Blog | Cooler Insights

Get High on Heritage!

July 18, 2007 • Blog • 21 comments

Back again for the fourth year in a row, the highly popular Singapore HeritageFest 2007 (SHF 2007) is a key event on our cultural calendar. Happening 18 to 29 July at Suntec City Tropics Atrium and multiple venues around Singapore, the theme of this year’s celebration – “What’s Your Story?” – looks at getting everybody to think about the memories, stories, traditions and cultures that make us Singaporeans.

Last year’s extravaganza attracted more than 1.1 million participants. With so many things to see, do and experience, there are no reasons why this year’s event can’t match that. For newbies to heritage, I recommend you to check out the 10 things that you can do at the festival.

Niagara Windfalls

July 17, 2007 • Blog • 12 comments

Niagara Falls Photo courtesy of Laffy4K

I recently attended a talk on Casino Marketing by Daniel Shummy, a Las Vegas marketing veteran. One of the most interesting topics he shared was how Niagara Falls transformed itself.

Think of Niagara Falls in Canada and what crosses your mind? Great lakes perhaps? Holiday destination? How about those great iconic waterfalls and rapids often seen in movies?

A Fiery Legacy

July 15, 2007 • Blog • 4 comments

Check out this funky red spiral stairway at the Civil Defence Heritage Gallery

Do you know that the Central Fire Station was once Singapore’s highest lookout point? Back in the old days, fire fighters would climb up the tower to look out for fires in the city using their naked eyes. That was one of the interesting facts I discovered recently at the Civil Defence Heritage Gallery, which is opened by the Singapore Civil Defence Force.

A member of the Museum Roundtable, this boutique attraction shares the story of Singapore’s excellent fire services (they are a Singapore Quality Award winner) as well as some of the major crises which they handled. Located along Hill Street, admission is free to the public.

Thematic Toilets 2 – Nature’s Call

July 13, 2007 • Blog • 7 comments

If you think country-themed loos are cool, wait till you check out the rest rooms at Labrador Park. They are not only aesthetically decorative but educational and insightful too! And the contents within the commodes are curated and contextually relevant to their location too. They are also sparkling clean which is unusual for outdoor-based toilets.

Now you can enrich and fill your mind while emptying err… something else…

Here’s the entrance to the men’s room, decorated with dragonflies and blades of grass.

Let’s Go Green 2 – Using Recyclable Bags

July 10, 2007 • Blog • 9 comments

Have you started using recyclable bags for your shopping needs lately? It isn’t that difficult to tote a few grammes of light woven bags wherever you go. Not only does it help to burn a little more calories, they are also easier to carry around compared to lots of plastic bags. Most can be slung around the shoulder and you can look fashionably chic while doing your bit to save our world.

The damage caused by plastic bags and other non-biodegradable items are far too huge for us to ignore. Just look at this example here. Plastic makes up 80% of the volume of litter on roads, parks, and beaches and makes up 90% of floating litter in the ocean (BEC). Each year, an estimated 500 billion to one trillion plastic bags are used worldwide, with billions ending up as litter in landfill sites. What’s more, it takes at least a century (yes 100 years) to degrade them!

Let’s do our part folks.

Charming Chek Jawa

July 7, 2007 • Blog • 18 comments

Yesterday morning, my wife and I attended the official launch of Chek Jawa by Minister of National Development Mah Bow Tan. One of the last remaining vestiges of nature in Singapore, Chek Jawa Wetlands is located off the east coast of Pulau Ubin, which is a charming and rustic island getaway stuck in time.

Managed by the National Parks Board, this unique tidal treasure trove boasts of some of Singapore’s richest ecosystem, and showcases a rich biodiversity that is almost unparalleled on our otherwise concrete jungle. Some may remember how Chek Jawa’s survival was the result of active lobbying by nature lovers back in December 2001 which resulted in the government overturning its decision to transform it a military training area.

To get to Pulau Ubin, one needs to hop onto these bumboats from Changi Point Ferry Terminal. They are in operation from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Ticket prices are only $2 per pax with an additional $2 extra per bicycle.

Thematic Toilets

July 3, 2007 • Blog • 10 comments

Anybody who has visited Great World City at Kim Seng Road in Singapore would have noticed its toilets. Painted in resplendent colours and themed to various countries around the world, they provide a nice respite (in more ways than one) to the otherwise drab and uninspiring experience of easing oneself. Its bathrooms are decked in designs and patterns hailing from Japan, Holland, Africa, Thailand and other regions.

The exterior of this Spanish themed gentlemen’s room looked fairly nondescript save for the painted bulls by the side.

Birds of Different Feathers

June 30, 2007 • Blog • 10 comments

About a month ago, in a sudden whimsical flight of fancy, we decided to follow the flock and make our way to the Jurong Bird Park. Part of Wildlife Reserves Singapore, Jurong Bird Park is a multi-award winning attraction. It is famed for having the world’s largest aviary and manmade waterfall. Unfortunately due to the deadly avian flu scare, it has lost some of its lustre with the locals.

Our pictorial journey begins with the little intrepid explorer picking up a map and charting the course for the day.

Discount Retailing at People’s Park

June 27, 2007 • Blog • 19 comments

Recently, my wife and I visited the Swanston Essential Store located at People’s Park Complex to pick up some toiletries. Apparently, it has been quite an institution for the denizens of the Chinatown area.

Anybody who need to purchase toiletries and cosmetic items will pop over now and then. They stock items like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, eye-liner and anything else which makes one prettier, better smelling, cleaner and germ-free. The success of the outlet has spawned a branch nearby at People’s Park Centre just across the road.

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