This is home.

Truly.

Where everyone’s too busy sprinting.

Now, read the first three lines again, except sing it to Home this time.

There are three facts of living in Singapore Singaporeans can agree to:

The average pace of life in Singapore is at 80kmph.

We love travelling but…

And everyone here loves a good shortcut. Work smart and hard.

But what if I was to tell you that the second fact isn’t exactly true?

That despite the hectic pace of life here in Singapore, there are not one, not thirteen, but eight shortcuts you can take to planning your trips out of Singapore as easy as taking candy from a kid.

Mordor?

With these hacks, you might just be able to visit every country in the world like Nas Daily, except you won’t need to edit videos daily (unless you want to).

Here are 8 simple but super-effective travel hacks every Singaporean should know.

1. Sell Your Travel Idea

If you’ve always wanted to travel with your friends, you’ll come to realise one thing pretty quickly: 90% of your travel plans always fail.

Either because you have a guy like this in your group

Or the enthusiasm just tapers off. Trust me, been there, done that.

Now, how do you stop this from happening ever again? The simple answer? Sell your idea.

Imagine this: you probably won’t go to your boss and say, “I want a raise.” Then, expect him or her to work together with you for this.

You’ll go to your boss and say, “Can we discuss pay raises in the near future? I believe that *blahblahblahconvincingwords*…”

That’s right, you get him or her excited, and you can only do that if you know what you want, you know what they want and the right words to get them excited.

So next time, do a bit of planning and research before you even talk to your friends about it:

I want to go on an adrenaline trip. I want bungee jumps. Or maybe, sky-diving. The 360-degree pirate ship on top of a mountain sounds super exciting.

And as a bonus, with the excitement comes determination. You can be sure everyone’s eager to split the workload and make it a reality.

2. Research The Right Way

Do a quick search on the internet and you’ll be bombarded with tons of articles, Pinterest images and the best places to visit in the place.

Which is great.

But then, you’ll realise, “Oh, that was written in 2012. Oh, this top 10 places, 3 are already closed down.”

Filtering takes time and we’re too busy to go through the pile. It’s like searching for a needle in a pile of needles, yeah?

So research the right way, by looking for the right sources and from the experts themselves.

People who live, breathe and make travel dreams come true for people every single day.

Here’s a great place to get you started.

3. Your Essential Information All in One Place

Getting inspiration for where to go, what to do is one thing.

But there is the essential information you have to know as well:

• The current climate (be it political, natural or otherwise)
• The currency exchange
• Visa status

Now, you can choose to go to different sites to check out the various information:

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) for overseas information
• Google Search for currency exchange
• The country’s customs website for Visa information (MFA should also have it)

And waste precious time.

Or you can choose to have it all in one place.

This app, Ready To Travel by SATS, helps to consolidate all the essential information about a country any visitor needs to know into one pleasing, comprehensive page.

For example, if you are travelling to Japan, the app will give you this information.

The weather, the currency exchange, the culture, and so much more.

As a plus point, the app also sees fit to send out alerts for anything out of the ordinary within any overseas attraction.

You can download the RTT App by SATS here.

4. Everything Can Be A Deal

When I say deals, I don’t mean just air ticket deals. I meant the whole deal.

Need a wifi egg because you don’t plan to go anywhere without the group? There are places which give you discounts on top of already cheap rates for cheap overseas data.

Looking to get travel insurance?

You bet there are promo codes available for even cheaper travel insurance.

The point is, with the internet, everything can also become a deal. So don’t just look at airline ticket deals.

Here’s a pretty good place to start.

After all, the more money you have to spend, the more fun you’ll have.

5. Book Your Adventures in Advance

Last time, before websites like these started popping up, travel is pretty rigid.

You get air tickets, you prepare a sum of money and hope that it’s enough. And when you’re there, you constantly look at the amount left in your wallet and deciding if you have enough to last you through your day.

But now, with sites that let you book your overseas activities in advanced, the way you travel has changed.

Instead of praying that your money will last in a foreign country, you can now book overseas attractions, hotels and airport transfers in advance while you’re still here in Singapore.

So when you go overseas, you can rest easy, knowing the rest of your money is just for eating and shopping.

As a bonus?

If you’re someone who’s unable to save money, you can purchase your tickets in July for your October trip and pay for it with your July salary.

So that when October comes, you’ll have more money to enjoy your trip thoroughly.

6. Get A Collaborative App

Remember #1? It’ll get your friends to come together and help plan the trip. And what that means is you must be able to come up with a way to collaborate together. Effectively.

After all, getting excited is all good and all but if you’re unable to collaborate properly, you’re better off planning alone.

WhatsApp is a great platform for communicating but if you want to collaborate, that’s a different story.

You’ll need to search the chat for something that was discussed a week ago, maybe scroll up or look in media for the screenshot that your friend sent about the attraction booking.

Or you have to go to your email and search out the email for the right booking to double-check the dates.

Something such as…

If you’re wondering what app this is, it’s Ready To Travel by SATS.

The app allows you to create an itinerary for your upcoming trip and, get this, everyone can edit and contribute to it.

Your friend booked the theme park tickets for everyone? Save it in the itinerary.

Wondering if there’s enough time for bungee-jumping on the second day? Check the timing and ask in the chat.

In short, the most troublesome thing about collaborating on a trip is keeping track of the craziness, and this app aims to resolve that.

You can download the RTT App by SATS here.

7. Go Digital, The Smart Way

Let’s say you’re still in the paper era. You print out your air tickets, your overseas attraction bookings, your hotel stay booking, etc.

You’re going to be walking around with a pile of paper, looking dumb when you hold up the line of other busy Singaporeans who just wants to get out of Singapore because you can’t find the right paper.

Or maybe, you’re better. You keep everything in email. You walk confidently to the counter, then apologise profusely as you search your inbox for the right email.

Imagine Gordon Ramsay going, are you a retard sandwich.

Let me give you a better solution.

Go digital and put all your bookings, air tickets and any other documents all in one place.

No more holding up the queue, no more fretting if you’ve forgotten anything.

With that said, your passport cannot be digitalised (yet) so if you forgot to bring that, well, I can’t help you.

8. Go For All-In-One Solutions

There are many ways to achieve the seven hacks listed above.

Google hangouts or Notes for planning an itinerary. Google searches for information. Gmail & favourites for bookmarking.

And most times, they’re free.

But here’s the thing: when you’re busy, what do you value most? Convenience.

So the best way is to look for something that can do all of the above (and more) all in one application.

Usually, you’ll be asking, how much does it cost? 

But I’ve got great news for you: for the first time in history, you can get convenience at zero extra cost. 

That’s right.

The Ready To Travel app helps you plan itineraries with your friends easily, keep track of all the important information, store your documents, discounts for travel services, inform you of deals and more…

At the grand price of zero dollars.

And remember, this is an app created for busy Singaporeans by busy Singaporeans.

Chances are, whatever you need, you can find it all in the app.

But don’t take our word for it; you can download the app yourself and decide.

P/S: Don’t say bojio: new users get $5 voucher.

This article was first published on Goody Feed and written in collaboration with Ready To Travel by SATS.

The post 8 Simple Travel Planning Hacks For Busy S’poreans Too Caught Up With Work appeared first on Goody Feed.

If you’re a Muslim, I am sure you would be able to relate that it is not easy to find Halal food when you’re in the overseas. The safest option is to find a mosque where there are many halal restaurants or street food stalls available nearby.

But fret not, we have a list here prepared for you so that it can make your life easier. Literally. And now, let’s go to Bangkok and try these Halal foods!

Here is the complete and ultimate guide to Halal food in Bangkok!

1. Halal Som Tam

Yes, that is literally the restaurant’s name. It is a Thai dish with shredded green papaya where you can savour the sweet, sour and spicy dish and also it is the HEALTHIEST you’d find in Thailand! In fact, you can ask for your topping of choice – no worries needed!

Halal Som Tam
301/15 Phetchaburi 7 Alley, Khwaeng, Thung Phaya Thai, Khet Ratchathewi, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Bangkok, Thailand
Opened during weekend morning onwards

2. Pla-meuk (Charcoal Grilled Squid)

Bangkok’s famous grilled squid is among the best seafood options to go for. They are served with deliciously sour and spicy Thai sauce. Make sure you get those fresh ones for a better taste! Pla-meuk is located anywhere among the streets – no specific location nor time. You can just grab and go!

3. Seafood Tom Yam @Tomyam Paa Nga

What is Thailand without Tom Yam? So, if you want your fix of Tom Yam, you can come to this restaurant. In fact, you can choose the level of spiciness you desire and the welcoming owner will entertain you.

Guaranteed delicious because he had been selling tom yam for several years to now!

Citin Pratunam 
117 Soi Chunladit, Thanonphayathai, Khwaeng Thanon Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, Thailand
Daily: 7 pm till late

4. Fried Chicken at Asoke

It is not easy to find Halal friend chickens in Bangkok or Thailand in general. Even KFC won’t help. But here at Asoke Road, you can have a fried chicken which is guaranteed Halal with a bonus: crispy, succulent and finger-licking!

Srinakharinwirot University (Prasarnmit Campus)
Asoke Road, Inside the food court at Soi 23, Bangkok, Thailand
Daily: 10 am – 3pm

5. Mango Sticky Rice

If you’re craving for a classic favourite, there is a mango sticky rice stall which serves sweet mangoes and fluffy, sticky rice. If you’re already in Bangkok, why not?

Pratunam (Opposite The Berkeley Hotel)
Ratchaprarop Road, Khwaeng, Makkasan, Khet Ratchathewi, Krung, Thep Maha Nakhon, Bangkok, Thailand
Daily: Evening till late at night

6. Khanom Buang at Sao Ching Cha

Even Thailand also have their own traditional taco-style crepe! It comes in two different fillings – the sweet mix of golden egg yolk, coconut, persimmon or candied gourd. Or if you opt for something savoury, you can choose the egg, shrimp and cilantro style.

Why is this the best place to go to? Because this halal shop is a family who has been making khanom buang for generations. There is no specific address but it is at the heart of Sao Ching Cha (Giant Swing) area in Bangkok.

7. Fried Quail Eggs

Sometimes we have to go back to basics to savour tasty snacks – one of which is fried quail eggs! You can season it with a special seasoning or a dash of black pepper.

It is also not hard to find the stalls as it is sold everywhere. Now, you can have a mini sunny side up on the go!

8. Khao Mok Gai

Khao Mok Gai is basically a Thai Style Chicken Briyani and can be found in most halal and specialised street stalls in Bangkok. This restaurant too, do not have a specific address, but you can head over to Khao Mok Gai Convent and look for the stall with Briyani rice! They have a halal logo there as well if it comforts you.

9. Kanom Krok

Thai coconut hotcakes is a sweet dessert made of coconut milk, tapioca starch and rice flour. This savoury bit of dessert comes with the traditional topping of green onion – the Thai version of Takoyaki.

If you want one of the best ones, drop by Kao Wang Kanon Krok which is across the Ratchawat Market in Dusit.

Daily: 5pm to 11pm.

10. Tab Tim Krop

Tab Tim Krop is also known as Refreshing Red Ruby. It is cold and refreshing and the best food to combat the heats of Bangkok. These water chestnut pieces wrapped in glutinous rice flour can be eaten with iced coconut milk!

Chatuchak Market
587/10 Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, Khwaeng Chatuchak, Khet, Chatuchak, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Bangkok, Thailand

Aside from these suggestions, you can also go to these places for more options and Halal certified food:
a) Ramkhamehaeng soi 37 to Ramkhamhaeng soi 65
b) Phetchaburi soi 7 in Pratunam (Darul Aman Mosque is located here!)

With that done, you can explore Bangkok with ease and worry-free! Have fun with your trip and don’t forget to give these dishes a try! And of course, #halalfoodonly.

The post The Complete Guide to Finding Halal Food in Bangkok appeared first on Goody Feed.

Nothing, and I mean nothing, can beat a beach vacation to get your mind relaxed and your body tanned.

There’s just something about the breeze that makes you feel like you can just step away from reality for a few days and live in utter peace and happiness.

But then, when you go to Sentosa beach, it’s SO PACKED with people. Your hopes of walking on a quiet beach with few people are thrown out of the window. You feel like the MRT stopped at the beaches here and let everyone down at one place.

Sigh.

But don’t feel so flattened out just yet – there’s the joy of staying next to Malaysia. It’s packed with wonderful beaches.

Here are the 9 best ones you have to visit –period.

Tanjung Rhu, Langkawi

This is a popular spot that is secluded and pretty private too. There’s also tons of places to visit while you’re in Langkawi – Payar Island, Mahsuri’s Tomb and even take a cable-car ride for a view of the entire island!

Rawa Island, Johor

Head over to the Mersing Jetty and hop onto a ferry that’ll take you to Rawa Island in half an hour. It’s part of the Sultan Iskandar Marine Park, and to top it off, there are slides for you to have fun on too! A great place for snorkelling and kayaking too.

Mabul Island, Sabah

The beach of Mabul Island is near Sipadan, Sabah. It’s helmed as one of the greatest diving destinations in the world, and it’s just so close to us!

Golden Beach, Sarawak

Ever wanted a photographer’s dream view of the sea? This exquisite beach faces the South China Sea, and is definitely a sight for our sore eyes from all the buildings here!

Coral Beach, Pangkor

Fly into Ipoh and take a bus to the place. Coral beach is dubbed one of the best in Malaysia’s west coast. The sand is so white, you’d think it was bleached! Lots of empty beach spots too, and one of the best places for a honeymoon.

Perhentian Kecil Beach, Terengganu

Blue, blue waters await you here. While Perhentian Besar is more packed with visitors, this beach is more laid back. Drop by the Turtle Bay while you’re there too!

Redang Beach, Terengganu

There’s a public beach here that seriously, doesn’t look like it’s a public beach at all! Another great spot for scuba divers and snorkelers. In Malay, it’s called Pantai Awam.

Pulau Gaya, Kota Kinabalu

A decent sized island in Sabah that makes up part of Malaysia’s Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. There’s a tropical forest within its area too. You’d need a speed boat to take you to this island from the local jetty point.

Juara Beach, Tioman

No list is complete without Tioman Island on it. While it’s a long journey to reach there – a drive followed by a ferry ride AND a cab, it’s worth every second and penny.

So, where you want to go for your next beach vacation, huh?

The post 9 Beach Resorts in M’sia That Have Seaviews Like in The Movies appeared first on Goody Feed.

Travelling makes you forget all your troubles. Especially when you take your seat on the plane and wait in anticipation to fly off to another new place.

The only thing that’ll pull you down is the small hiccups that come along your way. We’ve dug up on 10 travel hacks to make your touristy life easier.

1. Die Off, You Wrinkles

Yes, you’ve been filled with disappointment when your fav shirts been tossed into a wrinkly mess. How do you solve it? Place some tissue paper on the fold lines so you won’t get creases.

2. Don’t Fold, Roll ‘Em

Yes, rolling your clothes will give you more space in your bag.

3. Grab Those Pill Containers To Store WHAT?

Yes, these honey buns are fantastic to keep your earrings or cufflinks in. Organised traveller? Check!

4. And How About Your Spectacle Cases?

Use these containers to store all your wires – phone chargers and what-not.

5. Shoes in a Showercap? Genius!

Your luggage will stay clean and you can store your sneakers in the same suitcase.

6. Store Your Hairclips This Way

Keep all your bobby pins in a Tic-Tac container. Trust me, you’ll love this one. No more messy vanity kit!

7. Keep Your Water Bottle Empty At First, Because

You can refill your bottle at water dispensers after you pass the security checkpoints. This’ll save you money spent endlessly on buying water.

8. No Wall Plug to Recharge? Don’t WORRY

Be happy, because you can now plug your cable into the USB slot that’s on the TV.

9. How to get WIFI passwords?

Check the WiFi password of the place you’re at by reading up comments on Foursquare. If that doesn’t work, just Google it before you leave the hotel.

10. Be Charitable With Your Loose Change

You’ve got lots of change and you don’t know what to do with it. Give it to a homeless person or drop it into a donation box. You’re doing good before you leave, and you’ll FEEL GOOD too.

The post 10 Essential Travel Hacks That Will Make Your Travelling A Whole Lot More Convenient appeared first on Goody Feed.

Travel insurance is something that people tend to save on, simply because we’ve that “alamak nothing’s going to happen” mindset.

And it’s only when shit hits the fan that Zoe Tay you will cry about it.

So, simi is travel insurance and why you should buy one?

Should you buy travel insurance?

In this uncertain world where anything can happen in a blink of an eye, it’s better to buy one for a peace of mind.

During my first solo trip, I dropped my phone into the ocean while parasailing. Thank God for insurance, I managed to cover some costs of getting a new iPhone. Don’t look at me like that, I really needed a new iPhone; my old phone was damaged by the sea waters, rusting inside out and beyond repair.

But of course, you need to know what you’re in for, for the price you pay. If your existing insurance policy (that is, if you’re paying any) covers a part of your travels then you don’t have to. Pretty common sense, right?

Know what you’re entitled to

For most platforms selling travel insurance, you will usually get 3 prices as a quote, ranging from the cheapest to the most expensive option.

What you will see is also a detailed breakdown of what you’re paying for under the different categories like medical expenses incurred overseas, theft of or damage to your personal belongings and baggage or travel delay, and more.

Are you qualified for travel insurance?

“Huh? What do you mean I have to be qualified to get myself insured? Isn’t this about paying a sum of money and getting insured?”

Well, according to the terms set by Aviva, you must meet the following criteria:

• You live in Singapore for at least 183 days in a year and you have a valid NRIC or FIN.
• You are at least 16 years old at the time of purchase.
• You are not traveling contrary to the advice of a qualified medical practitioner or for the purpose of obtaining medical treatment.
• The journey is a round trip, beginning and ending in Singapore.
• You have bought the policy before you leave Singapore on your trip.

I swear the last 2 points came as an eye-opener for me. That means, for one-way ticket travelers, good riddance!

Add-ons

Most travel insurers have add-ons so they can earn more of your money. Hmm, no lah, it’s actually for your own benefit. Looking at Aviva’s offerings, they have add-ons in the following categories: golf holiday, extreme water sports, overseas wedding and photoshoot, and winter sports.

So you either pick one relevant add-on or just continue with your purchase. For me, I just say ‘no thanks’ and go for ‘next’.

What’s after payment?

Once you’ve confirmed the package you’re signing up for, filled in your details and made your payment, you will receive an email with the travel insurer almost immediately or a few hours after. A PDF document detailing your policy summary will be included.

Now, most people would then check to see if the vital information is reflected correctly – like your name, NRIC, insured period, contact details, and address. If it’s not, do contact your insurer as soon as you spot any mistakes.

Before your trip, it’s good to save the overseas emergency assistance contact number of your insurer (an overseas call can be reimbursed sometimes) in your phone and keep an extra copy of it handwritten somewhere. You never know if something happens and you need a second opinion on costs incurred overseas.

Purchase early

Don’t leave it until the last minute. No, not because we want you to be organized but because it helps protect you against trip cancellation charges.

“But then my airline already got cancellation policy already mah. Still need to buy early meh?”

Well, you’re right on that. But, what if you’re buying from a travel agent instead? Or if anything goes wrong, even if it’s not the fault of a third party but last-minute personal emergencies? It’s always good to find something to fall back on.

Annual travel insurance

If you travel frequently, please drop me a comment and tell me your secret to maintaining that bank account.

“Aiyo, this one need to teach one meh. Embrace the inner aunty in you and shop for deals lah. Go to directasia.com!”

Woo, thanks for sharing with us. I don’t know why I’m having an internal dialogue with myself but that’s not important. According to Direct Asia Insurance, if you are traveling more than 3 times a year, their annual travel insurance plan will be perfect for you.

This is not a sponsored ad. I basically saw it on Facebook and did a search myself. For the annual plan starting from 1 April, these are the options for us:

Hmm, S$149. Let’s say I spend average $30 for a single trip insurance, traveling more than 6 times per year would then make it a good deal. So do you travel at least 6 times a year? That’s a trip on average every 2 months! Are you an influencer or what?

Restricted countries

We are referring to countries that your insurer does not cover. Different insurers have unique guidelines so it’s best to do a search.

For Aviva, they do not cover any loss, injury, damage or legal liability arising directly or indirectly from travel in, to, or through Afghanistan, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, Sudan, or Syria.

Buy from insurers that have travel insurance products that insure against insolvency

This means that if you’ve purchased a holiday package from a travel agent and purchasing travel insurance separately, you want to choose a travel insurer that protects you against any failure or disruption of the travel product arising from bankruptcy (or other reasons) of the travel agent.

There’s a non-exhaustive list of insurers put together by STB that insures a consumer to some extent against insolvency on the part of the travel agent. You can refer to it here.

But still, it’s best to contact your insurer to know the exact details since coverage for travel agent insolvency varies across different travel insurance products. #DontTravelBlurTravelSure #IQuoteSTB

The claiming process can be tedious

I’ve personally claimed travel insurance once so forget about insurers telling you “it’s going to be a fuss-free process if you book with us” and all that kind of marketing gimmicks to stand out from their competitors.

You’re ultimately taking money from them, so to speak, so expect them to question you like an FBI agent and tons of emails back and forth. If you’ve had a good experience with a particular insurer, please share it with all of us. We thank you in advance from the bottom of our hearts.

But hey, better than nothing, right?

If you want to see what people are saying about the particular insurer before you weigh your options, go to their Facebook page and see if comments are left behind. If there’s none, look out for the ‘community’ tab on the left side of the page. Usually, that’s a good platform to see what the public is saying about them.

But of course, we’re hoping that nothing major happens to you and you don’t have to make it a claim. Happy travels and stay safe!

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The post 10 Facts About Travel Insurance That S’poreans Should Know About appeared first on Goody Feed.

There are a lot of things to look out for when you enter Malaysia.

Things like:

• Make sure not to dress too nicely.
• Don’t flash a thick stack of ringgit when you’re walking on the streets.
• Keep a lookout for motorcycles when you’re walking along the road.
• And make sure your passports are stamped properly, especially at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints.

And before you wonder if the last item on the list is necessary, it has happened before.

Just earlier this year, in fact.

Couple Got Into Trouble For Not Having Their Passports Stamped

It’s a given and your passport is stamped 99.9% of the time but 49-year-old Tay Mui Hiang and her 46-year-old husband Koh Meng Soon were part of the 0.1%.

Halfway down the Causeway, they realised their passports weren’t stamped.

They were advised to turn back to the Malaysian customs to stamp their passports, which turned out to be a huge mistake.

It is an immigration offence in Malaysia, and you may be detained, fined or even banned from the country.

For Mdm Tay and her husband, they suffered a loss of $396 (RM1,200) for having to cancel their plans to Genting just in case they got detained.

Though the couple were lucky enough that the issue could be solved easily by going down to JB, it will probably be much harder in the face of other countries when travelling by plane.

And MFA Doesn’t Want You To Repeat That Mistake

Tis the holiday season (hohoho) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) knows that Singaporeans are likeliest to travel over to JB for some cheap food and shopping.

They ask Singaporeans to enjoy themselves, but at the same time, to be prepared to deal with:

• Accidents
• Natural disasters
• terrorist attacks

And take the necessary steps to keep safe during their travels.

In addition, they have also asked Singaporeans to be particularly careful when crossing the checkpoints:

“Singaporeans travelling to and from Malaysia, in particular via the land checkpoints, are reminded to ensure that your passport is presented to a Malaysian immigration officer and stamped correctly before leaving the Malaysian immigration booth,.”

Failing to do that might result in severe consequences including:

• Detention (Put behind bars)
• A fine
• A ban from entering Malaysia

Yup, the last one scared us the most too; how else can we get cheap food and shopping done?!

They have also asked for Singaporeans to find out more about the country they’re going to, including the local political climate (read: Hong Kong).

What to Do if You Realise Your Passport Isn’t Stamped

Step 1: Get hold of the Malaysian immigration authorities.

Don’t go to their office because you obviously will have to pass through the checkpoint and you can’t; instead, call them at +603 8000 8000.

Tell them your problem, and they’ll probably direct you to the JB checkpoint.

Step 2: Head down to the JB checkpoint (I’m looking at you customs officer) to resolve the problem.

And don’t do this a month or a year later simply because you didn’t need to travel back to Malaysia; it’d be a greater hassle to settle it after a long time.

Step 3: When in trouble, call the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to come to the rescue.

We’ve got your back with their number: +65 6379 8000. Now go and chase that girl!

Step 4: If all else fails (how?) and you actually get detained, get help from the Singapore High Commission in KL by calling +603 2161 6277.

As with all the other services, they abide by the office hours; so don’t annoy them after that!

Granted, if you’re detained you really don’t have a say in annoying them or not. So reach out to them at +60 16661 0400 instead.

The post MFA Reminds S’poreans To Check If Their Passport Is Stamped Properly At M’sian Customs appeared first on Goody Feed.

Most of us have definitely done 1-day or even 2-day Batam tours before. Just about an hour away from Singapore by ferry, you can enjoy a day of fun with your family or friends on this Indonesian island having seafood, playing games like go-karting and shopping to your hearts’ content.

And let’s face it: the exchange rate of the Indonesian rupiah from our Singapore dollar is too attractive to pass up. If you are planning to head there over the weekend for some time away from our concrete jungle, you may want to take some notes from this guide I’m about to share with you on where to go and what to do in Batam.

Of course there is always the easier way with pre-arranged guided tours but you may not get to experience Batam properly through this method sometimes.

Always try and take an earlier ferry over
Try to take the ferry that departs at about 8.20am as you have to factor in about an hour for the ferry to get to Batam. As this is also possibly the peak time for most travellers to Batam, it is recommended that you pre-book your tickets and arrive early on the actual day to make payment and secure your seats.

Upon arrival, get a taxi from the taxi counter located just outside the ferry terminal
There will be several taxi drivers hounding you to get into their cabs when you arrive at the ferry terminal. To be safe, approach one of the men manning the taxi counters that are conveniently located just at the exits of the terminal. I usually prefer to get metered taxis but if you can settle on a good price with a non-metered one, that’s fine too.

If you are not hungry for lunch yet, go go-karting!
Head for some exciting activities like go-karting if you are still not feeling the hunger pangs for lunch. Go-karting in Batam is relatively cheap at just about S$15 for 10 minutes and it’s good fun for families and friends. For those who prefer to take it easy, there is also a miniature village next door where visitors can walk through and take photos with kampung style residences no higher than our waist.

Get a good rub down
After the excitement, go for a good Balinese massage at GO! Massage. A clean, decent spa with really affordable prices and services, you can opt for just a traditional massage or go for more spa-like services that include scrubs and aromatherapy too. This will definitely set the mood for a nice, leisurely lunch and shopping and a good sleep that same night.

Proceed for a hearty seafood lunch
There are several seafood restaurants on the island but the one that is most revered is the one we know of as Golden Prawn. This kampung style seafood restaurant serves up the freshest catch and has the lovely view of the river which you can enjoy while relishing your delicious lunch.

Go shopping!
After lunch, it’s time for some shopping to walk it off. Depending on how much time you have left before you depart back to Singapore, you can choose to head to either BCS Mall (Batam City Square) or Mega Mall Shopping Centre. BCS Mall is a slightly smaller shopping mall that has just 3 levels of shopping for clothing, electronics and accessories.

There is also an arcade and karaoke at the 4th level for those who wish to indulge in some gaming or want to sing their hearts out for 2 hours at a very reasonable price of just about S$8, excluding drinks.

If time is a factor, you can also head to Mega Mall Shopping Centre which is the closest shopping mall to the Batam ferry terminal. There are 5 levels of shopping to be done here for everything you can think of, from fashion to electronics to appliances and more. The ground floor is a hypermarket where you can do some grocery shopping.

There are also many restaurants and cafes in this mall, one of which is A&W, where many Singaporeans flock to because we don’t have it anymore. Ah, the root beer float and curly fries!

Bye bye Batam
The best time to get a ferry back to Singapore would be around 5pm. Always remember to be early and to get through customs at least 45 minutes before your ferry’s scheduled departure.

The post The Ultimate Guide to a One-Day Trip to Batam from S’pore appeared first on Goody Feed.

It’s 2019 and you might have air taxis, driverless buses and VR experiences, but nothing, nothing beats a good rollercoaster ride.

Nothing can possibly beat the adrenaline rush as you swoop up and down a trail at crazy a** speed.

As if regular roller coasters weren’t enough, there’s a whole other arena on cliffhanger worthy machines that are waiting to be explored.

Here’s a list of the 10 craziest ones on the planet. Be scared. Yes, be very very scared.

Because this is gonna be one helluva ride!

1. Batman: The Ride at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, San Antonio

This huge baby is in the States and is at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. It has a 4-Dimensional spinning wing. Riders will be brought over 37 meters into the sky, flipped for a good six times and the ride ends with not one, but TWO vertical free falls.

2. Full Throttle at Six Flags Magic Mountain, California

This is another beast by the Six Flags. Imagine being launched out at a defiant speed of 110 km/h. While you’re a part of a 160-foot vertical loop. All done in 60 seconds.

3. Bizarro at Six Flags New England, Massachusetts

Does the company build all massive roller coasters? ‘Cos this is the third today! And the Bizarro doesn’t disappoint. Imagine being treated to a 219-foot DROP. And you don’t drop just anywhere, but into a tunnel that’s filled with fog.

The plus side is that you get to check out the beautiful views of the Connecticut River.

4. Steel Dragon 2000 at Nagashima Spa Land, Japan

The Japanese know their stuff when it comes to thrilling and wacky entertainment. Now imagine that bundled into a rollercoaster.

5. Gatekeeper at Cedar Point, Ohio

If you ever drop by Ohio, don’t forget to get on this thing of beauty. And scream your lungs out.

6. Goliath at Six Flags Great America, Illinois

Six Flags have done it again. This is one of the fastest, steepest and yes, longest wooden rollercoasters. It’s speed? 116 km/h.

7. Takabisha at Fuji-Q Highland, Japan

The world’s steepest roller coaster is ingeniously built – there’s a hump that’s perpendicular towards the ground. And 7 flips that’ll rip your tummy to shreds.

8. Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey

This death-defying monster is shaped like an inverted U and blazes past at 206 km/h.

9. Formula Rossa, Ferrari World, Abu Dhabi

A roller coaster that’s right on top of an F1 track. Now this has got to be ridden!

10. Leviathan, Canada’s Wonderland, Toronto

The ride takes 3 minutes. It has a 306-foot plunge that happens at an 80-degree angle. Take a look at it for yourself.

Alright, that’s enough Internet for one day. My head is spinning already!

Top Image: flickr.com (Nate Smith)

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The post Top 10 Craziest Roller Coasters From Around The World Which Redefines #YOLO appeared first on Goody Feed.

When we think of travelling to Taiwan, we’ll want to visit the night markets and places like Taipei, Alishan, Jiufen, Shifen.

Most rarely think of visiting this colourful gem in Taichung, which is kind of sad because it’s just so Instagram-worthy.

And do you know that there’s a sad story behind this place?

Rainbow Village 彩虹眷村

Located in Nantun District, this colourful village is far from Taichung city centre and there’s nothing interesting in the area besides this village.

The village isn’t exactly big either and it’s possible to explore the place in fifteen minutes.

But once you know about the story of Mr Huang Yung-fu, also known as Grandpa Rainbow, you’ll see the village in a different light.

A Dying Village

The village is one of the many veteran villages scattered around Taiwan and the houses are made of cheap materials. These houses were built quickly to provide housing to Kuomintang soldiers and their families after the war.

As time passed by, the number of such villages decreased when the government gave land to building companies and provided decent housing to surviving veterans or their families.

Rainbow Village then was in the process of being torn down. One day, out of the blue, Mr Huang Yung-fu, one of the last residents of the village took up a paintbrush and started painting.

He drew aeroplanes, animals, dolls, comic characters all in vibrant colours on the walls and alleys.

And well, the rest is history.

(Article continues below) Xing Xing is a 34-year-old Singaporean lady who decides to meet up with an online friend she found in Facebook. But it turns out that he’s not what he seems to be: Prepare boxes of tissue and watch the saddest Singapore Facebook love story here:

(Since you’re here, subscribe to our YouTube Channel for more informative videos lah)

Discovered by Ling-Tung University’s Students

The village was near Ling-Tung University and a couple of years back, students from the university discovered the village and its stunning colours.

That was when the village started getting known first in Taichung, then across the whole island and eventually, across the world.

Yeah, this place wasn’t made to be a tourist attraction. It’s filled with history and most importantly, is found organically.

There was a protest against the local government for trying to demolish the now iconic village. This, combined with Rainbow Village becoming a local attraction, made the government decide to leave the place be.

Rainbow Village Today

If you’re ever in Taiwan, you have got to visit this place. Even though Grandpa Rainbow did not learn painting, his drawings, instead of looking childish, gave the entire village a surreal look.

No matter how depressed, upset or unhappy you are, the vibrant colours of the village will definitely cheer you up!

Catch some street performances, grab a bite from the snack stand and grab a souvenir to bring home with you.

But most importantly, grab some memories when you’re there. Take snaps of yourself, #OOTDs, even a 360 picture on Facebook if you like.

After all, remember: this village isn’t a tourist attraction. Now you know why it’s so attractive.

Where: 台中市南屯區春安路56巷(在台中嶺東科技大學旁)
Entrance Fee: Free, but feel free to donate some money to Rainbow Grandpa at his donation bucket.

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The post Rainbow Village: An IG-Worthy Gem in Taiwan That’s Apparently Not a Tourist Attraction appeared first on Goody Feed.

It’s Covid-19, which is another way of asking businesses to turn to creative means to survive.

Live-streaming concert shows and asking for funding is level 1.

Level 2 is converting an entire aircraft into a sightseeing tool and bringing people to circle around ice caps and snow.

And that’s exactly what Qantas is offering in Antarctica.

Qantas Australia Now Offering 12-Hour Sightseeing Flight To Antarctica Where You Can See Everything From Above

This is Antarctica, the southernmost continent and the site of the South Pole

Australian airline Qantas is now teaming up with tour company Antarctica Flights to start their 2020/21 Antarctica Flights.

Basically, the airline will use their Boeing747 to ferry Australian passengers to Antarctica to sightsee, then fly all the way back to Australia.

According to their website, this will be a 12-hour flight, with four of it flying over white, beautiful snowscapes.

Prices

Prices are pretty steep, but considering it’s for a 12-hour flight, what do you expect, right?

The first sighting of the ice will be around the 3-hour mark, so you have that time to prep all of your camera equipment.

How It Works

I know what you’re thinking: Wait, if I don’t get a window seat, will I see the ice, or do I just feel the ice?

According to the screenshot captured by Mothership.sg, each passenger will be given two boarding passes.

Midway through the flight, an announcement will be made to get the passengers to follow the seating arrangement on the second boarding pass.

Australia doesn’t allow international flights right now.

Thankfully (for those who wants to sightsee Antarctica), this is considered a domestic flight and no passports are needed, although you’ll still need to provide a government-issued photo ID when boarding.

Safety Measures

Some of the safety measures mentioned include a personal Qantas pack which contains a disposable mask, sanitiser and disinfection wipes.

Passengers also have to go through a health declaration form and have their temperature taken before they can board.

According to the website, the first flight taking off from Australia is in Nov 2020.

As mentioned, there are no international flights allowed in or out of Australia so if you’re not living there, the only place you can see a flyover of Antarctica is through this video below:

Experts have previously said that it might take until 2024 before global travel can recover to pre-Covid-19 levels.

The post Qantas Australia Now Offering 12-Hour Sightseeing Flight To Antarctica Where You Can See Everything From Above appeared first on Goody Feed.

You’ve heard of spanking new toilets.

Rundown toilets.

Butt-spraying toilets.

Utterly desolate toilets.

But transparent public toilets?

That’s probably a first, considering how ludicrous the very notion even sounds.

And yet, ridiculous as it may seem, the concept seems to be more than just a distinct possibility…

Seeing how it has actually been implemented in one of Tokyo’s more popular districts…

In full view of everyone.

Now, I get how Japan has certain… fetishes for some things. But this?

Well, we’ll leave you to judge for yourself.

Japan Has Transparent Toilets & The Idea is Actually Pretty Useful

According to CNN Travel, two new sets of see-through toilets have been installed in Shibuya.

Yes, that bustling center famous for this:

Designed by Shigeru Ban Architects, a Pritzker Prize-winning architecture firm, the two new sets of transparent toilets have been installed in two Shibuya parks – Yoyogi Fukamachi Mini Park and Haru-no-Ogawa Community Park.

Apparently, they’re part of an innovative project that aims to shift people’s perceptions of public toilets.

Nani?!

Now I know what you’re wondering.

Doesn’t that count as exhibitionist behaviour, like really extreme exhibitionist behaviour?

Well lest you’re thinking that, don’t worry;

The people of Shibuya will not be witnessing literal shit fests every time they pass by the toilets.

According to the same source, Shigeru Ban Architects’ design tackles the issue by offering a toilet with glass walls that ‘change’ depending on the situation.

At first glance, the public will be able to see through from the outside.

But when a user entered the toilet and locked the door, the walls will swiftly turn opaque to provide privacy.

Well, thank goodness.

“There are two things we worry about when entering a public restroom, especially those located at a park,” says a statement on the project’s official website, Tokyotoilet.jp. “The first is cleanliness, and the second is whether anyone is inside.”

“This allows users to check the cleanliness and whether anyone is using the toilet from the outside,” says the statement. “At night, the facility lights up the park like a beautiful lantern.”

Though it should be noted that once inside, you can’t actually tell whether the glass is frosted or not. This is because the walls purportedly have walls installed, which adds to the queer feeling of being on display.

And that’s why it’s imperative that you remember to lock the door. Like really important.

Tokyo Toilet Project

Incidentally, these two transparent toilet sets are a part of the newly-introduced Tokyo Toilet Project, a series of re-invented public toilet facilities.

Founded by the Nippon Foundation, the Tokyo Toilet Project has teamed up with some of the biggest names in the architecture and creative industries including Tadao Ando and Toyo Ito, to build 17 new public toilet facilities around Shibuya.

The foundation will also work with the Shibuya City government and the Shibuya City Tourism Association to sustain these new toilets.

Though of course, the all-important question does beget;

Is the gimmick fool-proof, or could users be potentially susceptible to a fault in the door lock?

Well, I guess only time will tell.

Though for the sake of users, I hope it will never happen.

The post Japan Has Transparent Toilets & The Idea is Actually Pretty Useful appeared first on Goody Feed.

A street food vendor from a Taipei Night Market has been recognized by Michelin, do you believe your ears?

Yup, it’s true.

A night market stall has been awarded a place on the food guide’s Bib Gourmand list in August 2020.

This list includes places in Taipei and Taichung, serving high-quality meals for under S$46.

What is this all about? 

80-years-old, Wu Huang-yi, sells guabao at his 60-year-old stall in Huaxi Street Night Market for $2.30.

The guabao is a steamed bun folded into half, and unlike the typical Singapore version, it contains several ingredients like braised pork, salted vegetables, coriander, and ground peanuts.

It is also known as ho-ga-ti, tiger bites pig. It is served in a shape that resembles a boat-shaped ingot once used as money in China.

His Secret To Success

Wu mentioned that his braised meat within the bun must be marinated and stewed until it’s tender and not tough and hard.

The elderly don’t have strong teeth and this is the reason why his guabao is so famous among them.

He had even hesitated and wondered if he should make this guabao.

In order to make it good, he had to go around to other shops to taste them and study the necessary.

He accumulated his knowledge step by step and finally perfected his technique more than 20 years ago.

Hard Work

What makes his guabao different from the rest is that he insisted on making everything by hand, resulting in fluffy white buns that are soft and chewy at the same time.

He makes the effort to visit the market at 5am daily just to select pork belly for the buns.

Besides him are his wife, 3 adult children, and a grandson, helping at the stall.

The self-taught chef’s effort has finally paid off.

This also goes to show that no matter what you do, as long as you work hard, you’ll definitely see results.

While most reading this article would be stuck in Singapore right now, there’ll come a day where we can finally travel out again for holidays again.

For those travelling to Taiwan, this might be a street food that you won’t want to miss.

Location: 17-2 Huaxi Street, Taipei, 108 Taiwan

Meanwhile, how about some real popcorn chicken?

The post 80YO Self-Taught Street Food Seller’s Pork Belly Steamed Bun Entered Into Michelin’s Gourmand appeared first on Goody Feed.

Covid-19 has not been kind to the tourism industry.

With countries all over the world implementing border restrictions, tourism has greatly declined, forcing travel lovers to post photos of their food instead of picturesque holiday spots.

As a result, once bustling tourists sites now look like the streets of a post-apocalyptic world in a video game.

Japanese YouTuber Shows How Previously Bustling Tourist Hotspots Became Quiet & Creepy

One country that is having a particularly tough time with this is Japan, whose tourism sector has taken a severe blow.

In fact, the country has seen a 99.9% drop in tourists visiting the country, from 3 million at the start of the year to 3,800 in July.

To illustrate how badly hit the local tourism industry has been, a Japanese YouTuber recorded his visits to tourists attractions in the country.

The man, Shinichi from the YouTube channel Shinichi’s World, visited the Sensoji Temple at Asakusa last month, and documented his explorations in a video titled “The Empty Streets of Asakusa”.

Shinichi, a local resident, visited the popular Sensoji Temple, the oldest and most famous temple in Tokyo with a history going back 1,400 years.

The ancient Buddhist temple, which became independent after World War II, is reportedly the most widely visited spiritual site in the world with over 30 million visitors annually.

Now, however, the temple is as empty as a Goody Feed writer’s mind.

The huge red lantern at the entrance where tourists would typically be grappling for spots to take pictures is now devoid of people.

Shinichi looks on in disbelief as he walks through the empty temple in the afternoon, saying he’s never seen it like this before.

He added that he had actually planned on coming earlier in the morning because he wanted to avoid the crowd, and didn’t expect it to be this bare.

Even the shopping areas around the tourist spots were empty, and many stores were closed.

In another video titled “How Crowded is Shinjuku Now?”,  Shinichi visits Shinjuku City, a large ward in Tokyo that’s home to shopping malls, entertainment establishments, and business districts.

The Golden Gai district, where the famous Godzilla statue is, was shockingly empty as well.

Golden Gai is famous for a series of alleyways that is lined with popular bars, and even though the area is more crowded at night, tourists used to throng the streets even in the day, according to Sora News 24.

But as Shinichi strolled along the alleyways, there were very few people, if any, in sight.

The Hanazono Shrine, a shrine that was founded in the mid-17th century, was just as desolate, and now seemed slightly eerie.

I mean, would you come here alone at night?

It certainly is a sad sight. Tokyo without tourists is like Nasi Lemak without the sambal. It’s just… odd.

Singapore & Japan to Resume Business Travel

According to Kyodo, the Japanese government has begun talks with 16 nations and regions on easing travel restrictions for business trips.

This includes Singapore, as the two agreed in August to resume essential business travel.

An agreement is expected to be finalised by early September, according to CNA.

“Japan is one of the countries with whom we are discussing setting up reciprocal ‘green lanes’ to resume essential travel with the necessary safety precautions,” said PM Lee.

“We are proceeding cautiously, as COVID-19 is still very much a threat.”

Sure, this arrangement will only allow travel for business and official purposes, but it’s a sign that borders are finally opening up, and that leisure travel may soon be possible.

Let’s hope that the tourists hotspots above don’t remain vacant for too long.

While we can’t travel to Japan now, how about going on walks in Singapore since it’s the Sakura season right now? Here’s where you can spot ’em:

The post Japanese YouTuber Shows How Previously Bustling Tourist Hotspots Became Quiet & Creepy appeared first on Goody Feed.

As researchers all around the world scramble to find a vaccine for the ongoing pandemic, multiple measures have been implemented to counteract the more adverse effects of the situation. Face masks are one…

And a ‘travel bubble’ is another.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. What on earth is this so-called ‘travel bubble’, a notion which sounds curiously like this…

Or this?

Well, in answer…

We can only say that in this particular case, it’s self-explanatory in a literal sense.

What Exactly Is A ‘Travel Bubble’? 

According to TODAYonline, “travel bubbles” are essentially travel-centric alliances between neighbouring nations with low infection rates.

Apparently, these bubbles would allow travellers to freely visit other countries in the same spectrum.

They would also, more often than not, involve restriction-free travel: travellers would not have to self-quarantine for 14 days, a notion that would be unthinkable in certain countries.

To date, ‘travel’ bubbles have been adopted by the likes of New Zealand, Australia and just about the entirety of Europe.

Little wonder why too, considering how the pause on international tourism not only ruins family vacations but affects the global economy in complicated ways as well.

So, in a sense, ‘travel bubbles’ don’t just serve to relieve one’s travel addictions, but also constitute a global economy factor. And that begets the question;

In that case, surely every country would’ve incorporated them, right?

Well, as it turns out…

The answer’s not quite, and I shall elucidate why.

Why Many Countries, Including S’pore, Have Difficulties Creating Them?

As it turns out, ‘travel bubbles’ may not be as tourism-ideal as they’re touted to be, simply because the ‘bubble’ bursts too easily.

In May, New Zealand and Australia announced a plan to form one of the first travel partnerships during the pandemic. Called the ‘Trans-Tasman bubble’, it was supposed to be enacted by early September…

Only to get put on hold when the Australian state of Victoria experienced a coronavirus outbreak.

Europe, too, seemed poised to adopt the pretty-sounding idea. The Baltic States of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania got the ball rolling with the first travel bubble of Europe, and Hungary and Slovenia soon followed suit.

Before long, much of Europe has become a giant bubble, with the European Commission creating “Reopen EU”, a site that lists travel rules within European countries.

Italy, Germany and Britain also began opening up.

However, it did not last long as well. When flare-ups of the virus occurred, the borders were tasked to shut on short notice, disrupting travellers’ plans.

Meanwhile, Asia, too, has had its fair share of burst travel bubbles.

According to reports, Thailand had hoped to invite travellers from nearby countries with low virus rates, such as South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong, to visit without the need for self-quarantine on arrival.

New waves of the virus, however, scrapped those plans.

Covid-19 & Travel Bubbles

‘Travel bubbles’ represent a high risk to both travellers and the countries they’re visiting.

According to Dr Brad Connor, longtime travel medicine and infectious disease specialist, asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic travellers harbouring the virus can unintentionally bring it into an area undetected and cause an outbreak.

“We all want to travel again in a safe way,” he said. “Unfortunately, the approaches so far have not worked.”

It should be noted that apart from travel bubbles, there are also defacto ones, which publish lists of the necessary requirements to enter, as well as “travel corridors” and safelists.

Various regions have also attempted to improvise the situation in a bid to curb risks.

Thailand, for instance, is contemplating a new program where international travellers (who are willing to stay for 30 days) are allowed into Phuket, where they will quarantine in designated resorts and go through two Covid-19 tests.

Whether it works, however, is really up to time itself.

Travel Bubbles

In the end, travel bubbles are an undeniably inventive way to permit freedom and curb risks at the same time. However, it’s inevitable that accidents happen…

Due in part to non-mitigated risk.

As such, travellers should make sure to practice the necessary safety protocols, such as masks, frequent hand-washing and social-distancing, to minimise risks to themselves and others. But even so, the risk will always be there. As Dr Connor puts it:

“But at this point, we can’t completely eliminate the risk.

“And therein lies the problem.”

And until a vaccine can be found…

I guess we’ll just have to either risk it or go down the safe route.

The post What Exactly Is A ‘Travel Bubble’ & Why Many Countries, Including S’pore, Have Difficulties Creating Them appeared first on Goody Feed.

We are all bummed out by Malaysia’s 2020 Movement Control Order (MCO) that closed the causeway between Singapore and Malaysia.

Now we kind of feel like Chang E and Hou Yi.

Seafood cravings and retail therapy at JB cannot be replaced by any of our local shopping malls and lack of entertainment. But what is this new thing popping up in our neighbouring country?

According to The Straits Times, this new thing is offering our shopping spree and haul dates a whopping 2.2 million square feet of retail space. Ooh.

Giant Malls And Retail Therapy

Here is something for all of us to look forward to when the borders are reopened for travel.

Apart from Johor Bahru, another hotspot for Singaporeans and tourists would definitely be Kuala Lumpur.

With their newest update to what they can offer, a gigantic mall is at the top of the list. *cue girl group chats screaming”

The size of Exchange TRX alone is larger than 2 Vivocitys put together. Boasting a massive number of 500 shops, anyone would shop til’ they drop. Literally.

Now you can enjoy delicacies offered by their potentially large array of food choices, and then burn off all the calories by walking around and shopping.

Roughly 11% of the shops will be reserved for Food and Beverages, so that’s about 55 shops catered to please your tastebuds.

Talk about spoilt for choice.

Looking In

Been to Jewel Changi Airport yet? Singaporeans would know that Jewel Changi has a spectacular HSBC waterfall in the heart of the mall.

The new giant mall will also feature a centrepiece that reminds shoppers of the rain vortex.

Lush Greenery And Forest Vibes

We talked about food and shopping, now let us tell you all about the lush tropical oasis stretching across 10-acres of the roof.

This rooftop garden is just a little larger than a whopping 4 football fields.

Tired of shopping? Head upstairs to take a breather and breathe in the city air. Fresh, of course, with all that greenery. The oasis in a concrete rainforest will leave you feeling recharged.

For parents with active kids, you already know where you can park them or let them run around and release all that pent up energy.

Let us hope that a small part of the garden will be converted into a playground to win the hearts of our tiny tots.

Not Enough Time To Finish Exploring?

Here for the weekend? No worries. The mall has its own pretty awesome hotel.

The 471-room Kimpton KL will be the perfect accommodation to relax and stay over while you take your time to scour for the best deals.

If you find your arms and your feet aching, scurry back to your room and draw a long bubble bath after dropping off your shopping bags. Dinner and shopping round 2 are just downstairs.

One Last Thing

If you ever happen to finish shopping and eating at the Exchange TRX, which is highly unlikely, our old but gold Pavillion Shopping Mall is right around the corner.

• Location Address: Persiaran TRX 55188, Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• Nearest Metro Station: TRX Metro

The perfect place to break in your Covid-19 enforced travel ban, don’t you think?

Read Also: SIA Abandons ‘Flights to Nowhere’ Idea; Instead, They’ll Let You Eat On Stationary Plane

The post Shopping Mall in KL Will Open in 2022 & It’s So Massive You Probably Need Days To Explore appeared first on Goody Feed.

Living in a city is cool, but is it as cool as living off the grid on an extinct volcano in a completely different continent?

Absolutely not. It could never.

Uprooting

A young Singaporean photographer cum writer, Prashant Ashoka, moved all the way to Mexico in 2017 to pursue his dream of living off the grid.

At 28, the young and solo traveller left the Lion City with minimal belongings and planted roots in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

He rented a small apartment, started a new milestone and building his life there by working as a freelance writer and photographer for lifestyle publications.

At that young age, we would never have even thought of leaving our safety nets and jumping into a whole new environment all alone but Prashant did that without hesitation.

After a few months of living abroad, he was featured in The Straits Times for his enchanting life in the city of San Miguel de Allende.

The highlight of his stay is the house he designed and built on an extinct volcano at the foot of Bajio mountains.

Volcan-home

On 28 September, Prashant unveiled on Facebook the results of his architectural project to the world — a sustainably-built home he named Casa Etérea.

The breathtaking structure is located on the slopes of the extinct volcano, Palo Huérfano.

The images of the house are as spectacular as the view from it. Imagine waking up to billowing clouds and rocky paths. That is an absolute dream for most city-dwellers.

“I’ve been largely private about the more intimate details of my life here in Mexico. But as I put the finishing touches on a project three years in the making and reflect on the meanderings of this journey – the serendipitous encounters, the hard-earned lessons – I’m filled with gratitude for the transformations it has forged,” said Prashant in his Facebook post addressing the new home.

Casa Etérea

About the unique and heaven-like structure of the house, he shared that, “Alluding to this quality of the building, the name ‘Etérea’ translates from Spanish to ‘ethereal’, and suggests a nebulous, otherworldly vision.”

And seeing this picture, you know why he chose that name.

Netizens can catch sneak peeks and cosy corners of the house from @casa_eterea on Instagram.

Prashant, background in architecture or design, conceptualised and overlooked the entire construction of Casa Etérea on his own.

The house built to look like a mirror house that blends into nature and reflects the surroundings. This prevents causing any illusions that hurt flying birds thanks to a special ultraviolet coating on the glass that’s visible to birds.

Clean, Not Green (Coloured) And Sustainable

The eco-friendly home draws all power from solar energy and the water from collected rainwater. Beautiful and sustainable.

Since the project is now finished and completed, Prashant has now listed Casa Etérea for stays on Airbnb at just $338 a night.

For those of you interested in spending your honeymoon in Mexico, this small Airbnb built for two is the perfect spot for your calm relaxing and healing getaway. Be close to your loved one and nature all at the same time.

A boyfriend appears to break up with his girlfriend after she has a scar on her face. But it turns out to be something else—watch their story to the end because it’s definitely related to you, whoever you are:

The post Young Singaporean Migrated Overseas And Built Breathtaking Home On Extinct Volcano appeared first on Goody Feed.

You know what?

Your dream of travelling to Bangkok for some cheap shopping and mango sticky rice is no longer a dream.

It’s now a reality.

Albeit with a catch.

Thailand Opens up for S’pore Tourists But the Requirements Are Strict

Thailand has been thinking of opening up its borders to tourists now for quite some time.

And on 7 Oct, Singaporeans and their spouses and legitimate children (not over 20 years old) are now allowed to travel to the land of smiles for some well-deserved R&R, according to the Royal Thai Embassy.

Now, before you cheer and start looking up airline tickets, there’s a catch: You better have a ton of savings ready to burn.

Minimum Stay Of 90 Days

Yes, you didn’t read that wrong. 90 days.

To travel to Thailand for leisure, you need to apply for the Special Tourist Visa (STV) to be allowed to enter the country.

And not just that, you cannot be employed within the country during the duration of your stay.

In other words, if you’re really looking to go to Thailand for some rest and relaxation, you’ll have to stay for around 3 months with no way to earn money (unless you’re an influencer who does Thailand lifestyle videos on YouTube).

Other requirements of the STV includes:

• Not having any criminal record in the country;
• Do not have prohibitive diseases like Leprosy, Tuberculosis, drug addiction, Elephantiasis, the third phase of Syphilis
• Not banned from the country

And The Requirements Get Stricter

If you feel your Thailand dream dying after reading the above requirements, I assure you that what you’re going to read next will make it shrivel up and burst into flames.

Let’s say you’re still adamant on going to Thailand, even if it’s a 90-day stay, here’s what you need to apply for the visa:

• A passport valid for the next 12 months
• A bank statement (either from Singapore or a Thai Bank) showing that you have 500,000 Baht (~S$21,707.36) which must be maintained for 6 months before the application
  • or a document proving that you own a property in Thailand
  • or purchase of property in Thailand with 25% paid
  • or an accommodation booking with the stay totally paid for
• Thai medical insurance
• Payment for 14-day SHN in Thailand at Alternative State Quarantine or Alternative Hospital Quarantine

Other than the visa, you’ll also need to apply for a Certificate of Entry.

Certificate of Entry (COE)

Requirements for that is a whole other story.

They include:

Two copies of: 

• A passport
• The completed Declaration Form
• A Health Insurance covering all expenditures of medical treatment, including COVID-19 for the entire period of stay Thailand in an amount of at least 100,000 USD (~S$135,482.50).
• Alternative State Quarantine with Payment Confirmation

And a:

• Singapore Airlines Ticket

Yes, just Singapore Airlines.

For Dependents

Now, unless you’re thinking of running away from your family like this man in India, you’re probably looking to get your family to go over too.

The good news is, you don’t need to go through the entire process for every single individual in your family.

For your spouse, all you need is a marriage certificate in English and his/her own bank statement showing a balance of 500,000 Baht (~S$21,707.36) for the past 6 months.

For kids, you’ll need their birth certificate and a bank statement with a balance of 500,000 Baht (~S$21,707.36) for the past 6 months.

Now, if your kid is too young and doesn’t have a bank account, don’t worry. All you need to do is to ensure that in your own bank account, you have at least 1,000,000 Baht (~S$43,414.72).

After reading all this, you’re probably thinking, I’ll just put my Thailand dream on hold first.

And you won’t be the only one thinking this way.

After all, besides the requirements, you can imagine how pricey the air tickets will be already, don’t you?

Just look at what happened to the air tickets for flights to Hong Kong.

The post Thailand Opens up for S’pore Tourists With Special Tourist Visa & the Requirements Are Strict appeared first on Goody Feed.

Countries are opening up their borders through travel bubbles with a Singapore-Hong Kong travel bubble following closely behind.

From 22 November 2020, travellers from Singapore and Hong Kong can begin travelling between the two cities since border restrictions were imposed due to COVID-19, and we’re not talking about travelling for work or business, but travelling for the food and attractions.

In this new arrangement, there will be one flight taking off per day to the other city. The quota will be capped at 200 travellers per flight and increased to two flights per day from 7 December 2020, onwards.

Should unlinked COVID-19 cases rise to more than five in either city, the travel bubble arrangement will be suspended for two weeks.

This begs the question:

What Are Travel Bubbles?

Also known as travel bridges or corona corridors (yes, seriously, some countries call it the corona corridor), travel bubbles are agreed-on common travel areas between regions or countries with low virus outbreak levels. Borders to other countries, however, will remain closed.

Hence, it is an exclusive partnership where “people can move freely within the bubble, but cannot enter from the outside,” said Per Block, an Oxford University researcher in social mobility and methodology.

Still curious about travel bubbles? Here are ten things you should know to get you started, because you won’t need a crystal ball to know that in the coming weeks, we’re going ho read more about travel bubbles with other countries.

1. Quarantine-Free Travel

By creating a travel bubble, citizens from each country or city can travel freely without having to be quarantined or isolated upon arrival.

For the Singapore-Hong Kong travel bubble, there are neither restrictions on the purpose of travel nor need for a controlled itinerary or sponsorship. However, passengers should not have been at any country aside from Hong Kong or Singapore within 14 days prior to departure. It’s unknown whether other bubbles would be the same.

2. Be Prepared to Take at least 3 COVID-19 Tests

3. Calling all Travel Bugs

While travelling is the last on anyone’s minds during these difficult times, the travel bubble is one way to have people feeling comfortable with travelling again (or satisfy those who’ve been waiting to fly away from the madness) all while trying to keep infection rates low.

But it’s not just for you to scratch your itchy butt.

4. Stimulate the Economy

By slowly opening up the borders, the cities will experience benefits for their businesses, its hard-hit sectors such as tourism and the economy while limiting the number of new coronavirus cases. One country might not seem to be a lot, but if we’ve more travel bubbles, it might Make Merlion Great Again.

5. Good News for Unemployment Rate

Even for those who do not wish to travel, there is an economic benefit that will emerge from creating a travel bubble. As the more businesses can return to pre-covid operation, the less the rate of unemployment will rise.

6. Families can Reunite

For those with families living miles away, this new update calls for a happy reunion with Singapore’s Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung saying those who are looking to travel for “business, or leisure or to reconnect with family, friends, and loved ones can get on the bubble.”

7. Help Improve Mental Health

Cases of depression and anxiety have risen considerably during the pandemic and among the many ways to cope through them is travelling. Allowing people the space to travel helps reestablish a sense of normalcy. In addition, travelling helps to promote better well-being by getting people to be more active, experience new perspectives and lower their stress levels.

8. Faster Exchange of Supplies

9. More Countries Can Join In

As travel bubbles begin to form, other countries that are still on lockdown are also able to observe the best ways to approach opening up of their borders. This way, they can be equally, if not more prepared for their next steps. Lest you’r enot aware, it’s rumoured that Taiwan would be next for Singapore.

10. Better Sanitation

For countries opening up borders or are planning to do so, one thing that will be on the top of everyone’s minds is the sanitation standards. With travel bubbles opening up under specific circumstances, it will encourage better health and hygiene standards worldwide to ensure travellers remain safe, and also encourage them to control the infections since a travel bubble would help the economy. I mean, if you tell Trump that keeping infections low would result in a better economy, he’d have enforced mask-wearing a long, long time ago.

Featured Image: veesarun suttinipachai / Shutterstock.com

The post 10 Things to Know About Travel Bubbles, Something That We’d Be Looking Forward To appeared first on Goody Feed.

Once again, the Singapore Airlines (SIA) has unfortunately been banned from flying passengers into Hong Kong for two weeks after some of the passengers arrived at the airport with positive COVID-19 results.

Whoops…?

SIA’s Response and Apology

On 16 February, an SIA spokesperson replied to the media inquiries: “The directive from Hong Kong regulators came after some SIA customers, who had tested negative for COVID-19 for their pre-departure tests, subsequently tested positive on arrival in Hong Kong.

“We are unable to comment further due to confidentiality reasons.”

To be fair to the passengers and airline alike, who never wished this upon themselves, there are a couple of plausible reasons for the negative turned positive.

Possible Theories Behind the Discrepancy

If you give the passengers the benefit of the doubt, they might have contracted the Omicron Subvariant BA.2 which has proven that it can throw out false negatives on Antigen Rapid Tests (ARTs) and Polymerase Chain (PCR) tests.

It’s called the “stealth variant” for a reason, after all.

Moreover, Omicron Subvariant BA.2 is spreading much faster than expected such that it is 30% more transmissible than its parent lineage and is the current dominant strain of many countries.

If we want to make it sound bad, then it’s either the passengers coincidentally contracted COVID-19 from a passer-by at the airport, or they lied about their pre-departure test results, which would about another slew of problems that is better left unravelled.

We don’t need another Jipson Quah and Iris Koh, thanks.

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Flights from Hong Kong to Singapore Unaffected

The two daily flights, SQ882 and SQ894, heading towards Hong Kong will only resume operations on 1 March.

SIA will probably be spraying down that vessel with so much disinfectant, you can breathe in the residual alcohol molecules in the air once you step onto those planes again.

But SQ883 and SQ895, the twice-daily passenger flights from Hong Kong to Singapore, are not affected.

SIA extends its apologies to the affected and delayed customers and said that it will contact them to offer assistance and minimise the inconvenience caused by the unexpected disturbance.

Not the First Suspension of Flights

Alas, SIA is no stranger to suspensions, because the same issue cropped up back in April 2021 as well.

Back then, SIA had breached the city’s “trigger points”.

In that instance, there had been a passenger of similar circumstance, who had tested negative pre-departure, only to test positive upon landing.

Later on, it was also discovered that the test documents of three passengers didn’t meet the regulatory requirements set out by the Hong Kong authorities.  

Hong Kong’s Zero Tolerance for COVID-19 Policy

As for the difference in treatment between Hong Kong and Singapore passengers, it all boils down to the policies that the cities have to comply with.

Hong Kong has been following China’s zero tolerance for COVID-19 strategy for more than two years.

The “zero tolerance” strategy includes cutting down companies’ productions and operations as much as possible to ensure that outbreaks can be completely contained.

And given that China can’t beat COVID-19 into submission within its own domestic borders since the virus has a tenacity of a headless cockroach, the country has decided that it could stop imported cases at least.

Plus, the timing couldn’t be worse because the highly transmissive Omicron variant has just hit the mainland as well.

Presently, Hong Kong is barely coping with all the testing, quarantine, and treatments that has been growing in demand as the case load rises.

Meanwhile, in the words of Transport Minister S Iswaran, Singapore can’t afford the same stringency because it needs to “maintain connectivity” to the rest of the region and world, since the city-state is built on imports, exports, and tourism. 

With all that has been said and done, it’s no surprise that SIA was forced to turn its tail and fly back and cease operations temporarily.

Read Also:

• More People Are Taking Public Transport in 2021 But It’s Still Very Different from Pre-COVID-19 Days
• Former Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat Spoke About GST Hike
• Everything About the New VTLs, Including to Hong Kong, & New Border Measures Simplified for You
• India Issued Protest Over PM Lee’s Remarks During Debate of COP Final Report

Featured Image: Shutterstock / Sorbis

The post SIA Banned from Flying into Hong Kong (Again) After Passengers Arrived With COVID-19 appeared first on Goody Feed.

Two weeks after ComfortDelGro announced that it will raise its taxi fares from 1 March, other taxi operators like TransCab, Prime Taxi Premier Taxi, and Strides Taxi have decided to follow suit.

Reader: Why does this situation sound so familiar ah?

That’s because it happened before lah, all of the taxi companies have always been in collusion with each other for the longest of times…

At the passengers’ literal expense, of course.

Suddenly, I miss the times where Uber and Grab were engaged in a competition of fisty-cuffs. The discount vouchers they frequently gave out were awesome.

Raises in Fares

Starting from 1 March, normal taxi operators will be raising their flag-down fares by 20 cents.

Distance and time-based charges are also set to increase, wherein there will be an extra two-cent for every 400m (or 350m after 10km), and a two-cent increase for every 45 seconds of waiting time for normal taxis.

The Public Transport Council (PTC) has confirmed that the taxi operators have informed them about the decision to raise the fares.

The last fare adjustment was back in 2011, where ComfortDelGro similarly took the lead in raising the flag-down prices and distance prices by 20 cents and two cents respectively.

Reasons for the Fare Hike

According to ComfortDelGro, the fare hike is to mitigate the higher operating costs from rising fuel prices, and to support falling taxi drivers’ incomes since the ridership rates are still lower than pre-pandemic conditions.

With regards to the rising fuel prices, it is an indisputable fact since mid-2021.

Due to the growth in demand for energy sources during the third wave of the pandemic, it has caused demand to sharply increase in spite of shortening supply.

In the past three months, oil prices have increased substantially.

On 20 January 2022, Brent crude oil was already going at $86.95 per barrel on the international market, a 30% hike from November 2021.

The Goldman Sachs Group predicted that crude oil prices will hit the $100 mark in the third quarter of 2022…

But no thanks to President Putin and his decision to invade Ukraine, the prices have soared to $105 per barrel in the past two three.

Joy.

Higher increases in the oil prices can be expected if the war on the European continent drags out, and if Saudi Arabia and the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) doesn’t step in to increase the supply, we might have a third oil crisis on our hands.

The plights of a global economy, that’s all that can be said.

Deregulation of Taxi Fares

It should be mentioned that different companies will have slightly different fare hikes, so you might want to check with the specific taxis you’re riding before you actually sit yourself comfortably on the upholstery.

Industry sources state that only flag-down rates should be affected, while the distance and time rates will remain the same.

The other fare hikes will kick in a week after ComfortDelGro, on 7 or 8 March.

And since taxi fares have been deregulated since 1998, the PTC has no right to intervene or control the fates of taxis or private hire cars.

The only things that taxi and private hire car operators are obligated to do is to inform PTC of any fare increases for the sake of transparency, and to ensure that passengers are aware of the additional surcharges when they hire a taxi.

PTC explained the rationale behind the deregulation: “This allows demand and supply for such services to be matched efficiently based on prevailing market conditions, while spurring operators to improve their service offers and to maintain competitiveness in their fares.”

For this price hike, I won’t argue because of the oil, but this doesn’t mean that the taxi operators having a mutual agreement with each other doesn’t hold water.

Big Brother ComfortDelGro’s decisions are never wrong, after all. 

Read Also:

• People in the US No Longer Advised to Wear Masks as COVID-19 Infections Decline
• NEA: Tremors Felt in Parts of S’pore Were Due to 6.2-Magnitude Earthquake in Northern Sumatra
• Russia-Ukraine War Could Increase Prices of Petrol, Electricity & Food in S’pore
• 2nd Infant Formula, Which Hospitals in S’pore Use, Recalled for Possible Bacterial Contamination

Featured Image: Shutterstock / Dr David Sing

The post All Other Taxi Operators to Increase Prices As Well After ComfortDeloGro’s Increase appeared first on Goody Feed.