6 Reasons Why Fajar Shopping Centre is Awesome

October 4, 2015October 4, 2015 / Fiona Seah / Leave a comment

Hello everyone!

Come this February will be three years since I moved from my long-time residence in Bukit Batok to Bukit Panjang. Although both are technically in the Western part of Singapore, each of them has their own distinct personality. As a newer town, Bukit Panjang (henceforth BP) may not have a public transport as well-integrated as Bukit Batok yet (looking forward to the new BP MRT station!) but it has certainly come a long way in the last 20 odd years. From a secluded or ulu estate in the early ’00s along with a lack of amenities, it is now a vibrant self-contained town with many bus services connecting to the city, complete with at least two community centres, a swimming complex, dozen of eateries (not forgetting the newly-built BP Hawker Centre and Market), two pretty decent malls and a few HDB heartland shopping centres scattered all around the neighbourhood to cater to the diverse needs of BP residents!

“Eh, what are HDB heartland shopping centres?”

Unlike urban malls, these smaller-scale shopping centres house a cluster of everyday shops and are normally located within a community to serve primarily the residents living around the area! They are not air-conditioned, however, but maybe that’s how rents are affordable and prices there are kept to the minimum, right? 🙂

In fact, these HDB heartland shopping centres have been a commonplace around Singapore. You may not know it, but there should be at least one in the vicinity of your house. Not sure where? Check this list out!

Fajar Shopping Centre

In my case, the nearest one is Fajar Shopping Centre which has served me well during my considerable length of stay here. So without further ado, here are 6 reasons why you should go to Fajar Shopping Centre.. and perhaps why moving to Fajar/Segar isn’t a bad idea after all (property agents marketing BP flats, you can quote me on that).

1. It is more convenient than you think

Fajar LRT station

Directly next to Fajar LRT station (like, literally beside it) and accessible by 2 city-bound and 1 feeder buses (bus-stop just smacked right in front), it is easily the most convenient heartland shopping centre in the Bukit Panjang housing estate. There’s also ample parking space if you’re driving, both within the compound of the shopping centre (multi-storey carpark) and the HDB flats around it. What’s more, parking is FREE at Fajar Shopping Centre during lunch time from Monday to Saturday, 12 noon to 2pm. And yes, there are good eats there as well! I will touch more on that in a bit.

Free Lunchtime Parking!

2. There are THREE 24-hour shops for your late-night needs..

That’s right, folks. THREE.

They are McDonald’s, 7-eleven and mini GIANT supermarket, all conveniently located on the ground level.

McDonald’s at Fajar Shopping Centre

I think it is very essential to have convenience shops or eateries that operate all day and night in the neighbourhood because they help to save on delivery charges (and that unnecessary money you have to spend on more food just to hit the minimum order amount) when midnight hunger pangs strike! Furthermore, if you’re not too perturbed by the lingering food smells, McDonald’s is actually a great place to study (and snack when time comes) after midnight because it’s usually rather quiet by then.

3. ..and many specialty stores to accommodate every other shopper

Whether you’re an aspiring musician, a bargain hunter or a stationery hoarder, Fajar Shopping Centre has got you covered! Apart from the usual apparel shops (many pushcarts selling accessories around!), salons and whatnot, there are also a reputable music school, a value shop and a huge stationery shop that spans across two units!

ABC Bargain Centre

More shops on the second level!

Wide corridor on second level

Ossia Music School

Fajar Stationery & Copying Centre / My Book Palace

If you’re a tertiary student, their printing services might be of importance to you (think all the reports and lecture notes you have to print).

Fajar Stationery & Copying Centre / My Book Palace

If you’re feeling lucky, you can also purchase lottery tickets at Singapore Pools on the second level! Too stressed out at work? House of Tui Na is just a few shops down the row. In addition to that, parents can drop off their kids at Carpe Diem Young Joy and then leave to do their grocery shopping! And that brings me to the next point.

4. You can grocery shop at any time of the day

Not only is there a supermarket but also an indoor wet market for the early risers. I didn’t know there was a wet market the first time I went to Fajar Shopping Centre because it doesn’t look like it from the outside (and somehow I failed to notice the big “Fajar Market” lettering on the wall). With glass doors leading to the market on both entrances, it definitely looked more like an office building to me (I honestly thought it was the Town Council la).

Fajar Market

As hygiene and cleanliness become the top priority these days, the wet market is relatively clean and spacious! The floor was perfectly dry when I was there on two occasions.

Giant Super

5. There are plenty of food choices under one roof

Of course, no shopping centre is complete without a food court! While most urban enclosed malls have just one, Fajar Shopping Centre has TWO – one with air-conditioner (Koufu) and another without (Astar). Impressive or not?

Koufu

I haven’t personally tried the food at Astar kopitiam but people living in Bukit Panjang have been raving to no end about the vegetarian food, which attracts a long queue of customers every time!

Freshly prepared fruit juice, just outside Astar!

If you’re not in the mood for a heavy meal, there is a Mr Bean joint right next to Koufu that offers a dine-in area for patrons to enjoy their famous pancakes or soya beancurd!

Mr Bean

6. Festive activities are planned for shoppers

To further enhance the shopping experience of residents and encourage family cohesion, the Housing Development Board (who operates these HDB heartland shopping centres) would also have programmes and activities lined up every now and then, especially during festive periods! The last time I was at Fajar Shopping Centre, there was an event specially organised to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival!

Event banner

Due to the haze from the Indonesian forest fires shrouding Singapore for the past few weeks, many outdoor activities were cancelled so I was worried that this would be scrapped too! Fortunately, the haze miraculously cleared up on that day (and came back with a vengeance the following day) and the event went off without a hitch.

Beautiful floral lanterns that lined the tent!

Shoppers who spent at least $20 at the shopping centre were also entitled to redeem a doorgift consisting of a mooncake and a toy, or to participate in the activities such as the lantern decorating competition!

Doorgift

Mooncake

Lantern decorating competition

All of the participants were kids but were mostly aided on the artistic and creative direction by their enthusiastic and supportive parents. Seeing how much fun they were having, the child in me couldn’t resist not partaking in the activity! 😀

My masterpiece! Haha!

I submitted my lantern to the panel but decided not to participate in the competition eventually because it would be so unfair to the young kids if I won. There were 10 winners but the top 3 winners got to walk away with some household items. The grand winner, if I remember correctly, received a rice cooker. Whoa, not bad for such a small-scale competition leh! Kinda regret not joining in the end 😆

Having said that, my favourite part of the event still has got to be the caricature artist because.. who doesn’t like to be sketched?

Started stoning towards the end

Caricature artist drawing a portrait of me with so much skill

Neat work! Though I don’t quite see the resemblance hahaha

With better lighting!

The event concluded with a meet-and-greet session and lantern walkabout with the HDB mascot, Wisely! He was so popular among the children who kept groping him. Parents were also hounding him for a picture with their kids 😆

A mascot with a lightning symbol as an outfit design named Wisely? I see what you did there, HDB *shifty brows*

Missed out on the event? Fret not!

The Mid-Autumn Festival may be over, but there are still ongoing activities for you to partake in while standing a chance to win some attractive prizes for yourself!

Vote for your Top 50 shops

Click for more information

Acknowledging that retailers at the HDB Shopping Centres addresses the needs of the residents while being an important part of the community, HDB will be rewarding these neighbourly retailers this year with a decal and commemorative plaque for display in their shops as testament of their popularity.

Starting from 1 July 2015 till 31 October 2015, shoppers can nominate and vote for their favourite online via the app myfavHDBmall (currently available on Android and iOS) and stand a chance to win prizes in the Top 50 Favourite Shops contest.
#myfavHDB Photography Competition
Click for more information

The #myfavHDBmall Photography Competition is already launched. HDB Shopping Centres form an integral part of the residents’ daily lives by being a place for leisure, shopping and community bonding. This competition aims to collect these precious moments that are captured by residents at the 24 HDB Shopping Centres.

Residents can submit their photos here and stand a chance to win attractive prizes. The winning entries will also be exhibited at 888 Plaza in 14 November 2015.
Enter the Book of Records
Click for more information

To mark the momentous year, an attempt is underway to create the largest SG50 logo made from stamps to set a new record in the Singapore Book of Records. Starting from May till end October, residents can play their part and donate their used and unused stamps for this record-breaking initiative.

To participate, residents are to “post” their stamps at the specially designed post boxes at various HDB Shopping Centres and all submissions will qualify for the Lucky Draw. A total of $2,000 cash vouchers will be up for grabs. The finished masterpiece will be unveiled with great fanfare at 888 Plaza on 14 November 2015. Shoppers can expect an evening of games, activities and snacks.

And that’s about it! Do share with me your thoughts about your HDB heartland shopping centre in the comments below! And don’t forget to join the aforementioned contests! 🙂

Thanks for reading!

Fajar Shopping Centre

Blocks 443, Fajar Road, Singapore 670443
Bus Services: SMRT 922, 971E & 922
Nearest station: Fajar LRT station
Click here for more information and here for directory of shops

NEW: Ribena’s Pineapple & Passionfruit Fruit Drink

September 12, 2015May 11, 2016 / Fiona Seah / Leave a comment

Hey everyone!

One of the joys of being 90’s kid is becoming acquainted with iconic brands like Ribena, which is known by the people of my generation as the childhood “fruit drink” typically sold in large cordial glass bottles. But despite my huge love for Ribena as a kid, I never had the luxury of having one at home because my parents disliked buying cordials for convenience reasons. Thus I would usually get my Ribena fix elsewhere, such as my affluent cousins’ kitchen, where the refrigerator was always stocked with surplus Ribena goodies. On good days, I would even score a brand new box of Ribena pastilles when my cousins had realised that they had bought too many of it. Ah, those were the days!

Fast forward more than 10 years, the much-loved nostalgic drink remains my guilty pleasure but the product itself – both taste-wise and aesthetically – has undergone many transformations to keep up with the times. Many different ready-to-drink flavours were introduced in the past few years (I particularly love the divine combination with lemon) to enhance the familiar taste of the blackcurrant fruit beverage. Regardless of the changes, Ribena would always retain its key ingredient blackcurrant because it was what made the brand famous after all.

So really, who would have expected it to be entirely forgone in their latest flavour? That’s right, ladies and gentlemen. Ribena has a new flavour and there isn’t any blackcurrant in it! Can you believe that?

Called the Pineapple & Passionfruit fruit drink, it’s Ribena’s first non-blackcurrant ready-to-drink product and also the first of its kind in the Singapore market!

Ribena’s Pineapple & Passionfruit fruit drink

Packed in a resealable bottle for easy consumption on-the-go, this fruit drink contains one’s daily Vitamin C requirement, making it a wholesome beverage option and energy booster for all age group, young and old alike!

Honestly, I’m still reeling from the shock that Ribena had actually left blackcurrants out from their new recipe. It’s a very bold move, I must say, to sort of downgrade it to be like any other non-carbonated drinks on the supermarket racks. But is this change worth the risk? I would think so! The drink has a refreshing tropical flavour with a right balance of sweet (from the passionfruit) and tart (from the pineapple) although the latter stood out more on my taste bud. Its moderate sweetness coupled with the burst of fruity acidity meant that it would be a guaranteed thirst quencher in this sweltering heat!

Cocktail shaker, courtesy of RIbena (thank you!). What’s that for? Read on to find out!

On top of that, the not-so-overpowering flavours of the Pineapple and Passionfruit fruit drink allows the taste be customised according to your needs. You can concoct different types of beverages such as cocktails and mocktails by blending it with other drinks of your choice like what I’ve done below 🙂

Ingredients (serves 4):

♦ 1 bottle of Ribena Pineapple & Passionfruit Fruit Drink
♦ 10 lime, small
♦ 1 cup of orange juice (8 oz, can be freshly squeezed or processed)
♦ 2 cups of ginger ale (16 oz)
♦ Sufficient ice cubes
♦ Sufficient salt and lime juice (can be freshly squeeze or processed)
♦ 1 pineapple wedge for 4 cups (garnish)

What you need! I prepared a lot more juices because I was gonna make more than 4 cups HAHA kiasu

Juices and garnishes

I was running out of salt hence the tiny amount!

Step 1: Rub rims of four glasses with lime. Then, dip rims in salt and set aside

Rub rim with lime

I personally think that 5 limes are enough. But to each his own 🙂

Used my finger to spread the salt all over the rim

Used my finger instead of dipping the rim into the salt. It’s actually messier this way but desperate times call for desperate measures. Remember to get more salt!

Step 2: Combine Ribena Pineapple & Passionfruit fruit drink, orange juice, lime juice, ginger ale and ice in the mixer

Or you could use a pitcher or a big jug with stirrer if you don’t have a mixer.

Pour in Ribena Pineapple and Passionfruit Fruit Drink (about 1/2 of the bottle)

Followed by orange juice (about 4 oz)

Dry ginger ale (about 8 oz)

Lime juice (amount not stated so I added in about 4 oz of it)

Ice cubes

Before mixing

Shake it!

Each complete set of steps with my mixer serves only 2 so if you have a similar mixer like mine, do remember to repeat these steps again.

Step 3: Pour the concoction into the glasses with the rims dipped in salt

The concoction

Step 4: Stir, hook pineapple wedge on rim and it’s ready to serve

Ready to serve! (I know the cup in front doesn’t have the same amount as the rest…)

So shiok when it’s serve chilled!

Wow, it does taste even better when blended with other beverages! The original flavour of the fruit drink wasn’t overwhelmed by the additional ingredients at all. I love how the ginger ale actually made it a little more effervescent and fun to drink. And strangely the concoction actually had a mysterious guava taste! O_O Where the heck did that come from?

Anyhoo, there’s no hard and fast rule for what you should add to the mixer, so go ahead and unleash your creativity and the mixologist in you!

Have fun and thanks for reading! 🙂

Ribena Pineapple & Passionfruit Fruit Drink is now available at all Cold Storage, FairPrice, Sheng Siong and all leading supermarkets and convenience stores island-wide for S$1.80 each. For more information on Ribena, please click here.

With Soufeel, There’s Something for Every Occasion

September 11, 2015September 14, 2015 / Fiona Seah / 2 Comments

Hey everyone!

I was brought up in a traditional Chinese culture that perceives gold to have higher intrinsic and market value than silver or even diamonds. This reason, coupled with the fact that it is more auspicious to give gold jewelry as gift among the Chinese, meant that most of my birthday (or first month) presents in the early years were either gold anklets, bracelets, ear studs or pendants. This custom is still pertinent now in the Singapore Chinese society especially to weddings because to the elders, nothing signifies wealth better than a qi pao bedecked with gold jewelries during tea ceremonies.

But like many modern Chinese youths today, I don’t really see the appeal of gold jewelries (apart from the fact that they are highly cashable). Not only are they expensive and passé, they are also of a very obtrusive colour that don’t go well with my eyes. In terms of appearance, I would very much prefer diamond, silver or white gold (ok rose gold isn’t too bad for a change too) to pure gold any time as they are more sophisticated-looking and less in-your-face. Did I mention how much I hate those chunky ah-beng-ish gold jewelries? Those are not statement makers. Those are awful.

No way am I gonna wear that. (source)

However, if you’re a bling lover, you probably would’ve known that good quality diamond and silver don’t come cheap either! As a person of simplicity, I don’t yearn for luxury so it’s not like me to splurge on anything ostentatious. I probably didn’t see the need to invest in any since I don’t get invited to private functions all the time. But once, I fretted over the accessories to pair with my outfit for a cousin’s sumptuous wedding (where I served as a bridesmaid) because I had none! If not for my boyfriend to give me a set of diamond jewelry for my birthday (also in the same month as the wedding), I might have to shop for some adornments at the eleventh hour and then end up spending at least a hundred bucks on something I hardly use.

And ever since someone commented how plain I looked without any accessories on, I kinda became a little more self-conscious.. which isn’t entirely a bad thing because I used to be so lazy, I didn’t give two hoots about styling myself hehe. I started with the lower-end bracelets and necklaces from blogshops, but damn, they wear and rust faster than I would’ve blown my salary on lipsticks. So I explored better alternatives like sterling silver which has gotten pretty popular recently and are supposed to be cheaper than gold or platinum jewelry. But guess what? The sterling silver bracelets and charms (for a more casual feel) I saw at a very popular jewelry chain were even pricier than my diamond jewelries combined!

You…. paid for that? *judge mode on*

WHAT?

It’s only sterling silver leh!

I pity the poor boyfriends (especially those who are still schooling) who rush to buy Valentine’s Day gifts from these shops because they’re bound to make a big hole in their savings. But seriously, I don’t understand the hype about these overpriced charm bracelets when you can get them at a fraction of the price elsewhere! Yes, you heard me right! There are many credible shops with the same concept (though not as mainstream as you-know-what) but here’s one that’s sure to satisfy your inner bling desires!

Introducing SOUFEEL, the up-and-coming jewelry company that specialises in charms, beads, bracelets and other accessories offered at ultra-competitive prices ranging from S$21 for a charm (or S$9.79 for a charm on special offer omfg so cheap) to S$480 for a 925 sterling silver charm bracelet. Things get even cheaper prices are slashed (which happens very often). Their products adopt 925 sterling silver and colored gems as main raw materials and are designed to cater to suit every occasion.

Although it was only founded in 2011, it has already garnered more than a million likes on their Facebook page! Within such a short period of time? HOW IMPRESSIVE. Since then, it has expanded to six continents such as Europe, North America and Asia Pacific area through approximately seventy countries.

Soufeel has kindly sent me some of their products to share with you guys! I didn’t choose any charms because many people have reviewed them (go Google!) and I wanted to show you other things that are offered on their website. So here they are!

Soufeel box (not sure what size it is but I believe it’s either medium or large to store bulkier or multiple items!)

I know the relatively low prices may raise some doubts about the quality of the products. Well, don’t be fooled! Every product is made of superior material, even the box! The paper box is hard and sturdy and opens with a detached lid on top wrapped with a blue ribbon and bow and it closes securely too. It also comes with a silver care cloth for you to clean your jewelries!

Austrian Crystal Bowknot Round White Ear Studs, was on offer at S$19.53 [SOLD OUT]

There was a blue version but I picked white because you can never go wrong with white jewelries! It is apt for all kinds of occasions, casual or formal, and it’s also a gorgeous design which I’m sure would sit well with your elders (if you’re planning to get this for her birthday, or for Mother’s Day).

Austrian Crystal Angel Wing Ocean Blue Ear Studs, was on offer at S$23.73 [SOLD OUT]

Austrian Crystal Angel Wing Ocean Blue Ear Studs

My favourite ear studs out of the two designs I picked has got to be the ones with wings! Like the Bowknot design, this also came in white but I figured that the wings would stood out more if the teardrop-shaped crystal was in a different colour! It’s so cutesy yet stylish at the same time! Perhaps this would make a great birthday gift for your BFF or girlfriend! I’m sure she’d love it as much as I do 🙂

Oh by the way, all crystals are from Swarovski.

Back studs. You can remove the hard plastic!

I was surprised to see their 925 sterling silver products priced very affordably too! They are 100% guaranteed 925 sterling silver authorised by international authoritative institutions such as SGS. Hence, rest assured that there is not a single trace of the toxic elements like nickel, lead or cadmium in the silver composition. Soufeel products are absolutely safe!

Whirlpool Pearl Necklace 925 Sterling Silver, now on offer at S$49 (U.P. S$109.20) [LINK]

Whirlpool Pearl Necklace 925 Sterling Silver

Going to meet your boyfriend’s (or girlfriend’s) mother for the first time and don’t know what to get for her as 见面礼 (gift presented to somebody at the first meeting)? This is it! This pendant features 3 elements – sterling silver, crystals and a pearl. It basically screams, “YOUR MOM WILL LOVE ME!” No, I’m definitely not kidding.

I guess this is their small-sized box! Guess what's in there?

I guess this is their regular box! Guess what’s in there?

Exclusive 925 Sterling Silver Basic Bracelet, now on sale at $27.93 (U.P. S$91) [LINK]

This basic snake bracelet can be used as the backbone of your charms or on its own! I have no charms at the moment but I may soon load the bracelet with some because I’m already eyeing on a few charm designs on the website! Having said that, the charms may not be from Soufeel because the bracelet is made in a way that it fits charms manufactured by other brands as well 🙂

Available in 8 different sizes (from 16cm to 23cm, circumference of your wrist + 1.5cm), it also features a barrel clasp to ensure the security of the bracelet and charms. To be honest, it was a little difficult for me to close the clasp with one hand but I’m confident that it would gradually be easier with more usage!

Exclusive 925 Sterling Silver Basic Bracelet with barrel clasp

Exclusive 925 Sterling Silver Basic Bracelet with barrel clasp – how it works!

TADAH! It’s so simple yet elegant!

On top of that, Soufeel also provides a necklace for free with orders over S$70, or bangle with orders over S$138.60. Trust me, you’ll probably go crazy shopping at Soufeel (‘coz, so affordable omg) that you won’t even realise you’ve hit the required amount! 😛

Go ahead and feast your eyes with all the enchanting charms on Soufeel now! But make sure you have someone beside you to monitor your cart (and your card, heh). You’ve been warned.

Thanks for reading! 😉

Soufeel

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6 Reasons Why Fajar Shopping Centre is Awesome

SPONSORED

“Eh, what are HDB heartland shopping centres?”

1. It is more convenient than you think

2. There are THREE 24-hour shops for your late-night needs..

3. ..and many specialty stores to accommodate every other shopper

4. You can grocery shop at any time of the day

5. There are plenty of food choices under one roof

6. Festive activities are planned for shoppers

Missed out on the event? Fret not!

Fajar Shopping Centre

NEW: Ribena’s Pineapple & Passionfruit Fruit Drink

SPONSORED

Ingredients (serves 4):

Step 1: Rub rims of four glasses with lime. Then, dip rims in salt and set aside

Step 2: Combine Ribena Pineapple & Passionfruit fruit drink, orange juice, lime juice, ginger ale and ice in the mixer

Step 3: Pour the concoction into the glasses with the rims dipped in salt

Step 4: Stir, hook pineapple wedge on rim and it’s ready to serve

Ribena Pineapple & Passionfruit Fruit Drink is now available at all Cold Storage, FairPrice, Sheng Siong and all leading supermarkets and convenience stores island-wide for S$1.80 each. For more information on Ribena, please click here.

With Soufeel, There’s Something for Every Occasion

SPONSORED

WHAT?

Soufeel

For Every Memorable Day

SPONSORED

“Eh, what are HDB heartland shopping centres?”

1. It is more convenient than you think

2. There are THREE 24-hour shops for your late-night needs..

3. ..and many specialty stores to accommodate every other shopper

4. You can grocery shop at any time of the day

5. There are plenty of food choices under one roof

6. Festive activities are planned for shoppers

Missed out on the event? Fret not!

Fajar Shopping Centre

Share this:

SPONSORED

Ingredients (serves 4):

Step 1: Rub rims of four glasses with lime. Then, dip rims in salt and set aside

Step 2: Combine Ribena Pineapple & Passionfruit fruit drink, orange juice, lime juice, ginger ale and ice in the mixer

Step 3: Pour the concoction into the glasses with the rims dipped in salt

Step 4: Stir, hook pineapple wedge on rim and it’s ready to serve

Ribena Pineapple & Passionfruit Fruit Drink is now available at all Cold Storage, FairPrice, Sheng Siong and all leading supermarkets and convenience stores island-wide for S$1.80 each. For more information on Ribena, please click here.

Share this:

SPONSORED

WHAT?

Soufeel

For Every Memorable Day

Share this: