Search the Community

For those stuck in the relentless, monotonous city grind and dreaming of crystal-clear waters and sandy shores for their next getaway, here's a thought: With Singapore as our launchpad, us locals can explore the charming beaches of Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam without breaking the bank. These nearby paradises don’t just offer cheap and affordable flights and accommodation; they also provide the perfect blend of relaxation and adventure. So, if you're pondering your next escape, let this guide be your compass to seaside serenity and vibrant culture, all within a budget-friendly reach. Sun, Sand, and Serenity: Top Seaside Getaways in Thailand Explore Krabi: A paradisiacal retreat Krabi is a treasure trove of stunning beaches and scenic wonders. Home to limestone karsts and tranquil bays, it’s an ideal spot for those seeking a classic Thai beach setting. The Holiday Ao Nang Beach Resort in Krabi offers breathtaking views of Ao Nang Beach and unmatched hospitality. Here, visitors can savour seaside dining while enjoying the cooling ocean breeze. Affordably luxurious yet accessible, this resort is a perfect choice for a dreamy getaway. Ah Krabi, Thailand's Mr Consistent. The solid failsafe option. Phuket: Blend of adventure and relaxation With its accessibility and diverse attractions, Phuket remains a favorite. The Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa at Merlin Beach promises a balance between exploration and relaxation. Visitors can indulge in water sports or unwind on the expansive beaches. This vibrant locale offers an affordable seaside experience with proximity to tourist attractions for a comprehensive holiday. A Phuket cab driver once asked me why I was visiting. I said "beaches", he scoffed and replied: "Bangkok cheaper and prettier". I don't think he understood me very well. Islands Galore: Discover Malaysia’s Accessible Coastal Retreats Langkawi: An island of splendor Langkawi, a stunning archipelago in Malaysia, offers a blend of pristine beaches, lush rainforests, and dramatic limestone formations. Perfect for a quick getaway from Singapore, it hosts activities like skybridge walks and jungle trekking. Accommodation ranges from luxury resorts to budget guesthouses, making it affordable for all travellers. Accessible by a short flight from Singapore, Langkawi's enticing beaches and rich cultural experiences offer the ideal seaside escape. Perhentian Islands: Nature's aquamarine gem Situated off the northeastern coast, the Perhentian Islands promise crystal-clear waters and vibrant marine life. From budget-friendly chalets to serene eco-resorts, these islands cater to both backpackers and families seeking relaxation. Beyond sunbathing, the islands offer kayaking, diving, and lush jungle trails. The journey to these islands involves a scenic drive to Kuala Besut Jetty, followed by a short boat ride - a small price for paradise. Oh, to lounge on a beach all day, soaking up the sun rays and frolicking in the water. If I had a patronus, it'd probably be a seal. Pangkor Island: A blend of relaxation and history Pangkor Island blends sandy shores with colonial history. Whether sunbathing on turquoise beaches or exploring Dutch forts, visitors experience a unique mix of leisure and culture. Accommodation spans from cozy beachfront chalets to welcoming resorts. Conveniently accessed via a short ferry ride, Pangkor’s charm and affordability make it a compelling nearby seaside destination for Singaporeans ready to unwind. A Bit of Both: Vietnam's Hidden Seaside Gems and Tourist Attractions Unveiling Vietnam's tranquil shores Vietnam's coastline is a treasure trove waiting to be explored. Phu Quoc Island, with its pristine beaches and lush forests, offers snorkelling and diving as unforgettable underwater adventures. Beyond the horizon lies Nha Trang, a city blending beautiful beaches with lively nightlife, perfect for those seeking both relaxation and entertainment. Sand, surf, and most importantly; scenery This seaside journey isn't just about beaches. Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage site, enchants with its ancient architecture and lantern-lit streets, a testament to Vietnam's rich culture. Meanwhile, the Mekong Delta offers a glimpse into the unique floating markets, where travelers can experience Vietnam's vibrant local life right on the water. Anyone else reminded of the scene in Tangled (2010) where they release the lanterns? Convenience, affordability, and exploration Vietnam becomes more accessible with numerous affordable flights from Southeast Asia and a range of accommodation options to fit all budgets. Explorers can delight in the country's affordable local transportation, from buses to motorbike taxis, making it a convenient hub near Singapore for your next seaside getaway. Combining stunning landscapes with cultural depth, Vietnam's hidden gems present a balanced blend of relaxation and discovery. Conclusion Therefore, when planning your next seaside escape, remember that the perfect balance of affordability and relaxation is just a short flight away. Whether it's the pristine beaches of Thailand, the tranquil islands of Malaysia, or the stunning coastline of Vietnam, Southeast Asia offers a plethora of options to suit any traveller's taste. ~ Fremont (Photos by Audley Travel, Booking.com, The Danna Langkawi, Gill Divers, Trip Advisor, Vietnam Tourism, and HostelWorldBlog)

You've finally escaped your daily grind, jetted off to paradise, and now you're... exhausted? Welcome to the modern vacation conundrum. In the words of a well-spoken colleague, this is "where YOLO meets FOMO in an epic battle for your precious holiday time". The overplanning trap Many of us are hardwired for productivity because we're pressed for time. Everything from errands to visits to workouts must be scheduled in a bid to save time. At times, it seems like the only goal is to save time, rather than saving time for rest and relaxation. Naturally, this habit extends to whenever we plan our holidays. Every day of annual leave is precious and must be maximised. Failure to do so leads to time wasted as you frantically Google where to go for your next meal. Too much planning ruins a holiday. You'll end up just trying to execute the plan as opposed to enjoying yourself. (Image: Unseen Studio, Unsplash) One of my good friends is a Type A personality who is so goal-oriented that his holidays have no room for spontaneity. I have no plans to ever travel with him (you cannot pay me enough to do so), as his itineraries are planned by the hour. The result of being so productivity-driven is not just fatigue, but sian-ness, and for the unhappy ones who have no say in the matter, a bitter memory. It's what causes us to declare that we need another holiday to make up for the tiring one. Do less and do the opposite Personally, I start by thinking about what I want to see, eat, and do, then use Google to find those places and compare ratings. Like most, I watch YouTube videos to get a sense of whether an attraction is worth visiting. This process alone takes significant time and energy before I've even left. I make a list of five things I want to eat and five places I want to visit at my destination. Anything else, such as shopping or sightseeing, is left to chance. Meaning I'll consider these if there's time. A cold drink, a hat, and a pair of shades are great ingredients to unwind with. (Image: S'well, Unsplash) What about FOMO? While it's true that nobody likes missing out on things, allowing FOMO to influence your plans is harmful. I get that missing out on a particular dish or attraction means having to travel to that country all over again, but racing from one activity to the next (like in The Amazing Race) is not a holiday. Unscheduled wanderings and surprise discoveries can create cherished memories. For instance, while strolling through a Seoul neighbourhood in search of lunch, a friendly woman invited us to try her restaurant's dishes. It was a small, five-table place with delicious food and wonderful service. Why not spend your vacation catching up on your reading? (Image: Link Hoang, Unsplash) What made it memorable, though, was her seeming disappearance after seating us. Today, we can't help but laugh whenever we recall this, wondering if we'd been invited in by a ghost! On another trip to Taipei, my wife and I sought out a popular beef noodle shop, only to find it closed for the day. As we roamed, we stumbled upon a humble alternative, where the beef noodles tasted homecooked rather than chef-prepared. Beyond the warm service, what made this place special was the family allowing their docile dog to mingle with diners, adding to the cosy atmosphere. Or better still, spend the day relaxing in a pool as opposed to jostling with crowds. (Image: Haley Phelps, Unsplash) Let go and go with the flow When it comes to holidays, sometimes no plans are really the best plans. Venture out without a schedule and see what you discover. You can even hop onto a bus or train and alight at a random stop to explore. After a few hours, return to your hotel for a nap. Constant activity hardly promotes de-stressing. In fact, some friends now travel just to indulge in the luxury of sleeping in, something difficult to do back home. And instead of constantly updating social media with photos and videos, focus on being present. After all, documenting every moment turns relaxation into another task. So instead of FOMO, make JOMO (Joy of Missing Out) the goal during your next trip. Your mind, body, and soul will thank you when you return fully recharged. – Jeremy Main image: freestocks, Unsplash

I am so going to open one x interesting thread every month. So my interesting thread of the month is this! But need to put some disclaimers, due to this is a public forum and also we have a group of female members, please be tactful and refrain yourself from posting anything that is offensive arh. Let's just make this a positive and interesting topic. So. . . As the title goes, what is your favorite style of massage? Thai Massage? Oil Massage? Swedish Massage? Shiatsu Massage? Reflexology? Hot Stone Massage? Osim Massage Chair?(haha) My own personal take is i kinda like oil massage and reflexology. Oil massge is the oil fragrance and i like the no friction kneading. Reflexology is because i like how it feels after the foot massage. My feet seems very very light! I never tried hot stone before thou. hahah.

anyone likes ASMR? was reading about ASMR and watching some on youtube. found a singaporean girl in a forum doing ASMR also, kinda weird to hear her. went to her homepage to read about it, got interested...went youtube whoooa!!!! TONS OF SUCH WEIRD VIDEOS so many angmohs doing this ASMR! and got that tingly sensation... anyone got it too? share your ASMR experience leh edit: for those asking what is asmr- this is the blog post what is asmr for mental health

Became a tourist, took a walk yesterday at Gardens by the Bay

Recently there are many threads created that are controversial and created tension among members. Today let me share something more light-hearted and hopefully will pull some of us away from the internet/forum for a few hours haha. Have been watching those seaside scavenging videos for awhile, be it from angmo countries or china. Always intrigued by what can be picked up along the beaches in other countries. But over here is not like hopeless, though we should not be too hopeful unless you have a yacht and could sail to southern islands all the time. With keen eyes, still possible to have some fun while spending an hour or two looking for something along local beaches, especially good for young kids. To be specific, I have recently have been picking up scallops along 2 beaches along East Coast Park when the tide is at its lowest in late afternoon, about 0.3m according to myENV app for those keen to do it. The tide would have receded to expose a long stretch of sandy/muddy land, and you will be surprised by the amount of dead shells that can be found there. Yesterday managed to bring home 10 pieces of bigger than palm-size scallops within 20min of look look see see. You will not need sharp eyes as they are practically everywhere if you know how to spot them, would have taken back more if not for the concept of sustainable fishing. Pro-tip - look for those sitting upright that are slightly opened. Those alive ones would be anchored to a base through some fibers, would need some efforts to twist them out if located in sandy areas. The shells would be clammed shut when you try to putt it out from its base. Those lying flat are definitely dead so do not bother. After reached home spent some time and hard efforts taking out the meat. Do not actually need to put the scallops overnight to spit out sands as we are only interested in the coin-size meat that is the muscle and not the internal organs of the shellfish. After that I let my helper did some stir fry to let the family enjoy. Should have baked it like previous time as tasted much better. More common way to enjoy them would be to bbq with some sauce concocted from garlic and ginger and onion and chili. Anyway this is just some sharing for those keen on spending quality time with kids or just personal time to relax. Just be mindful to wear proper shoes or slippers as the place could be muddy. 20200111_175424.mp4

hygge/ˈh(j)uːɡə,ˈhʊɡə/ noun a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture). basically, it means relaxation or cosiness, whether alone or with family, loved ones or group of good friends all these can be associated with hygge - soft pillows, jazz or some soothing music, hot chocolate, sipping coffee, comfort food, fireplace, books, etc etc (no wonder Denmark always rank high in happiness ) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl74ybpyNLk in Singapore context, lying comfortably in the couch with a beer watching football at midnight can be considered hygge too?

Dream Job and Yet Complain - Singapore Parody! Funny Commercial! This video has been around for quite sometime. If you see this for the first time, don't fall off from your chair. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9v9_NWPh_g Massage Uncle Part II Massage Uncle Part III

It is one of those freebies when you get to use the credit cards. Need some help to choose between a Traveller's choice 30" 8-wheel TSA Spinner (model unknown) and 76cm Delsey Belfort Plus lugguage bag. I have not used any of these. Appreciate your feedback if you have used any of them before. Thanks.

No Photography, No Video Recording....... But Camera Phone allowed .... CNA report: 14 military camps to allow servicemen to bring in camera phones Posted: 31 August 2012 1336 hrs SINGAPORE: Fourteen military camps in Singapore will allow servicemen to bring in camera phones, starting from 1 September. Previously, all camera equipped mobile devices were disallowed in camps. The move is part of a six- to nine-month trial to give servicemen added convenience while performing their national service duties. Camps will be divided into "green" and "red" zones. Green zones are where camera phones will be allowed. When a servicemen enters a more sensitive red zone, camera phones have to be temporarily surrendered. Pulau Tekong Camp, Bedok Camp and Khatib Camp are taking part in the trial. - CNA/al Nowadays, which camera handphone do now have video recording facilities...

When? Tell me when Our beloved gahmen pass this law instead of squeezing lemons??? More information: http://www.theguardian.com/money/shortcuts/2014/apr/09/french-6pm-labour-agreement-work-emails-out-of-office

Bistro@Changi RELAX BY THE BEACH Bistro @ Changi is an alfresco café serving food, from light snacks to maincourse. It is located at the Changi Beach Carpark 1. Guests can laze the afternoon away with our variety of desserts or have an icy beer by the beach. With the changi pitstop just beside us, cyclists can return their bikes and reward themselves with a refreshing drink or a hearty meal. DINE UNDER THE STARS Just steps away from the white sandy beach, the seabreeze, soft lightings, serene surroundings... Watch the ships sail by and view planes touching down. Bistro@Changi is the place to have a quiet dinner with your family, friends or your partner. Experience The Splendour Of Changi Beach Park , The Oldest Coastal Park In Singapore Bistro@Changi Address: 260 Nicoll Drive, Changi Beach Carpark 1 Singapore 498991 Phone: +65 65465229 Website: www.changibistro.com.sg

:wub: :wub:

Hi anyone can recommend in town area. I been to the one at the Alphabet @ Amara Hotel, quite nice. Now need variety. Must have long sofa to sit

I feel LTA should make exhaust rules more "relax". They should allow practically any exhaust out there (aftermarket, even custom ones etc). However, LTA can more stringent on emissions and noise. This means you can have any exhaust you want, but you have to pass the emission and noise test to keep it on your car and you probably need annual inspection to ensure it stays within the limits. This will at least give people more freedom in their exhaust choices. Else the market is very limited right now in terms of exhaust. Sometimes, finding LTA approved exhaust is simply not possible due to age of the car. Btw, this is not something new. Many countries have even more stringent emission tests compared to SG (I know US has CO and SMOG tests and cars with a failed cat can fail the test). But they do not exactly restrict what aftermarket exhaust people use. Another is exhaust manifolds or extractors. Its also illegal. I don't see how it can affect emissions other than not have a cat (most stock ones have their cat attached to the manifold). If you can get the emissions to stay the same, does it really matter what manifold you use?

After seeing my friend photos which were send to me.......... I want to relax leow................. Cheap, nice and not far from here.....