How to Spend The Week-end

"So, how's your week-end?" the typical question for most people starting your work-week filled with Monday blues. Typical answer is like shopping, eating and watching movies. Well, here's something different that you might want to consider. Actually, this is ripped off from the I.S. Mag, something that I thought is so good that I probably want to check out most of the stuff. Wanna join me?

active outdoors

sea-canoeing: there's just you, the sea, and your destination. Join the Singapore Adventure Club (74B Geylang, Lorong 27, 749-0557) for trips to the Southern Islands, around Singapore and even to Batam.

wakeboarding: it's something like waterskiing, except you use a wakeboard. For novices, head for Cowabunga Ski Center (10 Stadium Lane, 344-8813). A beginners's course is like $140 that covers 5 lessons, and includes all the necessary stuff.

skydiving: the realm of the commandos, this is. Skydive Adventures (9731-8873) organizes this. There are 2 types of dives. The static line dive requires 2 evening classes before plunging from 3000 feet. It cost $390. The tandem sees you attached to an instructor before plummeting at 8000 feet. This is $450. All jumps are on the week-end at the Segamat Country Club, a 3-hour drive from Singapore.

whitewater rafting: the Selangor River near Fraser's Hill (Malaysia) offers rapids from Grade 2 to Grade 5. Wheels-for-Fun (338C River Valley Road, 235-2591) organizes regular week-end trips with groups of 15-30, and cost $80 per person. By the way, yours truly has gone for this, and it's cool. Check it out at the Awesome Outdoor Adventures page.

underwater walk: this is a lame excuse for scubadiving, really. You get to wear this helmet and walk inside this reef at the Underwater World (80 Siloso Rd, Sentosa, 275-0030). It's even OK if you're a nonswimmer. For the divers (at least an Openwater cert), you can dive into this tank filled with sharks. Cost around $96 for 30 minutes.

paintball: Basically, you form 2 teams where each member wears a protective suit and safety mask. Then you shoot at each other with pellets - as many as you need depending on your budget (beware, these things really hurt). Tomkins (137 Market St, 738-1206).

scubadiving: Singapore is about the worst place to dive. However, Malaysia which is just right across the Causeway, is great. Many divers would just go away for the week-end to Pulau Tioman, Aur, or Dayang. Many dive-center offer trips: try Sorrento Dive - this website has a schedule for the dive-trips around the region. For more info, check out my write-up at the Outdoors page.

jogging:run or walk around MacRitchie Reservoir (Lornie Rd/Thomson Rd intersection, take bus 157 from Toa Payoh bus interchange). Runners turn left off the entrance to keep the reservoir on your right. Many paths branch off the 10k run, leading to longer routes in the wooded area. Turn right for strollers and nature-lovers for spotting flora and fauna.

hiking: Bukit Timah is pathetic compared to other places like Kinabalu but hey, it's a bukit (Malay for hill), so what do you expect? Anyway, you need to say that you've done it before making any ridiculous comments. Try the Dairy Farm Loop for the steep ascent and from there, head for the Seraya Loop for a view of the Dairy Farm Quarry.

biking: there are a few options that you can explore depending on your fitness and riding capability:

  • road-riders in tip-top condition: join the Singapore Cycle team at Cycle Worx (215B-C Upper Thomson Road, 459-9166) who go on fast rides from Newton Hawker Center.
  • muddy riders: Singapore Bike Hash (463-2143) is a group that roams the island every week-end for new thrills and spills. Non-members required to pay a fee.
  • Bukit Timah: a good bet for off-road cycling
  • Pulau Ubin: get a bumboat ride, and rent a bike to cycle the entire island. Pack lunch and you can pedal the whole day.

go-kart: drive this little monster at up to 100km/h at the National Stadium Carpark. Auto Streetment Powersports (#01-10 Sims Lane, 846-0561) offers free trials to first timers. Also, call the Karting Club (294-5177) and ask for Jack Ong. The club hold practice sessions on Sunday.

boating:Captain Francis Log (#01-06, 499 Yio Chu Kang Rd, 554-4556) offers a 2-day courses preparing you to sit for exams in the Powered Pleasure Craft Driving License. Candidates take a theory lesson, and then head to the waters to learn navigation, and general boat handling.

high-tech warfare: if you can't stand the pain in paintball but still need to exercise the Sgt Slaughter in you, try getting a bunch of friends and shoot it out at Laserquest (#01-05 Marina Leisureplex 333-3438). Shoot your opponents and try to avoid them from shooting back, all while in the dark and listening to techno-music. Get hit and you can't shoot for a few seconds. After 15 mins, the winner is announced. $6 per game. Great fun, and wear dark clothes and sport shoes. Oh, bring an extra shirt (unless you think sweat is sexy).

impress your friends

pictures of chinatown: capture the sights, and brave the smells of Chinatown, from the wet market, to turtles and eels up close. Need training on how to shoot better, sign up for an 8-week photography course at YMCA (1 Orchard Rd 430-2231).

dancing: game for some dancing, then head off with a group of people for Latin moves from Peter and Irence Dance Studio (322C King George's Ave, 295-0198). It's $200/hr at your place or the dance studio. Or try the hip dance steps at Zarick Dance and Aerobics Studio (30B Circular Rd, 538-2011) at $80 for the 1st hour, and less $20 the next hour. Max of 16 people - give 1 week's notice. YMCA also offers some classes (430-2231).

cooking: learn the art of cooking with the Raffles Culinary Academy (Raffles Hotel Beach Rd, 331-1742) where classes are conducted in a single session. Call ahead for reservation, as this school is really popular. If it is Asian cooking that you want, call Violet Oon (15 Brompton Rd, 9668-5621).

brew Chinese tea: Tea Village (27-31 Erskine Rd, 221-7825) runs Chinese tea classes for groups of 6 or more. You'll learn history, the different varieties of tea, and the correct brewing methods. Lee Lim Eng, the owner, speaks Mandarin and course materials are in Chinese. Cost $60.

pottery: the famous Chua family offers lessons at Sam Mui Kuang Pottery (22 Jalan Kelutut, 482-2424) where charges are $246 for 10 three-hour lessons. Novice potters can join anytime, and take away 6-8 pieces at the end of the course.

gemmology: gemmologists and jewelry designer Tanja Sadow teaches at Justanja (39B Pagoda St. 221-5253) and conducts seminars. The Art of Creating Jewelry allows you to keep your own creations, while Gem Identification teaches you hwo to spot fakes. $75 for jewelry-making and $600 for a 5-session gemmology course, for a class of 6-8 people.

escapades

cycle Malaysia: get on a Malaysia-bound ferry with your bike and you're set to pedal the small Malaysian town of Pengerang. Cycling News (#21-146, 50 Sims Drive, 742-0460) organizes a trip every 2 months for a group fo 5-10 people. About $25 covers the ride, technical support and guide. Or take a longer trip to Desaru, about 90km roundtrip. Mr Bike (Blk 1 #01-2050 Changi Village, 545-1220) rents bikes to Malaysia at $15/day.

shopping in Bangkok: fly to Bangkok for some R&R with Euroasia (#02-11/17 Peace Center, 1 Sophia Rd, 339-9133). $333 (3d/2n) buys the roundtrip ticket, airport transfers, hotel accommodation, breakfast and tour. You leave at 9:15pm Friday and get back by 4:50pm Sunday.

dine on the Oriental Express: the Eastern and Oriental Express (#32-01/03 Shaw Towers 100 Beach Rd, 392-3500) offers 5 hour dinner trips in its luxury dining car (selected dates only). The elegant train pulls out of Singapore at 6:30pm, travels to Johor, where a 4-course meal is served, and then back to the station before midnight. $295/person.

cruise the Southern waters: the replica Ming ship "Cheng Ho" takes you from Clifford Pier to under the Benjamin Sheares bridge, along the riverfront condominiums at Tanjong Rhu, past Sentosa, St John's and Lazarus Island, and a 20-minute stop at Kusu Island. $29 is for the morning cruise (10:30am-1pm), $24 for high tea (3-5pm), and $49 for dinner (6:30-8:30pm). Contact Watertours (#01-03, Clifford Pier, 70 Collyer Quay, 533-9811). There is a 50% cancellation fee for no-shows.

cruise to Malaysia: Superstar Leo offers cruises to Awana Kijal and Perhentian Island resorts aboard the luxury liner. Contact any of the travelagents around the city, or check the newspaper for best prices.

wine and dine

wine dinner: don't know which wine to take with your meal, some restaurants have chosen it for you. Cafe Terazza (Sheraton Towers, 39 Scotts Rd, 839-5621) serves pinot noir with rosemary roasted chicken, for example. Borders Bistro (1/F Wheelock Place) pairs main course like pasta, pizzas with suggested wines; such as spicy, braised Thai mussels with soave or pouilly fuisse, and the smoked salmon pizza with frascati or chablis. For fusion, try Golden Peony (3/F Conrad International Centennial Singapore, 2 Temasek Blvd, 432-7482).

the wild one: eat something different that could eat you, given the chance. MaMa Africa (#01-01 Far East Square, 88 Telok Ayer St 532-9339) serves crocodile meat, and other African dishes - venison, ostrich and German beef sausage.

beer: Brewerkz (#01-05 Riverside Point, 438-7438) offers brewery seminars anytime between noon and 5pm, during which brewmaster Scott Robertson unveils soem of the mystery surrounding your favourite beers. A minimum of 5 people required, $20 each which gives you a $20 voucher for Brewerkz.

other stuff

back rub: get a rubdown at home by calling bod-E-point (17 Bukit Pasoh Rd, 324-3433). The company offers a mobile service with the masseur arriving with a special massage chair and uses several techniques. Chair massage cost $18 for 15 minutes or $30 for a half-hour session.

glamour: get the magazine cover look at Glamour Shots (#01-18/19 Orchard Point, 235-2918; #01-181/183 Suntec City Mall, 339-0231). The stylist will do your makeup and hair and offer 4 changes of wardrobefor 16 photographs - $98 for women, $70 for men.

foot massage: if you've been on your feet the whole day, perhaps a foot massage is just the thing; some say it may even cure a couple of ailments, too. Cypress Therapy Center (#03-18 Chinatown Point, 534-2422) $25 for 30-40 minute session.

spa treatment: take a day off and let someone else get you clean with a bodu scrub, mud wrap or aromatherapy massage. New Age Spa Esprit (18A Lorong Mambong, Holland Village, 468-1292) has a 4-hour getaway package for stressed-out executives or anybody who wants a good scrubdown. Package costs $240.

nature walk: a visit to the Sungei Buloh Nature Park is a 3-hour trek through mangrove-filled trails. Bird-lovers can even spend longer hours. Take the MRT to Kranji, and then catch TIBS bus 925.

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most recent update: June 21, 1999
Copyright Ng Wei Kwan 1999 all rights reserved
Romans 8:28