The large crowds at touristy places can be maddening. The venues are jam-packed and have to stand in multiple lines while needing to dodge other people again and again — can be excruciatingly tiring for anyone, with kids or not.
Singapore received 19.1 million visitors in 2019, and it is only increasing every year. So here we have listed some hidden gems that you can check out.
Gardenasia
Gardenasia is made up of a farm, a bistro, and remodelled black-and-white British colonial villas set on a two hectares peaceful sanctuary in Kranji Countryside. The villas are rustic but also luxurious with its classic carved wooden furniture, marble-tiled bathrooms, and modern audio-visual systems. You can find a lovely bistro located just next to the pond to replenish. Bistro by Gardenasia uses freshly harvested ingredients from its gardens of fresh herbs and plants. This oasis of calm would make for a surprise find for you in bustling Singapore.
Bollywood Veggies
Another place in Kranji Countryside to escape Singapore concrete jungle where you can step into a relatively large organic farm and also the largest supplier of bananas in the country. Poison Ivy Bistro of Bollywood Veggies offers a diverse delectable healthy menu using ingredients from in its farm that uses no chemical fertilisers, pesticides, growth hormones, or genetic modification. Their menu is diverse from local, international and fusion, and they can also cater to special dietary needs. There are also a food museum and a cooking school for children for you to take your family to rejuvenate senses and learn something new about edible plants.
Deck
Nineteen shipping containers stacked together as a home to a gallery, a resource library, an activity space, an artist’s studio and a hip café in an empty lot on Prinsep Street in Rochor area where many art and design schools reside. The independent art space is a platform for Singaporean and other Southeast Asian artists to showcase their work. The gallery is open for membership. Look out for their ongoing and future events.
Pulau Ubin
A small island 15-minute off the coast of the mainland called Pulau Ubin where life is different as it is one of the two remaining villages in Singapore. Run-off-the-mill activities for visitors here are biking and having a seafood meal. Nature lovers can visit abandoned quarries, kayaking, or watch 200 species of birds. When night comes, sleep beneath the stars at Jelutong, Mamam or Endut Senin campsites — or choose from various other staycation options.
Syonan Jinja
Syonan Jinja, a former Shinto shrine (“Light of the South shrine”) is one of only a few war sites that still survived in Singapore. It was the location of many religious and cultural ceremonies in the past. The shrine was built to commemorate fallen Japanese soldiers who died in Malaya (Singapore) during the Second World War. You can still see some of the foundations, such as old military camps and buildings, but most are either destroyed or covered by a dense forest. Visit Syonan Jinja to get close to the distant past with hidden stories and historical events. Download geocache to add more fun to your adventurous trip.
If you have travel plans to Singapore soon, check out a travel app called Locomole designed for free independent travellers (FIT) that you can use when you are in the country. Discover local activities, foods and stories — and claim various discounts worths hundreds of SGD via the successful and practical mobile-app.
Featured Photo Credit: Forbes
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