Staycation in Singapore

Hotel 1929

Image credit: Hotel 1929

Image credit: Hotel 1929

Hotel 1929 is a cosy yet sophisticated boutique hotel overlooking Keong Saik Road. Its rooms assemble complementary classic and retro furniture pieces and some rooms even have their own private balconies. If you’re ready to splurge a little, opt for the terrace suite, which allows for an outdoor bath underneath the stars.

Estimated price: $110/night

2. Wanderlust Hotel

Image credit: Wanderlust Hotel 

Image credit: Wanderlust Hotel 

Wanderlust Hotel offers three different designer room palettes – Pantone, Mono and Whimsical. From treehouse themed rooms to futuristic capsule-like rooms in monochrome tones, it is going to be tough to decide on one to stay in.

Estimated price: $160/night

3. Lloyd’s Inn

Image credit: Lloyd’s Inn

Image credit: Lloyd’s Inn

Though minimalistic, the rooms in Lloyd’s Inn are extremely elegant. Some of its rooms are equipped with private outdoor areas surrounded with greenery – perfect for lazy afternoons spent reading a good book while basking under the sun.

Estimated price: $180/night

Also read: 10 Photoshoot Locations in Singapore That You Never Thought Of

4. Treehouse Villas @ Changi

Image credit: Nightintothesky

Image credit: Nightintothesky

If you wish for a therapeutic escape from the bustling city, consider a staycation at this Balinese-inspired villa. Located near Changi Beach and Changi Point Coastal Boardwalk, there are many recreation options around as well.
Note: Unfortunately, these villas can only be booked by SAF regulars. However, it is possible to get your friends from SAF to book for you without them having to check in.

Estimated price: $120/night

5. Quincy Hotel

Image credit: Stay Far East

Image credit: Stay Far East

Image credit: Stay Far East

Though slightly pricey, Quincy Hotel has one of the best perks a hotel can offer – free breakfast, lunch, dinner, all-day complimentary pastries and everything from the mini bar! Quincy also has a Qool Weekend Staycation package, which is the perfect deal for couples. In addition to a free bottle of wine, couples can participate in activities including couple art jamming classes, movie nights in the pool and cup cake baking sessions. Yep, worth every cent.

Estimated price: $250/night

6. Moon 23 Hotel

Image credit: John Brunton

Image credit: Moon 23

Despite its cheap rates, this contemporary boutique hotel has a classy touch to it. It also has one of the swankiest hotel lobbies around, which doubles up as a bar in the evening. Guests are entitled to a free cocktail from the bar as well!

Estimated price: $110/night

7. Kranji Farm Resort

Image credit: Channels World of Hotels

Image credit: Channels World of Hotels

Fancy a staycation in a farm? Yes, this farm actually has their own villas. For recreational activities, guests can visit Kranji’s Farm Resort’s fishing village and outdoor beer garden. This kampong style staycation is going to be an unusual yet exciting experience.

Estimated price: $170/night

Also read: 7 Long Weekends in Singapore in 2016 (Bonus Planner & Cheatsheet)

8. New Majestic Hotel

Image credit: New Majestic Hotel

 

Image credit: New Majestic Hotel

New Majestic Hotel holds 30 rooms and each of them is uniquely different. They have mini-loft style rooms, rooms with private gardens and even one with an aquarium bathtub seated in the middle. New Majestic Hotel also prides themselves for their extra luxurious and comfortable beds, which use ploh bedding, whatever that means.

Estimated price: $220/night

9. The Champion

Image credit: Champion Hotel

Image credit: Champion Hotel 

Heads up Sanrio fans! The Champion is famous for its Cartoon Room, which is thoroughly decked in Hello Kitty merchandise and decors (even the towels). The Champion also offers other rooms which are stylish yet reasonably priced.

Estimated price: $130/night

10. 5 Footway Inn – Project Boat Quay

Image credit: Malcolm Sunny 

Image credit: 5 Footway Inn 

Besides boutique hotels, there are also many fancy and inexpensive hostels in Singapore where you can have your staycation as most of them have the option of private rooms. 5 Footway Inn is the largest hostel chain in Singapore and the outlet at Boat Quay is its newest one. From some of the rooms’ balconies, guests can even catch a scenic view of downtown Singapore including the iconic Marina Bay Sands.

Estimated price: $70/night (private room)

Tofu Hamburger Steak

Tofu Hamburger Steak

Ingredients

• 200g Tofu
• 300g ground beef
• 1/2 cup Panko
• 1/2 tsp salt
• pepper
• 1 Tbsp oil
• 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
• 2 Tbsp Mirin
• 2 Tbsp Sake
• 3 Tbsp water
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• thinly sliced green onions

Instructions

1. Put Tofu, ground beef, Panko, salt and pepper in a large bowl and mix very well. Divide into 4 pieces and shape into oval patties. 
2. Heat a frying pan at medium high heat with oil. Place patties in the pan and cook for 4-5 minutes. Turn them, lower heat, and cook another 4-5 minutes covered.
3. While cooking the meat, make the sauce. In a small bowl, mix Soy Sauce, Mirin, Sake, water, and cornstarch. 
4. Add prepared sauce in the pan and cook until the sauce thickens. Serve with green onions.

Butter cakes receipe

(Recipe by Fiona Lau, founder of baking blog Baking's Corner)

Ingredients:

Makes one butter cake, 8' in diameter

• 250g Salted / Unsalted Cold SCS Butter (Cut into cubes)
• 5 eggs
• 200g sugar
• 220g self-raising flour
• 1 vanilla bean, seed scraped (Alternatively, use 1tsp of vanilla extract)
• 50g whipping cream (optional)

Method:

Pre-heat oven at 160 deg C to 170 deg C.

Separate the eggs and place the egg whites into a bowl. Beat the egg whites with sugar to form stiff peaks and put it aside.

Cream the butter until pale and white and add vanilla seeds / extract.

Put in egg yolks one by one into the creamed butter, followed by whipping cream.

Put half of the beaten egg whites and mix well before folding the balance into the mixture.

Once done, put in the flour and mix them well.

Pour batter into a pan. Tap the batter hard for at least four times before placing them into the oven to remove the air trapped in the mix. This ensures that air pockets are removed when baked.

Bake for 70 minutes.

Pineapple tart receipe

(Recipe by Fiona Lau, founder of baking blog Baking's Corner)

Ingredients:

• 200g All Purpose Flour
• 200g Cake Flour
• 80g Milk powder
• 20g Corn flour
• 70g Icing sugar
• 2 Egg yolk (small eggs)
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract plus
• 4 drop of Egg yellow coloring
• 300g SCS butter (Cold cut)
• 1 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1kg Pineapple roll into a small ball about 10g each (At your own choice)

Method:

In a large bowl, sift in plain flour, corn flour and icing sugar, mix well. Cut in butter and rub with fingertips until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Make a well, add egg yolk with some water and vanilla extract and bind the ingredients to a soft dough (Do not over knead). Add a little extra flour if dough is too soft.

Place dough in the fridge for 20 - 30 minutes.

Remove dough from the fridge. Roll pastry between two plastic sheets to about 5mm thickness.

Cut into shape with a pineapple tart mold and fill the center of tart with pineapple jam.

Place in baking tray and bake for 20 - 25 minutes at preheated oven 175 deg C.

Cool tarts on wire rack and store in an airtight container. The pineapple tarts can last up to 6 month or more.

Letter to NUH quality manager

My mum Wan Soo Ha died on 30Dec2015 of colorectal cancer in NUH ward 58, bed 32. She was admitted to hospital on 3Nov2015. My family and I would like to express our special thanks to the ward sisters, nurses, doctors, medical social worker Vivian and other hospital staff who helped to take care of my mum during her most difficult and painful period in her life. 

My mum was asked to go to the hospice but NUH allowed her to stay till her last moments. We were touched by the nurses attentive care during her last moments to manage and control her pain, and to clean and change her to make her feel comfortable. My mum had always been very independent. She lived alone since my dad passed away. The cancer illness had entirely destroyed her health, mobility and her quality of life. She couldn't eat or drink during her last days. 

During the cancer treatment, her oncologist doctor, Dr Ho Jing Shan did not talk to us how my mum's body would react if she stopped chemo treatment and her cancer illness deteriorated. My mum took it badly mentally when her physical body deteriorated when she stopped her cancer treatment and had to be admitted in hospital. Initially, she was hopeful that she could be discharged. Towards her end, when she knew it was impossible for her to discharge, she was depressed and wanted a quicker death. 

I hope all terminally ill cancer patients who are currently undergoing cancer treatment in NUH would receive palliative care at the same time. It would help them and their family members prepare themselves better when they face death eventually. 

Thank you. 

Roasted black pepper chicken

This dish can be prepared with or without the glutinous rice stuffing according to personal preference. The glutinous rice recipe provided also makes for a delicious standalone dish if not used as a stuffing!

Ingredients for glutinous rice stuffing (optional):

• 300g white glutinous rice
• 40g dried prawns
• 3 dried mushrooms (soaked, shredded)
• 1 Chinese sausage (sliced, microwave for 30secs)
• 3 shallots (sliced)        
• 1 knob ginger (sliced)
• 1 stalk Chinese parsley (cut)
• 2 tbsp oil

Sauce for glutinous rice stuffing:

• 1 tsp pepper
• ½ tsp sugar
• ¾ tsp salt
• 1 tsp light soya sauce
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• ½  tsp dark soya sauce
• 1 tbsp shallot

Steps for glutinous rice stuffing:

• Soaked glutinous rice with 2 cups water for 2-3 hrs.
• Cook shallot with 2 tbsp oil on High power in a microwave oven for about 3 mins, till golden brown, uncovered. (Stir-in-between)
• Cook dried prawns on High power for  1 min, next add 1 tbsp shallot oil and cook for another 1-1½ mins, uncovered (using microwave oven to cook)
• Cook glutinous rice, Chinese sausage, mushroom, dried prawns, ginger, sauce  and some golden brown shallot together with water, set to delicious  mode, next press start. ( stir-in-between cooking time)
• When ready, stir in Chinese parsley and golden brown shallot.

Ingredients for chicken:

• 1.4 kg chicken
• 1 ¾ tsp salt
• 1½ tbsp black pepper
• ½ tsp sugar
• 1 tsp dark soya sauce
• 1 tsp light soya sauce
• 2 tsp sesame oil
• 2 tsp ginger juice
• Honey (use for glazing)        
• Some oil and sesame oil for brushing

Steps for roast chicken:

• Wash chicken, pierce skin, pat dry with kitchen towel.
• Seasoned chicken with above ingredients for at least 2 hrs or overnight.
• Stuff chicken with cooked glutinous rice (optional).
• Brushed chicken with oil, place on rack so as to allow the underside to brown.
• If using Panasonic microwave steam oven, set to "Roast chicken" pad, key in weight of chicken, and press "Start" pad. (No pre-heat required, turn over at ½ time). If using regular microwave oven, preheat at about 200 degree celsius, and roast for approximately 45 minutes, turning over at ½ time.
• When ready, glaze with honey.

End of life timeline

Timeline for End-of-Life Changes:

One to Three Months 
     • Decreased desire for food
     • Increased desire for sleep
     • Withdrawal from people and the environment

One to Two Weeks
    • Even more sleep
    • Confusion
    • Restlessness
    • Vision-like experiences
    • Change in temperature, respiration, pulse, and blood pressure
    • Congestion
    • Not eating

Days or Hours
    • Surge of energy
    • Decreased blood pressure
    • Glassy, teary eyes
    • Half-opened eyes
    • Irregular breathing
    • Increased restlessness
    • Cold, purple, blotchy feet and hands
    • Weak pulse
    • Decreased urine output

Minutes
    • Gasping breathing
    • No awakening