I discussed the possibility of living in tiny houses in Singapore in an earlier blog post. But as we know, it isn't an option to begin with – no thanks, of course, to our lack of land space.
Someone also pointed out that the idea of tiny houses is "romanticised" – which, I don't deny (but hey, that's why it's a dream). While it's clear tiny houses aren't going to work out here, the concept of 'tiny living' is; not just physically but also mentally.
Anyone who has lived enough years lo
I recently bought a Kindle.
I enjoy reading books, though I’ll be the first to admit I’ve not read as much in recent years as I want to (and should).
I do think that I have a complicated relationship with books. I like books, I enjoy good stories. But as a Literature major who had to do A LOT of book-reading for school, there is probably also a little part of me that equates reading to ‘work’, and that takes away the inherent joy of it slightly.
But I do want to get back into read
Geography is what most people understand to be the study of where countries are. That's why not knowing where a country is on a map will result in your friends saying, "Never study geography ah?"
Of course, geography is deeper and more complex than just finding countries and cities on a map. It also involves studying a country's features such as mountains, lakes and rivers, and most importantly, peoples.
We won't dive into all this. Instead, we'll get into how Singapore's geography det
Kia's rapidly evolving lineup and inroads into the Thai market mark it as an inspiring beacon for all as we transition into an age of sustainable mobility.
80 years may seem like a long length of time for an outside observer, but it could also be just the right amount of time for a future-oriented firm like Kia to get warmed up. With the Korean brand embarking on ambitious changes to its lineup and making new inroads into nearby Thailand as it marks its 80th anniversary this 2024, Kia's ill
The Youtube algorithm is annoying. Click on a few videos from the same broad ‘topic’, and suddenly your entire Youtube home page is filled with similar videos elbowing out all your usual ones. It then takes quite a while before your ‘normal’ recommendations start appearing again.
So, the latest Youtube rabbit hole I’ve recently tumbled down into is a very particular and specific one - orchestral ‘club’ music.
It’s basically music you’d associate with clubbing - usually EDM but not limi
Some time last year, my phone totally died on me, forcing me to purchase a replacement - apart from the money, I wasn't really complaining, as I have been eyeing the Xiaomi 13 Pro for quite some time, clearly impressed by its camera's prowess. Everything about the phone was great. As the flagship model powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon Gen 2, there's no concern for processing power, and my only gripe was that I could only afford the 256GB variant...
After spending some time with it, I found
Nissan's e-POWER technology gives you the instant power of electric cars with the range and convenience of a petrol car for you to power through life.
The automotive industry is one that is ever-changing and always innovating. The world went from petrol-hungry cars to hybrids and electric cars. And the goal stays the same - it is all about keeping pollution at bay and promoting sustainability.
We all want a world with a future for ourselves and our future generations. And doing our par
The regulars of our reviews might have noticed that there are now more than a few of them that feature cars shot in the depths of night instead of the bright afternoons, as has long been our usual practice.
I'd like to think they are making a stylistic contribution to your overall viewing experience on the site, although truth be told, the serenity, absence of traffic, and overall quiet isolation (as well as the predictability of artificial light), have all been stronger draws for me to hea
Broadly speaking, Cantonese food isn’t hard to find in Singapore.
Dim sum joints are a dim(e) a dozen. And if we’re talking larger names/chains, Swee Choon, Tim Ho Wan, and of course, Canton Paradise, are the first to come to my mind. Even hawker centre/food court staples, such as wanton noodles, or sweet and sour pork at caifan stalls, have their roots in Cantonese cuisine.
Traditional Hong Kong-style diners, however? Those require more conscientious hunting. Also known as 茶餐厅 (cha c
"It feels good to be able to speak Hainanese again."
A lady had told us when she paused in her tracks to make conversation. I was with my grandma – whose only means of communicating with others is via the Hainanese dialect – and parents. We were over at my cousin's new place and explaining to my grandma some of the features of the compound.
When the lady heard us, she broke out in Hainanese to say hello. "It's very rare to find people who can speak Hainanese these days so when I overh
I came into my first (and current) job with a lot of wariness: Not wanting to rub people the wrong way as the newbie; careful to self-censor my random quirks for fear of judgement. Just treat it as a workplace and be as professional as you can, was my guiding thought for the first few months.
With time, however, a welcoming team sets you at ease, and the freedom to express yourself comes out a bit more. More than two years in, I finally did it: Bought a desk shelf, and fully embraced the th
Built in the 1980s, Bishan (or Bishan New Town) may not be one of the earliest housing estates in Singapore, but it was the first whose HDB architecture saw a departure from the more brutalist designs of the past and featured more variation in height and design.
Residents are primarily served by Junction 8, which opened in 1993. Now more than 30 years old, it remains the sole mall in the Bishan East area. Driving there? Here’s our quick review of the carpark.
Manoeuvrability: T
Fuel aside, this writer discovered how Shell offers great value for drivers seeking both convenience and savings.
As motorists, we all drive different cars and ride different bikes, but we all have one thing in common: we are always on the lookout for the best deals. On top of that, we are always on the go and pressed for time. Every minute counts, even at a pit stop to fuel our vehicle.
For loyal customers, every visit to Shell is not just about refuelling, but a rewarding experience wi
What are some of the most priceless things in your possession?
Some might point out family heirlooms that have been passed down from generations ago. Others might say it is their athletic abilities or artistic talents.
To me, memories are probably one of the most priceless things I have. Intangible, yet immensely powerful, recalling them can provoke a variety of emotions ranging from laughter to tears.
Or sometimes, we use them to spend time wistfully reminiscing our favourite mom
I almost always struggle to describe my state of mind when asked to consider how I'm feeling. How do you express emotions that exist together but work in opposition to each other?
When invited to join a gathering with friends, I delight over the prospect of catching up but also yearn to be lounging at home. I'm inspired by an accomplished co-worker yet envy her. I feel happy about a new beginning but nervous and, at the same time, sad over the closing of a chapter.
It's complicated. A
On 4 March 2024, Sum 41 performed in Singapore for the last time, on what is their final (and farewell) tour.
It wasn’t supposed to be. They were slated to perform last year, in fact, but had to cancel due to a family emergency. When that news broke, I was heartbroken.
But finally, I got a chance to see them. For the very first and very last time. It was… a lot.
Underclass Hero
Deep down, I am an emo 90s kid.
Jimmy Eat World, Anberlin, Lifehouse, My Chemical Romanc
For those of you who have only started following us along recently, you might not remember that our office used to be located at the Automobile Megamart in Ubi.
It might be nostalgia speaking, but our immediate food options were much better back then (compared to where we are at New Tech Park currently) - with one of the highlights being this special ban mian stall.
The mere mention of good ban mian is sure to send the mind to the thought of L32 Ban Mian first - and there are certain
In 2023, Changi Airport was once again ranked as the best airport in the world. I suspect that’s also in no small part due to Jewel Changi Airport, a sprawling retail complex that features themed gardens, lots of greenery, and the world’s tallest indoor waterfall.
Of course, you don’t have to book a flight out of Singapore to experience the wonders that Jewel can offer. You can simply drive there. (Or take a train. Or bus. Or Grab.)
Manoeuvrability: Tight or not?
There shoul
All you forum dwellers probably remember the times before Carousell was founded, and how we all bought and sold stuff on forums. Many forums also have a reputation system, which was an indicator of the 'lao jiao' forum-ers - those that tend to be steady and trusted to deal with.
I remember there were some unspoken rules when it came to buying and selling stuff online:
1. As the buyer wants the item, the responsibility lies with him to make his way to meet at the seller's convenience by
Most of us like to think that we have good manners. We regularly say, 'thanks' and 'thank you', let others exit lifts and trains before entering them, and say 'sorry' when asking people to move out of our way.
Sounds good, right?
The Cambridge English dictionary defines manners as "ways of behaving toward people, especially ways that are socially correct and show respect to their comfort and feelings".
By and large, we are treating others the way we wish to be treated, so ar
Back in my secondary school days, I was often meddling with computers. In fact, I even worked part-time for many years, repairing and building them.
I would dream of building a computer with all the prime top-tier components and whatnot, but I never thought much about the peripherals such as mouses and keyboards. When mechanical keyboards became popular, I scoffed at the hefty price tags, and only got one sometime down the road for just over $100.
Little did I know that years down the
Imagine a living space fully equipped with sleeping lofts, a shower, kitchen, lounge area, and picture-perfect outdoor scenery to boot, at half or even a third of the size of your regular house.
Add a trailer with wheels for those with wanderlust, and your tiny house is complete.
In case you're wondering, here's what a tiny house looks like!
The birth of 'tiny living'
Unbeknown to many, tiny houses have stuck around for centuries. The movement that popularised the concept o
Yes, yes, I'm about four months late to this trend and you'll need to excuse me as I don't lurk about on TikTok. But just as the Roman General Fabius clenched victory in the Punic Wars against Carthage by constantly biding for time, perhaps this blog post can also benefit from a bit of added time and hindsight.
If you're a geriatric old fart like me, you might not have heard about this as well - but apparently girlfriends/wives around the world were finding out in the last months that their
Quite a huge fuss was kicked up in the office last week about the capitalism that drives Valentine’s Day (actually it was largely a monologue from one loud singleton). "Valentine's Day is a scam! Don’t bother dining out on Valentine’s Day!”, we were told time and again. Cue cricket-like silence, and blank stares among the rest of the team.
Exaggerations aside, I’m generally of the opinion that people should feel free to spend their money however they like. But here, I couldn’t help but agr
Yesterday, while listening to my favourite podcast (No Such Thing As A Fish), I learnt a shocking, incredible and downright unbelievable fact.
Here’s the fact: Singapore is number one in the world in bottled water consumption and spending per capita.
Here’s the kicker: It’s not even close. According to a UN study published in 2023, Singapore’s 1,129 litres and $1,348 per capita in 2021 is miles and away higher than second place Australia (504 litres and $386).The graphs illustrating th
