Activities I am excited to try with my SingapoRediscovers vouchers

UPDATE (Nov 23, 2020): The SingapoRediscovers vouchers can be redeemed from Dec 1. More info here.

As Singaporeans, we have often been guilty of complaining: “Singapore is so small and boring! What is there to do?”

The ‘SingapoRediscovers’ campaign, launched by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) earlier this year, looks to challenge this perception and encourage locals to, well, rediscover Singapore.

With every Singaporean aged 18 and above entitled to $100 worth of vouchers to use between December 2020 and June 2021, it is truly the best time to get planning now.

Before doing the research, my impression – and I am sure it is similar for many others – was that these vouchers will only be valid for staycations or big-ticket tourist attractions. I was genuinely shocked by the range of activities I could spend the vouchers on – so much so that they could just be enough to stifle the despair of not being able to jet off anywhere any time soon.

While terms of the vouchers may ultimately change, I am basing my picks below on if they are featured on the official SingapoRediscovers site. Together, they comprise of a to-do list that I am all-too-excited to cross off soon:

Mega Adventure is home to several high-octane activities placed well above Siloso Beach Walk, many of which are sure to turn legs into mush. They include a high ropes adventure course and a ‘leap of faith’ platform about 15 metres above ground.

What I am most looking forward to trying is the MegaZip, a zipline across a canopy of trees towards the Siloso beachfront. As someone who is quite afraid of heights and has (hopelessly) struggled with the apex ladder in the army, it’s going to be quite a challenge.

If the vouchers can be applied, I am hoping speeding across the air 75 metres above ground will be less terrifying knowing that the government has at least covered some of the cost.

Check out Mega Adventure through their website here.

While the pandemic is scary enough, I feel like there might be comfort in supernatural horrors that aren’t a threat to our livelihoods.

The Creepy Tales of Singapore Tour, organised by local tour agency Oriental Travel & Tours, looks to reveal the eerier side of our country that should make for a fun escape from our turbulent reality.

From a possible site of a “Sook Ching” massacre to the world’s largest Chinese cemetery, the tour will bring the curious across some of Singapore’s most haunted areas.

As locals, we do have the option of visiting these sites on our own, but the cherry on top of the hair-raising cake will be the chilling stories that the guides will be sharing. Oh, and did I mention all the tours will be conducted at night?

As a fan of the supernatural with an avid interest in our local history, the tour shapes up to be one that is both fascinating and spine-tingling. Thankfully, usage of the vouchers will only start a few months after the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival.

Check out Oriental Travel & Tours via their website here, where both their ‘stories of Chinatown Tour’ and ‘Nocturnal Gems’ tours both look equally enticing.

I love kayaking and fishing so I probably will enjoy this unique blend of the two. Kayak fishing looks like a smashing good way to spend an afternoon with friends, just cruising down the coast and taking in the sun.

The whole experience looks to be worry-free as well, with leg-powered kayaks that should be easy to control and different programmes tailored for each level of fishing proficiency. Judging from their Instagram page, there is a variety of fishes that can be caught, which could be more than enough reason to return if my friends and I do get hooked.

For more details about Kayak fishing, visit Kayak Fishing Fever’s official website here.

Frankly, my main inertia in seeking and trying out these outdoor adventures has been that they tend to be on the pricier side – even if they are still reasonable for the experiences they offer.

Hopefully, the SingapoRediscovers vouchers will sweeten the deal even further and, in general, push Singaporeans to venture out of their comfort zones.