Who doesn’t love to travel? But sadly, not all of us can afford to trot the globe whenever we wish. While you’re saving up for that big romantic gesture overseas, these travel-in-situ date ideas should help satisfy your wanderlust in any season.
Pretend you’re in Japan at this secret scenic spot
Okay, it’s not really a secret, but Singapore Quarry is arguably one of the ‘roads less travelled by’, as poet Robert Frost once opined. You’re probably familiar with Little Guilin at Bukit Batok Town Park or the disused quarries on Pulau Ubin, but are you aware of this one within Dairy Farm Nature Park in Bukit Timah?
Just a five-minute walk from Rail Mall, this former granite quarry surrounded by lush greenery is ideal for a romantic date. Between the imposing cliffs and the picturesque oasis, it’s easy to imagine yourselves in more exotic locales beyond our shores. Walk hand in hand on the wooden deck and capture stunning shots for the ‘gram. You might even spot gorgeous birds and wildlife along the way.
Does the lake look really inviting? Don’t jump in! Get your splash on at Wild Wild Wet instead, because SAFRA members enjoy 10% off Day Passes. Find out more at safra.sg/promotions/wild-wild-wet
100 Dairy Farm Road, Singapore 679057; nparks.gov.sg
Eat your way through Taiwan’s night markets in Singapore
According to Skyscanner’s 2024 Travel Trends report, Taipei ranks third on the top 10 destinations for Singapore travellers with the biggest year-on-year increase in searches. But if rising inflation means it’ll be a while before you can visit its iconic night markets, don’t fret. Take your beloved to TaiWan Night Markets at Cineleisure instead.
Presenting the highlights of Taiwanese street food culture, it’s a foodcourt where you get to satisfy all your cravings under one roof. And you don’t even have to wait till the evening. Fill up on oyster mee sua and Taiwanese sausage with sticky rice. Or snack on scallion pancakes and QQ sweet potato balls. Don’t miss the famous Super Nutritious Sandwich and Taipei Bridge Oil Rice too!
Need a Taiwanese bubble tea fix? Then you’ll be glad to know that SAFRA members enjoy 5% off at most Gong Cha outlets. Find out more at safra.sg/promotions/gongcha
#B1-01 Cineleisure, 8 Grange Road, Singapore 239695; taiwannightmarkets.com
Tour a farm like in Italy or New Zealand
It’s no surprise that city slickers like us look for farmstays when we travel. After all, how else are we supposed to learn to appreciate where our food comes from? But as appealing as thoughts of harvesting olives or plucking grapes are, such idyllic trips can cost a fair penny. Thankfully, an affordable alternative awaits at Singapore’s very first sustainable urban farm.
Open Farm Community conducts farm tours on most Fridays and Saturdays. Each tour takes just about 30 minutes, after which you can savour some of the produce you encounter. The true farm-to-table dining experience is not only meaningful, but is also a multi-sensorial one, where you get to touch, smell and taste homegrown herbs and vegetables.
130E Minden Road, Singapore 248819; openfarmcommunity.com/farm-tour
Immerse in K-pop culture with a photo shoot
These days, all you need are a few camera tricks, the right backdrops and some clever props to simulate your #travelgoals on Instagram and TikTok. And thanks to DIY photobooth concepts like Solace Studios, you don’t even need a fancy DSLR camera. Ready to get creative and cosy up in front of the camera?
For the most options, head to their newest outlet at 73 Haji Lane, which boasts tons of props and nine photobooths over two levels. You can even recreate elevator scenes from your favourite K-drama. Kawaii-fy your photos with adorable 4-cut photo strips designed by local artist, avocagoh for the perfect date souvenir.
Spiffy up before you meet your date for a photoshoot – SAFRA members enjoy 20% off services at Splice Barbershop. Find out more at safra.sg/promotions/splicebarbershop
73 & 30 Haji Lane & #02-90 Lucky Plaza; instagram.com/solacestudios.sg
Gaze at the galaxy at the Andromeda Observatory
Extra-terrestrial leisure travel may be out of reach for mere mortals for now, but don’t let that stop you from exploring outer space from a distance. You may be familiar with Science Centre Singapore’s observatory, but did you know that there’s one in Woodlands too? In fact, Woodlands Galaxy CC is home to the second largest telescope in Singapore.
For just $1 per person, you can visit the Andromeda Observatory on Friday nights from 7.30 to 9.30 pm, barring inclement weather. There, you can peer through the 3000 mm telescope and see if you can identify the Milky Way or each other’s astrological sign. It doesn’t get much more romantic than that, surely.
Learn more about our universe with a subscription to National Geographic Magazine. SAFRA members enjoy up to 45% off. Find out more at safra.sg/promotions/national-geographic-magazine
31 Woodlands Avenue 6; bio.site/galaxyastroclub
Go back in time with a movie under the stars
A few generations back, open-air drive-in movie theatres were a popular date night option for paktor-ing couples. Why not turn back the clock with Nightflix Somerset? This initiative by *SCAPE takes place on the first Saturday of every month from 7:30pm at the Somerset Youth Park, and it’s not only free, but even includes free popcorn and ice cream!
Simply register for each screening to secure your spot and bring along a picnic mat or folding chairs. Don’t forget headphones too, because you’ll be enjoying a ‘silent’ movie – instead of contributing to sound pollution! The movie titles will be released online each month. Recent screenings include Legally Blonde in March, and 500 Days of Summer earlier this month.
Want to catch a new release instead? SAFRA members enjoy special discounts on MovieMax Member rates and Combo Sets at Shaw Theatres, while SAFRA NSF get discounted movie tickets and combo sets every Tuesday. Find out more at safra.sg/promotions/shaw-theatres and safra.sg/promotions/nsf-tuesday-movie-special
121 Somerset Road; scape.sg/event/nightflix
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