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Independent Singapore
18 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
'My weekends are never long enough to do what I want': Singaporeans say SG is definitely NOT boring
Screengrab from SINGAPORE: When a local Reddit user asked, 'Is Singapore really that boring?' the answer given by many was a loud and resounding 'No,' and the secret is knowing what's in the city-state to do. In a post on r/askSingapore, u/Administrative_Leg85 wrote that their friend said that Singapore is very boring. The friend also said they should have more overseas trips, but added that they find Hong Kong and China are boring as well, and when the post author suggests that they go hiking, their friends say it's too hot. 'When I say we could throw a dart at the map and go to where it lands and explore the local area, they say that Singapore is just boring and they can't be bothered to go out and look,' u/Administrative_Leg85 wrote, adding, 'So is Singapore really that boring to people here? Because I don't think so, since there are a lot of places I've never been and want to go.' The post has since received many comments, with a number of commenters debating on the finer points of why people get bored in the Little Red Dot. While agreeing that the heat and humidity can often make outdoor activities very challenging, many also had some very helpful suggestions for the post author. 'For the size of the country, there's a surprising number of things to be doing. Saying this as someone who has to plan like 10 dates a month. Plenty of good restaurants, bars, musicals, concerts, sports activities, etc. Last month was Gastrobeats, this month is Sentosa Grillfest, etc. Pick up a hobby, climbing, pickleball, golfing, pilates, spinning, find your tribe. I go out twice a week with my friends and twice a week with my girlfriend. I like my job. Before bed, I doom scroll TikTok and send my friends dumb reels. All these things make me feel I have a pretty fulfilling life, even as someone who gets bored easily and has a hyperactive brain,' was a top comment on the thread. 'Had the same thought, but I changed my mindset recently. I want to be a tourist in my own country, so I started going to museums, now planning to take the open-roof bus in town, boat on SG river. Going to meetups to meet randos even tho I'm socially awkward. I think, ultimately, it is the mentality. When traveling overseas, you are in a holiday mood. So everywhere seems fun. So use that mentality here and explore SG like never before,' another wrote. 'Can't speak for the rest, but my weekends are never long enough to do what I want to do. Over the years, the things you can do here, both free and paid, have increased massively, and you can almost find an interest group for the most obscure things. Things I enjoy in SG: Free performances at Esplanade, botanical gardens, Fort Canning Attending crafting workshops – pottery, etc Hiking/jogging in our nature parks and forest. Can reach up to 30- to 40-km loop if you know the routes. Cycling along the park connectors in the neighbourhood or the big parks, e.g., East Coast, West Coast, Green Corridor Loads of activities/courses at your local Community Centre Visit some local quirky sites – Hwa Par Villa, Hot Springs Free library ebooks, access to learning platforms Hangout at culture zones – Tiong Bahru/Little India/Joo Chiat… More are popping up everywhere,' shared a commenter. /TISG See also Hong Kong unrest drives tourists, businesses to Singapore Read also: Malaysian actor says sorry after backlash for saying Singapore is 'man-made' and 'too boring' () => { const trigger = if ('IntersectionObserver' in window && trigger) { const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, observer) => { => { if ( { lazyLoader(); // You should define lazyLoader() elsewhere or inline here // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); } else { // Fallback setTimeout(lazyLoader, 3000); } });
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
UOL Sells 54% Of Upscale Singapore Housing Project Despite New Property Curbs
The Marina Bay Sands hotel and casino in Singapore. UOL Group—controlled by the family of the late banking and real estate tycoon Wee Cho Yaw—sold more than half of an upscale residential project even as the government recently introduced new measures to curb housing prices in one of the world's most expensive property government earlier this month raised the stamp duty for investors who sell their private homes within four years, with those selling their property within Earlier this month, the government raised the stamp duty on homebuyers who sell their property within one year of purchase to 16% tax from 12% previously. The holding period for homes that will incur the stamp duty has also been extended to four years from three years previously. Undaunted by the fresh property curbs, UOL started selling the Upperhouse, a 35-story residential tower in the Orchard Road shopping district, on Saturday. The launch of Upperhouse follows recent launches of several upscale projects within the Singapore central business district such as W Residences, a 683-unit project being built by Malaysia's IOI Properties in Marina Bay, and Robertson Opus, a 348-unit development along the Singapore River by Frasers Property and Japan's Sekisui House. UOL said it sold 162 of the 301-unit residential skyscraper on Saturday at an average selling price of S$3,350 ($2,610) per square foot. A high floor unit was sold at about S$7.66 million or around S$3,724 per square foot, it added. 'The strong take-up at Upperhouse at Orchard Boulevard's private preview reflects buyers' confidence in its location in the Orchard Road precinct,' Yvonne Tan, chief corporate and development officer at UOL Group, said in an emailed statement. 'It also affirms that buyers are drawn to launches with strong product and locational attributes.' The 99-year leasehold site was acquired by UOL and its subsidiary Singapore Land in a government land auction in February 2024 for S$428 million. The property is adjacent to the Orchard Boulevard MRT station and right across Park Nova, the most expensive residential condominium in the city-state developed by billionaire Pansy Ho's Shun Tak Holdings. UOL, along with United Overseas Bank, is among the assets left by billionaire Wee Cho Yaw—who passed away in February last year at age 95—to his family. With a net worth of $7.8 billion, the Wee family is among the wealthiest in Singapore. The late tycoon's three sons—Ee Cheong, Ee Chao and Ee Lim—joined the Forbes billionaires list in April this year. Ee Cheong is the vice chairman and CEO of UOB, while Ee Lim is chairman of UOL.
CNA
3 days ago
- CNA
NDP 2025: Unmanned vessel featured in maritime display for first time
An unmanned vessel will be featured in the maritime display at the 2025 National Day Parade for the first time. It is one of three vessels that will make their debut in the Marina Bay area. Charlotte Lim with more.
CNA
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNA
Singapore F1 Grand Prix 2025: Final list of performers include Lewis Capaldi, Clean Bandit and Spice Girls' Melanie C
The final list of performers was announced on Friday (Jul 18) for the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix. Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi will be performing on Oct 5 at Zone 4 Padang stage while Grammy-winning electronic music group Clean Bandit will be performing on Oct 3 at Zone 1 Wharf Stage. Also on the list is Spice Girl Melanie C DJing at Sunset Stage, Zone 1, on Oct 5. Other newly-announced acts include: DJ Pete Tong at Sunset Stage Singer-songwriter Maisie Peters at Downtown Stage American singer Haley Reinhart at Sail Stage Indie duo The Naked and Famous at Wharf Stage. They join previously announced global stars including K-pop icons G-Dragon and CL, Foo Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins and Elton John. The Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2025 takes place from Oct 3 to 5 with thrilling high-speed races and an electrifying line-up of performances. In addition to headline acts, attendees can also look forward to a mix of performers from international DJs to rising artistes around the globe across ten stages and entertainment zones throughout the Circuit Park. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX (@f1nightrace)
Independent Singapore
6 days ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Some S'poreans joke that new tower at MBS looks like a dehumidifier or 'like a 4th person lurking'
SINGAPORE: One of Singapore's iconic views is about to change, with the groundbreaking ceremony for the fourth tower at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) held on Tuesday (July 15). The S$10.3 billion project is being touted as an 'ultra-luxurious resort and entertainment destination'. Patrick Dumont, the president and chief operating officer of Las Vegas Sands, was quoted as saying that the brand-new development will have 'amenities that we don't have today to offer tourists coming into Singapore'. Channel NewsAsia (CNA) shared an image from Safdie Architects of an artist's impression of what to expect when the fourth tower at MBS is up. Meanwhile, CNA quoted architect Moshe Safdie as saying, 'The (Urban Redevelopment) Authority repeatedly said, 'This is our icon; our people of Singapore love this, and we cannot do anything that's going to compromise it.' Screenshot Over on Reddit, however, locals had some fun at the new project's expense. 'Does anyone else think a fourth MBS tower looks totally out of place? It kind of ruins the iconic symmetry of the original three MBS towers, said u/Jerainerc in a post on r/Singapore. See also World Cup: Free to air in 2018, please Some joked that the new tower looked like a household appliance. 'Finally, it's about time we get a huge dehumidifier to counter the weather,' wrote one. 'All we need now is a giant air purifier for every November when Indonesia does their slash and burn,' chimed in another, although another joked that the Singapore flyer already serves this purpose. And when one wrote that the 'electricity cost for a 200m dehumidifier is gonna bankrupt the country,' another retorted 'But the air feels cooler so we will be happier.' 'Is it called the Dyson Tower,' a commenter added cheekily. On a more serious note, a Reddit user observed, 'We will get used to it. It's like when they first showed us the design of the Esplanade, the three MBS towers, and the Supreme Court building. Suddenly, everyone become architect kpkb say it'll destroy the skyline, etc.' One opined, however, that while 'The building itself is fine, clearly inspired or by the same architect as MBS (doing a remix),' nevertheless, 'it just feels out of place from this angle, like a fourth person lurking.' 'I think the difference is that MBS has already become a global icon, and disrupting that in any way risks damaging that brand,' another chimed in. A commenter sounded a reassuring note, saying, 'It's far enough away that it doesn't come near the silhouette of the three linked MBS towers. You will still be able to easily take photos of it without the fourth tower.' /TISG Read also: Marina Bay Sands hits record S$2.7B in earnings after targeting luxury travellers post-pandemic
