Author: Esther Chan

Theme parks. Giant playgrounds designed for adults that can be a huge waste of money, especially in Singapore. We all know the rides in Universal Studios Singapore aren’t exactly worth our bucks, so theme parks are a must-visit for Singaporeans when we go overseas. But forget Disneyland and all the other generic ones – here are 10 unique theme parks in Asia to check out when you’re on your travels! 1. Fuji-Q Highlands (Japan) Dubbed as the theme park with the steepest rollercoaster, Fuji Q is located near the base of Mount Fuji in Japan. The theme park is famous for its Takabisha…

Hands up if you’re thoroughly sick of meeting boys who “don’t want a label”, or of swiping right on seemingly adventurous people who turn out to just be gym rats…. because I am. Or maybe you’re just looking for people to work out platonically with because your friends aren’t quite the fitspo type – then Broc & Bells is the social platform for you. Meet Like-Minded People When you sign up for an account, you can describe yourself with two words; as you can see, I’m not exactly the fittest of the lot. Click on “People” and you’ll be directed to this…

Sit down for a blast to the past! Who remembers playing these online games back in Primary and Secondary school whenever there was a computer lab session, and minimising the screen every time your teacher walked past? Here are 10 online games every 90s kid used to play: 1. Neopets This game disillusioned me into thinking that I’m pretty okay at taking care of pets. Our neopets never died no matter how long we left them, did they? I won’t deny that there were too many times I logged on to see my neopet ‘dying’. Lol. If my neopet was a…

Located in Tiong Bahru, Nimble/Knead is a cozy spa that uses actual shipping containers as spa rooms. Promising “free shipping to wherever your mind takes you”, the spa offers a wide range of novel treatments from just S$42. Sounds good, right? What struck me right away was the carefree, idle vibe of the interior of the spa. But aren’t all spas supposed to make you feel relaxed, you ask? Yes, but sometimes you can feel the employees eagerness to sell you a spa package. It’s all about the vibes man. Another aspect of the spa that won me over was the…

When getai is mentioned, one usually thinks of it as a performance put up for the spirits during the Hungry Ghost Festival in Singapore, with the front row seats left empty for ‘VIP’ audiences from the spiritual realm. That is not the case however, as getai (literally “song stage”) performances are also organised throughout the year. Curious about what it is that sustains the getai industry today, I went to watch one of the performances to try to understand the appeal. As I walked closer to the location, I could hear a female emcee speaking animatedly in Hokkien, as disco lights illuminated…

When it comes to teaching, most of us would agree that it’s not an easy job. Yet, some Singaporeans remain ignorant of the responsibilities that our teachers have to undertake. “It’s just teaching and marking, how difficult can it be? Just ignore and put up with the occasional problem child and unreasonable parent.” Sounds familiar? Well, here are 10 confession stories from teachers in Singapore that’ll give you a glimpse into the different types of trouble our teachers have to deal with. 1. Shit… Everywhere. Literally. “I was chaperoning an overseas programme for three days and two nights with 80 students,…

This 22 April 2018, boutique gym CELL will be collaborating with SOSD Singapore (Save Our Street Dogs) to host a workout session with a crew of very adorable dogs at the Doggy Adoption Drive @ CELL. The event will run from 1pm to 5pm, and CELL will be holding two fitness classes – Primal and Hatha Yoga – priced at S$25 per person. The dogs will be hanging out in the gym throughout the event, including when Hatha Yoga is conducted from 1pm to 2pm. It’s an introductory class to Yoga in which each pose will be held for six to eight counts…

Wanna shop cheap goodies but can’t Chinese for nuts? I got your back. “But why bother?”, you might ask. Sure, there are middleman agents like Ezbuy that translates the language and does the shipping for you, but by making your purchase directly off the website, you get seller discounts sometimes and no agent fees! Not to mention that Taobao has basically everything. Here’s your ultimate guide to getting started on Taobao – you can thank me after. 1. Setting Up An Account When you arrive at the main page, look out for the words 免费注册 (register for free) and you’ll be directed to the account…

Games! What better way than playing a game together to break the ice and get to know one another? Sure, you can get to know a person by talking to them, but games are much more fun and can reveal things about someone’s personality that conversations can’t. Here are 10 free multiplayer gaming apps to avoid awkward conversations in a group and get the party rolling: 1. Spyfall One of the simplest games of deception, the spy has to ‘smoke’ his or her way to blend in with other players in Spyfall. The spy is only given a list of locations,…

We’ve got an MVP. Cleaning our faces can be such a chore after a long day out, and who actually has time for that Korean Double Cleansing when we’re tired af, right? We want to get our makeup off fast and get to relaxing on the couch already. My makeup remover was running low, so I had to hit Watsons up. Except I was stuck staring at Bioré’s range of makeup removers. All three types – Aqua Jelly Makeup Remover, Cleansing Oil, and Micellar Cleansing Water – claim to remove long lasting and waterproof makeup. Err, so what’s the difference? I got all three and tested…

My bathroom has never smelled so invigorating. Do you have eczema or know someone who does? Then perhaps Shawn’s Soaps might be ideal for you. Using only 100% natural ingredients, Shawn draws on his experience as a chef to create his handmade soaps. Unlike most commercial brands that add perfumes, synthetics, and colourings, Shawn only uses essential oils and the plant/fruit itself (depending on the soap) too. Take this Garden Rose Bar Soap (S$17)  for example – if you’re wondering why it’s black, that’s because no artificial colouring was added. Shawn explains that no matter how he tries, steeping flowers like…

One of these days my curiosity will be the cause of my death. But not today. To write this article on Ear Candling, yo girl went and started burning two candles in her ears. Why, you ask? For science. Some time back, I came across a video on Facebook showing a father sticking a long candle into his daughter’s ear… and then lighting it. He extinguished the flames when the candle was left with a about four inches, and unrolled the candle to reveal a blob of gunk. What sorcery? I decided to try it for myself. What is Ear Candling? I…

Hands up if you already winced upon reading the title! Memories of our childhood are often bittersweet, but the memories triggered from this post are gonna be nothing but bitter. Whoever came up with the proverb “spare the rod and spoil the child”, I hate you. Far from sparing the rod, my parents were resourceful when it came to choosing a tool to execute punishment. Talking to my friends about our childhood one day brought me to a realisation – I wasn’t the only one.  Here are 10 things commonly used by Asian parents as weapons to discipline us when…

Ayyy! Yoga in a club? Gurl, sign me up and hit me with that namaste. Get your funkiest pair of yoga pants on, as you’re gonna hit the dancefloor with some sick moves. On 12 April 2018, the coolest yoga event ever, Yoga Rave, will be happening at club AVRY. Kick the Thursday stress out of your body with an hour of “energising” practice led by yogi Aly Hassan to the beats of AVRY’s resident DJ! Try your hand at making a superfood protein ball, and even have a guilt-free dinner after with a healthy grain meal box. There will also be…

I am so hyped for this. Branded as an anti-elitist fashion art festival, Outsider will be making its return at The Projector from 4 to 7 April 2018. For its inaugural edition last year, Outsider showcased the works of various designers and artists on the shelves of supermarket Big Box. Talk about art as commodity, lol. Even if you’re not that involved in the fashion scene, the Outsider Fashion Art Festival is still an exhibition worth checking out. The photo above depicts part of a performance-based installation, Dream Market, from last year’s exhibition. Although different artists will be participating this year, you can…