Good News for North-East Commuters: Free Early Morning Off-Peak Rides Extended!

If you live in the North-East and commute early, your daily transit routine just got a whole lot sweeter. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has announced that residents in the North-East can continue to enjoy free morning off-peak rides on the North East Line (NEL) and Sengkang-Punggol LRT (SPLRT).

This programme is now extended till 26 December 2027.

How It Works

All you have to do is tap and go (no registration required):

• Where: Tap in at any NEL station (from Punggol Coast to Kovan) or any station on the Sengkang-Punggol LRT (SPLRT).
• When: On weekdays (excluding public holidays), tap in either:
• Before 7:30 AM, or
• Between 9:00 AM and 9:45 AM.

The waiver applies to the first train trip of your morning journey.

Is this a prelude to plastic bag charge to increase to 10 cents?

Despite the implementation of a mandatory plastic bag charge in local supermarkets in July 2023, recent data reveals that consumers still purchased over 119 million disposable plastic bags in 2024. Interestingly, while approximately 70% of shoppers now bring their own reusable bags to save money and protect the environment, the report notes that overall usage rates have remained relatively flat or even increased slightly. This creates a puzzling contradiction: if the vast majority are switching to reusables, why hasn't there been a significant drop in plastic bag consumption?

To further discourage usage, experts suggest that authorities may need to increase the current five-cent fee to ten cents or introduce more robust reward systems.

Is this news or study a prelude to a mandatory plastic bag charge increase to 10 cents?

 

LTA's Official MRT Map Feb 2025 - With Hume Station

Singapore's Land Transport Authority has just released an updated official MRT map including one additional station on the Downtown Line i.e. Hume Station.

LTA's Official MRT Map Dec 2024

Singapore’s Land Transport Authority has just released an updated official MRT map including one additional station on the North East Line (NEL): Punggol Coast Line. Punggol Coast station will now be the terminating station replacing Punggol station.

LTA's Official MRT Map 2024 (Thomson-East Coast Line)

Singapore’s Land Transport Authority has just released an updated official MRT map including seven new stations on the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL): Tanjong Rhu, Katong Park, Tanjong Katong, Marine Parade, Marine Terrace, Siglap, and Bayshore. It shows where the stations are and how they will connect to other MRT lines.

Kit Chan - Home (25th Anniversary Remake)

LTA's Official MRT Map 2023

The below is LTA's official MRT map that includes both current and future train network.

LTA's Official MRT Map 2022

The below is LTA's official MRT map that includes both current and future train network.

PM Lee urges Singapore to take courage amid coronavirus outbreak, see through stressful time together

How to buy gym pass using ActiveSG app?

ActiveSG is a national initiative from the Singapore government to encourage all to stay healthy and keeping fit. Membership registration is free for all Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents! To add onto the sweetness of this programme, one should receive FREE ActiveSG $100 upon membership verification (valid for a limited period) which can be used to join programmes like gym, swimming pools, and so on.

This post is a guide on how to buy gym pass using the new ActiveSG app (based on Android). Do scroll all the way down for a tip from me!

Screen when you tap on Buy followed by Gym Pass

Scroll down and look for Single Entry pass

Add Single Entry pass to cart

Switch to your cart to complete payment (10 minutes to complete transaction)

Present and scan QR code (deliberately masked out) to enter ActiveSG gym
(SCREENSHOT your QR Code now and I will tell you why later)

You will find yourself checked-in under the My Booking & Passes section

Present and scan QR code (deliberately masked out) to exit ActiveSG gym
(SCREENSHOT your QR Code now and I will tell you why later)

TIP

The version prior to April 2019 app upgrade was so much simpler to use (at least from my point of view). Back then, entry to gym is as simple as just launching one's VCard QR Code and all the necessary will be taken care of. Miss this one step approach? Here comes a tip!

The next time you wish to enter into an ActiveSG gym, you may simply scan the first QR code you screenshot and $2.50 will automatically be deducted from your account. Likewise, you may simply scan the second QR code you screenshot to exit. This should save you some "clicks".

Special Achievement Award to Chew Chor Meng

Chew Chor Meng is awarded the Special Achievement Award in the recent Star Awards 2019 event. Watch below for Chew's heartfelt speech that moved so many to tears.

How to make Samsung Pay work for SimplyGo?

If you have been reading the mainstream media or the social media, it is likely that you would have heard of SimplyGo - an initiative by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), a partnership between LTA and TransitLink to enables commuters to use their credit or debit cards with contactless function for transport fare payments. Mobile devices linked to Mastercard i.e. Apple Pay/ Fitbit Pay/ Google Pay/ Samsung Pay are also supported. The need for upfront top-ups is no longer required and your train and bus fares will be processed and charged to your credit or debit card bill. Visa is expected to be accepted only from the the second half of 2019 onwards.

This post is pertaining to how to get Samsung Pay to work for SimplyGo (tested on Samsung Note 9)

1. Add Mastercard to Samsung Pay as per usual.
2. Set Default NFC method to "Android operating system".
   

1. On the Apps screen, tap Settings > Connections > NFC and payment.
2. Tap on the 3 dots on the top right corner then Default NFC method.
3. Choose Android operating system.
   
3. Set "Samsung Pay" as the default mobile payment service.
   

1. On the "NFC and payment" screen, tap on "Tap and pay".
2. Choose Samsung Pay.
4. Travel with Samsung Pay.
1. Make sure NFC is enabled.
2. Make sure phone screen is OFF.
3. Tap on card reader.

For more information on the use of SimplyGo, please visit SimplyGo FAQ page.

Baby Mine (Dumbo) - With Lyrics

To coincide with the current movie screening of Disney's Dumbo, I present you the main song for Dumbo. Enjoy!

Lyrics

Baby mine, don't you cry
Baby mine, dry your eyes
Rest your head, close to my heart
Never to part, baby of mine

Little one when you play
Don't you mind what they say
Let your eyes sparkle and shine
Never a tear, baby of mine

If they knew all about you
They'd end up loving you too
All those same people who scold you
What they'd give just for
The right to hold you

From your head to your toes
You're not much, heaven knows
But you are so precious to me
Sweet as can be, baby of mine

Oh, baby of mine
Oh, baby of mine
Oh, baby of mine

LTA's Official MRT Map (current and future)

[28 Oct 22] LTA's Official MRT Map 2022

The below is LTA's official MRT map that includes both current and future train network.

Train System Map

Lines in operation

1. North South Line
2. East West Line
3. North East Line
4. Circle Line
5. Downtime Line
6. Bukit Panjang, Sengkang & Punggol LRT

Future lines (names and numbering subject to changes)

1. Thomson-East Coast Line
2. Downtime Line 3 Extension
3. North East Line Extension
4. Circle Line 6
5. Jurong Region Line
6. Cross Island Line

Go-Jek drama in Singapore over $7

Yet another Go-Jek drama in Singapore and this time over $7 discrepancy between driver and passenger. The fare, was $14.10 when the passenger booked the trip, and surged to $21.10 on the driver's app. My comment on this - 钱难赚 (money hard to earn)!

In case you are curious on an earlier Go-Jek drama which happened a couple of months back showing a passenger accusing driver of kidnapping her, watch below.

Women paying more than Men

Popular Daily Show host, Trevor Noah, created a YouTube video highlighting women pay more than men for identical product or services. Watch the below video and judge for yourself.

I agree.

Haemin Sunim: "How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for Perfection" | Talks at Google

Watch Haemin Sunim talks about self-care, discussing that only by accepting yourself - and the flaws which make you who you are - can you have compassionate and fulfilling relationships at home and work.

If you find Haemin Sunim sharing interesting, you may read more about his teachings by reading his books.

Google Suggestion "where is" - Najib, Rosmah - Malaysia GE17

The 14th Malaysian general election held on 9 May 2018 had concluded with the incumbent Barison Nasional (BN) voted out and Najib losing his Prime Minister position. Taking over the government is the opposition party with Dr Tun Mahathir Mohamad, a former Prime Minister of Malaysia, being sworn in as the 7th Prime Minister. Dr Mahathir is now 92 years old.

So where exactly is Najib and his wife Rosmah? Even Google is showing the below when I type "where is". I bet many people are now searching for this.

Kim Jong Un crosses border into South Korea

Watch North Korea leader Kim Jong Un becomes the first North Korean leader to cross the border dividing the two Koreas since the Korean War more than 60 years ago. Kim Jong Un met up with South Korean President Moon Jae-in for a historic summit. Kim walked towards the south, shooked hands with Moon at the border, crossed to the south, invited Moon to the north, both walked back to the north for a quick photo shoot before crossing back to the south again.

Hopefully there is hope.

IKEA Introduces Crispy Rendang Chicken !!!

All thanks to MasterChef UK, IKEA Singapore has just made Crispy Rendang Chicken possible! The wings are only available from 13 to 30 April at $9 for 6 pieces (not available for 2pcs and 4pcs).

You may wish to check out IKEA restaurant for the other range of food and drinks provided too.