Camping In Singapore, Pasir Ris Park

Camping In Singapore was a new milestone for us.

2D1N at Pasir Ris Park, and the packing activities started one night before.
As first timers, we did not want to forget something, so we brought everything out except the sink :p

Our camping barang barang. Besides the camping equipment, we packed in SPORTs too. Bikes, skateboard and soccer 🙂

Camping site secured, goods unloaded. We got two bikes and a skateboard for our supply runs (water and snacks).

Do a quick sweep for debris or broken glass, ensure you are not under coconut tree’s kill-zone!

Before we venture further, you need to register your camping interest at Nparks website (and get the AXS receipt) beforehand. Registration is free.

Once you arrive in designated “Area 1”, and identify your choice spot, proceed to setup camp.

1)Pull the four corner

2) Slide in the rods diagonally, more hands work faster.

3) The rods-intersection at the top (roof) will meet at 90 degrees, ensure a good knot so tent will not deform. We hold all four corners and bend the rods towards the ground (ready to be hammered in).

4) Knock the pins into the ground (with mallet or shoe) to secure the four corners. It can be windy and we do not want our tent to fly away.

5) Tata, our camping tent completed! The final step is to cover our roof with a “rain fly” shelter (blue colour), in case it rains.

We took 30 min to setup our camp and 15 min to pump the air beds.

Camping In Singapore

Time for some fun sports activities. Add Kites, swimming or hammock for more options. Waterbombs anyone? We spotted some otters too.

Meanwhile, Daddy took a short nap on his comfy sofa 🙂
I jokingly told the kids we had to rotate sentry duty.

Our camping furniture, the 4-legged seat is much more comfortable than the tripod seat. Mosquito coil and headlamp is a must, get an overhead lamp (30W should be bright enough) which can provide illumination from the roof.

Handphone’s flash light might be too glaring.

Our 8 men tent is spacious for our whole family. Enough legroom for 1.8m Daddy too 🙂
We would recommend a layer of tarmac for additional cushioning against rough floor, and perhaps protection against small rain. Have a small mat in front of entrance so kids will not bring sand into the tent.

Airbed is a must (not optional) if you are no longer a teenager, or unless you like the sensation of pricky mimosa or pebbles along your spine!

Toilet and shower facilities. We are in Singapore, so a lot of our creature comforts are readily available, including 4G, food and sanitation.

No wonder some say camping in Singapore is Glamping (Glamour + camp) hee hee.

Our zhi char (煮炒) dinner, delicious chicken wings to sweeten our virgin camping experience.

Surprisingly, the humble Maggi was the highlight for our camping trip. We did not BBQ this round, so a mini “campfire” with army-style mesh-tins got the kids excited!

Yummy Maggi and hotdogs, kids are glutton, blame it on all the nice food 🙂

Hope they do not assume all camping experience are always so “luxurious”, I will only pack sardines and jam+ bread for them next time.

大舅 visited us and brought durian supper haha, muffins from our lunch.

 

YEAH, our camp experience was a major success, securing 90% satisfaction from 5 out of 6 campers. (Shall not let you know who is less enthusiastic about outdoor camping)

Most of us love the GREAT Outdoor and Freedom!

No3 Yee still wish to zen out the morning chill.

Packing up, Pasir Ris Park is still very quiet, with the occasional joggers and cyclists.

 

Thumbs up for our camping experience,  I hope there will be many more “staycations” soon.

Video (Youtube link) : Teamwork 分工合作, we get everything done faster

Additional tips for Camping In Singapore :

– Number 1 rule, do not litter.
– Number 2, do not eat or fart inside the tent

– You can grab most of your camping needs at Decathlon, Beach Road or Winning.

– Camping cost (estimated): $125 8man camp, x1 Airbed $25, Pump $13

– If camping at Pasir Ris Park Area 1, nearest carpark is “Car Park A”  (GPS 1.379728, 103.959770). Car park rate 2230 to 0630 maximum $4, $0.50 per half hour other timings.

– Bring a trolley to cart your heavy baggage and equipment along

– Our staycation was too warm overnight, perhaps we should face the tent-opening towards the sea for additional breeze. Add 3 to 4 usb fans to ventilate the tent.

– This might be common sense, pitch in daylight and under shade. It will be challenging in low light to find the strings, hooks and alignment.

– #CommonSenseToo, ensure tent-opening facing away from BBQ fumes

– Go easy on the tent’s zip and anti-insect mesh, kids might pull too hard and jam the zippers

– Organise the Tent interior, food, toys, beds so everyone know where to find their stuffs. We would recommend phones and chargers to be kept in those waterproof 10l duffel bag (in case in rains at night)

– For security reason, adults should sleep nearest to tent entrance. In case someone goes to the wrong tent or kids sleep-walk or someone thought your bikes are OFO or Obike.

– Families might like to camp within 10 minutes walk to toilets, in case you need the loo at 3am

– Bring your camping permit with you, in case Police spot checks.
– Standby socks and pants or spare blanket in case weather turns cold

– Light sleeper bring ear plugs along. We were entertained by Aloha’s Karaoke till 2am and overly friendly (and loud neighbours) who were fishing till 3am!

– Wake up earlier the next day (like 5.45am) to catch a glorious sunrise

** Camping and hiking list for your reference.

Items to bring for camping
Items to bring for camping

 

First timers will struggle to setup a tent, it is not intuitive for me and there are no user manual.  You might take up to 60 minutes for first setup.

We had to hone our pitching skills at a Sengkang knoll before we went LIVE at Pasir Ris :p

Camping gear Singapore
Camping gear Singapore

Camping In Singapore had not cross our mind earlier, until we saw Tan family’s camping village! (read here and their helpful FAQs here). Hope to join them one day 🙂

– Pop by our first camping experience at White Sands shopping mall here
– More photos uploaded on Facebook album
– Instagram itinerary hashtag #skbCamping

Camping In Singapore is a FUN experience for our whole family. We would like to try camping at East Coast Park or Sentosa (available during 2017 Mar holidays) next.

 

Try water bomb during your next camping Fun water episode here 🙂

Village Hotel Bugis Staycation

[ Sponsored ]

We were invited to experience Village Hotel Bugis’ new kids themed room. Since it is the school holidays, we decided to extend our staycation one more night, so that we get to see more, do more and EAT more 🙂
Village hotel Bugis

Where do you want to go today? The neighbourhood around our hotel contains a lot of gems, would you love to explore Indian, Muslim (Arab) or Peranakan cultures? Let us provide a short orientation around our hotel, most attractions are within 15 minutes walk.

North East – Explore all the mural arts and cafes along Victoria street
East – Exotic Haji Lane, Arab and Muscat street. Walk another 10 minute to reach Army Market (Golden Mile).
South – Food desserts! Liang Seah, Purvis and Seah Street. Suntec City is just a slow 15 minutes walk.
West – Albert Centre (Hawker Centre), Bugis Junction, temples (Chinese and Indian)

Bugis Map

Run 2 km South to reach Singapore Flyer, and 3km to reach Gardens By the Bay 🙂
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Colourful kids themed room, bright and with cartoon wall paper. Hello hello, there is a cute puppy too 🙂
Family room Village hotel Bugis
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Love the attention to details, special kids-friendly toiletries.
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Decorative swan towels on our bed (connecting Deluxe room).
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Beautiful view from our connecting (Deluxe) room, do take note the kids’ room might offer minimum window view.
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Hotel Lobby, and more importantly Internet-access :p
village Hotel Bugis Staycation

Village Hotel Bugis is next to Golden Landmark shopping centre.
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We did 15 to 20k steps every day easily. Amazingly, our car stayed in the carpark throughout our staycation, everything on our Singapore itinerary was in close proximity 🙂
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Let us introduce you to two prominent landmarks around our hotel. You can spot them from every corner.

The colourful Green, Yellow, Blue and Red blocks at Rochor Centre has been appearing on instagrams. We can see the colourful landmark all around but alas they will be demolished Q4 2016 🙁
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Rochor Centre

You can see Sultan Mosque’s Golden Dome from every corner, it looks majestic day and night.
Sultan Mosque IG
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More landmarks along Rochor and Ophir Road.
walking trail Rochor road

If you need to venture further away, Bugis Station MRT is just 5 min away from Village Hotel Bugis. It takes just 35 min from Changi Airport MRT to Bugis station.

Explore Geylang, Vivocity, Orchard Road, or run to Sports hub. Take the MRT to Bras Basah and you will reach Art Museum, National Museum.
(To foreign visitors, nobody is selling Bras at Bras Basah MRT or Bras Basah Complex)
Mrt Bugis station

Rochor (Waterloo) is famous for Albert market, Kuan Inn Temples (四马路观音堂), and ice cream 🙂 Tourists would go for the trishaw rides.
Rochor road temple

Seems like Fu Lu Shou, Sim Lim Square, Sim Lim Tower and OG has been around the corner for decades.
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Bugis Junction, food and shopping galore.
Bugis junction
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Kampong Glam area is just one junction away. One of the highlight for our staycation is the various goodies at the Ramandan bazaar 🙂
Muscat Lane

After Iftar at Sultan Mosque, maybe Muslim families will settle their dinner along Muscat street.
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We will recommend the three dishes below (longest queue) but worth the wait. They are Beef noodles, Satay burger and Nasi Briyani (very spicy! )
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Malay Heritage Centre

Malay Heritage Centre, I feel like having a picnic on the green lawn (after the Month of Ramandan).
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Walk past Arab street to view the carpets and handicraft. You can visit Iraq and Afghanistan (Baghdad and Kandahar street respectively) in Singapore too 🙂
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Dinner time in our aircon “home”.
Pasar Malam near Sultan Mosque

Supper BK, it is pretty safe to walk 10 minutes towards Bugis Junction area for more food options.
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Adults prefer murtabak from Zam Zam, one junction away. This is where I get my Teh Tarik kick at 10pm too 🙂
zam zam murtabak

SengkangBabies Instagam photos are telling you 3D2N not enough!
Kampong Glam activities

Whether you are tourists who wish to immerse in Singapore’s multicultural diversity (Arts, Cultural, Spiritual, or Food), or Singaporean trying to find some gems around Kampong Glam. A Village Hotel Bugis staycation will be a good base to start your research and exploration 🙂

More tips about Village Hotel Bugis and attractions. Do visit this attractions nearby Village Bugis Hotel if you have the time.

– You can actually enroll for a cultural infusion session at Sultan Mosque, break fast together with our Muslim friends (review)
Thieves Market and famous Sungei Laksa
– Old school coffee (kopi), these two are my favourite aromatic kopi in Singapore. (Heap Seng Leong, PO 190010, 15min walk East) and (Keng Wah Sung, PO 389672, 3 MRT East to Paya Lebar then walk 5 min)

There are only two minor feedback from our stay:
a) Please lock the bathroom doors
b) Hotel can improve on rooms’ sound insulation

Thank you to Village Hotel Bugis (Far East Hospitality) for sponsoring 2D1N of our fantastic staycation. We were glad that we had extended one more night to explore the neighbouhood 🙂

Do follow StayFarEast on their Website and Fanpage.
You can find Village Hotel Bugis on Stay Village Website.

Address : 390 Victoria Street Singapore 188061
Deluxe room pricing : $195++ and $255++ (Weekday and weekend rates respectively)

Day 2 review here, more Photos are available on our Fanpage albums
Day 1 and Day 2