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Travel Thursday: 3D2N Itinerary to Surabaya, Indonesia at $204.30/pax (flights + hotel + breakfast)

One more day to the long weekend!

If you’ve not planned yourself a trip out of Singapore for Labor Day, boohoo.

Haha, just kidding.

It’s never too early to start planning for the next getaway and for this Travel Thursday, we will be looking at a 3D2N trip to Surabaya, Indonesia.

Best of all, it’s just $204.30/pax and includes flights + hotel + breakfast.

Since Vesak Day falls on 2 June, a Friday, this itinerary’s prices will be based on research done for 2 June to 4 June 2023 (2-to-go):

Batik Air flights, round trip per pax: $166.30

The Life Styles Hotel Surabaya (superior room + breakfast): approx. $76 including taxes via Agoda ($38/pax)

Ready for a detailed itinerary? Let’s roll.

Prices reflected are accurate at the time of writing.

2 June 2023, Friday

Flight: Batik Air

8.50 am Reach Singapore Changi Airport T3 for check-in

11.50 am Flight to Surabaya

1.10 pm (local time) Touch down at Surabaya Juanda International Airport T2

Hotel: The Life Styles Hotel Surabaya

2 pm Take your ride to the hotel

Address: Jl. Sumatera No.16, Ketabang, Kec. Gubeng, Kota SBY, Jawa Timur 60272, Indonesia

2.40 pm Reach The Life Styles Hotel Surabaya (estimated time is about 40 minutes but that depends on the traffic too)

Check-in is from 2 pm so you should be able to drop your luggage and freshen up a little before heading for lunch.

Late lunch: Sansekerta – The Authentic Taste Of Indonesia

Let’s fill our tummies first before we start exploring, shall we?

Take a 4-minute ride or 10-minute walk from your hotel to Sansekerta for a real taste of Indonesian food.

Image Credits: Yunita Wijaya on Google Reviews

Or you can head straight to Grand City Mall Surabaya for more dining options.

4 pm Take a 7- to 10-minute walk from your lunch place to Surabaya Submarine Monument, a museum that offers tours. Or you can go free and easy, snap your quick pics, and let’s move on to the next location.

5 pm Walk your way to Bambu Runcing, about 15 minutes away from the Surabaya Submarine Monument. This landmark monument will certainly prove that you’re in Surabaya. Ha!

Image Credits: tourism.surabaya.go.id

*Plan ahead*

Since you’re in the district, you may want to book yourself a massage session for tomorrow night (3 June). RATU MASSAGE SURABAYA (massage panggilan) is right around the corner from Bambu Runcing so drop by to book yourself a massage appointment.

5.30 pm It’s almost dinner time and from all the walking, you should be ready for some food. A 10-minute walk will take you to Apsari Park, an urban green space with street eats. You will instantly know you’re at the right place if you spot the Monumen Patung Gubernur Suryo.

6 pm If the food stalls are closed, you may want to take a short walk to Tunjungan Plaza instead. You will never go wrong with a shopping mall, yeah?

Image Credits: Yemima Eve on Google Reviews

Enjoy your dinner, and drinks, do some shopping, or even catch an evening movie at the Tunjungan 5 XXI cinema. It’s your holiday so do it your way!

Once you’re done, your hotel is just a less than 15-minute drive away.

Take a swim, or wash up and get some rest; I’ll see you tomorrow.

3 June 2023, Saturday

8 am Rise and shine, and get changed because it’s time for hotel breakfast.

9 am After breakfast, grab yourself a taxi to Surabaya Zoo. It will be a short 10-minute ride from the hotel.

Fun fact: Do you know that looking at cute animals can lead to reduced stress levels? Science has backed this up. So all the sake of our happiness and well-being, here’s a zoo trip planned for you.

11.30 am We’re heading for lunch soon but before we go, let’s drop by Bungkul Park, just 600 m from the zoo.

Bunkul Park is a dog-friendly popular green space so just take a walk through and snap some pictures for keepsake.

12 pm Let’s head to Marvell City Mall for lunch. It’s a 5-minute ride away from the park or if you prefer to clock more steps, take a 12-minute walk to the shopping mall.

Have your lunch, shop at LOTTE Mart if you wish and I’ll see you at 2 pm.

2 pm We’re heading far out so make sure you stop by the washroom to relieve yourself before we grab a ride to Surabaya North Quay.

It’s going to take 30 to 40 minutes (depending on the traffic) to get to the famed tourist attraction by the waters.

2.45 pm There’s a rooftop deck over there, so feel free to grab yourself a drink at the cafe and soak in the port and sea views and vibes while you’re there.

Don’t forget to look out for the Monumen Jalesveva Jayamahe by the corner!

4 pm Call yourself a cab because we’re heading to Chinatown. More specifically, we want to snap some pictures of Kya Kya Surabaya, a historical landmark marked by red “gates” and golden dragons.

Image Credits: suarasurabaya.net

You’re in the Chinatown district so take some time to walk through the streets before you walk yourself to ITC Mega Grosir Surabaya (shopping mall) for some cool air and respite. And of course, food!

Pasar Atom (another shopping mall) is just right around the corner so we have options ya.

7 pm Let’s grab a cab to RATU MASSAGE SURABAYA (massage panggilan) for your massage session.

9 pm All relaxed for bed? You’re just a 5-minute ride or a 15-minute walk back to your hotel.

Pack up, wash up, and hit the sack early because we’ve got a morning flight to catch tomorrow.

4 June 2023, Sunday

4.45 am Hop on your taxi to Surabaya Juanda International Airport T2 (it will take roughly 40 minutes)

5.45 am Reach the airport for check-in

7.45 am Take your flight back to Singapore

Image Credits: travel.kompas.com

11 am (local time) Touch down at Singapore Changi Airport T3

Hope you’ve had a superb trip in Surabaya!

See you soon for our next flight out 😉

8 sunscreens from $3.55 to protect you from the sun

I’ve been meeting quite a number of new faces recently and one question that’s been on repeat is this:

“How come your skin so fair ah?”

Genetics. Ha!

I’ll probably get slapped if I say that.

While I believe it’s partly due to my genes, the addiction to sunscreens has also protected me all these years.

I’m going to let you in on my go-to sunscreen so stay on this page if you’re curious.

Prices reflected are accurate at the time of writing.

MELIXIR: Vegan Airfit™ Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++

Price: $55

With over 40 reviews and a solid 5-star rating, this product will start us off our list. It’s a vegan option and reef-safe for those who want to lessen their impact on the environment. It suits most skin conditions so whether you have dry, oily, normal, sensitive, or combination skin types, this cream formulation works. Worried about leaving a white residue on your face? Put your worries aside because this lightweight sun cream leaves no white cast. Get your SPF 50+ protection for up to 10 hours with this product!

SUPERGOOP!: Mineral Sheerscreen SPF 50 PA++++

Price: $62

This one from SUPERGOOP’s a Sephora exclusive. It comes in a super sheer, lotion formulation that even protects your skin from blue light. This is thanks to its unique blend of non-nano zinc oxide + titanium dioxide. You can even use this sheer screen as a makeup primer so that’s a 2-in-1 use. Beauty fanatics who are worried about even a teeny-weeny bit of white cast can consider the Unseen Sunscreen Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 40 PA+++ instead.

LANEIGE: Radian-C Sun Cream SPF50+ PA++++

Price: $42

Ladies and gentlemen who have skins prone to breakouts should try out this LANEIGE sun cream. We don’t often see sunscreens infused with vitamin C so this is certainly a good addition to your skincare routine. Apart from vitamin C, it also contains EAE + Niacinamide for those extra doses of vitamins your dull skin needs to thrive. Treat your skin to this sun cream that is sure to brighten up your complexion over time.

SHISEIDO: Global Suncare The Perfect Protector SPF 50+/PA++++

Price: $68

Looking for a waterproof sunscreen to literally weather the storm? Look no further than this SHISEIDO suncare protector that claims to be “very water resistant”. This is all thanks to its SynchroShield™ technology, which works its magic even when exposed to water or perspiration. Apart from shielding you against UVA and UVB rays, it also tackles urban pollutants like dust and soot, and even dryness. Consider the Clear Suncare Stick SPF 50+ PA++++ instead if you want a no-mess, touch-free application.

3W CLINIC: Intensive UV Sunblock Cream

Price: $3.55

Appreciate you reading thus far! As promised, here’s the product that I’ve been using for years and it works wonders, despite its affordable pricing. Sent directly to you from Korea via Shopee, you can rest assured that it’s 100% authentic. There are other options under the same listing but the one I’m using is the Intensive UV Sunblock Cream. It’s a cream-type formulation but doesn’t feel heavy on the skin.

Tip: To avoid a white cast, apply a thin layer first, then reapply again as needed.

INNISFREE: Tone Up No Sebum Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++

Price: $13.68

For all you Innisfree lovers out there, here is one from the Korean brand founded by Amore Pacific. Certain sunscreens offer that glowy finish but if you’re one with a naturally oily complexion that gives off too much “grease” and shine, then this Innisfree sunscreen will suit you well. This is because it provides a matte finish by controlling excessive sebum output. As a plus point, it tones up your skin with Centella and green tea extract.

AJUSTE: Airytouch UV Spray

Price: $14.40

Sometimes we need a quick fix of sun protection before we run a quick outdoor errand and other than a cap and mask, a spray would do the trick. Consider this UV Spray from AJUSTE, which has sold over 1,500 bottles and managed to score itself a 4.9 rating. It’s made in Japan and offers no sticky after-spray effect. Advertised to be gentle on your skin, the product also offers 7 moisturizing botanical ingredients you can treat your skin to. It dries quickly and is suitable for application post-makeup.

BIORE: UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence/Gel

Price: $14.80

We’re finally at the last product of this list. But I’ve realized that I’ve yet to introduce to you any watery formulations in this post. So here you go: Biore’s UV Aqua Rich series. Whether it’s the essence or gel type, it gives you a “水感” (“watery feel”) which is good for skin types that can’t survive cream-type formulas. This product contains Butylene Glycol, Hyaluronic Acid, and Royal Jelly Extract for 3x of the moisturization effects you need.

Singapore’s weather is hot AF and the sun’s rays are no joke. Never underestimate what a few minutes of fun out in the sun can do to your delicate skin barriers. I made the mistake of not wearing sunscreen all in the name of “letting my skin rest” and “sun tanning” when I was younger and regretted it after dark spots start appearing. So start stocking up on your sunscreens and apply them generously before you expose your skin to sunshine. It’s definitely a wise beauty investment your skin will thank you decades later.

8 practical gifts $88 and under for Mother’s Day 2023

Do you know when Mother’s Day is?

I was surprised to see Mother’s Day promotions up and running both offline and online this month so I did a search.

Yup, I forgot about it too.

Anyway, it’s on 14 May 2023, and it’s a Sunday. At the time of writing, we’re less than 3 weeks away.

I’ve yet to decide what to get for the mum but here are 8 practical gifts $88 and under for our consideration.

Prices reflected are accurate at the time of writing.

SEPHORA COLLECTION: Dry Body Oil

Price: $18

I’m not sure about your mum but for mine, I’ve been hearing feedback about dry skin lately. If your mum is also suffering from dry skin, you may want to get this Sephora exclusive body oil for your mama. It comes in these 3 fragrances: argan, monoi, and coconut so you can take your pick. Furthermore, I like how it has zero animal-derived ingredients, which means it’s good if you’re a vegan supporter. Coupled with environmentally friendly packaging, your $18 is sure to be put to good use.

FRESH: Sugar Lychee – Eau De Parfum

Price: from $34

I have no idea why when it comes to the lychee fruit, I think of Singapore. And that’s the reason why I’m highlighting this product for Mother’s Day. If your mum is into scents, consider this fruity fragrance inspired by lychees. With over 30 reviews and a rating of 4.5, I think it has scored pretty well on its report card! Or you can also get FRESH’s Rose Morning – Eau De Parfum, another best-seller at Sephora.

FOODAHOLIC: Misc Mask Sheets

Price: $0.55

Sold over 40,000 pieces with an average rating of 4.9, it says a lot. I’ve personally used this product as a daily mask for a few months and can attest to its moisturizing effects. And at waaay less than a dollar, it’s a steal. There’s also a 5% discount if you purchase any 30 pieces and shipping all the way from Korea is free if you meet the minimum purchase of $15. Mind you, there are 16 types for you to choose from so take your pick and hit that purchase button so you can get your masks ready for Mother’s Day on 14 May.

COSRX: Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream

Price: $31.97

As we age, wrinkles start coming after us; there’s no doubt about it. And that’s why my mum’s always on the lookout for anti-aging products. While doing my research, I came across this eye cream that does just that! It apparently helps brighten up the eye area by reducing fine lines and dark circles. The selling point is that although it’s a snail peptide eye cream, no snails are harmed in the process of making this product. So our slow snail friends are doing just fine; be rest assured.

MONKI: Girl Gang Tote Bag

Price: $8.50

For all the hip mums out there, this tote bag is for them. Ha! My mum’s probably going to kill me if I gift this to her but if you have a cool mum who doesn’t mind injecting a little fun into everyday mundane life, by all means, go ahead. There’s also a boobs-like printed tote bag for an alternative consideration.

KATE SPADE: Grocery Tote-Bouquet Toss

Price: $32.95

If you want your mum to shop in style, consider this grocery tote bag from Kate Spade. The pretty florals on an ang-ang all-weather woven polypropylene material make it extra pretty and lucky. There are also 4 open-base pockets inside to section off things. In addition, it comes with a woven logo label so your mum can flaunt her Kate Spade style at the supermarket or while shopping at the mall.

EU YAN SANG: Healthful Treats Hamper

Price: $88

Don’t let your busyness be an excuse for not getting mum anything. Eu Yan Sang has beautifully wrapped hampers with free delivery options (T&Cs apply) so you can drop your mum something without having to be physically there on Mother’s Day. Take for example this Healthful Treats Hamper, which comes with bottles of:

Essence Of Chicken With Goji Berries & Red Dates 70g
Quality Bird’s Nest with Rock Sugar 70g
Premium White Fungus with Bird’s Nest 70g
Euphoria Longana Honey 500g

Folks looking for halal-friendly options can consider Eu Yan Sang’s Halal Delight Hamper instead.

KINOHIMITSU: Superfood Lady Low Fat Nutritious Multigrain Beetroot Beverage

Price: $27.93

As our parents age and live alone, many may not be keeping up with daily nutritious meals. Why not get this multigrain beverage for mum so her body can absorb all the goodness this product offers? Apart from containing beetroot, cranberry, flaxseed oil, and 22 types of fruits and veggie extracts, it’s also high in iron, calcium, vitamin B12, and folic acid. Best of all, it’s free of trans fats and cholesterol. Here’s another alternative: KINOHIMITSU Superfood⁺ (Healthy) for you.

And there we have it, a curated list of 8 practical gifts $88 and under that you can ponder purchasing for the first and very important woman in your life. Or if you’re not a fan of gift-giving, then consider bringing mum out for a meal. Take the opportunity to catch up on life, and have a wonderful bonding session together! 🙂

Here’s the main reason why recycling won’t work in Singapore

I’m going to give it to you right from the start:

The convenience of a rubbish chute.

Yes, I think that’s the main reason why recycling won’t work in Singapore.

I’m looking into this issue because I happened to read a commentary on CNA where the writer wrote about how he doesn’t need a free Bloobox to get started on recycling at home.

And it reminded me of my recent conversation with my mum regarding the free Bloobox collection.

If you haven’t heard of the term “Bloobox” yet, don’t feel left out. That’s because I didn’t too…

What’s the Bloobox initiative?

My mum recently received a flyer regarding the collection of a free Bloobox for recycling.

She showed it to me, which sparked my interest in that initiative.

I then saw it on the news on the same day, where it was reported that locals were collecting them from vending machines.

Image Credits: straitstimes.com.sg

But that was that, I didn’t look into it further.

Not until today, after I came across the commentary written. Yup, the one I mentioned earlier.

So I searched “Bloobox” and this was what came up: gowhere.gov.sg/bloobox

Apparently, this initiative is part of the Recycle Right campaign that started on 19 March 2023.

Oh boy, I was totally clueless.

Anyway, if you hold an NRIC or long-term FIN tagged to a residential address, you can collect the Bloobox on behalf of your household from any Bloobox-dispensing vending machine until 30 April.

To search for the nearest vending machine from where your place, simply head to gowhere.gov.sg/bloobox and key in your postal code.

Anyway, this Bloobox functions as a recycling box to encourage households to set up a recycling corner and start recycling at home.

My honest thoughts about the campaign

I don’t think it will work.

Period.

And the main reason is because of the convenience of the rubbish chute we have.

It’s going to take more than a Bloobox to get our lazy bums and hands to start recycling if we can just throw our trash down the chute every day.

Image Credits: tnp.straitstimes.com

I mean, why would any busy Singaporean adopt the recycling habit all of a sudden just because of a free Bloobox?

It’s much easier to just gather food waste and recyclables in one big plastic bag and throw them away, isn’t it?

Don’t get me wrong, recycling is cool but having tried recycling while living abroad, it’s not an easy habit to pick up (unless official rules start kicking in). And if the rubbish chute is there, nothing gets solved.

Drawing from my recycling experience abroad

I’ve had the “privilege” of living abroad and being among locals means I had to adopt their living patterns and law, right?

But coming from a country where we do not need to recycle (by law), the whole recycling thing was a hell of a lesson for me.

But hey, everyone’s got to start somewhere, and with practice, I got better.

Anyway, the main point of bringing this up is because where I lived, there was NO rubbish chute.

So then your question might be:

“So, how to throw trash ah?”

Well, that’s where the whole recycling thing comes into the picture.

For explanation’s sake, there are 3 broad categories:

Food waste
General trash
Recyclables

I won’t get into much detail on food waste and general trash but to give you a rough idea, I had to pay to get rid of them. Yes, that was how it worked.

As for recyclables, the place where I lived (each region has slightly different rules on recycling) did not specify the type of plastic bags to use so I bought big white plastic bags from Daiso to contain my recyclables before throwing them out in bulk.

Here comes the best part…

I like how 99% of the products in Korea have labels on them so you know exactly how to sort them.

It looks like this:

Image Credits: sokoglam.com

After a while, you somehow get the hang of things but as a recycling newbie adopting this whole recycling routine, the labeling was a lifesaver.

In Singapore, we don’t have that. At least, that’s what I’ve realized.

But we do have a “recycling search engine” to help you determine what can be recycled and not: cgs.gov.sg/recycleright/check-my-item

But a tad troublesome, hor?

I think Singapore has a long way to go when it comes to educating the public on recycling.

It takes just one culprit who doesn’t know the rules of recycling to contaminate the entire blue recycling bin.

I’m saying this because just last week, I spotted a man throwing his cai fan styrofoam box into the blue bin near my neighborhood.

So, there you go. Gone.

Poor blue bin and its clean recyclables inside.

In closing, I think it’s going to be a long fight with our current recycling efforts. We cannot afford to take our own sweet time because the Semakau Landfill is expected to be full by 2035. If Singapore can step up its recycling game and be much more aggressive with its campaigns, we can certainly slow down the speed of landfills being filled and contribute to a much greener world. So what say you? Are you still planning to use your newly collected Bloobox as a storage box? Or are you putting it to good recycling use?

Investing in Cryptocurrency: Risks & Rewards

Cryptocurrency has taken the world by storm, and Singapore is no exception. Although the worldwide cryptocurrency ownership rates were around 4.2% in 2022, Singapore and Thailand are leading the way in Southeast Asia with significantly higher adoption rates of 11.05% and 6.47%, respectively. These numbers are mainly attributed to the digital savviness of their populations and the supportive regulatory environment in both countries. While investing in cryptocurrencies can be attractive and lucrative, it is also not without risks.

Firstly, let’s discuss the rewards. Cryptocurrency is decentralized, meaning it is not controlled by any government or financial institution. This makes it a popular investment option for those looking to diversify their portfolio and reduce their reliance on traditional banking systems. Cryptocurrencies can also provide quick and easy access to liquidity, making it an attractive option for those looking to make quick profits. For example, digital artists can easily sell their artwork using cryptocurrencies and still own its copyrights.

Furthermore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has issued guidelines for the trading and exchange of cryptocurrencies, making it easier for investors to enter the market. To address money laundering and illegal activities, MAS issued Notice PSN02, also known as the detailed Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) guidelines for Digital Payment Token service providers.

However, investing in cryptocurrency also comes with its own set of risks. One of the biggest risks is volatility. Despite Singapore’s ambitions to become a global crypto hub, it has been cracking down on the industry after many retail investors lost their life savings to crypto trading. The country has repeatedly warned that cryptocurrency trading is “highly risky and not suitable for the general public” due to its volatile and speculative nature.

The general public must know that cryptocurrencies are subject to unpredictable price fluctuations. As they are less regulated, their value is influenced by other factors, such as psychological hype. For example, in 2017, Bitcoin’s price reached an all-time high of nearly $20,000, only to crash to $3,000 the following year. Another example is the rise of the first meme coin called Dogecoin.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Another risk is security. Cryptocurrencies are stored in digital wallets, which can be vulnerable to hacking and cyber-attacks. If a hacker gains access to an investor’s wallet, they can steal their digital assets, resulting in significant losses. Can you imagine betting your life savings on cryptocurrencies and losing it all in a day?

Lastly, to thrive in the cryptocurrency scene, a certain level of technical knowledge is required. Don’t fall victim to frauds and scams by lacking technical knowledge. Investors need to understand how the blockchain works, how to manage digital wallets, and how to navigate cryptocurrency exchanges.

Despite the risks, the interest in cryptocurrency investment remains high among investors in Singapore. To minimize these risks, it is essential for investors to conduct comprehensive research before investing, keep their digital assets in secure wallets, and only invest a reasonable amount they can afford to lose. With prudence and caution, investing in cryptocurrency can be a fulfilling experience for Singaporean investors.

Sources: 1, 2, 3 & 4