Experience The Natural Wonders Of These 4 Local Farms

“Just being surrounded by bountiful nature, rejuvenates and inspires us.“
– E.O. Wilson

Nature heals. Research showed that environments can increase or reduce our stress. What you are seeing, hearing, and feeling at any moment changes your physical and emotional well-being.

If you feel suffocated within the walls of your home, try visiting farms in Singapore. From vegetable farms to animal farms, we have you covered!

#1: HAY DIARIES

Since its inception in 1988, Hay Diaries has been the only goat farm in the country. Located within Lim Chu Kang, guests are free to explore the premises and to witness the goat milking session between 9:00 to 10:30 am.

Get close with the goats as you purchase the Alfalfa Hay (S$5 per packet) and feed the goats. End your goat farm experience by skimming through the souvenirs such as fresh goat’s milk and handmade soap.

Image Credits: Hay Diaries via facebook.com

Location: 3 Lim Chu Kang Lane 4, Singapore 718859
Website: haydairies.sg

#2: BOLLYWOOD VEGGIES

Home to the Poison Ivy Bistro, the Bollywood Veggies lets you travel back to simpler times. Their Bistro is a farm-to-table eatery where guests go for a quick lunch after visiting the nearby farm. Try their unique Blue Nasi Lemak, which is infused with blue pea flower.

After a hearty lunch, you can walk around the premises to enjoy the wide variety of plants. What’s more? They have a food museum with about twenty-four oil paintings that illustrate the relationship between food and human civilization.

Image Credits: Bollywood Veggies via facebook.com

Location: 100 Neo Tiew Road, Singapore 719026
Website: bollywoodveggies.com.sg

#3: THE LIVE TURTLE AND TORTOISE MUSEUM

Did you know that this place is a Guinness World Records holder? Witness the undeniable charm of various species of turtles and tortoises such as the Six-Legged Tortoise and the Pig Nose Flying Turtle. See and feel the spirit of the Sulcata Tortoise for luck, and the Thailand’s Golden Temple Turtle for wealth.

You will be given the chance to interact with these creatures by petting and feeding them. However, please do not lift them up as it can cause them stress. Tickets cost S$10 for children aged 3-6 and S$14 for those above 7 years old.

Image Credits: The Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum via facebook.com

Note: Due to the Phase 2 Heightened alert, group entries will be limited to 5 people per group. Only fully vaccinated visitors will be allowed entry. Children under 12 years old need not be vaccinated.

Location: ORTO, 81 Lor Chencharu #01-16, Singapore 769198
Website: turtle-tortoise.com

#4: THE SUNDOWNER

Nestled within a once empty concrete rooftop, the Sundowner is an urban farm and lounge space which offers guests the opportunity to learn about the fundamentals of organic farming and to indulge in farm-to-table goodies.

It is an oasis of green floating above the bustling cafes and bars of the Siglap restaurant belt. You can opt for the Rooftop Farm Experience to learn about organic farming as taught by a master gardener, to don a bee suit, and to get a sample of unifloral honey. This experience is priced at S$115 for adults and at S$85 for children.

Image Credits: The Sundowner via facebook.com

You can also make your own pizza with their 3-hour class. This activity is perfect for friends, families, and co-workers. Private Pizza-Making experience costs S$350, for two pax.

Location: 705A E Coast Rd, Singapore 459062
Website: thesundownersg.com

Sources: 1 & 2

 

Read More...

10-Year Singapore Passport Validity To Take Effect For Citizens Aged 16 & Above

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) announced that the Singapore Passport validity will be increased to 10 years, as compared to the current validity of 5 years. This will come into effect for applications submitted on or after October 2021.

The longer validity period applies to Singapore citizens aged 16 and above. If you qualify for this, please submit your application on or after October 1, 2021. Despite the increased validity period, the passport application fee in Singapore remains the same (i.e., S$70). Furthermore, applications submitted in person at Singapore’s Overseas Missions will be charged an equivalent of S$80 in foreign currency.

ICA highlighted that it “has assessed that it is now viable to increase the validity of the Singapore passport to 10 years without compromising security or global confidence in the Singapore passport.”

In a similar fashion, many countries have changed their passport validity period from 5 to 10 years. These countries include Australia, Britain, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, and the United States.

SPECIFIC EXEMPTIONS

Notice the age bracket qualified to the passport validity period extension. It starts at the age of 16. Those who are under the age of 16 will continue to have the passport validity of 5 years. The primary reason behind this is that children’s facial features typically change during the early years.

“As children’s facial features change more rapidly, renewing their passport every five years will allow the photograph in their passport to be updated more frequently, which will minimise identification problems when going through immigration,” the Authority said.

Apart from this, the passport validity has a limit too. The validity is capped at 10 years in compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) recommendation. Any remaining validity in an old passport cannot be added to the new passport, with a 10-year validity period.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Singapore citizens can apply for new passports by going to ICA’s e-service website. Those without an internet access may either visit the Citizen Connect Centres or go to the ICA Building in Kallang.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Ultimately, the changes in the passport validity aim to reduce the need for frequent passport renewals and to offer greater convenience to Singaporeans all over the world.

Sources: 1 & 2

Read More...

Johor chief minister says they will put in “more effort” to reduce COVID-19 cases for Singapore to consider border reopening

Empty Singapore Johor border

Johor chief minister Hasni Mohammad has noted on 31 May that Singapore and Malaysia have put talks to reopen cross-border travel on hold. This is due to the pandemic situation in Malaysia.

Following the recent news report, our neighbouring country has also entered a two-week “total lockdown” from 1 June.

“This decision was made after taking into account the current situation of COVID-19 transmission in Malaysia with daily case numbers exceeding 8,000 and active cases exceeding 70,000,” read a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

“More effort” needed to reduce Johor’s COVID-19 cases

Mr Hasni remarked that Johor has always been a city contributing to Malaysia economy. Thus, activity in the capital of the Malaysian state of Johor must resume as soon as possible.

“We just have to make sure that more effort is being put towards reducing the number of cases in Johor. And I believe once the number is reduced to an acceptable level, Singapore will consider our request to reopen the borders again,” adding that the ball is in their court now.

Vaccination priority: Malaysian “economic frontliners” in Singapore

The Johor state government is planning to tackle the COVID-19 numbers by accelerating the vaccination of its residents.

According to the ImmuPlan Johor initiative, 100,000 residents will be on the priority list for vaccination. These chosen ones would be “economic frontliners” working in Singapore and individuals intending to resume cross-border work commuting.

It seems like Johor is on track in their initiative, with around 70,000 people qualifying. This group of people will likely receive their Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 jabs next month onwards.

Johor eager to acquire vaccines from our tiny red dot
COVID-19 vaccines

Image Credits: health.harvard.edu

The chief minister also said that Johor is in talks to secure their vaccines through various channels, including Singapore.

“I was made to understand, from some vaccine suppliers… about their willingness to supply (to us). But they are tied to the understanding they will have to give priority to the country’s requirement first,” commented Mr Hasni.

He has also expressed keenness in working with Temasek Foundation again to up the supply of vaccines in Johor. As most of us already know, Temasek Foundation is a Singapore-based non-profit organisation. 

Previously in March this year, Temasek Foundation had planned to distribute 7.5 million face masks across 260 vending machines with a total worth of RM 25 million (S$8.04 million), to aid Johor in its COVID-19 fight.

“So, maybe from the foundation’s perspective, it is more of charitable work. But I suppose if it is on an understanding that can be developed to manage, control or reduce the number of positive COVID-19 patients, then why not?” Mr Hasni asserted.

Read More...

Should Singapore stop hosting the F1 Grand Prix amid COVID-19?

F1 Grand Prix Singapore

About 13 years have passed since Singapore first hosted the Formula One (F1) Grand Prix in 2008.

Do you know that it took about S$150 million for Singapore to host the first night race? The government paid about 60% of the total amount in hopes that the three-day event would bring in S$100 million in tourism receipts.

Though the inaugural race has welcomed high-profile attendees like the former heads of Sony, Lenovo, and Royal Bank of Scotland, the question remains – should Singapore stop hosting the F1 Grand Prix amid COVID-19?

Not as financially glamorous

According to the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), the race attracted 450,000 international visitors and was potentially exposed to 780 million worldwide by 2017.

However, the overall financial figures aren’t that promising. Averaging out the S$1.4 billion in incremental tourism receipts over the past 11 races, Singapore has only managed to secure S$130 million a year. In other words, the spending outweighs the “income”.

Furthermore, interest in the sport has also seen a downward trend. To give you an idea, it had dropped from 600 million global viewers in 2008 to 350 million in 2017. The latest numbers stood at 433 million in 2020.

Our sunny island’s not alone
F1 Grand Prix Melbourne

Image Credits: heraldsun.com.au

Other than Singapore, other host cities aren’t benefiting financially, too, from the F1 Grand Prix. India and South Korea opted out after hosting for three and four years respectively in the 2010s. Our neighbour, Malaysia, the second Asian nation to host the race in 1999, stopped in 2017. 

Honestly, who wouldn’t, considering the high costs to organise the event but declining attendees?

Even Melbourne, which has hosted the race for 14 years, faced a loss of A$41.3 million (S$42.46 million) in 2007. But still, the visibility and tourist arrivals have kept the coastal capital going for over a decade.

Hosting amid COVID-19

Bringing our focus back to Singapore, what are your thoughts on Singapore hosting the F1 Grand Prix amid the pandemic? Based on the circuit schedule, the next race in Singapore will be on 3 October this year.

If you’ve been following the news, you would have known that significant events have been cancelled recently. This includes the Singapore open badminton tournament, the annual Shangri-la Dialogue, and the World Economic Forum. Would the F1 Grand Prix follow suit?

Maybe it’s a good time for the authorities to weigh the benefits of any tourism receipts compared to the potential risk of another wave of COVID-19 infections if more visitors are allowed into our tiny red dot because of the night race.

A luxury sports entertainment event during uncertain times? Is it really a good idea?

Read More...

These 8 countries will fair very well among introverts

Sydney Opera House

Have you done a profiling test before?

We’ve heard from a certified counsellor that while online profiling test options are plenty, they may not necessarily be 100% accurate. However, it does shed some light on one’s personality.

More often than not, it’s easy to “judge” a person as there are several apparent traits an introvert or extrovert might display. In fact, it’s also common to be an ambivert too. According to Healthline, ambiversion refers to a combined personality style of introversion and extroversion. This means you’re somewhere in between if you identify as one.

Whether you’re a true self-proclaimed introvert or an ambivert who feel introverted at times, these eight countries might sit very well with you.

#1: Canada
Canada waters and mountain peaks

Image Credits: reloadvisor.org

Canada has a global reputation as one of the safest nations with both kind and polite people.

It was also rated as the best nation for introverts to live in 2021. With a very low overall population density of four people per square kilometre, even the most private person will have plenty of space to work with and enjoy some precious solitude.

If you enjoy skiing and snowboarding, the slopes at Whistler will offer you an experience like no other. Hikers may wish to consider a visit to Banff, one of Canada’s gems. Whatever you decide to do here, Canada’s beautiful national parks and accessible outdoor spaces make this North American nation a top spot to visit for introverts.

#2: Australia

Canada may be too long of a flight for some. How about Australia then? It’s much closer and an excellent choice for the introverted traveller.

Australia offers its visitors tranquil and preserved nature and even a chance to view the Aurora Australis. Travellers who want to appreciate local arts and culture can swing by Melbourne and Sydney. For those who prefer a quiet and scenic trip, try a private drive down the coast.

#3: Iceland
Iceland's Northern Lights

Image Credits: AsiaOne

Largely unpopulated, the Nordic island nation is a wonderful destination for introverted travellers. News also has it that Iceland is slowly opening up to vaccinated visitors, so that’s something to look forward to.

Based on a past report, Iceland took the top spot as the friendliest country for tourists. For introverts, this is excellent news, indeed! Take a break from the hustle and bustle of modern life and soak in a hot spring or camp under the breathtaking Northern Lights.  

#4: Russia

Russia is an enormous nation spanning 11 time zones.

While cities such as Moscow are densely populated, Russian social norms make this an easy place to visit for the more restrained among us. Many Russians love a good chess game, and if you happen to like it too, you may be keen to visit the Chess Museum in Moscow.

Introverts with a decent budget and who want to connect with their adventurous side can take a private helicopter tour of Kamchatka’s volcanoes. If not, one can always enjoy a stroll through Peterhof Palace, view the spectacular Cape Tobizina, or explore Lake Baikal.

#5: Finland
Finland

Image Credits: gofinland.org

It may sound awkward for some who do not know Finnish culture well. But Finns value their personal space so much that “social distancing” has long been a thing way before the pandemic started.

That’s why it’s safe to say that they may make perfect friends for peeps who desire enough time and space to recharge social batteries. In fact, Finns even have a series of running jokes about “Finnish Nightmares” that many introverts will find relatable.

Just take a look at this:

the bus is full

#6: New Zealand

Singapore and New Zealand may be working together to recognise the digital health and COVID-19 vaccination certificates, as shared by Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan last month.

Filled with gorgeous vistas, rolling hills, and a plethora of cultural landmarks, maybe it’s time for a trip to New Zealand? Let’s not forget that the island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean is another exceptional place for the introverted tourist to journey to.

New Zealanders pride themselves as friendly but reserved. It also has a relatively low population density of only 19 people per square kilometre, meaning there is plenty of space for you to work around.

In addition to the lovely national parks with natural scenery, New Zealand is home to Te Papa Tongarewa, a large national museum in Wellington showcasing the nation’s blend of art, history, and cultures.

#7: Norway
a red house in Norway

Image Credits: lifeinnorway.net

This Scandinavian paradise is an ideal place for the introverted to visit, and we’re saying this not without proof. That’s because the country in Europe made the top 10 list of best countries for introverts to live in.

Sparsely populated, Norway offers plenty of opportunities to escape from the world, relax in peace, and avoid the draining experience of being constantly surrounded by fast-paced life. 

Try a trip to Borøy Island if you’re searching for a tranquil oasis in local villages. For those who enjoy reading, the small town of Tvedestrand by the waters can allow you the freedom to roam its cobbled streets and enter bookshops as you please.

#8: Belize

We have Belize, a country in Central America with Caribbean Sea shorelines, to end us off our list.

Ambiverts who sometimes want to steer away from crowded beaches, night clubs, packed bars, and streets full of tourists will find Belize an ideal destination. The nation on the eastern coast of Central America offers the tropically inclined introvert a refuge to enjoy Singapore-like weather and blue seas.

And when you’re there, remember to give scuba diving a go! Click through the link for the top 9 best diving sites in Belize.

Bon voyage!

Read More...