25 ways to savour Singapore solo: part 1

Other tips: #1 to #5 | #6 to #12 | #13 to #18 | #19 to #25

#1: Picnic in the park

Pack a picnic basket with freshly made guacamole and corn chips ($9) from Cha Cha Cha (32 Lorong Mambong, Holland Village), a good book (we recommend The Society of the Spectacle by Guy Debord, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho or Naked by David Sedaris) or a portable gaming machine like the PSP Slim or a Nintendo DS Lite. To avoid being surrounded by little people running and screaming, we suggest you park your picnic away from the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage at the Singapore Botanic Gardens (Cluny Road entrance, 1 Cluny Road, Tel: 6471 7361; www.sbg.org.sg).

Zone out with a few suggested albums:

1. Quiet Village’s Silent Movie
2. Woolfy vs Projections’ The Astral Projections of Starlight
3. The Cinematic Orchestra’s Live at the Royal Albert Hall
4. Kathy Diamond’s Miss Diamond to You
5. Pretty Woman (Original Soundtrack).

#2: A bike ride around Pulau Ubin

1. Changi Point Ferry Terminal
   Hop on a bumboat for the 10- minute trip over to Pulau Ubin – a journey that will take you back half a century as you explore the last kampong village in Singapore.
   Cost: $5 round trip (additional $4 if you’re bringing your own bike)
   
2. Rent A Bike
   Depending on your riding skills and budget, choose a bike to venture out on.
   Cost: Bikes vary in price between $4 and $12; they are willing to bargain, so work your magic.
    
3. Spot A Wild Pig
   Keep your eye out for these when riding through the forest – they like to hide in the trees and chomp on fallen coconuts.
    
4. Watch Out For Web
   Huge spiders dangle from trees alongside the paths. Stop to check out the size, but most likely you’ll want to see and not touch.
    
5. Take A Coconut Break
   Use the pigs as inspiration and sip on a chilled Thai coconut to regain energy.
   Cost: $2.50 at most restaurants and rest stops along the way.
    
6. Stroll Down The Boardwalk
   Give yourself a break from the bike – look out for a peculiar tree growing in the middle of the water.
    
7. Continue Down The Path
   Wander alongside mangroves, and try spotting a few mudskippers scurrying along the shore
    
8. Climb To The Top
   At the end of the boardwalk, on the eastern tip of the island, is a tall viewing tower with great views of Singapore and Malaysia. Just make sure you have restored enough energy to make it up the steps.
    
9. Become A Beach Bum
   Rest on the sand and meditate, read a good book or just enjoy the view.
    
10. Taste The Local Flavours
    Feast on fresh seafood by the water; you just might catch a glimpse of what’s on your plate if you look over the deck.
    Cost: Dishes at most restaurants range from $6 to $15.

#3: What’s that smell?

Forget feng shui – altering the mood of one’s surroundings is easily done with the use of scents – candles, aromatherapy, diffusers… A failsafe combination is lavender and bergamot. While the floral notes of lavender calms, the intense nature of bergamot leaves you with an all-over mellow sensation. Whether you’re in the mood for clarity (lemon), looking to improve your inner wellbeing (coconut), or just in the mood for loving (patchouli), the answer often lies in the scent of the issue.

For a wide range of scented candles, check out the wonderfully fragrant wax melters on sale at Flaming Queen (#B1-12 Palais Renaissance, 390 Orchard Road; Tel: 6235 3918). While Ashleigh & Burnwood (5 Stadium Walk, #01-24 Leisure Park Kallang; Tel: 6348 0122) sells candles, aroma oils and diffusers, or if you would rather take the art of fragrance layering one step further, Prada’s (#03-01 Raffles City, 252 North Bridge Road; Tel: 6216 8388) latest scent, Infusion D’Iris also comes in a perfumed candle form.

#4: Stretch your Limits

Whether standing on your head or contorted into a pose that has your right leg folded over your left knee and your left hand on your left ankle, there is really no reason to be thinking about anyone but yourself. Concentrate on breathing in and out of your nose, relaxing and not falling over – but no need to stress if you do, no one’s watching. Practise under the guidance of one of the world’s greatest yoga master’s disciples.

Yvette Tee was personally trained by Master Srinivas Suresh Kamal, the creator of KRYOGA (Kamal’s Rhythmic Yoga), a form that focuses on ‘the art of mindful living’. Her KRYOGA classes ($30 per session) are taught in Spaboutique’s (6 Nassim Rd; Tel: 6887 0760, www.spaboutique.com.sg) tranquil outdoor pavilion and focus on bringing balance back into people’s lives.

Last month, Real Yoga (#08-01 Far East Shopping Centre, 545 Orchard Road; Tel: 6734 2853, www.realyoga.com.sg) welcomed in the New Year with an outdoor class (Every Sun; 7-9am; Non-members $25 per class) in the Singapore Botanic Gardens. This new Sunday morning ritual starts at 7am, so if you can get yourself out of bed at the crack of dawn, join them at Tanglin Core, in front of Swan Lake. Bring your own mats and towels; all levels welcome.

#5: My body, my choice

Getting a tattoo does not always have to be a group decision. You may prefer the serenity that comes with avoiding endless consultations with everyone you know. It is an act of subjecting yourself to something that is guaranteed to stay with you for the rest of your life – you can’t say that type of insurance will be provided with your partner du jour.

1. If you’re getting a tattoo on the spur of the moment, get a small one. That way even if you regret it, you won’t have to be reminded too often.
2. If you’ve thought this out and didn’t want anyone else to know, then go with whatever design and size you’ve pre-selected. Note: switch off your phone to avoid disturbances.
3. Try not to p*ss off your tattoo artist. Treat them with respect, but be sure to let them know if you’re uncomfortable about an artistic decision – you are the one who’ll be seeing this every day.
4. If you’re feeling awkward during certain parts of the process, ask your tattoo artist ridiculous questions like, ‘So, how many boobs did you work on before mine?’. This should lighten the mood.
5. When your body art is done, resist the temptation to break the news right away. Instead, go home, take a shower and have one-on-one time with your tattoo before deciding whether you care to share.

Where to get your Tattoos

• Best for black-and-grey shading: Primitive Art Piercing & Tattoo (#04-101 Far East Plaza, 14 Scotts Road; Tel: 6735 3710)
• Best for colourful and photo-realistic: Visual Orgasm (2 Haji Lane; Tel: 6336 5884)
• Best overall: Think Tattoo (#02-65 Far East Plaza, 14 Scotts Road; Tel: 9247 1099)

Other tips: #1 to #5 | #6 to #12 | #13 to #18 | #19 to #25