So… it’s ten days to you-know-what, and this year, you’re single. No sweat – if you haven’t gotten the memo, the stigma of being single on Valentine’s Day is well and truly disappearing, and thank God! Ditch any negativity that might still be lingering, and take the time to hang with your friends, or appreciate some well deserved “me” time. Here are five personal picks on what we would do.
1. Fried Chicken Fest
Specifically, Korean fried chicken. Of all days in the year, February 14 should be the one day when #treatyourself knows no bounds. So take a leap of faith (in your waistline) and calorie-splurge on a massive Korean fried chicken binge.
A personal favourite is Choo Choo Chicken, a humble establishment along Bali Lane that’s small but straight to the point, serving up light and flavourful fried chicken in four flavours: Original, Soy, Spicy, and Sweet. The menu is certainly not for the faint-hearted – the only options to order fried chicken are in 8pc/16pc portions ($15/$28), or an entire chicken $29.90). But the lightness of the chicken makes such guilty binging a lot easier, without compromising on the saucy marinade characteristic of Korean fried chicken.
Image from facebook.com/Choo-Choo-Chicken-츄츄
If you’re really up for a personal challenge, take on the fried chicken buffet at the more popular Chicken Up. For $25++ a person, it’s all-you-can-eat chicken and, get this, free flow truffle fries. Having personally tried it, yes, it is as insane as it sounds, but don’t be afraid to go all out – the chicken is hearty, flavourful, and worth the hike down to Tanjong Pagar. Just take care you don’t pass out.
Image from chicken-up.com
Choo Choo Chicken
Address: 33 Bali Lane, Singapore 189869
Opening hours: 11.30am – 11pm (Mon – Sun)
Chicken Up
Address: 48 Tanjong Pagar Road, #01-01, Singapore 088469
Opening hours: 5.30pm – 2am (Mon to Sun)
2. Go Fishing
Oh yes, us Nylon folk sure are alternative. While we aren’t suggesting you park your butt at East Coast Park for the day, what we are saying is to grab a friend and head down to Qian Hu Fish Farm, yonder in the north. As the island’s largest ornamental fish importer and exporter, Qian Hu is home to hundreds of species of fish that you can purchase as pets too. Spend the day ogling the insane variety of fighter fish, go pet-shopping, or take a farm tour to see the full range of what Qian Hu has to offer. But for a real good time, reminisce the good old kampong days and go “Long Kang fishing” at Qian Hu’s very own long kang pond. It’s the throwback of all throwbacks – for $6 per half an hour, you get a net and a fish tank to catch as many long kang fish as you can. Best part? You get to bring whatever you catch home at the end of the day. Mind you though, those little buggers swim fast.
Qian Hu Fish Farm Trading
Address: 71 Jalan Lekar, Singapore 698950
Opening hours: 10am – 6pm (Mon to Thurs)
Fishing charges: $6/person for 30min, $10/person for 60min
3. Carousell Closet Clean-out
Image from Carousell
Sounds a little mundane but hey, when better to do a little spring-cleaning right? Now that you’ve finally got a whole day to yourself, no more weaseling out of chores you’ve put off for the last year. And you might as well make some money out of one of the most commercialised holidays of the year – so take the day to overhaul your wardrobe, photograph it, and pop them onto Carousell. Remember, detox.
4. Spend the day in Punggol
Images from waterwaypoint.fraserscentrepointmalls.com and nparks.gov.sg
… What? Hear us out. With the newly opened Punggol Waterway Point, we’re expecting this northeastern heartland to see some new life, and soon. While the mall isn’t 100% open yet, it does boast a surprising variety of shops and amenities. For avid shoppers, you’ll be pleased to know that on top of your usual Cotton On and Factorie, there’s also H&M and Uniqlo available – a sure sign that this isn’t just some tatty old neighbourhood hangout! The real attraction here, though, is the 24-hr Shaw Theatres cinema, complete with ten halls and an IMAX theatre. Whew.
After checking out the mall, head over to Punggol Waterway Park – which you can cop a good view of over at Waterway Point – a huge riverine park that’s gorgeous to boot. Contrary to popular belief, the park is actually more than just the iconic red bridge that appears on so many Instagram feeds, and makes for nice grounds to stroll and just explore, especially when it cools down in the evening. Plus, once you’ve got your visual fill of the place, you can always head back to the mall for a late-night movie.
Waterway Point
Address: 306D Punggol Dr, Singapore 824306
Nearest MRT station: Punggol MRT
5. Netflix & Chill. Like, really chill.
Image from Netflix
Do we hear “TV Show Catch Up Time”? Believe it or not, “Netflix & chill” first started as an act of voluntary solitude, because… relaxing alone is actually fun. Shocker. But now that Netflix has arrived in Singapore, you’ll be able to join in on this exasperating catchphrase, whether or not you’ve got someone to chill with. And if anyone gives you flak for hiding in a blanket and binge watching shows the whole day, at least you can play the ‘single’ card.
Hooray for singleness!
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