Author: Sng Ler Jun

Single and bored this Valentine’s Day? Fret not, the people from Vanilla Luxury have got you covered. Returning for its sixth year, Valentine Vendetta promises all you solo party folk a sizzling night to remember. Last year’s soiree saw 1500 singles come together to party and this year’s event is expected to attract even more. With a masquerade-themed party, Valentine Vendetta will be held at the newly opened Skyline in Singapore Land Tower. Partying 45 storeys above the Central Business District, be prepared to be swooned by the majestic city landscape while getting high on the company of fellow singles and chic beats. Stand a chance…

Remember that baseball scene in Twilight? The one where our favourite (or not so favourite) vampire family batted in time with the thunder? I’ve always wanted to learn how to bat properly in baseball, except of course in a safer environment — away from the rain and preferably not in the woods. So can you imagine my elation when I heard that a safe, indoor baseball batting cage exists right here in Singapore? Situated right beside Ayer Rajah CC and opened in 2014, Homerun Baseball is Singapore’s first fully automated indoor baseball batting cage. While baseball batting cages are popular in Japan, Korea…

Dating is fun. But never on Valentine’s Day. Planning a Valentine’s Day date with your bae can be excruciating – it definitely requires more effort. The usual mundane dinner or movie dates are just not going to cut it! So to help all you poor fellas out, here are nine unique dating ideas for you and your partner to consider in celebration of the upcoming Valentine’s Day. 1. Go Museum Hopping Imagine spending a lovely afternoon walking down memory lane amidst the gorgeous exhibits and galleries in a museum. Just like how museums tend to showcase Singapore’s delicate history and rich culture, you might…

One of Japan’s most creative and popular music acts, Sekai no Owari (also known as ‘End of the World’) is coming to Singapore this 5 March 2017! Highly raved about and rising in popularity, the band’s latest 2015 album has clinched both number one in Japan’s most prestigious Oricon Chart, and has been certified Platinum twice by the Recording Industry Association of Japan. Their 2013 massive hit “RPG” has received more than 110 million views on YouTube. The band has also produced theme songs for the widely popular Japanese live action films, “Attack on Titan” (2015) and “Attack on Titan:…

The idea of pet cafes first started in Taiwan and the concept flourished in Japan, where someone felt that there was a need for the working class to relax. It became widely popular and it wasn’t long before Singapore’s first pet cafe sprouted. Over the years and much to our delight, we have seen several cat cafes (and even a museum) popping up around our sunny island – but what about their canine counterparts? Located in a quiet corner on the top floor of Bugis+ is Singapore’s first dog petting cafe: We Are The Furballs (WTF)! From Mondays to Thursdays, you’d have…

On the 26th of every month in Japan, several ryokans (traditional Japanese Inns), especially those in the Niigata prefecture, allow their visitors to soak in sake-infused baths. Yes, you read that right. You get to bathe in SAKE. It’s said that a dip in a sake bath is not only able to unclog your pores but also improve blood circulation. The amino acids in the fermented rice wine is known for its beauty properties – softening and whitening the skin – and is widely used in several facial products. Niigata prefecture is one of Japan’s top sake-brewing regions and it’s all thanks to the…

Konnichiwa! One of Japan’s most popular winter festivals, the Sapporo Yuki Matsuri (Sapporo Snow Festival), is back for its 68th year this February 2017. Started in 1950 when six students built six snow statues in Odori Park, the Sapporo Snow Festival has grown into quite a spectacle today. Attracting more than 2 million visitors every year from Japan and other countries, the Sapporo Snow Festival is a MUST GO winter affair. The festival takes place at three main sites: 1. Odori Site (6 – 12 Feb) Located along a 1.5km stretch in Odori Park, visitors can expect to be greeted with the…

Currently blossoming in the Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay is the annual Lunar New Year exhibit: Dahlia Dreams. Lose yourself in a sea of red, orange and yellow Dahlias and Begonias as you proceed to take a slow stroll through the Flower Dome. Take a break from bustling city life as you marvel at the Chinese-inspired garden landscape, complete with a three-tier pagoda, a pavilion and several chicken sculptures to commemorate the year of the Rooster. Look out for a fresh innovative twist to tradition this year with the projection mapping, describing scenes of the Lunar New Year celebration. Don’t forget to grab these…

It’s hard to disagree that people in Japan are geniuses at finding ways to relief emotional and mental distress. The term, “iyasareru”, describes the act of being comforted by someone or something. While it may seem as if we have seen it all, from cat cafes to dog cafes and even owl cafes, we are wrong. Joining the endearing onslaught of animal-themed cafes is the world’s first hedgehog cafe – HARRY. HARRY houses more than 30 different (kawaii too) hedgehogs, visitors can pay 1000 yen (approximately S$13) to befriend and caress the adorable prickly creatures. For those who find it hard to…

It’s not every day that we get to enter the Istana Grounds and when the opportunity arises, there is simply no reason to say no. This coming 29th January 2017 (also the 2nd day of the Lunar New Year), the Istana Grounds will be opening its gates to the public for the first time this year. Through guided tours, visitors will get to learn about the flora, fauna and diversity within the Istana Grounds and also enjoy a variety of performances lined up. Admission to the Istana Grounds is free for Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents. Other visitors however, will…

The Bizarre Honour brings a group of local artists together in collaboration with OH! Open House, to put up an exhibition that unfolds Singapore’s history and its contentious relationship with nature. This exhibition oversees the transformation of a two-storey terrace house in Chip Bee Gardens into a museum of curiosities. But this isn’t any ordinary museum. Void of labels, guides and explanations, visitors will spend 30 minutes exploring a maze filled with narratives of the past and present. Sounds interesting, doesn’t it? The museum features more than 300 exhibits and artefacts that date from the colonial period to contemporary times and…

The appearance of pineapple tarts and other Lunar New Year goodies on the shelves of almost every supermarket is a sight to celebrate. The scramble for Lunar New Year shopping has already begun and what better way to get in on the action than with a trip to Chinatown?  This time every year, Chinatown bursts into a flurry of activities. From elaborate street decor to a street bazaar and performances, Chinatown has it all.  Chinatown Festive Street Decor To mark the year of the Golden Rooster, the streets of Chinatown have come to life with several decorative pieces put in place. 14 first- and…

January 2017 is turning out to be a great month for the music scene in Singapore, with festivals and musical acts flying in from the world over. Irish indie rock band, Two Door Cinema Club, is joining the party this 16 January at The Star Theatre.  The band (Alex Trimble, Kevin Baird, Sam Halliday) was formed in 2007 and has since attained commendable achievements. Their debut album, Tourist History, was launched on 1 March 2010 and won the Choice Music Award for Irish Album of the Year (2010). In 2012, their sophomore album, Beacon, reached number one on the Irish Album Chart and number…

Planning a trip to Korea? You need to check out one of Korea’s premier festivals: The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival. At the start of every year, visit the Hwacheon county in Gangwon-do to experience a different kind of winter at this unique festival. The festival gets its name from the mountain trout (Sancheoneo) that swim to this region every January, when the water is the freshest. Winter causes the Hwacheon-cheon stream to freeze and form a 40cm layer of ice, making way for a few rather interesting activities. The main activity at this festival is all about Sancheoneo Fishing, and…

Need help fulfilling your New Year’s resolution on keeping fit? Fret not, the Safari Zoo Run is back in Singapore on 18 February 2017! Spend your Saturday morning with your friends and family running for a cause as you raise awareness for wildlife conservation. This year, four different animal mascots are featured – Ah Meng the Orangutan, Chawang the Asian Elephant, Canola the Manatee and Sunny the Hornbill. Each mascot supports an endangered wildlife species, and you can choose to join the different mascot teams to raise awareness for the respective species. The run takes you around the Singapore Zoo and the Night…