Wednesday, 23 August 2017

HDB Showflats My Nice Home Gallery

I'm currently taking a short course at Toa Payoh central. In the vicinity, there is a Housing Development Board (HDB) Hub where many properties transactions take place. Near the HDB hub, there is a showflat gallery where you can see different room types from 2-room flat to 5-room flat. For HDB which provides public housing for Singaporeans, a 2-room flat actually has 1 bedroom and a 5-room flat has 4 bedrooms. In Singapore, about 80% of Singaporeans live in public housing flats. Currently I'm staying with my family in a 5-room flat in Tampines. Older flats are much bigger compared to new flats. The flat I'm staying is about 120 square metres. All HDB flats have 99-year lease. So actually we don't own the flat. After 99 years, we have to return to HDB or if we have descendants, they have to return to HDB. Anyway, not many Singaporeans live beyond 100 years old. 

For me, I plan to buy a 2-room flat since now there is single housing scheme which allows Singaporean singles to buy a brand new 2-room flat. In the past, singles have to buy from the resale market. It is very competitive and challenging to get a brand new 2-room flat as interested parties have to ballot for the unit as there are many singles in Singapore. I really hope to get one 2-room flat as the size is just right for 1 person. For me, I'm interested in the 45m square size flat as I have many bookshelves. Looking at the 45m square size living room, I'm not sure if it can fit all my bookshelves. 

Anyway, what I like about the new 2-room flexi flat is there are many elderly-friendly facilities like emergency alarm, handrail holding. I reckon I be staying in this 2-room flat till old age alone. So these facilities are quite useful for me in time to come. 

Click here to view HDB My Nice Home gallery. This is like an online interactive gallery to view different flats from 2-room to 5-room flat.

How to get there?
Just alight at Toa Payoh MRT station. It takes about 5 minutes to reach HDB hub. 
45 square metres 2-room showflat.

 36 square metres 2-room showflat.
Living room inside 45 sq m 2-room flat. For me I don't like black and white theme. I prefer Scandivanian style with lots of wood material and pastel colour. 
Kitchen inside 45 sq m 2-room flat.

  There is 1 toilet inside 45 sq m 2-room flat. 
Bedroom inside 45 sq m 2-room flat. 
This bedroom is small. Just enough space for a Queen size bed and wardrobes. For me I'll buy single bed, study table and a wardrobe. Living in the older 5-room flat, I'm used to spacious space. My current bed room has a single bed, 1 wardrobe, 3 bookshelves and  two study tables. My bedroom size is twice or triple the size of current bedroom in new flats.


Living room Inside 45 square metres 2-room showroom




 There is 1 toilet inside a 2-room flat. Not enough room for jacuzzi bathtub. 
This is the shelter room. Guess most people will use it for storage too. I can keep my luggage inside here.



 Inside the shelter room.

 Next, explore the 36 square metres 2-bedroom showflat.
 This is the living room in 36 square metres 2-room flat. I prefer wood tiles and Scandinavian design with pastel colour. 
 The bedroom is just behind the living room.
 The toilet don't have room for bathtub too.
 Inside the shelter room.
 I like this kitchen design with wood cabinet. I love wood material so if possible, I also want to have wood flooring.

Sunday, 13 August 2017

Penne Pasta Again!

I really like penne pasta so today I cook this delicious dish with garlic,tomato, mushroom, cream based sauce and cheese! I'm really happy with today dinner. Gotta pat myself on the back because I can cook delicious pasta besides instant noodles!

Wednesday, 9 August 2017

Singapore National Day 2017

Today is Singapore 52nd birthday. As usual, there be national day parade. This year, we just watch the show at home. 

Monday, 7 August 2017

Tian Tian Xiang Shang 天天向上

Gigantic and medium sized sculptures of Tian Tian Xiang Shang are currently on display at Raffles City shopping mall. Designed by a Hong Konger, this sculpture literally means always looking up. To me, it is about working hard for a better future. 

The smaller sculptures are in the shopping mall and the painting designs on the sculptures are done by others artists. 

At Raffles City shopping mall
Nearest MRT: Cityhall MRT Station








Saturday, 5 August 2017

Awesome Chocolate Ice-Cream at The Dark Gallery

I found a great chocolate ice-cream cafe at The Millennia Walk. One scoop of dark chocolate Signature 80% costs $5, $1 for the chocolate coated waffle bowl and $1 more for two toppings. Wow, I prefer this chocolate ice-cream compared to Godiva.



Tuesday, 1 August 2017

Beauty is All Around Us!

On my way to the bus stop near my home, I saw this beautiful unique flower near the bus stop at Tampines. Wow luckily I have my lumix camera to capture this beautiful flower I also saw a yellow butterfly near the flower! Anyone has any idea what is the name of this pretty flower?

Update: From Facebook Nature Society group, I learned that this pretty flower is Lantana  camara and the leave is poisonous. 

Thursday, 27 July 2017

Value for Money for Overseas Tour at Changi Recommends!

If you are planning your own trip and looking for value for money for overseas tour, you can go to Changi Recommends website to book overseas tour and even popular overseas attraction tickets. For example, it is much cheaper to buy HongKong Disneyland ticket at Changi Recommend then if you purchase in HongKong. I think its about $10 cheaper. 

Last year I went to Melbourne and booked a day trip at the Federation Square Tourist Visitor centre and it cost me about S$210.00. But at Changi Recommend, a similar tour only costs S$130.00 inclusive of lunch and gourmet tasting at Yarra Valley. This early September I be going to Melbourne again with my friend for 1 week free and easy tour. We be going to Philips island and Yarra valley. Yes this Melbourne trip is my third visit and most probably the last. Next year I might visit Switzerland instead..  

Besides overseas attraction, you can also purchase other travel related stuff like wi-fi, transport and SIM card. But you need to purchase online at the Changi recommends website. 

Website: http://attractions.changirecommends.com/australia