65 unusual fun facts about Singapore you never knew ...

Unusual fun facts about Singapore you never knew · 1. Did you know we're home to plenty of secret museums? · 2. Yeah, we've all seen our fair ... SkiplinksSkiptoprimarynavigationSkiptocontentSkiptoprimarysidebar Press'Enter'tosearch. ThingsarechangingdailythankstoCovid-19.Wedoourbesttobeaccurate,butdouble-checkwithvendorstoavoiddisappointment.×Photography:AutumnStudioviaUnsplashComealittlecloserasweuncoverthecity’ssecretsinourguidetoSingapore'squirkyandfunfacts.OurloveforSingaporeknowsnolimits,whichiswhywe’reimmenselyproudofeverythingourlittleislandhastooffer.Fromfantasticrestaurantsandcocktailbarstolushgreenspacesandculturalenclaves,we’vegotbucketloadstoexplore.Ifyouhaven’twanderedthrougheverynook,crannyandalleywayofthecity,letthisextensivelistbeyourguide.Behold,allthemind-blowingfunfactsyoushouldknowaboutthehiddensideofSingaporebeforeyoucansay:thisishome,truly. ThingsToDoWanderthroughthecity'ssecretgemsUnusualfunfactsaboutSingaporeyouneverknewPhotography:NguyenThuHoaiviaUnsplash1.Didyouknowwe’rehometoplentyofsecretmuseums?Thesenichespotsfeatureeverythingfrommusictomoviestohistory.2.Yeah,we’veallseenourfairshareofHDBflats.Butthesearenorun-of-the-millbuildings.Wefoundoneswithfascinatingarchitecture,cooldesignsandcolourfulmurals!3.OurNightSafariisactuallytheworld’sfirstnocturnalzoo.Itopenedin1994!Sincethen,it’sbeenofferingvisitorsaglimpseintothelivesofanimalsintheirnaturalhabitataftersunset.4.Singapore’safinecityineverysenseoftheword.Everyoneknowsaboutour‘nochewinggum’rule.Butotherstrangelawsyouneedtoknowincludenonudityinsight(evenathome!),flushingpublictoiletsorriskgettingslappedwitha$1,000fine,andnofeedingofwildanimals.5. Ourwaterfallsarenaturalandman-made.Apparently,thefirstonewasconstructedinJurongBirdParkin1971andstandstallataheightof30metres.Ofcourse,there’salsothelushwaterfallattheCloudForestinGardensbytheBayandtheworld’shighestindooroneatJewelChangiAirport.CheckouttheindoorwaterfallatJewelChangiAirport.Photography:JoeGreenviaUnsplash6.AnabandonedgreenspaceinSingapore?Yep,that’sKeppelHillReservoir.Thiscentury-oldspotmakesforquitetheunconventionaltrekforallyouhikingbuffsoutthere.7.WatchoutforthesecrettrailthatloopsbehindOrtoinYishun.It’sgreatforbirdwatching,andthereareplentyoffruittrees.Truthbetold,Yishunisreallynotasbadasitsinfamousrepwouldsuggest.8.WanttocatchkillerviewsofSingapore’smajesticcityscape…forfree?Hoponoverto[email protected],atoweringHDBestateinQueenstown,andhead47storeysuptotherooftopgardenforanalfrescohang.9.TheChijmeslandmarkoftoday,withitsplethoraofrestaurantsandbars,usedtobeagirls’school.Establishedin1854,theplaceformerlyhousedanorphanageforabandonedbabies,nuns’quartersandachapel.Thefamiliarlandmark:Chijmes.Photography:KharlAnthonyPaicaviaUnsplash10.TakeadaytriptoJurongWestandfindthelastdragonkilninSingapore.YoucanevenfireitupandmakeyourownceramicpotteryatThowKwangPotteryJungle.11.Ifyouwanttogotreasurehuntingforvintagefindsandlocalknick-knacks,OddsandCollectablesatTelokAyeristhespottodoit.Siftthroughallkindsofcoolstufflikeretroadvertisements,photosfromyesteryear,vintagemugsandwoodenkuehmolds.Alternatively,hitupTongMernSernatCraigRoadforsecondhandshopping–it’shometosweetoldschoolgems.12.Soyouthinkyou’vecoveredtheentireisland?Thinkagain.We’vegotsecretspotsacrossthecountry,fromahiddenlighthousetohilltopforts,thatarejustwaitingtobediscovered!13.Maybeyou’vewalkedpastthismysteriousMuslimtombintheDuxtonarea.TheshrineisdedicatedtoSharifahRogayah,believedtobethegranddaughterofHabibNoh,adirectdescendantofProphetMohammadandSingapore’smostfamousMuslim.However,noonereallyknowsmuchelseabouther…14. Singaporemightbeacosmocity,butifyoulookbeyondthetoweringskyscrapersandgargantuanmalls,you’llfindahandfulofcountrysidefarms.EscapethecityinahotminuteandsoakinthesimplelifewithcutegoatsatHayDairiesorstockuponthefreshestproduceatBollywoodVeggies.ThelushgreeneryofBollywoodVeggies.Photography:BenitaLee15.Concealedbeneaththehip‘hoodofTiongBahruliesanairraidshelterfromthedaysofWorldWarII.Unlikeitsfellowundergroundbunkers,thebrick-builtoneat78GuanChuanStreethasnotbeendemolished.Thepublicaren’tallowedintothespace,whichcanholdanestimated1,600people,butithasopenedonoccasionforeventsandtours.Inthemeantime,visitthewarheritagesitetoreaduponitspastfrominfoboardsonthewallsbythecarpark.16.ThetouristhotspotthatisSentosaalsohousesanout-of-sightmilitarycompound.Intrigued?JoinusonourjourneytoFortSilosoanduncoverundergroundtunnels,historymuseumsandwartimerelics.17.Ifyou’vealwaysbeencuriousaboutthesupernatural,perhapsyou’dliketosetoutonaneerieadventure.We’vegotnolackofhauntedhousesandformercemeteriesforbravesouls.Speakingofjuicyghoststories,here’salookattrue-lifeencountersthat’llgiveyoumajorgoosebumps.18.Didyouknowthere’sabeautifulnaturalbeachatSembawangPark?TheunderratedspotmaynotbeaspopularasthesandyshoresofEastCoast,PasirRisorSentosa,butitmakesforatranquilbeachsidestrollupnorth.Whileyou’rethere,payavisittohistoricalsitesliketheSembawangmemorial,SembawangShipyardandSeletarPier.19.Natureenthusiasts,thisone’sforyou.Afteryou’vecombedthroughhotspotsliketheBotanicGardensandGardensbytheBay,findyourcalminthecity’shiddengreenspacesandsecretparks.DiscoverthelargestJapanesecemeteryinSoutheastAsia.It’saneeriebeauty.20.OrchardRoadmaybewell-knownasashoppingstretch,butit’sgotasecretpast,too.Oh,andhaveyouexploredthehistoryandheritageofEmeraldHill?It’ssomuchmorethanjustbarsandrestaurants!21. TakehomeasliceofSingaporeatcoolindiestoreschockfulloflocalfashionandbeautybrands,books,homewareandquirkyknick-knacks.22.ExploretheprovinciallifeatKampongLorongBuangkok,thelastsurvivingvillageinSingapore.23.MoveawayfromthecrowdedSingaporeRivertothePunggolEastriversidescenewherecontainerbistroswithno-nonsensegrubandcraftbeerawait.24.Onaketodiet?There’salocalversionofbulletproofcoffee!Askthekopiuncleforakopiguyou(theHokkienphraseliterallytranslatesto“coffeebutter”)andwatchhimsockfilteracuppaandaddabigslabofbutter.Yum.25.Yes,weloveourottersinSingapore.KeeptabsonthecommunitypageOtterWatchtolearnaboutthedifferentfamiliesandwatchtheminactionatriversaroundtheisland–justremembertorespecttheirspace.Photography:MarkStoopviaUnsplash26.AttheedgeofShangri-La’sRasaSentosaResort&SpaliesTanjongRimau,arawgemonathoroughlyreconstructedisland.Singapore’swesterntipboastsmangrovetrails,largerocksandevensecret,tinycavesthatcanbeaccessedviaarockyslopedownthebeach.27.PerchedonthefootofAngMoKioTownGardenandblock159,KebunBaruBirdsingingClubisthemostpopularandlargestsongbirddisplayareainSingapore.Watchuniquelycraftedcageshoisted20ftuponpolesbyhobbyistsandenjoythecalmingtunesofbirdsinsong.28.Thinkyouknowallthe‘hoodsinSingapore?Headnorth-easttoSeletar,whichusedtobeSingapore’sfirstairbase,andexploreaslewofcafesandrestaurantsamidstlushgreeneryandcolonialbungalows.29.CanyouguessthetallestbuildinginSingapore?It’sGuocoTower!Ataheightof283.7m,theskyscrapertowersoverCapitaSpring,UOBPlazaOneandmore.30.Funfact:AnaturalhotspringactuallyexistsinSingapore.SembawangHotSpringParkfeaturesafloralwalk,cascadingpoolandcafe.Youcandipyourtoesintothewaterhereforonsenvibesortryyourhandatsoft-boilinganegg.31.ConeyIslandinPunggolistheperfectplacefor“escaping”Singapore–butsticktoexploringinthemorningbeforetheafternoonsunhitsyouhard!ConeyIslandinthedistance.Photography:BenitaLee32.DairyFarmNaturePark’sWallaceTrailisn’tasdoneupasotherpathwaysinSingapore.Muddyandperfectformountainbikers,ittakesyoupastfruittrees,anoldkampungandnativewildlife.33.Deadtiredofculturalprecinctsandneedachangeofscene?Aself-guidedwalkaroundBukitBrownCemetery,oneofthelargestandlast-remaininggraveyards,mightliventhingsupforyou.34.Mystifiedbytheuniverse?CatchaglimpseofJupiter,themoonandshimmeringstarsthroughatelescopeanddiscusstheABCsofastronomyatfreestargazingsessionswiththefolksfromSingaporeSidewalkAstronomy.35.Ifyou’renotbuyingintothecafehype,Colbarisoneno-frillseateryyoucanaddtoyourlist.It’sagoodspotforbeer,aclassicfry-upandwesternfood.Plus,itcomeswithabitofahistorylesson.36.Unfamiliarwiththecoastal‘hoodofPasirRis?Perhapsit’stimeyoupayitavisit.Someofitsnot-so-well-knownfeaturesincludeaterrazzoelephant-shapedplayground,thecountry’ssolecommercialsaltwaterfishingpondandoneoftheonlytwoprotectedmangroveforestsinSingapore.ThebeautyofPasirRis.Photography:NationalHeritageBoard37.Atotalof27SinglishwordshaveactuallymadeitintotheOxfordEnglishDictionary!Thelistincludesblur,lepak,shiok,sabokingandwah.38.Needaquietplaceinthecity?Pearl’sHillCityParknearOutramMRTmightjustbeyourspot.Trekuptothistranquilgreenpatchthatalsofeaturesalovelypond.Nearby,AnnSiangHillParkisanotherpeacefulretreatbehindthebuzzingbarsonthestretch.39.Wefoundfire-breathingcreaturesinSingapore!MotherofDragons,weain’t,butwe’vegotthenextbestthing:NotonebuttwooldschooldragonplaygroundstuckedawayinthequaintneighbourhoodofToaPayoh.40.Youhaven’thadtherealSingaporeshoppingexperienceuntilyou’verummagedthroughpre-loveditemsinLuckyPlazaonOrchardRoad.You’lluncoveraffordablecosmetics,perfumeknock-offs,souvenirs,electronics,secondhandapparelandloadsmore.41.Recognisethescent?MedicatedoilsandointmentslikeTigerBalmandAxeOilareagodsendinAsianhouseholds,curingeverythingfromthrobbingheadachestopeskymosquitobites.Funfact:DidyouknowthatHawParVilla,Singapore’skookiestthemepark,isthebrainchildofTigerBalmownerAwBoonHaw?TheeclecticspacedepictslegendsandmythsthatcombineelementsofBuddhism,Taoism,Chinesehistoryandmythology–themostfamousbeingtheTenCourtsofHell.Warmestwelcome…toHawParVilla’shell.Photography:NicoleNithiyah42.Ifyou’renewtoSingapore,itcanbeanuphilltasknavigatingthroughcountlessstallsforthebestrenditionsoflocalfood.Fretnot–justarmyourselfwithourhandyguidetotophawkercentresacrossthecity.43.Foradifferenttypeofretailexperience,headtoFarEastPlaza,OrchardRoad’smostunderratedmall,forpocket-friendlyeatsandlocalboutiques.OrgofurtherafieldtooneofthemanyoutletmallsinSingaporeforpremiumbrandsatdiscountedprices.44.Feb14isn’ttheonlydayforyoutoshowyourlove.Whenyou’veexhaustedyourlistofromanticrestaurants,usethesealternativedateideasforinspiration.45.Ifyou’resomeonewho’sparticularabouttoilets,ouradviceistoheaduptohigherfloorsinmallsandotherbuildingsfor,well,cleanerspaces.46.We’veactuallychangedourtimezonessixtimessince1905.AfterWWII,ourclocksfinallysyncedupwithMalaysia’sin1982.47.PulauSemakau,alsoknownasthelandfillisland,istheonlyplaceinSingaporewheretheMilkyWayisvisiblefromtheground.Tocontinueyourisland-hoppingjourney,setsailtooffshorespotslikeStJohn’sIslandandLazarusIsland.48.Youmayhavepassedbyamuralortwointhecity,butourstreetartsceneissomuchmorethanthat.FromChinatownandEvertonParktoKeongSaikandHajiLane,there’splentytoexplore.PasarandtheFortuneTellerbyYipYewChong.Photography:AmeliaAng49.WanttojazzupyourIGfeed?Scourtheislandforunique,Instagram-worthyplacesandsnapaway.50.Crikey!SeecrocsinthewildatSungeiBulohWetlandReserve.51.Sure,youcaneatdurianaunaturel.Buttomakethingsextrafun,trythestinkyfruitinsweet,savouryandstrangeflavoursatplaceslikeMaoShanWangCafeandGoodwoodParkHotel.Wedareyou.52.Whenregularbirthdaycakesjustwon’tcutit,traditionalbakeriesareourdefaultforgoodol’nostalgicdesserts.53.Whenthoselovey-doveyfeelingshavefizzledout,thesequirkybreakupspotswillcomeinhandy.Drama-freeornot,it’sentirelyuptoyou.54.Cafesareaplenty,butquietonesthataren’tperpetuallypackedwithbrunchcrowds?We’dheaddeepintotheheartlandsforthem.Addhiddencafestoyourfoodbucketlistforgoodgrubthatyoucansavourinpeace.Thishiddencafeisabreathoffreshair.Photography:Whisk&PaddleviaFacebook55.HeadtoHougangtocheckoutthelargestJapanesecemeteryinSoutheastAsia.Builtin1891,theparkisprettierthanitisspooky,withpinkfloralarchwaysthatarereminiscentofsakuraseasoninJapan.Servingasaburialgroundfornearly1,000Japaneseciviliansandsoldiersfromthepre-waryears,thisplacehas,strangelyenough,turnedintoanIG-friendlyspot.56.You’remorethanwelcometohaveastaycationwithyourfurrybestfriendatsomeofthebig-namehotelsintown.Justcheckintopet-friendlyabodesforarelaxingweekendwithyourfurbaby.57.Sundrystores,morefondlyknownas“mamashops”,aregreatforaffordablesnacks,drinksandotherrandomitemslikeoldschooltoys.Bestplacetofind‘em?VoiddecksofHDBflatsintheheartlands.58.Dropbyyourneighbourhoodbeautysalonsforeyebrowthreadingfromonly$5.FromHougangtoWoodlands,there’salwaysagooddeal.59.MarinaatKeppelBayisn’tonlyAsia’sfirstfish-friendlymarinabytheMarinaIndustriesAssociationstandards.YoucanactuallyfindahealthycoralreefecosystemunderKeppelBay!60.Didyouknow:Builtin1869,CavenaghBridgeistheoldestsurvivingbridgeacrosstheSingaporeRiver.It’snamedafterWilliamOrfeurCavenagh,whowasthefinalgovernoroftheStraitsSettlementsunderBritishIndiarule.ThestructurewasgazettedasanationalmonumenttogetherwithElginBridgeandAndersonBridgein2019.61. Ourskylineisn’tjustmadeupofMarinaBaySandsandtheSingaporeFlyer.They’reiconic,butthey’realsojusttwoofthemanyfascinatingarchitecturallandmarksontheisland.Lesser-knownstructuresincludeAssyafaahMosqueinthenorthandTheColonnadeinOrchard.TheInterlaceistrulyanamazingarchitecturalsight.62.Onlygot$20inyourpocket?Affordableadventuresareeverywhere–youjustneedtoknowwheretolook.Frommuseumsandthriftstorestohikingtrailsandfreemusicperformances,there’sanabundanceofentertainment.63.Can’tseemtofindretrotidbitsthesedays?Popbyoldschoolsnackstoreswhenthemunchieshit.64.Searchingforaspeakeasyiswaymorefunthancosyingupinaregularol’drinkingjoint.Wonderingwheretostart?Letourguidetosecretbars helpyouout.65.Ourislandishometothousandsofbusstops. Thinkmodernonessittingsidebysidewitholdschoolstructures.Forablasttothepast,cruisealongtheroadstofindretrobusstopsatplaceslikeLimChuKangRoadandTanjongPagarRoad.DiscoverthecoolestbitsofSingaporewithourlistofinterestingfunfacts!Andifyouhaveanytoshare,hitusup@Honeycombers. 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