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Try a tingkat painting session the next time you visit Singapore. Photo by Karen Flores Layno, ABS-CBN News

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Karen Flores

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:958px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172610799167420240717_152853.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Try a tingkat painting session the next time you visit Singapore. <em>Photo by Karen Flores Layno, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>SINGAPORE -- Singapore is one of the most popular international destinations among Filipinos, with many flying to the affluent city-state to go on food and shopping trips, or visit its themed attractions.</p><p>In 2023, Singapore welcomed <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/8/20/singapore-sees-700k-filipino-tourists-in-2023-1613">nearly 700,000 Filipino tourists</a>, making the Philippines its sixth largest market. And this number is expected to go even higher this year, with close to 390,000 Filipino visitor arrivals already recorded for the first half of 2024, thanks largely to <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2024/2/26/hotels-flights-booked-out-as-swift-effect-hits-singapore-1607">Taylor Swift&#x27;s &quot;Eras&quot; tour</a>. </p><p>The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) hopes to keep the momentum going, tapping into industry partnerships as well as a growing segment of family travelers who are looking for new and different experiences. </p><p>To those who are wondering if there&#x27;s still a reason to visit Singapore after going to the usual spots such as Orchard Road and Universal Studios, the answer is a resounding yes. This small Southeast Asian nation has a lot more to offer, from hidden gems to curated activities that highlight its multi-cultural heritage -- and we got to try some of them during STB&#x27;s recent media tour. </p><p>A personal favorite is the &quot;The Art of the Tingkat,&quot; an intimate painting session with Nyonya artist Pei Lin at her studio located along Beach Road, just a stone&#x27;s throw from the hipster hotspot Haji Lane. During the three-hour activity, Pei Lin guided us as we painted on our mini tingkats -- the Peranakans&#x27; dainty stackable metal bowls -- which can be used to hold snacks or jewelry. </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1726108185718tingkat2.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Photos by Karen Flores Layno, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>I used to do a bit of painting, but if you&#x27;re coming in with zero experience, don&#x27;t fret as Pei Lin has already prepared the designs for the tingkats, which range from simple houses to flowers and phoenixes. All you have to do is choose the one that works for you, pick up your brush, and follow the provided design at your own pace. And here&#x27;s the best part: you get to bring your masterpiece home. (More details about &quot;The Art of the Tingkat&quot; <a href="https://www.seeksophie.com/experiences/singapore-mini-peranakan-tingkat-painting-oogz42ko51">here</a>.)</p><p>If food is more of your thing, there&#x27;s the &quot;Flavours of Singapore&quot; cooking class by Let&#x27;s Go Tour along Crawford Lane, also near Beach Road and Haji Lane. Sure, you can always just go to the nearest hawker center and order a plate of Hainanese Chicken Rice for a few dollars, but learning how to prepare the dish yourself is a fresh way to immerse yourself in local culture. It was also a fun bonding moment with my mom, who loves to cook at home.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1726108313198tingkat3.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Photos by Karen Flores Layno, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>Our chef-instructor, Colin Goh, made sure that our session was both informative and entertaining. Beyond teaching us how to prepare three dishes (the other two include Ngoh Hiang or fried meat rolls, and Kueh Dadar or a pandan crepe with coconut filling), he also shared tips on knife handling and frying, among others, as well as insights on Singaporean life. (More details about &quot;Flavours of Singapore&quot; <a href="https://www.letsgotoursingapore.com/tours/flavours-of-singapore-tour/">here</a>.)</p><div><em id="isPasted"></em><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/11/10/23/singapore-is-top-destination-for-pinoy-solo-travelers">Singapore is top destination for Pinoy solo travelers: booking site</a></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2024/6/21/here-are-filipinos-top-visa-free-destinations-according-to-a-booking-platform-1703" id="isPasted">Here are Filipinos&#x27; top visa-free destinations, according to a booking platform</a></div><p>Singapore has always been good at integrating nature into its densely populated urban landscape, and the most impressive example of this is Gardens by the Bay, with its towering vertical gardens and vibrant flower displays. </p><p>Most visitors would usually snap a photo or two by the Supertrees and call it a day -- which is perfectly fine, but the other attractions are well worth the admission fees and are a sure treat for both kids and adults. We particularly enjoyed the Cloud Forest, which is home to plants from different parts of the world, as well as the tallest indoor waterfalls you&#x27;ll ever see. Just don&#x27;t look down as you make your way to the peak. (More details about Gardens by the Bay&#x27;s Cloud Forest <a href="https://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/things-to-do/attractions/cloud-forest.html">here</a>.)</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:952px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1726108604681Gardens.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Photos by Karen Flores Layno, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span>Looking for an adrenaline rush? There&#x27;s a new go-kart circuit that opened in Sentosa earlier this year, and it may just be what you need. At HyperDrive, you can live out your Mario Kart dreams and race against your companions around a 3-level racetrack, complete with gamified elements such as digital weapons and speed boosts. </div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1726108767802HyperDrive.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Photos by Karen Flores Layno, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>There are three go-karts to choose from -- the Junior Kart for kids aged 9 and up and at least 130 cm tall, the Senior Kart for those with a height of at least 140 cm, and the Dual Kart that can seat one adult driver (at least 18 years old and 140 cm) and child passenger (at least 90 cm tall). The Junior and Dual Karts race together so the Senior Karts don&#x27;t have to hold back on the race track with its 14 twists and turns. (More details about HyperDrive <a href="https://www.thepalawansentosa.com/hyperdrive/">here</a>.)</p><div><em>ABS-CBN News visited Singapore as part of a media tour organized by STB. </em></div>

<p>To those who are wondering if there's still a reason to visit Singapore after going to the usual spots such as Orchard Road and Universal Studios, the answer is a resounding yes.</p>

To those who are wondering if there's still a reason to visit Singapore after going to the usual spots such as Orchard Road and Universal Studios, the answer is a resounding yes.

From 'tingkat' painting to making chicken rice: Fun activities in Singapore for the whole family

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From 'tingkat' painting to making chicken rice: Fun activities in Singapore for the whole family

Karen Flores,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 12, 2024 10:40 AM PHT

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Singapore

travel

Singapore Tourism Board

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