices, the building housed Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, the Economic Development Board, the Ministry of Finance and a POSBank branch, the bank’s oldest.

In 1997, S$300 million was spent to convert Fullerton Building into a hotel. A two-storey commercial complex – One Fullerton opposite Fullerton Road, was built. The Fullerton Building restoration project took place from 1998 to 2000. Now, the building is gazetted as Singapore’s 71st national monument.

Orchard Road

True to its namesake, Orchard Road was named for the plantations lined with bamboo hedges and shrubbery in the area during the 18th century. Nutmeg plantations and fruit orchards dominated the area. Towards the later part of 1840s, graveyards appeared along the road. That part is now Meritus Mandarin Hotel and Ngee Ann City. In 1900, Orchard Road was still a tree flanked dirt road.

With its S$40 million revamp in 2009, today, Orchard Road is the nation’s top shopping, dining and entertainment hub. With its underground infrastructure connecting malls together, it is an ease to walk along the air conditioned walkways instead of the hustle and bustle on its road level.

Changi Airport

Prior to Changi Airport, the Paya Lebar Airport was bursting at the seams with more than 4 million passenger movements in 1975. With insufficient room for future expansion, a new location had been sought and Changi was selected as it was at the edge of the city.

Singapore Changi Airport was officially opened on 29 December 1981. It was the world’s largest airport at that time and the world’s largest column-free hanger at 20,000 sqm.

We are amazed at the pace of Singapore’s growth over the last 50 over years! In the past 50 years since independence, Singapore has transformed from a struggling city-state into one of the richest nations in the world.

What do you think Singapore will be like another 50 years down the road?

(Image credit by thefullertonheritage and imagetransforms, edited by writer)

Also read: Cycle X Makan – 5 Best Food And Night Cycling Paths In SG