Author: Terence Tan

Terence aspires to be a photojournalist. He loves spending his free time exploring Singapore and attributes this hobby to binge watching Dora the Explorer when he was a rug rat.

So, wanderlust has struck again and memories from your last getaway are starting to creep back. You feel like you are in dire need of a vacation but time and money is just not on your side. What can you do then? Well, desperate times call for desperate measures. And by that, I mean going full-on tourist mode at these eight places in Singapore where you can relive your memories from abroad. Yes, it’s time to take “being a tourist in your own country” to the next level. 1. Chelsea Lodge Chelsea, London? Nope, more like Tanjong Katong. Designed to look…

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There was a time when hipsters were defined as trendy and unconventional people, especially those outside the cultural mainstream. However, the growth of hipster culture lately has led to the term losing its original intended meaning and in fact, ‘hipsters’ now seem to be the most mainstream crowd of them all. With an increasing number of ‘hipsters’ lurking in our neighbourhoods, it’s perhaps time for a checklist to filter out the real deals from the wannabes who are actually just other mainstream kids on the block. So, are you the real McCoy or not? These eight telltale signs of a mainstream ‘hipster’…

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As a country famed for our food, multi-racial society and well, kiasu culture, 2-in-1 deals for the kiasu Singaporean are not unheard of. While such deals often involve some kind of money-saving hack, forget about that for now and hear me out on this 2-in-1 dating idea. For all the laojiao couples on this small, sunny island who have long run out of novel dating activities, don’t say I bojio. Running through the heartlands of Buangkok, Sengkang and Punggol before continuing into the rustic landscapes of Punggol Beach, Punggol Promenade and Lorong Halus Wetland, the North Eastern Riverine Loop is no…

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Flashback to the good ol’ days when Pokemon Go was still relevant, one particular seaside town in South Korea became hailed as the ‘Holy Land’ of the mobile app due to a glitch that made it possible to play the game there. Being the only place in South Korea at that time where aspiring Pokemon masters could catch them all, Sokcho exploded in popularity. Now that the hype is over, the town has definitely lost some human traffic but that does not mean that Sokcho doesn’t deserve a spot on your travel bucket list. Seoraksan National Park If you are…

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Wanderlust — a persisting first-world problem that probably hits you at least once a month or so. After all, with the onslaught of social media, we are constantly flooded with images, videos, snapchats, instastories and whatnot of our friends or “friends” travelling the world. To make things worse, once you catch the “wanderlust flu”, it does not go away easily. Some of you may have already found your own unique cure for this but for those who are still struggling to fight the bug, perhaps it’s time to embrace wanderlust (quite literally). Nested within the charming enclave of Little India, Wanderlust…

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Before the advent of social media, posing and always looking outrageously good in photos seemed more like something only models and celebrities were capable of. Apart from these blessed beings, the rest of us mortals often get stuck with a certain standard pose in every shot. However, the rise of influencers on social media in recent years and the desire to put forth one’s best self online has pretty much changed the game. Not everyone was born to werk it but at the very least, these eight simple poses will ensure you never look awkward again in photos. 1. The…

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Having toured worldwide in over 152 cities across 87 countries, action-packed Korean comedy sensation, JUMP, will be coming back to Singapore from 6 – 8 October 2017 at Resorts World Theatre. To make things extra special, this will be their 30,000th show! Set in a typical Korean household, JUMP combines comedy, martial arts and acrobatics for an incredible showcase of gymnastic and combat moves, with a generous dosage of slapstick humour that’s sure to tickle your funny bone. Each member of the family, from the dictatorial grandfather, drunken uncle and Taekwando-savvy mother to the daughter’s inappropriate suitor, is also a martial…

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Are you ready for a glowtastic time? The Colour Run Singapore is coming back but not without a twist. This year, CIMB Bank presents The Colour Run Night Singapore — the nocturnal way of experiencing your #Happiest 5K on 23 September 2017! To capture the UV reactive powder during the colour throws, the glow of the colour zones and the night attractions, participants will be wearing a black light headlamp throughout the entire neon course. Basically, it’s gonna be a glowtastic 5K party from start to finish. Plus, the fun doesn’t stop once you complete the run. Look forward to an after-party with…

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Potato Head Beach Club often comes to mind as the ‘it’ location to be at in Bali but for two nights this coming 30 Sep – 1 Oct, Bestival Bali 2017 will be taking over that coveted spot instead. Hailing from the UK, this award-winning boutique festival is coming to Asia for the very first time. You can expect some of the biggest international acts and local talents including alt-J, Rudimental, Purity Ring, The Cuban Brothers and many more over these two days of festivities taking place at Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) Cultural Park. Bestival UK has been leading the…

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Tucked away in a quaint street along Joo Chiat Road lies a shophouse that catches the eye with images of elegant Cinderella-approved shoes on its standee. With a modern fairytale to tell, Palola is a local shoemaking brand that handcrafts made-to-order and bespoke flat pumps. It all started at a bak kut teh dinner when the idea of three grown men making shoes for women in the middle of the Central Business District (CBD) came up. This random musing led to countless sessions of prototyping before the very first pair of Palolas was born. Intrigued yet? Let me take you through the three steps…

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It’s been a long time since I last attended a National Day Parade (NDP). Back then, as a cute (I bet I was) Primary 5 student on a rare night excursion, I vividly remember being overly excited for the airborne Red Lions, the march-in parade and of course, the fireworks. Now, 13 years down the road, I am back among a crowd of enthusiastic spectators doing the ‘Kallang Wave’ in a sea of red and white. With this year’s show held at The Float@Marina Bay, you can expect traditional crowd favourites making their long-awaited comeback. The Red Lions For the…

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Hardcore nature junkies and hiking enthusiasts may not agree with me on this but venturing into the wilderness is not always synonymous with a good hiking experience. Here to change the game, urban hiking will definitely prove to be more of an adventure than climbing Bukit Timah Hill. Unlike designated hiking trails, flexibility in plotting out a personalised route is one of the unique features of urban hiking. There’s a catch though — you should always start in the concrete jungle but end in the embrace of nature. For first-timers, embark on this route through the Central Business District (CBD) of…

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Singapore may still be considered a young nation but often, the same neighbourhood holds disparate memories. To millennials, Tiong Bahru is best known for its appeal of picture perfect cafes and bohemian bookstores. Yet, to the pioneer generation, it was once the ‘Hollywood of Singapore’. While this mature estate risks death by gentrification, it is comforting to know that not all has been lost to the sands of time. Tucked away in an unassuming corner of Tiong Bahru, Pin Pin Piau Kay & Co is a third generation old-school provision shop rarely seen these days. Walking in, a wave of nostalgia…

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Beliebers rejoice! Justin Bieber is making his grand return to Singapore for the first time in four years. The pop sensation will be performing at the National Stadium on 7 October 2017 as part of his Purpose World Tour 2017, so be sure to mark your calendars. Named after Bieber’s #1 hit album Purpose which produced back-to-back smash singles such as ‘What Do You Mean’, ‘Sorry’ and ‘Love Yourself’, the concert is set to continuously thrill fans throughout the night with dynamic live performances and dazzling audiovisual displays. Looking to make up for the past four years? Go all-in with a…

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Championing the cause of creating awareness and empathy for Persons with Intellectual Disability (PWID) and their caregivers, MINDS Film Festival will be happening from 29 July – 5 August 2017 at Golden Village VivoCity. In its second run, the festival aims to use the power of cinema to appeal to different communities in society to band together in support for PWIDs and their caregivers. This year, the Singapore Film Society and MINDS will once again be partnering up to bring to you six films from five different countries including China, Malaysia, Sweden, UK and USA. Touching on topics such as…

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