Author: Mai WenYi

Uchimaru Hakuba is a ski lodge located in Hakuba, Japan and set up by Jane Killick, a Singaporean whose dreams have travelled far. Uchimaru offers both the secluded feel of getting away from bustling city life while making sure that guests are still able to access nearby areas easily. For starters, Uchimaru is located within walking distance of restaurants, bars and convenience stores (or konbini, as the Japanese call them). Plus, since there’s a bus stop right across from the lodge, you won’t have any problems getting there with your luggage. Uchimaru offers a cosy setting that includes private bathrooms for each…

Dark, creepy alleys are waiting to be explored throughout the night at Fort Siloso and you won’t have to trespass to get your adventure fix this time as official guided tours will be available until 26 March 2017. As part of Sentosa’s Thrillogy series of events, the Fort Siloso Nite Tour will be running on weekends and selected Fridays: 17 – 19, 25 and 26 March 2017. During the one-hour tour, you’ll be led only by torchlight and a guide who’ll take you through a realistic experience resembling the dim setting that World War II soldiers had to endure themselves. Book your tours at Sentosa’s…

If you’re tired of the usual hustle and bustle in the busy shopping districts of Thailand, you could go to Tigerland Rice Farm for a change in vacation pace. In this homestay, you’ll learn bamboo weaving and how to grow rice in a six-day itinerary planned especially for the off-beat traveller. Depending on the season when you’re visiting Tigerland Rice Farm, you’ll have a hand in either planting or harvesting the rice. Your friendly hosts will even pick you up from Chiang Rai International Airport and provide you with lodging and meals. But you won’t be toiling all day in the farm…

All aboard the reading train, because we’re in for a ride where local writers reign. Localbooks.sg is your go-to website when seeking out a place for Singaporean titles, and some of the books here were even published overseas by local authors! According to localbooks.sg, eight out of ten people wouldn’t recognise a locally written book even if they were holding one, which births forth their mission: spreading awareness of Singaporean books. There’s a surprisingly large range of genres, from memoirs to cookbooks, science fiction, romance, and even erotica, just to name a few. The stereotypical image of Singaporeans being unoriginal or having…

There’s just something special about the aroma of hot pancakes and melted butter in the morning, perking you up for a good day ahead. From now till 25 April 2017, it only gets better – there’s a maple syrup bath by Hakone Kowakien Yunessun in Japan that will leave you smelling refreshed and delicious. This isn’t the first time that Japan has initiated food-themed baths and onsens; we still haven’t forgotten this awesome sake one. Visitors are required to wear a swimsuit in this particular bath, unlike traditional Japanese onsens where people take a dip in the nude. That makes this maple syrup onsen a possible option for…

When it comes to DIY craft workshops, we’ve created terrariums, made leather goods, pottery-making, and so on, but here’s one that tops it all; glass art at Goodman Glass Studio. As you head to the glass studio located within Goodman Arts Centre, you will feel the creative vibes exuding from the neighbouring buildings. Once you’ve entered into the studio, you’ll be amazed by the vibrant glassware on display, many of which are made by the trainers themselves. From jewellery to coasters, plates and more, the level of creativity involved is astounding; I couldn’t wait to get started on making something myself. Each streak…

Freeze, don’t move! We’ve got a-Mei-zing news for all Overwatch players: Blizzard is holding Overwatch’s first ever Southeast Asian Tournament this March, and the team that places first will be awarded a sweet cash prize of US$2500 (approx S$3550). Interested parties have to register by 15 March, 11.59pm, Singapore time. The tournament will be held on the PC platform only, so those of you who are used to game consoles might want to consider how that might affect your gameplay before signing up. And while Sombra might insist that everything can be hacked, we advise that you stick to the rules and avoid trying that out during…

It’s said that a girl’s best friend is diamond, and when it comes to elaborate designs, Love & Co. exceed expectations with their newest star: a 10-carat Lovemarque Diamond, set in a The Eternal Voyage necklace. This beauty is made up of 459 diamonds, which add up to around 25 carats – that’s insanely amazing, imagine having that around your neck! It carries a price tag of S$2.7 million, curious to know why? 1. It’s Tested By A Premium Grading Institute Material cost and workmanship are just part of its cost, but on top of those, Love & Co. is extremely stringent about the diamonds…

The spotlight will be on home-grown bands when City65 Music Festival hits Tin Hill Social Kitchen & Bar on 15 April 2017. From 2pm till late, music lovers can head down to support their favourite local talents and even discover some new ones too. There will be two stages, one each for electric and acoustic, and 13 bands will give it their all to show you what their tunes are made of. The name City65 is a reference to the year 1965, when Singapore gained independence. In line with that, City65 will give promising new musicians an opportunity to shine alongside seasoned ones, and…

Travel and sports junkies will love these amazing Mega Water Sports Jet Ski Tours when visiting the islands in Langkawi, Malaysia. Instead of sitting on a boat and just snapping photos all the time, why not be in charge and have fun steering your own vehicle? It comes at a price of RM600 (about S$190) but the experience is well worth it. If having a bit of action with your exploration is what floats your boat (couldn’t resist the pun), you can even rent a GoPro to record your adventure for an additional RM250 (about S$79). Langkawi is made up of many islands and you…

The ArtScience Museum, in collaboration with World Wildlife Fund (WWF), has come up with an augmented reality exhibit titled ‘Into The Wild’ – an immersive experience through the eyes of a forest ranger. Experiencing augmented reality with Into The Wild means that you’ll be looking at a mixture of both real and virtual elements at the same time; unlike a full virtual reality experience where everything is completely computer-generated (CG). This exhibition blurs the line between real and CG at designated areas with the use of Lenovo Phab 2 Pro handphone, which is the world’s first Tango-enabled smartphone. Once you’ve received a Lenovo Phab 2 Pro on…

Using suicide stories, haunted places, slums and more exciting themes, Chameleon VR brings you around Asia with a different touch. It’s more than just another bunch of videos – what you see is carefully crafted to drag you into an immersive experience, making you feel almost like a participant in their 360-degree films that will leave you riveted to your screens. VOSTOK VR, the local company which has brought Chameleon VR to you, specialises in all sorts of 3D virtual productions such as interactive tours, training instructions, augmented reality and more. They’ve designed Chameleon VR to allow you to download your…

For anyone who liked Jurassic Park’s action-packed scenes with T-Rexes and Velociraptors running amok, getting close to giant dinosaurs at Dye-nosaur Gardens at Gardens by the Bay will be an experience to remember. 11 sculptures of these prehistoric reptiles will be installed from 10 March to 2 April 2017 as part of the Children’s Festival which will also take place there. They’re not like any boring old statue you’ve seen before though; each life-sized dinosaur will actually be able to move and roar. Take part in some of the festival activities like getting up close and personal to Brachy and Tricey (a Brachiosaurus and Triceratops) and snap…

Did you know that we have pet-centred farms in Singapore? Farms are no longer merely a source of animal products, but an area where you can get up close to domestic critters, and one such place is none other than at Farmart Centre. Admission to the farm is absolutely free, a big plus point to people on the lookout for unusual and inexpensive outing ideas. Open from 9am to 1pm on weekdays, and 9.30am to 6pm on weekends, you can drop by to engage in all that Farmart Centre has to offer. As it’s located in a secluded area and the nearest bus stop is about a…

I’ve got to confess that I’ve never really been a fan of Kindle; lugging around an extra device to read eBooks seems to be a hassle, especially when you’re carrying a small purse around (girls, you know the trouble of trying to cram stuff into the only handbag that fits your outfit). With NLB Mobile app by the National Library Board, that will no longer be a problem. The app allows you to borrow and read eBooks, all in one handy device, and even offline – now, there’s no need to rummage through the rows of shelves, only to learn that the book has…