Jim's Articles

Arab Street perfume for awesome souvenirs from Singapore travel visits? Scents can be given to anyone; from a young spritely adult who works at a fast food joint to your sophisticated great grand aunt that lives across the street. It is unique and special either way. Fragrances are genderless depending on the perfume’s makeup. WIth this perspective, it’s the perfect gift for the gent at work or a woman on the go. An example of an androgynous perfume brand is Jo Malone. It caters to both sexes, since the brand’s scents are very neutral and unisex.

Few buildings have created such a stir in Singapore as the Esplanade. Opened in 2002, the eye-catching bayfront complex has been dubbed ‘the durians’ by locals because of its resemblance to the spiky (and stinky) tropical fruit. It’s the city’s most prominent performing arts centre and the programme bears an eclectic mix of Western and Eastern influences. Book a gig, concert or theatre show in advance and make a cultural evening of it. Marina Bay’s giant, 42-storey, 165m observation wheel continues to pull a mix of tourists and locals who come for the breathtaking, 360-degree views of the city available from one of its capsules. Each flight lasts 30 mintues and on a clear day the panorama from the top of the wheel stretches into neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia. If you fancy pimping your experience a bit, take a look at the dining and cocktail packages that are available.

Giving and receiving gifts in corporate firms is considered quite a norm these days. Whether it is to appreciate someone’s hard work or their association with your organisation, these gifts can help in strengthening the relationship adding new milestones. However, when it comes to finding the right gift for a large number of people, it can be a bit confusing. You will be giving it out to various people while ensuring that they all will like it and appreciate. Although there are tons of options only a handful of them are best for corporate gifting and miniature perfume sets are the best one in this category. Here is why? The dried flower buds of lavender have a light refreshing scent when burned. They’re often incorporated into ceremonies that are focused on peace, restful sleep and happiness. Lavender can be burned therapeutically to address insomnia, depression, grief, sorrow and anxiety. The branches of this evergreen were once used for temple purification rituals. Juniper is especially helpful to invigorate your mind and body when tired. It was also burned during the plague to resist illness.

Kampong Glam was the oldest urban quarter of the city and was established around 1822 by Sir Stamford Ruffles who allocated the area to the Malay, Arab and Bugis communities. The origin of name is from gelam tree. Gelam is the name of the wood used for the boat making, medicines and even for seasoning food. Sandalwood oil is supposed to be anti-inflmammatory, antispasmodic and soothing to skin and was used by almost all cultures. See more details on Arab Street.

Exploring Chinatown is one of the best things to do in Singapore, no matter how many times you’ve visited the city. It’s great for shopping – many swear you’ll find the cheapest souvenirs here – you’ll see all kind of important attractions and find plenty of authentic Chinese food. There are countless restaurants and hawker food vendors to choose from. Learn more about its history from the Chinatown Heritage Centre on Pagoda Street. Its main focus is on the Chinese immigrants who lived a hard life and were the main group of people who founded Singapore. Other attractions include Thian Hock Keng Temple, the oldest temple in Singapore, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Eu Yan Sang Chinese Medical Hall and Maxwell Road Food Centre.

Perhaps the most important name is its Chinese medicinal name: Heishanzhe. The Chinese herb Heishanzhe (A. rigida) is obtained from Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan. Chinese medicinal texts state that its roots and leaves relax muscles and joints, promote blood circulation and relieve pain, hence it is used to treat traumatic injuries and fractures. In Laos, leaves were used in making mats. In Thailand, the entire plant is used as a tonic to strengthen the body. Active Ingredients that made it medicinal are: 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 4- hydroxybenaldehyde and 4-methoxymethyl phenol.

Night Safari Singapore puts a new twist on the traditional zoo experience by introducing visitors to the nocturnal lives of the residents. The park’s habitats are divided into four sections, each with its own trail that lets you observe these elusive creatures as they go about their “day.” The Leopard Trail has, as expected, leopards, as well as lions, flying foxes, civets, and porcupines among other animals. The Fishing Cat Trail tours the habitat of animals native to Singapore, including the fish-loving felines, pangolin, binturong, and other species both common and endangered. East Lodge Trail features Malayan tigers and spotted hyenas, and the Wallaby Trail introduces visitors to the marsupials of Australia. Private tours, buggy rides, and educational sessions are available, as well as once in a lifetime experiences, like an Asian elephant feeding session. Find more information on singapore-memories.com.