Whether they admit it or not, most people get a twinge of satisfaction after seeing the likes stack up on their perfectly composed image on Instagram. Singaporeans, in particular, are one of the most avid users of social media and with a city brimming with insane architecture and diverse cultural artefacts, it’s quite easy to see why. That said, we’ve rounded up some of the cool and quirky places to snap the Instagram photos of your social-media dreams, while having a great time in the process.

1. Clarke Quay

Clarke Quay is simply a kaleidoscopic mix of colonial Singapore and futuristic skyscrapers. Once known as a centre place of the local trade, it has now turned into a haven for foodies who enjoy relaxing outdoor drinks in bars and restaurants.

Going on a trip from Clarke Quay to Marina Bay would also be a good idea if you want to capture that perfect lens flare between the buildings or the otters that live in the waterways.

2. Koon Seng Road

After capturing the modern side of the city, it’s now time to juxtapose your Instagram feed with a bit of colonial history by strolling in the colourful Koon Seng Road. The block is a stretch of rainbow-coloured buildings showcasing the influence of the East and West in their architectural style. The northern side of the street is considered as the most picturesque, so visiting the place in the morning will allow you to snap the sun perfectly hitting the façades.

3. Cloud Forest in Gardens by the Bay

Time to celebrate and take amazing snaps of the trademarked Singaporean ingenuity by visiting the Cloud Forest at the Gardens by the Bay. Like something out of the movie Avatar, you get to see sky-bridges float over the lush rainforests and waterfalls splashing all around you, all housed in sci-fi movie inspired bio-dome. Although it’s a popular attraction among photographers, there are endless crannies and nooks that you can check to get your own original shot.

4. Palawan Beach, Sentosa

The three main beaches located in Sentosa Island are Tanjong, Siloso and Palawan, each with their unique characteristics. Siloso beach is for the more adventurous locals and tourists with its manmade whirlpools and waves, while Tanjong caters to the city’s elite group with its popular Tanjong Beach Club. If you’re a photography enthusiast, however, then Palawan beach is for you. The Robinson Crusoe vibe of its rope bridge is definitely a good addition to your feed.

5. Singapore Flyer

You’ve probably sized this up as some kind of a tourist trap but we assure you that it’ll surprise you with the absolutely stunning scenery that it offers. So enjoy it and you’ll be rewarded with a snap that’ll surely make your followers hit the ‘like’ button.

With its amazing sceneries, getting an Instagram-worthy photo in Singapore isn’t that difficult. So go ahead, capture some great photos and enjoy these places at the same time.

 

Without maps, we will never arrive at our desired destination. In the age of land discoveries, maps were important tools in showing the rivers, mountains and streets in a particular area. Though it is a chart, no one should underestimate its function. Maps are representations of both the past and the present.

Singaporeans value maps thereby the creation of a new mobile application called The One Historical Map. The application was designed and developed by Singapore Land Authority (SLA). It was launched on December 4, 2015 at the National Design Centre.

The goal of the app is to give users idea or picture of the island city’s ever changing landscape. Users can now compare the past streets with the current ones. It features more than three hundred pre-loaded geo-tagged pictures. The National Heritage Board curated the two hundred pictures while the other one hundred were put together by enthusiasts and supporters.

The users are also invited to support the application by taking pictures and uploading it to share with the public. The app is useful when we are trying to locate places and it does not end there because there is an element of discovery which makes the application more exciting and fun.

However, there is one challenge that we should seriously look into – since information will be coming from crowd-sources, the information provided should be accurate and controlled. Developers hope that the app could stimulate interest among Singaporeans and encourage conversations about our heritage and history.

The SLA is looking forward for more collaboration in the near future. The app may be downloaded from their wwbsite. For now, it is only available for Android users but iOS versions will be released soon.