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This Cute Cat-Themed Art Exhibition In Tai Seng Has Kitty-Inspired Clothing & Japanese Teas 

Toxoplasmosis by Tokonama – cat-themed art exhibition

Calling all pawrents and aspiring cat owners, there’s a free cat-themed exhibition in town open from now till 3rd May 2026, and you can bring your furbaby along too.

Organised by Tokonama, a curated gallery space tucked away in Tai Seng, Toxoplasmosis features over 20 artworks by local and international artists alongside kitty-themed apparel and Japanese brews. Sounds like a purrfect weekend side quest to us.

What is Toxoplasmosis by Tokonama?

The exhibition’s funky name is a direct reference to a parasitic condition that induces changes in a host’s behaviour and emotional state. It’s a cheeky nod to the almost hypnotising effect felines have on us, from those funny cat compilations that go viral on TikTok to centuries-old artworks featuring our furry friends.

cat themed art exhibition toxoplasmosis by tokonamaImage credit: @aggieblanco via Instagram

Toxoplasmosis will be open on 25th April 2026 from 12pm to 5pm, with more dates to be announced – stay tuned to Tokonama’s Instagram to find out when the next slot drops.

Featuring over 17 different artists from our shores and beyond, the art showcase invites each artist to reflect on their memories with their feline companions, whether it’s their own furbabies or the community cats they grew up with.

What to expect at Toxoplasmosis by Tokonama

Artwork featuring kitties

cat themed art exhibition toxoplasmosis by tokonama
Image credit: @toko__nama via Instagram

From tiny miniatures inspired by our beloved neighbourhood cats to paintings, prints, and antique postcards of kittens from the 1920s, there’s no shortage of cat-themed paraphernalia for art lovers.

cat themed art exhibition toxoplasmosis by tokonama
Image adapted from: @kristalmelson & @jaeyyelle via Instagram

Singapore-based illustrator Kristal Melson will be showcasing a mixed-medium piece made on birch plywood, while local artist Jaeyyelle’s painting, created at home with her kitty over the span of 1.5 months, will also be up for sale.

cat themed art exhibition toxoplasmosis by tokonamaImage adapted from: @thisisjz & @yun_o_o_yun via Instagram

Local artist Jun Zuan Ang will also be displaying his miniature cat replicas of photos he’s taken of community cats, while multidisciplinary artist Yun presents concrete sculptures inspired by moments spent at home with his cat.

All displayed artworks are up for grabs, and 10% of all sales will be donated to Kitten Sanctuary Singapore, a volunteer-run non-profit dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming vulnerable cats, including pregnant mama cats and newborns.

Cat-themed apparel

cat themed art exhibition toxoplasmosis by tokonamaImage adapted from: @toko__nama via Instagram & Germaine Khoo

Rep your love for all things feline with Tokonama’s clothing line, because nothing says cat lover quite like an “I Heart Cats” tee. Check out the cheeky MILF design too – that’s “Meow I Love Felines”, of course. Prices range from $38 for baby tees to $50 for the heavyweight t-shirts.

Food & drinks

cat themed art exhibition toxoplasmosis by tokonama
Image adapted from: @open.door.store & @teasan.studio via Instagram

As if the exhibition couldn’t get any cuter, there are also small bites displayed in cat bowls alongside Japanese botanical brews by Teasan Studio. Crowd favourites are the Yuzu and Persimmon Leaf Cold Brew ($8) and Red Shiso Soda ($10).

cat themed art exhibition toxoplasmosis by tokonama
Image credit: Tricia Teong

If the heat’s got you beat, you can sit back and sip on your drinks at their cosy couch, or flip through their free-to-browse cat-themed books.

How to get to the cat-themed art exhibition?

To get to Tokonama’s gallery, take the Circle Line to Tai Seng MRT Station, and it’s a short 9-minute walk to 16 Shaw Road. You’ll find the exhibition on the 3rd floor of the industrial building, located inside the corner unit #03-10.

For those coming by bus, take services 22, 24, 28, 43, 58, 62, 70, 70M, 76, 80, 93 or 158 to the Asiawide Ind Building bus stop. It’s about a 7-minute walk to get to the exhibition, and most of it is unsheltered, so it’s best to bring an umbrella with you.

Drop by Toxoplasmosis for cute cat art & caffeine-free brews

Whether you’re here for the art, fashion, or just to see cute cats, Toxoplasmosis by Tokonama is proof that everything is better with cats.

Admission: Free
Date: 25th April 2026 (More dates to be announced)
Time: 12pm-5pm

Tokonoma

For more cat-related reads:

Cover image adapted from: @jnrlm via Instagram, Tricia Teong

First Look At The Newly Revamped Malay Heritage Centre, Featuring New Exhibitions & Interactive Stations

Malay Heritage Centre

After 4 long years, the Malay Heritage Centre is finally reopening its doors and welcoming visitors on 25th April 2026. You can expect refreshed galleries housing more artefacts and newly commissioned artworks – perfect for stepping back in time and exploring the culture of the Malay community.

We went down for a visit before the centre officially reopens – here’s what you can look forward to:

What is new at the revamped Malay Heritage Centre?

Malay Heritage Centre performers

The Malay Heritage Centre showcases the history, culture, and contributions of the Malay community in Singapore. Its permanent 6 galleries have undergone renovations and now include new artefacts and artworks that highlight centuries of trade and cultural exchange across the Malay Archipelago.

To mark the reopening of the centre, there’ll be a 9-day festival, Pesta Pecah Panggung — Transcending Boundaries, which revolves around the theme of Dari Rantau Ke Rumah (From the Region to Home). Featuring exhibitions, workshops, community programmes, and performances, the festival will explore Singapore’s Malay heritage and its connections in relation to the broader Malay world, touching on questions such as “What is heritage?” and “What does it mean to be a Singaporean Malay?” More on that below.

What to expect at the revamped Malay Heritage Centre?

Aside from the 6 refreshed and permanent galleries, the centre is also hosting a series of performances and workshops where you can make your own jong or graffiti your name in Jawi on a permanent exhibition in the centre.

6 permanent galleries

Malay Heritage Centre gallery

The 6 galleries revolve around different themes in Malay heritage, ranging from the fostering of relationships between different Malay ethnic groups to family dynamics within the Malay community. What they all have in common is the highlighted roles played by women in the community, shedding light on their contributions throughout centuries, be it in kinship or the arts and entertainment industry.

Most notable is Gallery 4, City of Dreams: Making A Mark, which focuses on the changing visibility and roles of Malay women in the 1950s and 1960s. The gallery features notable women, such as Saleha Mohd Shah, Siput Sarawak, and Normadiah, who have contributed to the rise and recognition of the modern Malay woman in film and media.

You’ll even get to see original costumes, like the red and black kebaya worn by K Fatimah in the film Ibu Mertuaku, as well as tapestry prints of magazine covers featuring the women.

Malay Heritage Centre sound installation

We also tried our hand at an interactive sound installation, Sistem penyulitan masyarakat lusa (sipemalu) (encryption system for society of the future / the shy one) by Bani Haykal, where you key in a message or word using the piano keys to transmit unique sounds.

Commissioned artworks by local artists

Malay Heritage Centre neo_artefacts by Fazleen KarlanNEO_ARTEFACTS by Fazleen Karlan, which investigates the intersection of art and archaeology, is drawn from her own experience as a post-excavation technician. 

Something new to check out at the centre is the Corridors of Cultural Memories, which houses commissioned artworks by local Malay artists. Each piece is aimed at getting visitors to reflect on the question “What will we choose to inherit, and what will we evolve?” as part of the Dari Rantau Ke Rumah narrative.

Malay Heritage Centre Our New Home by Tumadi PatriOur New Home by Tumadi Patri, which tells the story of a storyteller who controls and narrates the performances of characters such as Semar, Petruk, and Garuda.

These pieces can be found all over the museum, even in the stairwells, so keep an eye out for hidden stories within the building.

Malay Heritage Centre grafitti wall

There is also a graffiti feature by local artist Boon that’s still a work-in-progress. The wall depicts scenes from popular folktales such as Sang Nila Utama’s founding of Singapore, the tale of how Redhill got its name, and will also feature Malay ethnic groups such as the Orang Laut.

Interactive stations with fun activities

Malay Heritage Centre scripts of malay archipelago

Another fun activity you wouldn’t want to miss is the Scripts of the Malay Archipelago station, where you’ll get to write your name in Jawi, Renjang, or Lontara. Simply type in your name, and you will be guided to write it out. At the end of it, the machine will print out your name in the selected script for you to keep.

Malay Heritage Centre congkak

Then there’s the Burung Petala Wati, where a carved wooden congkak set stands out on the 2nd floor due to its imposing size and design. Modelled after a mythical bird, this artefact is an example of how Malay artisans were influenced by Hindu-Buddhist and Muslim kingdoms from across the Siamese border.

Malay Heritage Centre congkak

Congkak, or mancala, is a game that requires 2 players to share a wooden board with 1 row of 7 holes along each side, with a bigger hole at both ends. The objective is to get as many “seeds” or stones as possible in the bigger hole. Try your hand at the game through the interactive screen adapted from the artefact itself.

9-day festival featuring community events

To celebrate the reopening, the Malay Heritage Centre will be hosting Pesta Pecah Panggung, a 9-day festival with a range of free and paid activities. Remember to purchase tickets to the workshops and performances beforehand.

Here are some highlights to check out:

Layar Tradisi: Build Your Own Mini Jong

Malay Heritage Centre mini jong workshopCik Fauzi assembling a miniature jong.

If you’re not familiar with what a jong is, the Layar Tradisi: Build Your Own Mini Jong workshop is all you need to dive into Singapore’s maritime heritage. The jong is a vessel that symbolises the seafaring skill, trading networks, and maritime strength that connected the Malay world to regional ports.

Guided by Cik Fauzi, a traditional jong craftsman, you will get to create your own miniature jong, test its floating ability, and then paint and sail it in the centre’s pool. The activity is suitable for children aged 5 and above.

Date: 3rd May 2026
Time: 10.30am-12.30pm
Venue: Gelam Room, Malay Heritage Centre
Price: $50 per parent-child pair (SG Culture Pass eligible)

Aksara Bebas: Exploring Jawi through Calligraffiti

Malay Heritage Centre calligraffiti

Have you ever wondered how your name is spelt in Jawi? The Aksara Bebas: Exploring Jawi through Calligraffiti is your answer. Guided by graffiti artist Boon, you will get to write your name in Jawi script and add on modern, graffiti-inspired techniques. At the end of the session, you will then spray paint your design onto a permanent feature wall as part of the Malay Heritage Centre’s exhibition.

Date: 1st May 2026
Time: 3pm-4.30pm
Venue: Gelam Room, Malay Heritage Centre
Price: $25 per pax (SG Culture Pass eligible)

Wajah & Bayang: Nusantara Arts Showcase

Malay Heritage Centre wajah & bayang: nusantara arts showcase

Catch the Wajah & Bayang: Nusantara Arts Showcase, where performers will utilise traditional puppets and masks to bring the story to life. You’ll get to see performing groups from Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia, and enjoy music, theatre, and dance spanning the Nusantara region.

We caught a snippet of Universitas Negeri Malang’s performance, which features the Sabrang mask dance, a cultural heritage dance in Malang. The dance depicts soldiers preparing for the battlefield, showcasing the brave, aggressive, and mighty ranks of Sabrang soldiers.

Date: 25th April 2026
Time: 12.30pm-1.45pm, 8pm-9.15pm (75 minutes with no intermission)
Venue: Auditorium, Malay Heritage Centre
Price: $30 per pax for adults, $24 per pax for Senior/Student/Child (SG Culture Pass eligible)
Event language: English, Malay

Pecah Panggung Parade

Malay Heritage Centre parade carts

The Pecah Panggung Parade celebrates the diverse Malay communities integral to the shaping of the Kampong Gelam precinct.

Featuring themed pushcarts with contributions from different sub-ethnic communities such as the Orang Laut alongside cultural performances, the parade celebrates heritage and community spirit. Vendors prominent in the Kampung Gelam precinct have also been invited to participate in the parade, highlighting the different contributors to the Malay heritage and traditions.

Date: 25th April 2026
Time: 4.45pm-5.30pm
Venue: Bussorah Street
Admission: Free

Is entry to the Malay Heritage Centre free?

Entry to the galleries is currently free for all visitors, including tourists, from 25th April to 28th June 2026. Afterwards, Singaporeans and Permanent Residents can still enjoy free admission to the galleries, while tourists will have to get a ticket for $10.

How to get to the Malay Heritage Centre?

Malay Heritage Centre building

The Malay Heritage Centre is just a 10-minute walk from Bugis MRT Station. For those who prefer taking the bus, buses 7, 32, 51, 61, 63, 80, 145, 175, and 197 ply the Bef Sultan Mque bus stop, which is just a 3-minute walk from the centre.

Visit the revamped Malay Heritage Centre to learn more about the culture

With its exciting lineup of activities and performances, the Malay Heritage Centre’s opening is one to keep an eye out for. Their refreshed galleries and exhibitions also offer a deeper look into the Malay heritage and culture in Singapore. So if you’re looking for something new to do or simply want to learn more about Singapore’s own history, a trip down to the Malay Heritage Centre might be next on your list.

Learn more about the Malay Heritage Centre 

Malay Heritage Centre

For more things to do in Singapore:

Photography by Chandelle Cheong.

Event Information

The Mind Cafe Is Closing Its Flagship Outlet After 21 Years & Doing A Giveaway To Mark The End Of An Era

The Mind Cafe flagship outlet is closing

Popular board game cafe, The Mind Cafe, has announced that it’ll be shuttering its flagship outlet at 60A Prinsep Street after 21 years in the game. Before you panic, though, their mega outlet just down the road at 30 Prinsep Street isn’t going anywhere. But this does mean one less spot for marathon game nights fuelled by unlimited snacks and drinks, while friendships are tested over Cards Against Humanity or a never-ending round of Monopoly.

What is The Mind Cafe?

The Mind Cafe flagship outlet
Image credit: Hoo Chiong Kee via Google Maps

The board game cafe along Prinsep Street has 2 outlets – the flagship store runs till 11pm, while the mega outlet goes all the way till 6am for night owls.

It’s long been a go-to hangout for students looking to chill over games, but you’ll also spot working adults dropping by for a late-night catch-up, post-drinks sober-up session, or even team bonding and cohesions.

Most people go for their value-for-money packages, which come with free-flow drinks and snacks.

When & why is The Mind Cafe flagship outlet closing?

The Mind Cafe flagship outlet exterior and interior
Image adapted from: Hoo Chiong Kee & Kayden Poon via Google Maps

Unfortunately, the flagship outlet will be closing, with its last day of service on 23rd May 2026.

As for why, the team didn’t go into specifics in their announcement. They did share in an Instagram post that they’ll be shifting their focus to the mega outlet nearby, which has a larger space and a wider selection of games – all in the name of creating a “better social gaming experience”.

How to join the giveaway?

PLaying board games at The Mind Cafe
Image adapted from: Joel H & Arcthur Tan via Google Maps

If you’re feeling emo about the closure, The Mind Cafe gets it, which is why they’re sending off the outlet with a giveaway. 10 winners will each score 4x 2-hour gaming sessions redeemable at the mega outlet.

Here’s how to take part:

  1. Post your favourite photo taken at the 60A Prinsep Street flagship outlet over the years.
  2. Tag @themindcafe_sg and include the hashtag #Farewell60A on Instagram.
  3. Follow them and like the giveaway post.

The giveaway ends on 22nd May 2026, and winners will be announced on 25th May 2026.

Visit The Mind Cafe flagship outlet for old times’ sake

The outlet has been part of many Singaporeans’ core memories, so gather the squad for one last session. But even after the doors close, the mega outlet will still be around for many more rounds of chaos.

The Mind Cafe Flagship Store

More businesses to support:

Also read: 9 Board Game Cafes In Singapore That Are Open As Late As 6am For Wholesome Nocturnal Hangs

9 Board Game Cafes In Singapore That Are Open As Late As 6AM For Wholesome Nocturnal Hangs

Cover image adapted from: Hoo Chiong Kee & Joel H via Google Maps

Cheapest Petrol Pumps In Singapore & How to Check Live Prices

Best places to pump petrol in Singapore

When it comes to owning a car in Singapore, bidding and paying for the dreaded COE is not the only thing that’ll take a hefty chunk out of your bank balance. There are maintenance costs, parking fees, and road taxes to factor into your monthly vehicular expenditure, but most importantly, petrol.

How else is your hunk of metal supposed to move from point A to B? But, with political unrest happening elsewhere across the globe, gas prices have been on the rise lately, so a full top-up now is no doubt costly. Here are some of the best places to pump petrol in Singapore, along with the best petrol station brand, credit card, and loyalty programme “combos” to get the most mileage out of your money.

Where to get the cheapest petrol in Singapore?

Esso
Image credit: Esso Singapore

If you’re a frequent driver on Singapore’s roads, you would already be familiar with the common petrol station brands. There are 5 main ones to choose from – Shell, Esso, Caltex, SPC, Sinopec – and each comes with its own perks when refuelling with them. There are also smaller names with just a handful of stations peppered around the island too, like Cnergy and Smart Energy.

We’re cutting straight to the chase; here’s how the listed pump prices by each petrol station brand stack up against each other price-wise, without any discounts applied:

Cost / Litre
Grade Shell Esso Caltex SPC Sinopec Cnergy Smart Energy
RON 92
$3.43 $3.43 $3.39
RON 95 $3.46 $3.46 $3.47 $3.42 $3.46 $2.81 $3.66
RON 98 $3.98 $3.98
$3.93 $3.97 $3.00 $4.21
Premium $4.20
$4.16
$4.10
Diesel $4.68 $4.68 $4.68 $4.42 $4.68 $3.70 $4.21

Do note that the prices are accurate as of writing; as such, do expect these listed fuel rates to fluctuate. You can download the Consumer’s Association of Singapore’s Price Kaki app (App Store | Google Play) to stay up to date with listed pump prices across the major petrol station brands in Singapore.

Price Kaki
Image adapted from: Price Kaki

Simply hit the “Fuel” tab on the home page, and you’ll be shown tables comparing the prices of the different grades of fuel across the various petrol station brands. Tap on “Search stations” at the top, and you can see which stations are near you, along with listed pump prices; super handy for planning your next refuelling trip.

However, the prices for newer petrol station brands like Cnergy and Smart Energy are a little trickier to find; they’re not listed on the Price Kaki app. You can visit the Smart Energy website for updated pump prices, but as for Cnergy, your best bet is to keep tabs on their Facebook and Instagram pages for the latest rates and promotions, or head down to one of their stations to see for yourself.

Where & how to get the cheapest petrol rates in Singapore?

Now, for the million-dollar question: where and how can drivers find the cheapest petrol rates in Singapore? For starters, you can sign up for the various loyalty or membership programmes that these petrol station brands offer.

SPC
Image credit: SPC: SIngapore Petroleum Company

These come with a whole host of perks, ranging from exclusive deals and vouchers for F&B items at their stations’ convenience store, discounts on car servicing products, and a fuss-free method to pay for your gas. Most importantly, they come with upfront discounts on petrol. Here’s a quick round-up on all of them:

Brand Membership type Cost Base fuel discount Points / rewards Other perks Sign-up perks
Shell Shell GO+ (via app) Free At least 10% Earn points for fuel & store spend; redeem vouchers for fuel, F&B Pay at pump, exclusive deals at Shell Select stores 100 free points, 10% off fuel (min. $20 spent), 10% off at Deli by Shell & car care products
Esso Smiles (via app) Free At least 10% Earn points for fuel; redeem vouchers for fuel, F&B, car washes Points can be converted to airline miles $26 worth of fuel vouchers
Caltex CaltexGO (via app) Free No base discount Earn 2 Linkpoints/L; 100 pts = $1; redeem fuel, vouchers Pay at pump, points can be used to redeem F&B & retail deals, or can be converted to airline miles $10 off first fuel (min. $20 spent)
SPC SPC+ (via app) Free 10% No points system Exclusive deals at Choices stores & car maintenance services $36 worth of fuel vouchers
Sinopec X Card (via app) Free No base discount Earn X points; 90 pts = $3 worth of fuel Frequent fuel discounts at select stations (typically >20% off) None
Cnergy Prepaid card $5 No base discount but lower pump prices overall No points system None
Smart Energy Energy Card (prepaid) $5 Earn points for F&B purchases

Best petrol station, credit card & loyalty programme pairings

OCBC 365Image credit: OCBC

The base discount rates on fuel that the above loyalty and membership programmes are nice, but for maximum savings, you’ll want to pair them with certain partnered credit cards. The final fuel prices for most of these petrol station brands are quite attractive once you’ve stacked the right discount, rebate, and cashback rates, so here are the best combinations to have under your belt.

Brand Combo Fuel savings breakdown Total savings
Shell Shell GO+ + Citi Cash Back Card 14% discount + 8% cashback (min. $800 spend) Up to 20.88%
Esso Smiles + DBS Esso Card ≥18% discount + 5% rebate + 1.2% (points) Up to 24.2%
Caltex CaltexGO + OCBC 365 Credit Card + NTUC Link Rewards Card 18% discount + 6% rebate (min. $800 spend) Up to 22.92$
SPC SPC+ + POSB Everyday Card 15% discount + 6% rebate 20.1%
Sinopec X Card + OCBC 365 Credit Card 25% discount + 6% rebate (min. $800 spend) Up to 29.5%

For more details on other credit card options and tips on how to score even more savings on refuelling, do refer to our article on the best petrol station discounts and promotions.

Get the most out of your gas money at these petrol stations

It doesn’t hurt to be on the lookout for the best deals to get the most out of our money, especially in this economy. As such, keep these credit card and loyalty programme combinations in mind to save a pretty penny the next time you find yourself running on empty.

For more money-saving tips:

Also read: 16 Ways To Save Money On Petrol Amid Rising Fuel Prices, Sorted By Petrol Stations

16 Ways To Save Money On Petrol Amid Rising Fuel Prices, Sorted By Petrol Stations

Cover image adapted from: Sgcarmart, @xiaohong.civic via Instagram

There Are CW Buses That Bring You Directly To Johor Premium Outlets For A Shopping Spree Across The Border

Taking the Johor Premium Outlets bus

If you’re heading across the border for a pamper sesh, there’s no better place to indulge in some retail therapy than the Johor Premium Outlets (JPO). Those who’ve been before would know that it’s located in Kulai and hence slightly further from JB Sentral, but fret not – getting there is easy and affordable with Causeway Link’s JPO2 and JPO3 bus routes.

These buses will bring you straight to JPO, whether you’re entering JB from the Tuas or Woodlands checkpoints. Here’s all you need to know before you head down to shop till you drop.

The current exchange rate is RM1 = ~S$0.32 as of 23rd April 2026.

What to know about the JPO2 & JPO3 CW bus routes

CW Bus
Image credit: Causeway Link

Also known as the CW bus, taking Causeway Link’s yellow buses remains one of the quickest and most affordable ways to get you across the border from Singapore. We’ve got a whole Causeway Link bus guide you can refer to if you’d like to hitch a ride on one for your next JB trip, but their bus routes to JPO work a little differently.

For starters, Causeway Link has 2 bus routes, namely the JPO2 and JPO3 routes, that’ll be ferrying passengers to and from the 2 JB checkpoints and JPO. There’s also the JPO1 bus route that brings you to JPO, but there are quite a number of stops on the route, which will result in a travel time of about 45 minutes to an hour.

On the other hand, the JPO2 and JPO3 routes will transport passengers directly to JPO from CIQ 1st Link if you’re entering from Woodlands, and CIQ 2nd Link for travellers from Tuas.  Although we can’t predict the actual travel times, you’ll probably be looking at 30- to 40- minute bus rides, without factoring in the standard weekend jams.

The one-way fare for taking the JPO2 bus is RM4.50 (~S$1.45), while those taking the JPO3 bus will have to pay RM6 (~S$1.93) instead. Here’s a table that tells you all the departure timings for both bus services at a glance.

JPO2 JPO3
From CIQ 1st Link to JPO (Woodlands) From JPO to CIQ 1st Link From CIQ 2nd Link to JPO (Tuas) From JPO to CIQ 2nd Link
9am 11am 9am 10.30am
12pm 2pm 12pm 1.30pm
3pm 5pm 3pm 4.30pm
6pm 8pm 6pm 7.30pm

How to take the JPO2 & JPO3 CW bus?

Taking the JPO2 and JPO3 buses is simple, just like taking any other CW bus. However, unlike Causeway Link’s popular cross-border CW1, CW2, and CW5 buses that pick you up from locations in Singapore like Bugis and Kranji, you’ll have to head to either the Woodlands or Tuas Checkpoints yourself if you choose to take the JPO2 or JPO3 buses.

CW Bus sign
Simply follow the yellow CW bus signs and you can’t go wrong.

After clearing immigration, you’ll have to head to the bus bay and look for the designated pick-up point for CW buses. Those entering JB via Woodlands Checkpoint can keep an eye out for yellow signs that point you in the direction of the pick-up point. These buses will take you from Woodlands Checkpoint over to the JB customs.

CW Bus interior
What the interior of a CW bus looks like.

When it’s time to board the JPO2 or JPO3 bus, you have the option of paying for your fare with a ManjaLink card, a Visa debit or credit card, or cash. If you’ve paid for your ride using cash, do remember to keep the physical ticket the staff hands you. After a short ride, you’ll have to alight to clear immigration at JB’s customs.

Once you’ve passed through immigration in JB, you’ll have to look for another JPO2 or JPO3 bus to board, which will bring you straight to JPO’s bus terminal. You won’t have to pay again, as the fare includes both the connecting ride to the JB customs and the ride to JPO. Simply present your physical ticket or tap the card you’ve used to pay for the initial trip to board the bus.

CW Bus at bus interchange
The boarding bay at CIQ 1st Link.

Upon arrival, those who’ve travelled with JPO2 buses from Woodlands can head to Boarding Bay 24 at CIQ 1st Link, and those who’ve opted for JPO3 buses should be able to find one at the CIQ 2nd Link’s boarding bay.

Bus terminal at JPO
The bus terminal at JPO.
Image credit: Causeway Link

It’s smooth sailing from there on out, and all that’s left to do is to enjoy the ride to JPO. JPO has a dedicated bus terminal, which is where you’ll want to head to when it’s time to go home after all that shopping.

Plan a trip to JPO with the new JPO2 & JPO3 buses

things to do in Johor Bahru - johor premium outlets

And there you have it, a fuss-free and affordable way of getting over the border to pamper yourself and bb with a shopping spree. Besides their deals on luxury goods, JPO is also decked out with multiple F&B spots, so remedying hunger pangs mid-shopping is definitely not an issue.

Learn more about Causeway Link’s JPO2 & JPO3 buses

More things to do in JB:

Also read: 7 Singapore-Johor Buses That Take You To CIQ, LEGOLAND & Desaru Coast

7 Singapore-Johor Buses That Take You To CIQ, LEGOLAND & Desaru Coast 

Cover image adapted from: Causeway Link. Originally published on 3rd February 2025. Last updated by Gwyn Lim on 13th April 2026.

This Airline Wants The Worst Photographer On Earth To Go On A Paid Trip To Iceland – Here’s How It Works

Icelandair’s Really Bad Photographer campaign

Do you know a friend or partner who somehow manages to cut off your head, blur every shot, and still say, “Eh, not bad what”? Even after you’ve spammed them with IG Reels on angles and composition, they just refuse to or simply cannot improve. For once, their terrible photography skills might finally be useful.

Icelandair is on the hunt for the world’s worst photographer for its Really Bad Photographer campaign, where they’ll be flying 1 lucky winner on a fully paid trip to Iceland. The only catch is that the bad photos won’t just stay in their camera roll anymore – the whole world might get to see them.

What’s the Really Bad Photographer campaign about?

Icelandair's Really Bad Photographer campaign
Image credit: @icelandair via Instagram

This cheeky campaign by Icelandair is here to prove one thing: Iceland is so beautiful, even the most hopeless photographer can still take decent shots.

So if you have a friend or BF who consistently fumbles your pics, this is your chance for revenge. Send this their way and see if they’re game to put their lack of skills to the test.

What’s the criteria to join?

Honestly, you don’t need much at all. Icelandair is looking for someone who:

  • Has zero professional photography background
  • Has no interest in becoming a professional photographer
  • Can use a phone or a basic camera 
  • Is OK being on camera and in photos 
  • Likes travelling
  • Likes people

Apart from those very basic requirements, you just need to be someone who’s regularly disappointed scrolling through your own camera roll, and then genuinely shocked when a photo turns out not bad. And most importantly, you have to be ready for your distinctive photography style to potentially go international.

What are the terms & conditions?

Icelandair's Really Bad Photographer poster
Image credit: @icelandair via Instagram

Jokes aside, the campaign is only open to applicants:

  • 21 years old and above
  • With no criminal record
  • Eligible to travel to Iceland, the UK, and the USA
  • Available for up to 10 days of travel in June 2026
  • Holding a valid passport
  • Comfortable with outdoor activities like hiking, adventure-based experiences, and navigating uneven terrain

What will you get out of this experience?

Icelandair aeroplane
Image credit: Icelandair

If you somehow manage to earn the questionable title of one of the world’s worst photographers, the rewards are actually pretty insane.

The selected participant will enjoy an all-expenses-paid, roughly 10-day trip to Iceland with flights, accommodation, and transport all taken care of. You’ll even be paid USD50,000 (~S$63,825.75)! So yes, you’re getting money to travel, take photos, and document your experience, although the whole trip is already fully covered.

How to join?

Really Bad Photographer questionnaire
Screenshot from: Icelandair

All you have to do is answer 6 questions, then upload an optional 60-second video sharing your best or most painful photo fails to convince Icelandair you deserve to win this.

After that, you’ll just need to confirm that you have a valid passport and are eligible to travel to Iceland, the UK, and the USA. Then fill in your name, year of birth, email address, gender, and country of residence.

You have until 30th April 2026 to send in your application.

This Icelandair campaign is proof that “cannot take photo” is a skill too

We know it all sounds too good to be true, but Icelandair has confirmed that it’s legit. Over on their Instagram comments, people have already started nominating their husbands, themselves, friends, and even their mums.

So don’t take too long to decide. Either step up and volunteer as tribute or lovingly sabo that one person in your life who’s famously bad at taking photos.

Submit your application for Icelandair’s Really Bad Photographer campaign

More deals to check out:

Cover image adapted from: Icelandair

First Look At The Minecraft Experience In Singapore – Life-Sized Mobs, Interactive Rooms & Exclusive Merch

Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue at Mandai Wildlife Reserve

Even if you’re not a gamer, you most probably would’ve heard of Minecraft, the popular 3D sandbox video game with infinite possibilities, including mining and crafting, taking part in PVP tournaments in the sky, and building a 1-to-1 scale of your city.

Now, here’s your chance to step into the game in real life, as the Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue has finally spawned in Singapore, its 1st stop in Asia.

What is Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue about?

This hour-long experience transports you into the Overworld for a heroic adventure – the villagers are under attack from a horde of zombies, and you’ll find yourself going through 8 themed rooms on your mission to save them.

It’s held at the Green Canvas, a new event space nestled within Mandai Wildlife Reserve, and it’ll run from 24th April till 13th September 2026.

How much do tickets cost?

Minecraft Experience Entrance

Here’s a quick breakdown:

Item Weekday price Weekend, public holiday & school holiday price
Adult $46/pax $51/pax
Child (3-12 years old) $40/pax $44/pax
Family & Friends Bundle (4 pax, including min. 2 adults) $42/pax $46/pax
Group bundle (Min. 7 pax, including min. 2 adults) $41/pax $45/pax

Minecraft Experience Obsidian Kit

Enhance your experience by adding the Obsidian Kit when you get your tickets. For an extra $44.90, you’ll get exclusive merch for VIPs – Very Important Players, that is – including an exclusive tote bag, a large mousepad, and keyboard caps.

Exploria

If you’re also planning to check out the rest of the Mandai Wildlife Reserve parks while you’re there, consider getting bundle tickets to visit the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, or Exploria.

Item Weekday price Weekend, public holiday & school holiday price
Minecraft + Singapore Zoo $95/adult

$74/child

 $100/adult

$78/child
Minecraft + Night Safari $104/adult

$81/child

 $109/adult

$85/child
Minecraft + Exploria $84/adult

$68/child

 $89/adult

$72/child

Take note that tickets are subject to dynamic pricing, and prices for sessions in peak periods may differ from these regular prices, so do check the ticketing site for the exact price of your desired timeslot.

What to expect at Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue

Minecraft Experience Orb of Interaction

Try to arrive with time to spare before your session starts, as you’ll enter the experience in batches. You can expect about 25 people in each session, and all of you will work as a team to complete the storyline.

Before you enter the exhibition space, the friendly staff will hand you a cube – this is the Orb of Interaction, and you’ll be using it as a multipurpose tool throughout the experience.

Minecraft Experience Activating the Orb of Interaction

Activate your orbs once you’ve entered, and you’ll get to watch a brief introduction video. Meet your guides, Dayo and Tobin, who will accompany you throughout the journey, and make sure you pay attention – they’ll teach you how you can use your Orb of Interaction.

Spawn into the forest

Minecraft Pig

The first thing that’ll greet you in this sprawling forest is a pig. Now, that probably isn’t your first thought when you think of Minecraft, but hear us out – you can actually sit on it.

Creeper, aww man
Creeper, aww man. 

Take in the forest’s lush greenery, and walk around to interact with all the life-sized mobs. It’s not obvious in the game, but they’re actually much bigger than you’d think.

Pro tip: Touch these mobs with your Orb of Interaction, and you’ll activate sound effects too. For instance, you can hear the pig oink when you pet it. Just don’t touch the creeper if its ominous hissing scares you.

Chopping Trees

This room also acts as a tutorial area – practice using your Orb of Interaction by chopping down a tree or killing some mobs.

Once you’re done with your training, enter the village and start getting ready for your adventure.

Craft tools & weapons

Minecraft Experience Crafting

You’ll find yourself in a large house next, where you’ll craft some essential tools and weapons. Remember to look out for materials around the room – use your Orb of Interaction to bring them over to the crafting tables up in front.

P.S. Don’t worry if you’re not a Minecraft player, or you’ve forgotten the crafting recipes – they’ll show you how to craft the items up on the screen in front of you.

Minecraft House

Before you leave, take a close look around the house. Try to spot all of the iconic items around the room, like the creeper head and the Ender egg.

Build a thriving village

Building the village

Once you’ve crafted everything you need, it’s time to build your village. Your team will gather around a large table with screens on it, with a bird’s eye view of your new village.

When different materials or tools appear on the screen, tap on them to collect and use them for building. For instance, you can collect wheat to make bread for the villagers, or pick up the pickaxe to mine for resources. Feel free to walk around to collect more items too.

Pro tip: If you get tired of continuously tapping, just swipe your fingers across the screen.

Village mob attack

Just as the village starts thriving, mobs start attacking. Looks like someone forgot to put up a fence – honest mistake, really. You’ll get to watch the villagers get turned into zombies from every angle, as if you’re watching a sports play with all the different POVs.

Of course, you can’t turn your back on your beloved villagers, so now you’ve got to find a way to save them and take back the night. Thankfully, splash potions of weakness will do the trick, but that also means you’ll have to traverse across biomes to gather ingredients.

Explore multiple biomes

Ocean biome chest

Enter the next room, where you’ll be transported to 3 different biomes – the Swamp, Snowy Taiga, and the Ocean. Open up chests and pick up all the materials floating around.

Walk around the room and take in the scenery to spot all sorts of creatures, from snow golems in the snowy taiga to guardians in the ocean.

Fight mobs in the mineshaft

Minecraft Experience Fighting Mobs

“Don’t mine at night” is what we’d typically tell you, but time is of the essence to cure the villagers, so you’ll dive into the mineshaft anyway. Grab your diamond swords and bows using your Orb of Interaction as you fight against the zombies, spiders, and skeletons.

Redstone block
Keep the spider at arm’s length. 

When these mobs get too overwhelming, set off the redstone traps to blow up the mines. But be careful when you’re collecting the redstone, as there’s a “spider” camping on the redstone block. Maybe get someone without arachnophobia to get the redstone for you.

Minecart
Minecraft’s closest equivalent to a roller coaster.

If you’ve ever wanted to ride a minecart, here’s your chance. Your team will be transported to the lower part of the mines to fight more mobs, and by that I mean creepers also riding on minecarts. But hey, at least there aren’t any baby zombies here to kill you and your hardcore server.

Build a Nether portal

Lava pool
Here’s your reminder to never dig straight down, or you’ll risk falling into a lava pit. 

By now, you would have collected all the ingredients you can get in the Overworld, which only leaves the elusive blaze rods. Time to build a Nether portal, then.

Head down to the caves, where you’ll find waterfalls and a lava pool, just what you need to craft some obsidian.

Pro tip: We actually noticed a sign in this room telling you to look up if you’re feeling dizzy. The lighting changes aren’t super flashy but may be quite overwhelming for some, so do follow this advice or let a staff member know if you’re feeling any discomfort.

Making Obsidian

With your Orb of Interaction turning into buckets, use it to collect the lava and water before bringing them over to the obsidian crafting area. Just remember, lava before water – we don’t want to be making cobblestone instead.

Building a Nether portal

Once you’ve made an obsidian block, head to the portal to place it. And when the portal is built, it’ll light up and lead you to the Nether. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a flint and steel moment here, but seeing the portal glowing was definitely a sight to behold.

Minecraft Experience Nether Portal

Walk through the portal, and you’ll be greeted by 2 piglins with piles of gold ingots in front of them – as expected from these gold-obsessed creatures. Your Orb of Interaction will turn into gold, so try trading with the piglins before you move on.

Battle blazes

Floor is lava
Try not to get burnt like this. 

To get blaze rods, you’ll need to hunt down some blazes at the nearest fortress. But watch your step on the way there, because the floor is lava.

With the iconic Pigstep disc playing in the background, jump your way to the end of the lava pool. And don’t worry if you get stuck, you can also step on the striders that pop up.

Minecraft Experience Snowball fight
Gear up for when the mobs show up.

You’ll find yourself at the fortress gates once you’ve reached the other side. There may be piglins, wither skeletons, and ghasts in your way, but thankfully, you’re armed with all the snowballs you’ve collected from the snowy taiga. With the fortress as your arena, show off your best baseball pitches as you chuck snowballs at the mobs.

Pro tip: You can take down the ghasts by striking the fireballs they spit at you.

Minecraft Experience Blaze
Facing off against the final boss.

Once you’ve weakened these mobs, head inside and face off against the blazes. There’ll even be a mega blaze, and that’s when you know you’re near the end of this intense arm workout.

Pro tip: When your arms start giving up on you, try some underhand shots instead – the blazes are low enough for you to still hit them.

Brew the potion

Brewing the potion

Now that you have all the ingredients you need in your inventory, it’s time to finally brew the potion and save the villagers. Follow Dayo and Tobin’s instructions as you process each ingredient before putting it all together into the splash potion of weakness.

Minecraft Experience Achievements

With the potion completed and villagers rescued, your journey has come to an end. Celebrate with your team as you see an overview of everything you’ve achieved throughout this experience.

Minecraft Experience In-game Cape
Image credit: Minecraft Experience

Show off your experience in-game too – when you leave the exhibition hall, you’ll get a free code to get this exclusive Minecraft Experience cape that you can equip on your character.

Shop for Minecraft merch at Trading Post

Minecraft Experience Trading Post

Now that you’ve turned the villagers back into humans, stock up on loot by trading with them at the Trading Post.

Don’t worry if you don’t have emeralds or Minecoins on hand, as this trading post takes cashless payment – come prepared with your credit or debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.

Minecraft Experience Merch

Take back some mementoes from the experience, such as the Orb of Interaction with the Orb Keychain ($20), or keep a Snowball ($20) from your battle against the blazes.

Minecraft Experience IRL Cape

And if showing off your Minecraft Experience Cape in the game wasn’t enough, you can put it on IRL too. This comes in 2 sizes – cop an Adult Cape ($32) for yourself, and gift your little ones the smaller Youth Cape ($27).

Minecraft Lamps

Bring a little Minecraft vibe into your home with these Mood Lamps ($50) – go classic with a Torch Flashlight to keep the mobs from spawning at night, or sleep tight with an adorable Baby Fox.

Minecraft plushies

Just because the game’s all blocky, doesn’t mean it’s all sharp edges – show some love to these adorable Plushes ($55). Keep a little sweetness in your life with the huggable Bee. Or if you loved the Minecraft Movie, take home the iconic Chicken Jockey – you can even separate the baby zombie from the chicken for double the cuteness.

Is it worth going for the Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue?

Minecraft Experience Ocean Biome

If you or your kids are huge Minecraft fans, we’d have to say yes. As people who grew up with the game, be it through actually playing it or watching YouTube content about it, we felt like we had gone back to our childhood the moment we stepped into the exhibition hall.

How to get to Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue?

You’ll find the Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue over at Mandai Wildlife EAST.

Buses to Mandai Wildlife Reserve
Image adapted from: @translas_lioncity_n12 & @isnapbarse via Instagram

Hop on a bus if you’re getting there by public transport – Bus 138 will take you there from Ang Mo Kio MRT or Springleaf MRT. Westies can take Bus 972, setting off from Choa Chu Kang MRT. Don’t get mixed up between the reserve’s 2 bus stops; you’ll want to alight at the Singapore Zoo (#48131) bus stop.

M2 Shuttle Bus
Image credit: Mandai Wildlife Group

For a more direct bus route, get on Shuttle Bus M2 from Khatib MRT. Follow the bus all the way to the end, and you’ll find yourself at Mandai Transport Hub Coach Bay Lot #3 at Mandai Wildlife EAST.

Mandai EAST Carpark
Image credit: Mandai Wildlife Group

Visitors looking for greater convenience can also hop on a car to get here. Drivers can park at the Mandai Wildlife EAST Carpark – the first hour will cost you $3, and each subsequent hour or part thereof will set you back $2, with a maximum carpark charge of $10.

Enter a cube land at Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue

Watch the beloved game come to life when you step into the Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue. Come down for an hour of joy, whimsy, and childlike wonder as you get reminded of why people love this fan-favourite game.

Get tickets to Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue

Green Canvas

For more fun things to do in Singapore:

Photography by Jasper Yip.

Event Information
Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue
80 Mandai Lake Road,
Singapore 729826
Date:
24 Apr - 13 Sep 2026
Time:
11:00 am - 7:00 pm

Get directions

Singapore HeritageFest 2026 Highlights – Theatrical Bumboat Rides, DIY Workshops & Live Performances  

Singapore HeritageFest 2026

From the popular Let’s Play! exhibition spotlighting the art of Asian games to lively weekend festivals, the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) has been the place to be for anyone looking for a culture fix that doesn’t feel like a classroom lecture. Things are only heating up, with ACM set to be the home base for the upcoming Singapore HeritageFest (SHF) 2026.

Featuring theatrical performances set on a bumboat, musical shows and exclusive tours island-wide, SHF2026 has lots in store to keep your weekends occupied. We headed down to check it out before the festivities officially kick off, so you know what to look out for.

What is Singapore HeritageFest 2026?

Organised for the 1st time by HeritageSG (HSG) under the National Heritage Board (NHB), SHF is an annual celebration of our tiny island’s rich history. From 1st to 24th May 2026, visitors will get to travel back in time to learn more about the stories, trades, and communities from our maritime past. More than 100 programmes held across the island, in collaboration with over 100 community partners and heritage practitioners, will be rolled out.

singapore heritagefest 2026, homeground @ ACM Green

You can expect double the fun this year too. The 23rd edition of SHF will be held alongside the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)’s 30th anniversary celebration, with a special line-up of tours, vessel visits, and walking trails to look forward to.

What to expect at Singapore HeritageFest 2026?

With roving performances and heritage trails spread across various locations, this year’s SHF features experiences carefully curated in line with 4 key themes from our island’s maritime past – migration, trade, beliefs and practices, and naval history.

Exhibitions, performances & hands-on workshops at HOMEGROUND @ ACM Green

singapore heritagefest 2026, homeground @ ACM Green

As the main campsite for SHF, HOMEGROUND @ ACM Green is the 1st spot on the list to hit if you’re looking for an all-in-one weekend adventure. There’ll be musical performances, hands-on workshops, and a marketplace featuring food booths and retail shops every Friday and Saturday, from 6pm to 10pm. 

HOMEGROUND @ ACM Green also offers new experiences each weekend, so it might be a good idea to follow SHF’s Instagram or Facebook to get the scoop on upcoming programmes.

Theatrical bumboat experience

singapore heritagefest 2026, homeground @ ACM Green - a bump through time

If you missed your chance to book a room on the Disney Adventure Cruise, you can still beat the FOMO and catch live performances on an old-school bumboat with HeritageFest’s 1st theatrical bumboat experience, A Bump Through Time. 

We can’t lie, stepping onto the bumboat felt a little scary as first-timers, but the ride was relatively slow and smooth-sailing. For those prone to sea-sickness, you might want to bring some medicine just to be safe, but you probably won’t need it.

The performance mostly takes place inside the sheltered section of the bumboat, so you won’t have to worry about squinting under the sun.

singapore heritagefest 2026, homeground @ ACM Green - a bump through time

While you’ll be treated to stunning views of Clarke Quay and Marina Bay, this isn’t anything like your typical tourist ride. Throughout the 1-hour journey along the Singapore River, you’ll be introduced to fictional characters inspired by people who once worked along the river, from a cargo hand to a customs inspection officer.

singapore heritagefest 2026, homeground @ ACM Green - a bump through time

Staged by local theatre companies Sight Lines Productions and Strawberries Inc, these actors regale passengers with stories of the river’s past and its iconic landmarks that still stand today.

Fun fact: The Fullerton Building, now The Fullerton Hotel, was once home to a lighthouse that brought ships into our port for 20 years until it was decommissioned in 1979.

It’s not just show and tell either – you’ll get to play games and solve riddles along the way as the performance unfolds. One of the interactive segments lets you take on the role of a merchant in a live trading auction as you bid for rare objects from foreign lands. The value of these objects is only revealed after the final bid is made, and the player with the most earnings from their bids wins.

singapore heritagefest 2026, homeground @ ACM Green - a bump through time

Interestingly, instead of cash, we were handed cards representing goods once traded along the Singapore River – like copra and nutmeg – to use as currency. It made the game feel more immersive, giving us a feel for how traders of the past hustled and bartered for a living.

singapore heritagefest 2026, homeground @ ACM Green - a bump through time

Another fun riddle involves decoding encrypted messages using clues and a little geography to help a customs officer uncover the identity of a suspicious vessel.

singapore heritagefest 2026, homeground @ ACM Green - a bump through time

If you’re game for front-row seats to a show like no other or just want extra aesthetic pics of the skyline for your Insta story, this might be worth the $75, but if you’re on a budget, you can pay with your SG Culture Pass credits instead. The ride will run on 9th, 16th, and 23rd May 2026 at 3.30pm, 5pm, 7pm, and 8.30pm. Tickets are available via the HeritageFest website.

Live performances

Collyer Quay and Clifford Pier in the 1960s.
Collyer Quay and Clifford Pier in the 1960s.
Image credit: Chiang Ker Chiu Collection via National Archives of Singapore

For those who prefer to keep their shoes dry, there are more programmes you won’t want to miss at HOMEGROUND, like Port of Dreams, a theatrical performance by the performing arts collective, Kaizen M.D.

Festival-goers will be guided around The Fullerton Bay Hotel and Clifford Pier by a cast of characters, including a tour guide and 4 entertaining characters from the past, who will share stories of Singapore from the 1930s till today. Slots are available at 2pm, 3.30pm, and 5pm across all 3 weekends of the event – be sure to book online beforehand. Tickets are $45 each, and SG Culture Pass credits can also be used to cover the cost.

singapore heritagefest 2026, homeground @ ACM Green - artusik performance

If you’re planning to head down, you might want to bookmark 8th and 23rd May 2026, as the multi-ethnic music collective Artusik will be performing at HOMEGROUND from 7pm to 8pm and 6.30pm to 7.30pm respectively. Tune in as they trace Sang Nila Utama’s journey through the seas while weaving together Eastern and Western sounds, featuring special instruments like a fully chromatic gamelan.

Don’t fret if you can’t make it; they’ll also be performing at CQ @ Clarke Quay and Bugis+, with more details to be updated on Artusik’s Instagram.

Marketplace & DIY workshops by homegrown brands

singapore heritagefest 2026, homeground @ ACM Green

Next to the performance stage, you’ll also spot a number of F&B stalls with a variety of drinks, snacks, and sweet treats by homegrown brands including Yeo’s, Lee Wee & Brothers, Uncle Didi, Oat & About, and Nat’s Chicks.

If the heat’s got you beat, cool down with Oat & About’s oat milk gelato-making workshop, held at various timings on 10th, 23rd, and 24th May 2026. You’ll get to try your hand at churning a spice-infused gelato base into a cold, creamy treat using just salt and ice – no machines needed.

singapore heritagefest 2026, homeground @ ACM Green - oat & about workshop

Tickets start from $53.49, and you’ll get to bring home your custom pint as well as a complimentary single–serve cup of Oat & About x Singapore HeritageFest’s exclusive flavours.

singapore heritagefest 2026, homeground @ ACM Green

At the other end of HOMEGROUND, you’ll find more retail booths with hands-on activities.

singapore heritagefest 2026, homeground @ ACM Green - ST[I print workshop

Speaking of spices, we loved getting creative at Singapore Tyler Print Institute’s (STPI) DIY relief printing workshop. Instead of the usual inks and paints, we got to experiment with spices often used in our favourite foods like bak kut teh, but this time using them as pigment for our prints. Catch their free workshop only on 2nd May 2026, anytime between 5pm to 8pm. No registration is needed.

singapore heritagefest 2026 aroma nostalgia perfume

Right next to STPI, Aroma Nostalgia draws on herbs and spices once popular amongst traders, weaving familiar notes like pandan and star anise into their perfumes and scents. Their signature Eau De Parfum, OMBAK – No. 3 Waves, is infused with hints of cloves and tonka bean, and takes inspiration from the nostalgic warmth of old kampung houses.

If you’re looking for a Mother’s Day gift or want a souvenir to take home, they’ll also be hosting a perfume-making workshop on 9th and 23rd May 2026 at 2pm. Tickets are $35, and each participant will get a 30ml Eau De Parfum to take with them.

singapore heritagefest 2026, homeground @ ACM Green - anyaman bubu

At the next booth by Kebon Dapor and Pasar Fish, you can weave your own bubu or fish trap, a nod to Anyaman Bubu – a traditional craft from the old kampung days, when everyday life called for resourcefulness and ingenuity.

singapore heritagefest 2026, homeground @ ACM Green - anyaman bubu

Each weaving workshop costs $36 and runs for 2 hours, with slots at 10.30am and 2.30pm on 16th May 2026.

Photobooths & exhibitions

singapore heritagefest 2026, homeground @ ACM Green - photobooth

Don’t forget to check out the photobooth, where you can snap some wide-angle shots with your family and friends, and take home digital and printed copies for just $4.

From now till 3rd May 2026, find the photobooth at Children’s Museum Singapore, before it moves to Clarke Quay from 4th to 10th May 2026, and Bugis+ from 11th to 17th May 2026. And in case you miss it, you can still catch it at HOMEGROUND @ ACM Green during the last week of SHF, from 18th to 24th May 2026.

singapore heritagefest 2026, homeground @ ACM Green

As you roam around HOMEGROUND, you’ll find a little migratory bird dotted around the festival grounds. Created by local designer and visual artist HAFl, the 6-panel exhibition at HOMEGROUND tells the story of SHF’s mascot Pitta, as she journeys across the Singapore River. The exhibition is open to the public from 24th April to 30th June 2026, from 10am to 10pm.

singapore heritagefest 2026, homeground @ ACM Green - pitta the migratory bird

Keep your eyes peeled for Pitta at HeritageFest’s other islandwide experiences, and take a photo for Instagram when you spot her. Remember to tag @sgheritagefest, #SGHeritageFest, #SHF2026, and #ISeaYou so you can be in the running to win a limited-edition token at HOMEGROUND.

Island-wide performances, tours & exhibitions for all ages

Daytime parties

Sober daytime parties are all the rage, and you can get in on the action with Waves x Rave, held at RASA Space on 23rd May 2026, from 4pm to 8pm. Vibe to DJ-spun bops and tracks inspired by the melting pot of cultures and customs of our maritime past. Tickets are priced at $15 and include 1 maritime cocktail – follow Rasa Space’s Instagram for more details closer to the date.

singapore heritagefest 2026, waves x rave at rasa space
Image credit: RASA Space
Image for illustrative purposes only.

There’ll also be music showcases at Bugis+ and CQ @ Clarke Quay as part of Culture Beats @ CapitaLand, with upbeat percussion that’ll have you up on your feet and dancing to the beat.

The 1st wave of performances will take place at Clarke Quay on 9th May 2026 at 6.30pm to 7pm and 7.30pm to 8pm, with more performances lined up at Bugis+ on 17th May 2026 at the same time slots. No sign-ups are needed, but festival-goers can find more information on performance locations via the SHF website soon.

singapore heritagefest 2026 bhaskar's art academy performance Image credit: Bhaskar’s Arts Academy via Facebook

Watch how the pros at Bhaskar’s Arts Academy do it as they perform the Indian classical dance form of Kathakali in Cherita Singapura, a reimagining of Sang Nila Utama’s famous voyage and the origins of Singapore’s name. Don’t miss the free showcase at HOMEGROUND on 2nd May 2026, from 6pm to 6.30pm.

Behind-the-scenes tours & exclusive exhibitions

singapore heritagefest 2026 - SHIPPED: Memoirs from Our Maritime World, arch aquare
Image adapted from: Singapore HeritageFest website

Hidden beneath the surface of our rivers lie relics of our past waiting to be discovered, but luckily, you won’t have to go snorkelling to get a glimpse of these treasures.

At SHIPPED: Memoirs from Our Maritime World, you’ll get an up-close look at artefacts linked to the Empress of Asia and ceramics from the Jingdezhen kilns, all found from the depths of our own waters.

singapore heritagefest 2026 - SHIPPED: Memoirs from Our Maritime World, arch aquare
Image adapted from: @archsquaresg via Instagram

The free exhibition held at ArCH Square will run from 1st to 24th May 2026. Drop by anytime during their opening hours from 11am to 7pm, Wednesday to Friday, and 10am to 6pm on the weekends.

For the modern-day lobang hunters whose doorsteps are stacked with Shopee orders, here’s your chance to get a real look at how one of the world’s busiest ports gets your orders to our shores.

singapore heritagefest 2026, Unlocking Singapore's Port Legacy: A Behind-the-Scenes Maritime Journey
Image credit: PSA Singapore

In Unlocking Singapore’s Port Legacy: A Behind-the-Scenes Maritime Journey, the Maritime Port Authority takes visitors on an exclusive bus tour from the Singapore Maritime Gallery into PSA Singapore’s container terminals and Pasir Panjang Terminals.

Clear your calendars on 16th and 23rd May 2026. The free tour will take place at 9am on both dates, with another slot at 11am on the 16th. At the time of writing, the registration link is not live yet, but it should be up and ready by 26th April 2026.

singapore heritagefest 2026, Fish to Port - Fishery Port TourImage credit: chuttersnap via Google Maps

The fun doesn’t stop there. Tying back to our fishing village roots, Singapore’s last remaining fishery port in Jurong will also be open for a Fish to Port – Fishery Port Tour by Pasar Fish. The tour will take place at Jurong Fishery Port from 2am to 4am every Friday and Saturday starting from 1st May until 16th May 2026. While tickets are on the pricier side at $75, you can use your SG Culture Pass credits if need be.

Family-friendly heritage trails

Follow along on The Fullerton Hotel’s walking tour exploring old spice routes, or join a family-friendly trail with interactive missions and hands-on crafts as you and your little one roleplay as hawkers and family elders working to create your own ‘dishes’.

The Fullerton Heritage Spice Trail
Dates: 9th & 23rd May 2026
Time: 10am-11.30am
Location: Raffles Place MRT Station (Outside Exit B)
Price: $50 (SG Culture Pass eligible)

singapore heritagefest 2026, The Fullerton Heritage Spice Trail
The Fullerton Heritage Spice Trail.
Image credit: Klook

Port to Plate by The Chewy Collective & Museum of Food
Dates: 1st-2nd May 2026
Time:  4.30pm-5.30pm, 6pm-7pm (Registration starts 15 minutes earlier)
Location: Outside Clifford Pier
Price: $40 per parent-child pair

Wannabe crafters can also pick up traditional knotting methods once used by coastal fishermen and learn about the history of the fast-disappearing kelong or palisade fish trap at this interactive session at Bukit Chandu.

Tied to the Tides by Reflections at Bukit Chandu
Dates: 1st May 2026
Time:  11.15am-12pm
Location: 31K Pepys Road, Singapore 118458
Price: $36 per parent-child pair

singapore heritagefest 2026, Haunting Tales of Ubin by Supernatural Confessions Image credit: Singapore HeritageFest website

Take an evening tour of Pulau Ubin and its temples, quarries, and traditional Teochew cemeteries to uncover the stories behind the island’s folklore. Or learn about the Goddess of the Sea, Mazu, through a walking trail that tracks her influence from Thian Hock Keng Temple to Fu Ning, the world’s largest wooden sailing vessel.

Haunting Tales of Ubin by Supernatural Confessions
Dates: 2nd, 9th, 16th & 23rd May 2026
Time:  6.30pm-9.30pm
Location: 51 Lorong Bekukong, Singapore 499172
Price: $98 (SG Culture Pass eligible)

Mazu Heritage Tour: Goddess of the Sea An ICH Journey Through Singapore’s Maritime Past
Dates: Every Friday & Saturday from 1st-30th May 2026
Time: 10am-1pm
Location: Thian Hock Keng Temple
Price:  $100 (SG Culture Pass eligible)   

Talks & workshops

Uncover the meanings behind Batik motifs and DIY your own story-cloth with custom stamps at the Children’s Museum Singapore’s storytelling session, or dive deeper into what port life was like through free sharing sessions by experts in collaboration with the National Library Board. Check out the full calendar of events, including panel discussions and lectures, for more details.

Woven Waves: Reading Stories in Batik
Date: 1st & 2nd May 2026
Time:  9.30am-10.15am
Location: 23-B Coleman Street, Singapore 179807
Price:  $36 per parent-child pair

singapore heritagefest 2026, Woven Waves: Reading Stories in Batik
Image credit: National Heritage Board

Parents, settle down with your little ones for a picture book reading session featuring stories from Jean-Pierre Travels the Seven Seas. There’s also a live art contest for children to participate in, with prizes and medals to be won.

Picture Book Reading & Art Contest: Jean Pierre Travels the Seven Seas
Date: 9th May 2026
Time: 10am-12.45pm (Registration starts at 9.45am)
Location:  Asian Civilisations Museum, Discovery Room
Price: $10 per child

Calling all foodies, you can be one of the few to get a taste of the hard-to-find Laksa Siglap, originally from Kampung Siglap’s fishing villages, at this kid-friendly taste-testing experience.

singapore heritagefest 2026, Roll with History: A Popiah Journey Through Joo Chiat
Image credit: Kway Guan Huat Joo Chiat Popiah

Tastes of the Tides: Laksa Siglap by Changi Chapel and Museum
Date: 2nd May 2026
Time: 11.15am-12pm
Location: 1000 Upper Changi Road North, Singapore 507707
Price: $36 per parent-child pair

Whip up your own snack at the Kway Guan Huat Joo Chiat Popiah Workshop, where you’ll learn insider tips from local makers.

Roll with History: A Popiah Journey Through Joo Chiat
Date:  5th, 12th & 19th May 2026
Time:  11am-12pm
Location: 95 Joo Chiat Road 02-01, Singapore 427389
Price: $27 (SG Culture Pass eligible)

How to get to Singapore HeritageFest 2026

ACM Green
Image credit: Ricky via Google Maps

To get to HOMEGROUND @ ACM Green, head to Raffles Place MRT Station. From Exit H, cross Cavenagh Bridge, and you’ll be at the festival grounds.

For those coming by bus, the closest stops are Fullerton Square (Stop 03011), which is a 2-minute walk away and serves buses 10, 10e, 57, 70, 75, 100, 107, 128, 130, 131, 162, 167, 196, 196e, 700, 850E, 868, 951E, and 971E. Alternatively, you can alight at the Supreme Court (Stop 02181) via buses 195 and 961. From there, it’s about a 7-minute walk to the festival.

Swing by Singapore HeritageFest 2026

Whether you’re a history buff or just itching for a new weekend side quest, Singapore HeritageFest 2026 promises a fun line-up of activities to beat the Sunday scaries.

Learn more about Singapore HeritageFest 2026

For more things to do:

Photography by Shermaine Low.
A portion of this content may contain referral links where The Smart Local may collect a commission. Our opinions remain our own.

Event Information
HeritageFest 2026
Asian Civilisations Museum Green
Date:
01 - 24 May 2026
Time:
9:00 am - 10:00 pm

Get directions

The MILO Van Sachets Are Back & You Can Get Sports Day-Inspired Merch For Free With Your Purchase

Free MILO Van Enhancer Kit

Take it from someone who’s toured the Nestlé R&D Centre, seen how MILO is made from scratch, and sampled different variations of the drink: the MILO Van version is superior. And I’m pretty sure most Singaporeans would agree, especially if you’ve ever powered through Sports Day just to queue for that icy cold drink from the iconic green van.

Clearly, MILO Singapore knows the assignment – they’re bringing back the MILO Van Sachets so you can recreate that same chocolatey goodness at home. This time round, you’ll even get a free MILO Van Enhancer Kit inspired by our schooling days to really amp up the nostalgia.

What’s included in the MILO Van Enhancer Kit?

MILO Van Enhancer Kit
Image adapted from: MILO Singapore

The MILO Van Enhancer Kit is a throwback to Sports Day – something like a starter pack that’s filled with items you’d have brought along back then, and can still use for your workouts today.

Socks from the MILO Van Enhancer Kit
Image adapted from: MILO Singapore

Inside, you’ll find 3 pairs of limited-edition socks, each with its own playful design. One features an embroidered MILO logo with hidden slogans like “Run For Glory” and “Sprint For MILO”, another is covered in mini MILO vans and cups, and the last pair comes with rallying cheers like “I Say MILO” and “You Say Van”.

You’ll also get a shoebag to stash your gear, plus 50 MILO Van cups to recreate that experience of sipping MILO like you just queued at the van after your race.

How to redeem the kit?

What's included in the MILO Van Enhancer Kit
Image adapted from: MILO Singapore

There’s no need to rush down to your nearest supermarket just yet – the kit will be available exclusively on RedMart from 1st May 2026, at 12pm.

You’ll need to spend a minimum of $45 on the MILO Van Sachets ($8.95/pack of 12) to get the kit for free, while stocks last.

Get the MILO Van Sachets on RedMart.

How to recreate the MILO Van drink at home?

MILO Van Sachets

OK, we aren’t the experts, but here’s the closest you can get to recreating the taste at home, based on what we’ve been told by the people in the know during the Nestlé R&D Centre tour.

Pouring MILO into a cup

Start by adding a bit of cold water to your MILO powder and stirring until it’s fully dissolved. Then add ice and give it a good shake – 76 times, to be exact. Apparently, this magic number mimics the way MILO gets shaken around in the van as it moves from stop to stop. It’s also recommended to strain out the ice before drinking.

Get your hands on the MILO Van Enhancer Kit

If you’re even slightly tempted to relive those Sports Day memories, don’t miss out on this nostalgic kit that’s only available for a limited time.

More lobangs in Singapore:

Also read: The Viral MILO Plushies Are Back With 6 New Designs, Collect Them At Your Nearest Supermarket

The Viral MILO Plushies Are Back With 6 New Designs, Collect Them At Your Nearest Supermarket

Cover image adapted from: The Smart Local, MILO Singapore

12 Best Starting Words For Wordle, Including Second Word To Maximise Guesses

Best Wordle starting words

Just like our cups of kopi and matcha, Wordle has become a daily ritual. More than 4 years on from its viral debut, millions of players worldwide – including the TSL team – still open the New York Times app every morning to test their vocabulary in 6 guesses or fewer. Whether it’s to maintain the streak or compete with friends for a faster solve, the starding word makes a bigger difference than one might think.

To uphold our reputation as wordsmiths, we decided to find out which are the best words to start Wordle with. Thankfully, plenty of data scientists – who are equally addicted – have done research into the most optimised 5-letter word for us. Here are 12 of the most efficient starters for your next Wordle round.

TL;DR Start your daily Wordle rounds with SALET, and then CRONY.

What are the rules for Wordle?

World’s a simple game – all you have to do is guess the 5-letter word of the day within 6 tries. After each guess, you get a hint on how close you are – if a tile turns yellow, it means that the letter appears in the word but is at the wrong place. If the tile turns green, the letter is in the right place. A grey tile simply means that the letter doesn’t exist in the word at all.

Wordle is currently run by the New York Times and is completely free to play. All you need to do is to create a free NYT account.

The game resets every day at midnight in the UK, or at 8am in Singapore. No worries if you missed the previous day’s games – past games can be found on the Wordle archive online, also available for free.

1. SALET

If you want the most mathematically-optimised Wordle opener in existence, SALET is it. Mathematician Alex Selby was the first to identify it through an algorithm, and this was also independently verified by at least 14 researchers. However, SALET will never be the answer, as it’s not in the answer bank. But according to the pros, using SALET will let you guess the Wordle in an average of 3.4212 guesses, the lowest of any starting word.

Best second word: CRONY

2. CRATE

CRATE is a double whammy, as it sits high on the algorithmic leaderboard and is also a valid Wordle answer; in fact, it was the word of the day on 3rd August 2021. The letters C, R, A, T, and E are among the most common letters found across all 5-letter English words, and CRATE uses all of them in a single guess.

Best second word: SOUND

3. TRACE

Data analysts have also entered the chat. Researcher Daniel Kats analysed the Wordle dictionary and arrived at TRACE as the word with the lowest average guesses to solve. It also uses the same letters as CRATE, so you can switch things up every other day for options.

Best second word: LOUSY

4. SLATE

Before CRANE, SLATE was the recommended word by the New York Times WordleBot companion. Its individual letters, S, L, A, T, and E are some of the most common letters within the answer pool.

Best second word: CRONY

5. CRANE

CRANE was the OG “best Wordle word to start with”, on both our list and the New York Times’ WordleBot from February 2024 to July 2025. But its reign has since ended after some further analysis by mathematician Grant Sanderson.

Best second word: SPLIT

6. ROAST

If you want a fast win, take a page out of this Reddit user’s book. According to PedanticOwl, there’s a good chance you’ll get the winning combination in just 3 tries when you start Wordle with ROAST. The combination of “roast” and  “cline” gives you a chance of winning on the third guess 46.95% of the time. This is second only to the “clint” + “soare” combination.

Best second word: CLINE

7. AROSE

Another YouTuber, MrExcel.com, who specialises in Excel and statistics, looked at 8,000 five-letter Scrabble words and ended up with AROSE. A, E, O, R, and S are the letters most commonly found in his analysis of words, and together they spell “arose.” Another option to start off is ARISE.

Best second word: UNTIL

8. LEAST

The least expected addition to this list is LEAST. While it doesn’t have a viral YouTube video to back its merit as the best starting word for Wordle, its letters L, E, A, S, and T are some of the most frequent letters seen in the answer bank. It’s also a possible Wordle answer, and achieving that sweet 1/1 guess will always be a flex.

Best second word: ROUND

9. ALTER

ALTER shares the same high-frequency letter cluster as TRACE and CRATE, just in a different arrangement. You could also use LATER, both of which are in the Wordle answer list.

Best second word: SONIC

10. AUDIO

AUDIO is a community favourite that we’ve seen said by many as their go-to starting word since it checks off 4 different vowels and it’s a commonly-used term. Plus, it’s included in the 2,309 possibilities of being a Wordle answer.

Best second word: STERN

11. ADIEU

No, we didn’t forget about ADIEU, but it’s not as efficient of a word as you might think. Like AUDIO, you can find out if the daily Wordle has any vowels immediately. However, it’s not that common of a word, and you should only use it if your strategy involves getting vowels and common consonants out of the way. It’s not an official Wordle word.

Best second word: SNORT

12. SOARE

More than 7 million people watched YouTuber Grant Sanderson’s video on why Crane is the best Wordle starting word. Unfortunately, he got one tiny detail wrong and uploaded a follow-up video naming “SOARE” as the best opener instead, but only if you’re trying to guess it on the first try.

Best second word: CLINT

Other good starting words to use for Wordle
  • Dealt
  • Roate
  • Store
  • Stare
  • Pious
  • Ouija
  • Aisle
  • Ocean
  • About
How to win Wordle every day with the best guessing strategy

Think simple and common. Of the 14,855 words that you can key into Wordle, only 2,309 are possible answers as they are common words, not “aargh.” You can also try to hit common consonants like R, S, and T as it might benefit you more than vowels. While you’re at it, remember that letters can repeat, so don’t be afraid to guess “BUNNY” or “HAPPY.” The New York Times even developed WordleBot to help analyse your answers and give you advice for future Wordles.

If all else fails, you can turn to Unwordle. This website tells you the best word to guess next. It kind of goes against the spirit of Wordle, so use this only as a last resort if you can’t think of a word anymore!

Finally, if 2-word starters aren’t enough, some Wordle players also use 3-word combinations to start. Though its effectiveness is debatable, those that use it swear by it. If you wish to give it a shot, here are some popular combinations:

  • SCALY, GUIDE, THORN
  • SCALP, TIGER, MOUND
  • SPINE, LOATH, MURKY
  • INLET, SHARP, DUCKY
What words are not used in Wordle?

In case you’re wondering, offensive words are 100% out of the picture so don’t waste your guesses there. Words in plural and past tense – for example, those that end with “s”, “es” and “ed” – are excluded from Wordle’s list of possible answers. Common names, popular brands, and destinations like countries are excluded as well.

If you wish to play like a pro, search up past Wordle answers. Unlike Taylor Swift’s surprise songs, none of the answers have been repeated so that can help to narrow down the options.

Best words to start Wordle with

Everyone I’ve spoken to has a different strategy when it comes to Wordle. Some people start with a different word every day, while others are determined to guess it in the least attempts possible. There’s no right or wrong way to play the game, but if you’re in the “minimum effort, maximum reward” camp, here’s a list that will keep your Wordle streak going.

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Originally published on 11th February 2022. Last updated by Josiah Neo on 23rd April 2026.