Author: Sng Ler Jun

Ler Jun aspires to be a radio journalist. He specialises in travel writing and enjoys crafting human interest stories. He loves to read and is always looking for cool things to document.

As outlandish as it sounds, literary non-profit Sing Lit Station and Grapple MAX Dojo have teamed up for Singapore’s first-ever poetic wrestling showcase — Sing Lit Body Slam. Head on down to Aliwal Arts Centre on the evenings of 6 & 7 October 2017 and witness poets and pro-wrestlers duke it out both verbally and physically. It will be a night filled with blood-thumping exhilaration as poets, such as Stephanie Dogfoot, Joses Ho, Joshua Ip, Rajita Jay and David Wong, wage a war of words while elite wrestlers from Grapple MAX Dojo, including some of Southeast Asia’s renowned Greg Glorious, Dennis…

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If you’re an avid Instagram user who enjoys trawling through profiles of tattoo artists, you’ve probably already stumbled upon @Henn.Drawn. Established in February 2016, Henn.Drawn offers temporary body art services using henna and Jagua ink. It has since received an impressive and growing pool of followers, many of whom are undoubtedly attracted to the super dope and gorgeous ink art. We met Henn.Drawn’s founder, Ng See Min, at Starbucks (one of her favourite work haunts), where she greeted us with a jovial smile and neon-orange hair. Boss At 21 At a very early age, See Min started doodling tattoo designs on her…

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Who doesn’t enjoy travelling? The notion of exploring new places and discovering new things is enough to get me excited. But as much as I want to sate my globe-trekking desires, I, like many others, am plagued with the undeniable predicament of being broke af. Interestingly, I find respite trawling through the dozens of Instagram photographers’ profiles which document the various majestic cityscapes and landscapes around the globe. Here are 11 Asian city and landscape photographers who you should follow on Instagram to nourish, sate and maybe rekindle your wanderlust desires. — Singapore — 1. @darrensohphoto I chanced upon Darren…

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If there’s one word that describes Japan, it’s ‘chaotic’. First-time visitors would probably get lost in Tokyo’s energetic streets surrounded by neon lights, or search for profound peace while hiking through the dense row of Torii gates leading to the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. But amid the disorderliness, there is beauty — a semblance of order (and politeness) hiding in plain sight, which makes Japan all the more captivating. Japan’s diverse pool of festivals is a classic example. Revelling in the unity of the locals, the authentic street eats, the weird characters that pop out of travelling carts, the…

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Cathay Cineplexes launched their platinum movie suites in Singapore and boy am I excited to review it since I watch so many movies. Ironically, one can tire of the mundane movie experience. Which is probably also the reason why we are always on the hunt for something different and unique. We’ve heard so much about the Cathay Platinum Suites, and decided to pay the one at Cineleisure Orchard a visit. It goes without saying, we were not disappointed. The Cathay Platinum Suites experience begins right as you push open the doors. The lounge, with its velvet chairs, leather couches, carpeted flooring, and…

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Bangkok is an enigmatic city. It is hot, super busy, and yet both a culinary hotspot and a lively entertainment hub. To truly enjoy Bangkok, one has to embark on a never-ending quest to locate the many hidden finds which seem to reside in inconspicuous corners. TrueLove At Neverland is one such gem. Nestled between a couple of terrace houses, this quaint cafe is quite the dog lovers’ paradise, where you’ll get the chance to get up close and personal with more than 20 Siberian Huskies. Unfortunately, getting to the cafe is a little bit of a chore. I recommend hopping in an Uber,…

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Bike sharing services have already taken our island by storm and now, there’s something else to get excited about. Presenting Singapore’s very first E-Scooter sharing and rental service, Telepod! With numerous dock-less stations around Singapore, the E-scooter sharing service allows commuters to conveniently scoot around from one Telepod station to another. I’d say it is quite the perfect form of travel for short journeys around campuses, companies, and industrial parks. If you are looking for a short adventure around town, you’ll be glad to know that Telepod also offers rental services for you to explore, eat, and play more in Singapore. I’m…

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Located amongst the rows of old school shophouses and fanciful hostels on Race Course Road is MET A Space Pod’s newest branch, Station 51. The inconspicuous hostel was first established at 51A Boat Quay in 2015 by a young couple, Justin Tang and Mavis Li, who both had a goal of providing affordable accommodation in one of the world’s most expensive cities. For the lone, introverted traveller, the weary-eyed, or anyone seeking a super dope (but affordable) staycation, MET a Space Pod (MET) would probably be a good fit. Afterall, MET is Singapore’s very first space-themed capsule hostel (yes, you no longer need…

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Slightly more than twenty years ago, Solaiyappan Ramanathan’s father, who was a banker and an avid photoholic, decided to pass him a twin lens camera — a 1933 Rolleicord. It sparked off Ramanathan’s interest in collecting cameras and he started doing so as a hobby. But one man’s meat is another man’s poison, and the advent of photography and invention of cameras meant the eventual relegation and downfall of some artists. Ramanathan’s cousin, AP Shreethar, who was a painter himself, called cameras his enemies. Interestingly enough, it was Shreethar’s aversion to cameras that urged him to ask Ramanathan to “befriend his enemy”,…

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It’s been more than half a year since I completed my National Service. To date, I still miss those fleeting two years of my life. Fond memories of the people and the many interesting incidents do occasionally resurface in my mind. Sad to say, the punishments for all the things I did (or didn’t do) in NS will never leave me. I’m sure many NSFs and NSmen would understand the underlying nostalgia behind that moment of angst and anger (or perhaps, fear). Lucky for NSFs today, there’s a new store, G-Military, which recently opened in White Sands (where else?) to…

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If you are tired of revisiting the same typical malls while in Bangkok, you’ll be glad to know that a brand new Korean-themed shopping mall and entertainment complex, SHOW DC, has recently opened this 2017. A haven for K-wave enthusiasts, the mall houses clothing, cosmetics and restaurants from Korean brands and K-pop artistes. Multinational conglomerate, Lotte Group, will also be opening up a store there too. The 180,000 square metre building is also a tourist hub with free shuttle bus services from Suvarnabhumi Airport and other various hotels. The mall even provides tourists with showering facilities who need a pre-flight…

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Fans of giant EDM extravaganza, Tomorrowland, would probably know that the festival will happen on two weekends (21 – 23 July & 28 – 30 July) in Belgium. However, on 29 July 2017, Tomorrowland’s mainstage will be shared with eight other countries in its mirror festival “UNITE with Tomorrowland 2017”. Previously held in Tokyo and Hyderabad, the UNITE with Tomorrowland Asia party will head to Kaohsiung at the E-DA World Theme Park in Southern Taiwan, and South Korea’s Incheon Munhak Stadium this year. The party will take place concurrently in Malta, Spain, Germany, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, and Israel. Partygoers can revel in the…

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Fancy reliving Lewis Carroll’s legendary ‘Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland’? There’s actually a chain of lifestyle concept stores in Japan (where else, right?) that is themed according to Carroll’s novel. With outlets in Tokyo, Fukuoka, Osaka and Nagoya, Alice On Wednesday brings visitors on a trip to Alice’s whimsical world. You’ll probably have a hard time finding the right entrance given the multiple doors built on the outside though. And when you do, you’ll have to duck to get in. Its Tokyo outlet boasts three floors, with each floor featuring its own unique theme and selling various yummy treats and gorgeous accessories. Be…

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With so many international artistes gracing our shores, it’s undeniable that 2017 is a big year for the concert scene here. Joining the onslaught of singers is multi-talented South Korean quartet, CNBLUE, who will be kicking off their 2017 Asia Tour “BETWEEN US” in Singapore this 1 July 2017. After which, they will be gracing Manila, Jakarta, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Having debuted in Korea in 2010, the quartet will also be celebrating their 7th anniversary along the tour. Their newly launched EP, ‘7℃N’, even topped the iTunes charts in Asia. Expect yourself to get grooving to funky and vivacious tunes as you…

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Martial arts-inspired fitness classes have seriously been gaining popularity in Singapore lately. If you’re a sucker for some hardcore takedowns or other kick-ass strikes, you’ll not be disappointed with FaMA (Fitness and Martial Arts) Singapore. Located at Clarke Quay, you can pick up Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, or train up your combat fitness with the FaMa Fitness classes that take place at this two-storey gym. The brainchild of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt practitioners, Zoro Moreira and Bruno Amorim, FaMa is the gym where anyone, regardless of age or fitness level, can attain their fitness goals in an enjoyable, and interesting manner.…

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