With the new restrictions in place, life is going to be challenging to say the least, especially if you’re the gregarious one and like the fireball scorching the back of your neck at noon on a Sunday out in the park with dozens of your friends. Don’t worry though. Even though restrictions are rigid, it doesn’t mean that you need to be holed up in your bedroom, trying to get through a bazillion chips and oodles of Netflix or Apple TV.
There is still hope for those who need to step out in ones and twos, albeit with masks covering your facial hair and a bottle of sanitiser threatening to fall out of your bag. So, we at Expat Choice have compiled a list of things you can do to keep your sanity intact during this Phase 2 (Heightened Alert). Be careful though. Better safe than sorry.
Nature Parks
Image: MacRitchie Reservoir
Who needs people when they’ve got the best company the universe can offer? The best (and probably the safest) place to go to would be a nature park where you can choose to take a walk amid lush green foliage or simply sit under a tree with your favourite book. Not an avid reader? That’s okay - we won’t judge you. There’s still the option of sitting with yourself as you focus on your breath and venture into the complexity of your mind. Well, if you can’t go out, better go in! The best part: the following trails are some FREE places in Singapore to feel closer to nature and by extension, yourself.
Read ‘Em and Weep
No we’re not gonna be gambling here. Books! That’s what’s gonna keep you the best company this lockdown. Head over to the nearest library or one of our favourite bookshops and pick up your most favourite book. It doesn’t matter if you’ve read it a million times. A throwback is always good. Either that or you can just start a new one. Ask your friends to recommend a few or simply play “eenie meenie miny mo” if you’re feeling a little adventurous. Either way, you’ll be in good company.
Cook Quest
The chef in you wants out! We don’t realise how much money we can save if we cook at home everyday. Good times for your bank account and your body. Just because you’re cooking at home doesn’t mean you have to stay alone. TWO is not a crowd especially with these restrictions. Go on YouTube and find the perfect recipe for a Classic Carbonara. Put perfect finishing touches with a decadent dessert or a perfectly baked chocolate cake. There’s plenty of options you can consider. The scope of the human mind is much more than any menu card. Get experimenting today!
Museum Madness
You can pay a visit to the National Gallery even if you have to abide by the 2 metre greeter. They have a magnificent collection of over 300 artworks by 6 post independence local artists of the likes of Chng Seok Tin, Goh Beng Kwan, Jaafar Latiff, Lin Hsin Hsin, Mohammad Din Mohammad and Eng Tow. So, if you and your partner fancy a history lesson this lockdown, then this trip is going to be worthwhile. Besides, being well informed about your city’s heritage is always a good thing.
Freak out with your next Take out
Expat Choice TV visits Kazbar Middle Eastern Cuisine
It’s okay if you can’t take your partner out. Just order a take out and ask them to come over. If you’re feeling particularly cheesy, you can light up some candles, decorate your living room with flowers, rent a movie and expect a nice romantic evening with coffee, cushions and cuddles. Or you can go through gallons of beer, have the time of your life and get wasted only to wake up sprawled on the bathroom floor. Come on now - even with this new definition of normal, there are quite a few things which bring people closer.
You Got Them Mov(i)es
If you’re a movie buff like me and you're tired of watching one in your living room, you’re in luck. Head over to Singapore’s very first socially distanced cinema for a wide range of movie picks. Plush red armchairs cutely arranged in pairs are spaced out across the auditorium, so there’s no chance of you contracting anything. There’s a catch though: food and drinks are prohibited in the auditorium (and for good reason). That means no popcorn. But you can still cook your favourite meal before you go so that you can be relieved of all cravings and focus on what’s important.
Stay home or book a Staycation
This seems like the perfect time to try and come closer to your family. While it might be difficult for tourists, residents of Singapore can still book a hotel or a resort and go on a much needed getaway. You should be good as long as it’s only a couple of people or everyone from the same house. Just go away for a long weekend or take the entire week off. With the whole world shifting online, it’s much easier to carry your laptop with you, bank in a couple of hours of work from the comfort of your hotel room while you tuck into the mouth watering room service. Keep the money flowing and get some time off. Does it get better than that?
