What is your ideal summer? Many Singaporeans consider living in luxury and indulge in good things. There is nothing wrong with that but this means expensive things. This is not a problem for people with tons of money but what about those who want pampering for less? The good news is that these people can find a cheerful yet cheap getaway.

If a cheerful yet cheap getaway means beach this coming summer, there are plenty of places that you can consider for quick recharge. By cheap it means less than S$140 a night. What are you waiting for? It is time to pack your bags, file that long overdue vacation leave and start pampering yourself. Here are some beaches destinations that you need to consider:

• Federal Villa Beach Resort: Federal Villa Beach Resort is located in Langkawi, Malaysia. It is famous for its easy access to a great stretch of beach not to mention the spectacular Andaman Sea view. The resort offers world-class facilities like fitness centres, tennis courts, playgrounds and swimming pool. It does not end there because they also offer an open air Jacuzzi. This sounds expensive but it is quite the opposite. The beach resort offers seventy seven rooms and is great for people who want to relax in a laidback time.
• Thavorn Beach Village and Spa: Thavorn Beach Village and Spa is in Phuket, Thailand. Phuket is popular tourist destination and there are plenty of hidden treasures like the Thavorn Beach Village and Spa. As the name suggests, it is like a village with six bars and restaurants. The village is also equipped with large rooms, sports facilities and the like. If you are bored, you can head to Patong for night life and shopping.

• The Tamarind Sihanoukville: The Tamarind Sihanoukville is in Cambodia. When in Cambodia, tourists tend to gather to see their temples but you have to know that the country also offers wonderful beaches. The Tamarind is close to Occheuteal Beach and plenty of action there from different restaurants.
• Vinh Hung Emerald Resort: The resort is nestled in Hoi An, Vietnam. It is different from other resorts because it offers a little bit of everything from shiatsu massages to fitness classes not to mention their stunning swimming pool. It does not end there because the resort also nestles heritage buildings. The good news is that it is not that expensive so you won’t go home with an empty bank account.
• The Hualien Sugar Factory Hotel: The hotel is located in Hualien, Taiwan. This hotel is unique because it is surrounded by historical buildings. The hotel was influenced by Japanese. The hotel was first home to Japanese employees of the factory. Now, the hotel offers guided tours and features lemongrass. The hotel is a sanctuary from the hustle bustle of the metropolis.

There you go. These five place can provide solace if only for the meantime. When you go back to work, you will be a renewed person. Before flying there, make sure that you arranged everything so you won’t be stressed out. Have a good time!

Ever feel like escaping the limelight of the city? Well, probably everybody does. Once in a while we want to break free from all the stress and fatigue that we want to disappear for a while and be in the state of rest and relaxation. Reading this will make you free from all worries and anxieties and just be in union with yourself and nature.

1. Sentosa Island. Just off the coast of the mainland, this beautiful sanctuary depicts a life of the old centuries and of the new generation. Its history is what makes it gorgeous. Its tremendous picturesque physique is to die for. This is one of the few places realists and dreamers go to be able to escape the realm of reality.
2. Orchid Garden. Wildlife flowers really takes the ache from heartbreak. Its magical colors and fragrant scents makes the sexiest curve on your body visible- your smile. Nothing could be greater than being in the midst of such an optimistic aura in a garden of orchids. Its immense natural beauty will drive you to the top of the happiness train. The crisp rays of sunlight reflecting on the exuberating creations surely pleases everyone’s eyesight.
3. The Merlion. For many people it may only be a statue but it’s not. It is what truly symbolizes the magnificent Singapore. It is definitely a tourist attraction. It is a “must” to stop by this scenic historical monument before departing from the country. This water-spouting beauty has brought awe and wonder across the globe, situated at Merlion Park in the picturesque Marina Bay. Who could ask for more?
4. Singapore Night Safari. Unusual for its “ZOO” features, this unique attraction has been the outlet of the conservation of a number of species. It showcases 1000 animals from around the globe, in 59 exhibitions. This is your place to be if you love the night life, a glimpse of the nocturnal animals is its best asset. People from different parts of the continent always drop by and see the beauty and joy these wildlife animals are able to share to mankind. Amazing, really.
5. Singapore History Museum. Learning a foreign country is very educational and interesting, what more learning our very own cultural prodigies? Situated in a very impressive locale at the city, this Historical museum showcases the natural history collection of Southeast Asia including its ethnology and archaeology collections. Housed in a very elegant and sophisticated architectural building, the Singapore History Museum in all modesty deliberately manifests the rich heritage of the natives of Singapore. An experience you will never forget, guaranteed.
6. River Safari. The highly prestigious, one of a kind river themed wildlife waterpark in the whole of Asia that has tremendous adventures and fun-filled activities to offer. It is child-friendly and very impressive to look at especially when experienced intimately. This gorgeous and most visited park is loved by so many that it becomes more of a habitual experience rather than a one-time thing. The wonder and thrill it provides to tourists and adventure-seekers is remarkable, making it one of Singapore’s glorified work of art.
7. S E A Aquarium. Be amazed and intrigued at the same time as we venture into the gates of the largest aquarium in the world. This awesome aquarium is also considered a zoo. With a large amount of interesting animals and a number of endangered animal wildlife this underwater zoo has been phenomenal. Many people who have visited this wonderful creation describe it as “insightful, and very much like walking on the grounds of the seabed.”
8. Helix Bridge. The most recent yet perfected double-helix inspired bridge that has been the talk of the town. A remarkable view overlooking the Singapore skyline and special hosted events occurring in the Marina Bay. This DNA pedestrian bridge as they call it, is architecturally flawless and will be the next big thing in Singapore. So visit now for a time of leisure and exploration that will bring your expectations to its highest point.
9. Mount Faber. It is a stunning and frequently visited tourist destination in the country. This scenic Mountain View spot has been the home of many satisfied tourists. Its beautiful landscape can be used as a backdrop for photo enthusiasts. It is definitely something worthwhile.

Staying healthy and fit is a stumbling goal for everyone especially living a life in a fast paced society. Eating plenty of foods to keep you healthy and replenished seems to be an impossible job for everyone because eating a full meal takes a lot of time to prepare and time is obviously a luxury that everyone can afford. This is the reason why most people tend to settle into fast food meals on a daily basis.

With this fast rising trend in fast food and light meals, nutrition becomes a problem that most people face today. Some may even settle for prepared and canned foods as their primary food source from their day to day activity which is obviously not healthy and never a good thing for their health. But who says that eating healthy food is always time consuming? Here are 5 foods that are easy to prepare and you can eat on a daily basis to keep you healthy and nourished:

1. An egg a day makes you nourished all the way

Who doesn’t like to have a perfect sunny side up in their plate for a morning meal? No one I believe. But eating eggs is more than a beauty on a plate and a satisfying sight but it gives you a lot of benefits to keep you nourished all the way. Scientifically, eggs are proven to be a very good source of a lot of nutrients and minerals to help you fueled up in your whole day activity. When you eat an egg it helps you prevent eating mini in between meals along the day that prevents you from gaining too much weight.

2. Be like Popeye – eat spinach every day

The iconic Popeye – a cartoon character who eats spinach as his power booster is generally not a make-believe but it is certified and a confirmed truth. According to research, the sweet green leaf of spinach is packed with a lot of iron. Not only iron, but this is also full of nutrients and vitamins like Vitamins A, C and E, calcium and even folic acid. Imagine the richness of eating a portion of spinach a day, and you are good to go for the rest of your daily activities! Plus, spinach can be cooked in a thousand ways, it can be eaten fresh, boiled, baked or any other means you can possibly imagine!

3. Papaya makes you go oh la la!

One of the best fruits I had ever eaten in my life is papaya – and not that it’s only delicious but also full of nutrients. Papaya contains enzyme papain, this enzyme is good for you to help aid in your digestion. It also contains amount of folate, potassium, antioxidants and daily dose of vitamins C and E. It can also be eaten best when fresh and raw, and mostly used in salad and curries. Just how fun it is to eat something delicious while being nourished at the same time right?

4. Oats – I did it again

If you are not much of fan of eating rice, consider adding a spoonful or two of oats on a regular basis. It has been proven that eating oats helps in lowering cholesterol and blood pressure which is very helpful for the young and adults who have a load of work to do and needs to be well ready for their daily activity. Also, oats decreased the risk for heart disease. Daily intake of oatmeal helps lower the body’s blood pressure by about five percent giving anyone who choose to eat oats the benefit of having lower chances of heart disease. So what are you waiting for? Next time you have your breakfast, try to add up a spoonful or a bowl of oats to make your day more nourishing and keep you healthier.

5. Bean here – bean that – bean all day

There are a lot of beans that can be bought in our market today, but did you know how healthy beans are? Beans are said to be magical fruit, magical in the sense that they say the more beans you eat, the more soluble fiber you get. Imagine the cleansing ability. It helps your body to allow the disposal before it sticks and harms your body. Not only that, it also keeps you young because of the presence of antioxidants body. Life can never be better without you taking even a cupful of bean a day. There is nothing to lose but so much to gain!

Friends… They say it is the family we choose for ourselves. The family that though we may not share the same blood, but the family that beats the same heart. They are the people you can lean on in times of distress – the ones you will share some of the best and even worsts moments in your life.

Friendship is a gift – a wonderful kind that stay and lasts your whole life. In our life, we meet a lot of people, some of them stays for a bit and then leaves, while some stays forever, and usually they are the ones we thought would never stay. Isn’t it nice to look into our lives and see the people who sticks around us whenever we are up and we are down? To help you, here are the five kinds of friends you will meet or have in your life;

1. Not just a friend – but a best friend!

The best among them all! We all have the friend who we feel as if they are our brothers or sisters from another mother. They are usually what we refer as our best friend. They are the kind of friend where you can totally be you and share everything that you want – may it be your frustrations, your biggest dream, your scariest nightmare, or your farthest dreams!

They are the ones you can tell all. They know you for who you truly are and you also know them exactly the way they know you. You treat each other like sisters or brothers because they are not just mere friends to you but you see them as your extended family, one you can always depend on.

2. The crazy friend who will bring sunshine into your life

She’s your source of positivity. This is the kind of friend where you expect nothing from him or her but all fun and happiness. They are as if the ambassador of joyfulness because when you are around them, you can totally have fun with basically everything! They are your bundles of joy. They are always there to cheer you up. It is the kind of friend where you get most motivation and encouragement all the time. They tend to be more of a light side than make you feel burdened.

3. I’m-your-other-mother kind of friend

This is the kind of friend that gives you advices for free! Just like what our mothers usually do. They try to be the realist in terms of everything – they don’t pamper you with good things but they give you the glimpse of life as the reality it is. They tend to remind you of the basic do’s and don’ts in your life.

They are somehow the best kind of friend you could ever have because they may hit you hard – at least you know for a fact that they are just too emotionally connected to you that they care. It is the best feeling to have friends like this – and usually they are your mama’s favorite!

4. The one who only appears on rare events

They are the kind of friends who appears occasionally. These are the ones you don’t get to spend most of the time, maybe because it is of the distance or the difficult schedules you and your friend have. They are not usually around in most occasions and events in your life – they are the ones who always bailed out in every event. But they are still your friend because you understand that though they are not around at all times, you know you can talk to them whenever you need someone to talk too or the other way around. It is still nice to keep friends like this.

5. The walking rain cloud kind of friend

The one with exploding negativity! If we have the all-out positivity- kind of friend, we also have that one friend who makes us realize all the dark sides of every aspect in the issues of our lives. They are the ones who usually reminds us of the negative and bad consequences that might happen to us when we do certain things.

They also have this power to convince us that things aren’t that happy at all and that at certain point in our lives, we will have to cry and be hurt and be broken inside. They don’t pamper us too much with satisfying words, but gives us the glimpse of the dark side of the reality which helps us become more ready for the things ahead. Friends like this are for keeps!

An adventurous travel is good for the body and soul. It lets you relish on authentic experiences as you get to know  new people, get more physically active, and most importantly leave all your worries behind. If you’re still unsure as to which place to  explore for your next trip, here are some of the cool  destinations that’ll surely  please the gypsy soul in you.

1. Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Niagara Falls on the border of Canada and New York State may be a popular tourist destination, but the Victoria Falls in the North Province of Zimbabwe is much bigger and more impressive. The historic waterfall has been gushing for more than two million years, is a mile wide, , and more than 330 feet high.

Adventurous travellers will surely have no shortage of activities to do in this  place to keep their adrenaline through the roof. Aside from viewing the falls, Singapore vacationers can also go bungee jumping, water rafting, rappelling, or zip lining. They can also go on an elephant-back ride or simply walk with the lions.

2. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

A trip to Serengeti isn’t the same as another week in Jersey Shore – it’s literally about as wild as it gets. Situated in the northern part of Tanzania, south of Africa’s Equator, Serengeti is far less crowded than other wildlife parks – with an average of no more than a hundred thousand visitors  each year.

Serengeti is just the perfect travel destination if you’re looking forward to see buffalos, crocodiles, gazelles, lions, wildebeests, and zebras. You also get to choose whether to  tour the place via their service vehicle or on a breathtaking hot-air balloon ride. If you’re interested in seeing the wildebeest’s mass migration, schedule your trip anywhere between December and July. But if catching a glimpse of the king of the wild is your preference, we suggest visiting the place between June and October.

3. Copper Canyon, Mexico

A trek in Grand Canyon is just a warm-up for a trail in Copper Canyon of Mexico. Made up of not less than 20 canyons and a dozen rivers, Copper Canyon is seven times bigger the size of Arizona’s Grand Canyon. You can explore the canyons by foot, by train, or while white-water rafting. The train running through Copper Canyon is also an impressive project on its own as it passes through 86 tunnels and over 39 bridges.

In addition to its natural wonders, the indigenous people living in the terrains surrounding the canyons are also worth  visiting. Tourists can  witness the festivities and way of life of the natives  of Tarahumara Mountains.

4. Thimphu, Bhutan

Bhutan is a small Hindu-Buddhist  country nestled in the mountains between the eastern arm of India and China. This Southern Asian country is just about half the size of the Indiana state, with a population of less than a million people. Bhutan was once known as  a mysterious land way before 1960’s. No foreign visitors attempted to explore the country since  the only way to get to the  land is to travel by foot. Fortunately, over the years, airports and road infrastructures  were slowly constructed, opening the doors of Bhutan for travellers and adventurers who want to explore the once landlocked nation.

Still, Bhutan’s government developed a rather strict tourism policy for outsiders, charging fees to access their country. While travelling to Bhutan requires a bit of advanced planning, its beautiful mountains, colourful festivals, and exotic cuisine and culture still makes the country a dream destination to satisfy your wanderlust.

5. Patagonia, Argentina

Patagonia, an outdoor adventurer’s dream  destination, lies in the southern region of Argentina that separates the Pacific from the Atlantic Ocean. The untouched landscape of the place offers an unparalleled  view of the glaciers of Andes Mountains. During the Argentinian winter months (June to September), the place becomes  a world-class skiing ground.

If you opt  for an amazing whale-watching experience, schedule your trip in September or October and enjoy the sight of the graceful mammals off the coast of Valdes Peninsula.

6. Edipsos, Greece

Located on an inlet on the Aegean Sea, northern part of Athens, Edipsos is a home to 80 different hot springs with varying degrees of heat—and which are said to provide healing effects. Apart from  dipping into Edipsos’ healing thermal springs, , you can also go biking, hiking, fishing, and scuba diving.  And make sure not to leave the place without trying the   traditional Greek pastry loukomades..

Now that you have a whole new list of fun and exciting travel destinations,  it’s time to pack your things, book a flight, and experience the wonders of the world at a more adrenaline-rushing level.