7 Tips for Travellers With Disabilities Coming to Singapore

Image Credit: Comparetravelinsurance.com

With the increase in elderly population in Singapore, travel by people with disabilities is getting more and more common. Also known as disabled travel or accessibly travel, travellers with disabilities are getting more recognition and support as the travel industry in Singapore evolves to accommodate them.

1. Ask Your Airline For Help

Before booking or arranging the trip, make sure to ask your airline for help. Many airlines will have priority queues for people with disabilities, which can help to make sure that the disabled user gets through airport without much delay and difficulties.

Image Credit: Antreclimited.com

2. Buy/Rent a Travel Wheelchair.

When it comes to wheelchairs, you can either choose to bring your own wheelchair, or to rent or buy from places in Singapore. If you’re a traveller looking for something affordable, then one of the most reputable wheelchair places with cheaper wheelchairs would be Vertex Mobility. You can either choose from their range of travel wheelchairs or lightweight wheelchairs. The best thing is, you can arrange for a same-day delivery to your hotel. They also do wheelchair rentals, but it’s recommended that you purchase a wheelchair as it is more cost-effective, without having to worry about returning the wheelchair to them.

Image Credit: vertexmobility.com.sg

3. Make Sure You Have Grab/Gojek On Your Phone.

Getting around in a wheelchair in Singapore is now very convenient with Grab and Gojek, two ride hailing services that are very efficient. These Apps are Singapore’s equivalent of Uber / Lyft. Getting a private hire car to pick you up will require less than 5-7 minutes, so make sure you grab these apps!

Image Credit: Aseantoday.com

4. Get Advice & Recommendations From Singapore Tourism Board.

Singapore focuses a lot on its tourism industry, with many visitor centers situated throughout the country. They have a hotline at 1800 736 2000, which you can call Toll-Free, from 9am-6pm on Mondays to Fridays. For areas where you aren’t sure are wheelchair accessible, simply drop them a call and they’ll be more than happy to help you!

5. Take a doctor’s note and phone number

If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, do remember to take a doctor’s note which describes the full extent of your condition and any possible complications. It’s also important to have the doctor’s emergency contact number just in case of any incidents.

6. Avoid connecting flights

Connecting flights can be a real pain for those with disabilities. Having to maneuver through new airports and places can be very tiring. If possible, try to avoid connecting flights.

Image Credit: Britishairways.com

7. Allow 3 Hours to Check In & Transfer.

It’s best to give a 3 hour allowance before the lift-off time to check in and make sure everything is fine. As a disabled person travelling on a wheelchair, it’s always a good idea to have some extra time to make sure that you get onto your flight properly. Unexpected security checks or luggage restrictions could cause some delays.

Supertree Grove at Gardens by The Bay
Image Credit: Wikipedia

Lastly – enjoy your trip to Singapore! Singapore’s a great place with many disability-friendly areas, so you’ll be sure to have a good trip J

This post is brought to you by Thomas Wiggins

Singapore Airlines vs Scoot: The Ultimate Battle of The Aviation Empire

Image Credit: Singapore Airlines

When we’re talking about the airlines in Singapore, two things come to mind; Singapore Airlines and Scoot (of previously known as TigerAir). Why the two? Well, Scoot is the subsidiary company of Singapore Airlines, which makes it technically what you can call a breed of Singapore Airlines. Although both round different pool of flyers as Singapore Airlines is the national carrier while Scoot is the low-cost airline, however, the two have it going when it comes to providing the best services for its flyers. You can find cheap Singapore Airlines flight tickets easily with various online air ticket booking platform out there like Traveloka, but Scoot does not fall short of providing the best deals as well.

Image Credit: Networkasia.net

      

So, let’s put these two to battle it out, which is the king of services, shall we?

Let the battle begins!

ROUND 1: On Screen

Everything starts with the website. It may not seem like it, but any good airline carrier website presents three important things on their website, interactivity, convenience and transparency. Both Singapore Airlines and Scoot got the first thing covered well. When you go over to Singapore Airlines, you really have that sophisticated nature to its interface that is consistent with its image as the primary carrier in Singapore. Scoot looked much lively and laid back with the bright yellow colour that makes it more relaxed and not too corporate-ish.

Screenshot from Singaporeair.com 

Both are quite easy to navigate as well, which brings to the second element - conveniency. Everything is laid out on the homepage with clear indicators of where to find what. Although Singapore Airlines have drop-down menus for each of its features, which is a plus one while Scoot provides a drop-down menu for only certain features on the site.

Screenshot from Flyscoot..com

In terms of transparency, both are on par concerning the extent of the information they provided. They are pretty clear cut and in detail in both visually and language use.

I’m giving my points to Singapore Airlines for this one as it provides extra convenience in terms of web navigation compared to Scoot.

Results: Singapore Airlines - 1 | Scoot - 0

ROUND 2: Off Screen

For Round 2, we’ll be looking at the cool stuff both airlines provide; Lounges and Club/Flyer perks. Let’s talk about the lounges, shall we? Who doesn’t like VIP access to special airline lounges? If you’re going on long-haul flights, then, you would definitely appreciate the greatness of airport lounges.

Krisflyer Gold Lounge
Image Credit: Singapore Airlines 

Singapore Airline has four different types of lounges, First Class Check Reception, SilverKris Lounge, KrisFlyer Lounge, and Airline partner lounges. Focusing on SilverKris Lounge, you will be greeted with world-class comfort including facilities like bartender service, nursing room, wheelchair accessible restrooms, meeting rooms and a wide selection of food plus snacks.

Scoot’s Scoot-in-Style provide the comfort for business and leisure. Although it’s operating hours is 24 hours, but the access duration is strictly 3 or 6 hours max, so, you gotta get Scooting. Facilities provided in shower rooms, workstations, massage chairs, and unlimited Wi-Fi connection.

Scoot Lounge
Image Credit: Flyscoot.com

I’m going with Scoot on this part, even though they have the limited access duration because of the fact that it is very family-friendly from my point of view. You don’t feel like you’re walking into a meeting room, instead, you feel at ease to stretch out your legs while waiting for your flight. Sometimes a backpacker would appreciate this kind of relaxed environment. So, yeah, I’m going with Scoot for this one.

Results: Singapore Airlines - 1 | Scoot - 1

ROUND 3: Up In the Air

The final battle that determines it all! We are narrowing down on Meal. The meal is the most important, well, the meal of the day when you’re flying. If you’re doing short routes, then, maybe it can be overlooked a bit, but let’s say it’s an 8 to 10 hours flight and the only entertainment you have for your belly is the airline food.

Singapore Airlines take great consideration on selective diets, be it drafted by religion, diet or allergies. They pretty much have it all, I reckon. It’s one of the Special Meals they provided for their passengers that you will be able to request whenever you are onboard. They also have the Book The Cook service where you can actually request your own signature dish prepared first hand by their chefs. Of course, this kicks applicable to Suites, First Class and Business Class passengers.

Chinese Flavours at Singapore Airlines Business Class
Image Credit: Businessclass.co.uk

Scoot provides a deluxe meal, two deluxe sides, and a drink. They present the best of local’s cuisine such as their famous Singapore Signature Chicken Rice and Signature Nasi Goreng with Chicken Satay. Other popular dishes including their Golden Fried Chicken with Rice and Signature Laksa Goreng with Prawns (might I add, this is a new addition to their meal selection). However, the downside is, meals are subject to availability on the routes too. All food is Halal certified as well to provide for Muslim travellers.

Scoot Biz Deluxe Meal
Image Credit: frugalfirstclasstravel.com

For this one, I’m going with Singapore Airlines. Why? Because of the personalized service, the airline provides for its passengers. I like my food specially crafted, and if it’s a very long flight I’m going through, I would want my food to be as perfect as it can be.

Final results: Singapore Airlines - 2 | Scoot - 1

AND WE HAVE OUR WINNER!

Image Credit: Singapore Airlines

Although, please be aware that I’m not disregarding one or the other as each have its own preferences and features. This is just a brief experimental analysis I’m presenting on my part. Let me know what you think about both airlines! What are your experiences with them? Good? Bad? Somewhere in between?

Let’s share the stories in the comment section below, and I’ll see you in my next stories!

This post is brought to you by Syafiq Hamzi

Merchandise: Not Just Peripheral Any More

Every parent knows the pain of having their child become attached to the latest movie hero, cartoon series or game release. Not only will they 'need' the game cartridge, DVD, or box-set, but they will also have to have all the accompanying merchandise: tee-shirts, stickers, lunch-boxes and water bottles, mugs – you name it, if there is the right demand for it, people will buy it. All of it, in some cases!

There's An App For That

If you have released an app or smartphone game, and want to diversify your income stream, merchandising is one way to go. First of all though, make sure that your app is the best that it can be. Perfect the software and make sure that it runs smoothly without glitching or freezing. Consumer frustration at having a glitchy app will see you receiving hundreds of angry complaints and bad reviews: not the ideal start to the life of an app into which you have sunk many hours and a lot of effort!

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Once the app is running optimally, pinpoint the characters or features that people like the most. It might be the quirky side-kick, it might be the love interest – it might even be the villain of the piece who has more fans than the hero! Take your ideas to a supplier and ask about the logistics of having pieces made up. You may need to consult a designer and go to the supplier with a fixed set of images, or your chosen supplier might have design contacts on their end. Before you commit to anything, make sure you understand the pricing structure and that you can afford the payments.

Use the Right Platform

You have the app, doing well and being downloaded and used often. You have chosen your most popular characters and features to be commemorated as merchandise. How to sell the products now? The obvious answer is: via a website, of course. When shopping around for a website, do be wary of the overly cheap offerings. Sometimes they are what is needed, but it is usually programmers or those with very specific and unusual needs who will use these 'blank canvas' style web pages. At the worst, if something goes wrong while you are setting up your site, these cheaper sites tend not to offer very much in the way of customer support unless you pay for it: and this is where they make their money, so it will most likely cost you more in the end.

Image Credit: Charles PH on Unsplash

Instead, opt for a purpose-built ecommerce platform like www.shopify.com.sg. These platforms are ideal for small businesses that cannot afford a whole IT department, as they allow even relatively inexperienced people to set up and lay out an online shop that looks great and works efficiently. Customers can navigate through the products, selecting the ones that they want, then go to the checkout page and pay for the items, secure in the knowledge that their bank details are securely encrypted and safe from hackers.

Teaming a successful app with popular merchandise is a great way to maximise the profit on your work – choosing the right website on which to host your shop can make this even more profitable!

This post is brought to you by Jessica Williams

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

How to keep clean drains in your kitchen?

Healthy Clean Kitchen
Image Credit: www.aasion.sg

Leftovers, cooking oil and other debris that go down the drain can clog the pipes and cause a whole host of plumbing problems in your kitchen. A sure way to keep clean drains in your kitchen is to be careful what you put down the drain and get accustomed to a few good practices.

Do not throw everything down the drain

You should avoid throwing everything down the drain when you wash the dishes. You can start by collecting the cooking oil in a disposable recipient instead of letting it go down the drain when you wash your skillet, wok, or other pans. Secondly, you should do the same for coffee grounds.

Sink full of dishes
Image Credit: www.bible.ca

While having a garbage disposal helps get rid of unwanted debris, the use of a sink strainer or drain-grate is recommended to cover the opening of the drain and thus reduce the number of leftovers that go down the drain.

When you move into a new house you might want to consider doing a thorough plumbing inspection, make the necessary repairs and even replace your kitchen sink, if needed.

Tips for cleaning clogged drains

A tip on how to clear clogged drains in Singapore is to use home-made cleaning agents. This can be a tablespoon of baking soda, simply cast down the drain and washed with hot water. Baking soda not only cleans but it also absorbs unwanted smells and it can be combined with white wine vinegar for improved efficiency. 

Baking Soda

Strong cleaners like chlorine bleach can be an option for cleaning clogged pipes. You can also use this substance as a preventive measure, once a month, by pouring approximately ten ounces down the drain at night, once you have stopped using the kitchen sink.

Stronger Cleaners

The types of pipes you have in your kitchen will ultimately determine what types of cleaners you can use. For example, PVC or copper pipes are considered more resistant compared to older iron pipes. A plumber in Singapore can help you clear the kitchen sink drainpipes and solve any plumbing problems that might have appeared because of clogged, messy drainpipes.
 

This post is brought to you by Andreea Paulsen

True Malaysian Hospitality through Malaysia Airlines

Malaysia Airlines
Image Credit: Bsnscb.com

A winner of Skytrax World Airline Award as a 5-star airline in 2012 and 2013 as well as the World’s Best Cabin Staff Award also by Skytrax 7 out of 11 times since 2001, Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has always been a darling of many travellers.

Not just for the comfortable aircraft and mouth-watering food onboard but for their exemplary service and hospitality which is now famously known all around the world as “Malaysian Hospitality” - a play on the MH code of the national carrier.

Malaysia Airlines’ main goal is to create memorable experiences that goes beyond airline travel for everyone and to inspire them to see the world differently.

Let me share my take on Malaysian Hospitality during my flight to Melbourne from Kuala Lumpur last month which was booked via Traveloka Malaysia. Fun tip, you can get a pretty good MAS online promotion with Traveloka.

Warm Welcome

Nothing reassured me more on my 8-hour flight than the genuine smiles plastered across the faces of the cabin crew as passengers were boarding. The warm “Welcome Aboard” or in the local Malay greeting, “Selamat Datang” filled up the cabin during boarding.  

Malaysia Airlines Cabin Crew
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Tickets were checked one-by-one at the door for the crew to direct passengers to their respective seats. The elderly and adults with infants were given significant attention as they were escorted and assisted by the crew to their seats. A common sight to be smiled upon over and over while travelling with Malaysia Airlines.

Excellent Service

I was seated in the Economy class and the meal service began its course. Children and those with special meal request were given priority to be served first. I admired how the crew interacted with children from my observation at the row next to it, giving the little ones a sense of comfort in the flight.

Economy Seat
Image Credit: Malaysia Airlines

Moments later, the serving steward was ready to serve my row and he read out the available meals for the day. I didn’t quite catch the menu and had to ask him to repeat. I honestly felt bad for wasting his time to repeat but he gladly did it with a smile.

After meal, the crew made a quick second round of drinks. When a particular drink on the cart ran out, they would immediately rush to the galley or had their colleagues to help replenish so that passengers were able get what they wanted. At the same time, crew were also collecting finished trays as quickly to allow passengers to unwind.

The Extra Mile

The lights slowly dimmed and seats were being reclined. I didn’t take my rest immediately but instead, indulged in some movies on the inflight entertainment system.  

Business Class Seat
Image Credit: Malaysia Airlines

Moments later, the serving steward was ready to serve my row and he read out the available meals for the day. I didn’t quite catch the menu and had to ask him to repeat. I honestly felt bad for wasting his time to repeat but he gladly did it with a smile.

After meal, the crew made a quick second round of drinks. When a particular drink on the cart ran out, they would immediately rush to the galley or had their colleagues to help replenish so that passengers were able get what they wanted. At the same time, crew were also collecting finished trays as quickly to allow passengers to unwind.

The Extra Mile

The lights slowly dimmed and seats were being reclined. I didn’t take my rest immediately but instead, indulged in some movies on the inflight entertainment system.

As a stewardess was making her rounds to check on passengers, she noticed I was still awake. She approached me and asked if I wanted any more drinks or peanuts. I told her I was all good.

A few good minutes later, I was taken completely by surprise when she returned with a few packets of peanuts and a cup of orange juice. To quote the pleasant stewardess, “in case you feel like munching on something while enjoying your X-Men movie.” I was touched with the thoughtful gesture and gave her a heartfelt thank you.

The crew took turns in making their rounds to make sure all passengers including children and infants were feeling cosy in their seats. Children who were still awake could get bored easily so the crew handed them some activity books or games to keep them occupied.

I was still awake when I noticed a steward assisting an elderly man (who I assumed was travelling alone) to get up to go to the lavatory. The steward kindly led the man all the way and even waited for the man to finish then led him back to his seat, reassured the man that the crew was just a button away if he needs any assistance.

The crew also went the extra mile to ask mothers with infants if they needed help although they weren’t travelling alone, which I thought was extremely courteous.

These were the faces of Malaysia Airlines who went to great lengths to ensure passengers like me had a safe and smooth-sailing journey to my final destination.

This post is brought to you by Robert Lee

The Singaporean Florist That Changed the Game

It seems impossible to make blooms more beautiful than they already are, in their sole existence as such, but it actually is. A Better Florist is a florist in Singapore that have taken the floristry scene seriously and they are producing some real attention-grabbers in their flower shop.

They are the perfect combination of skills and talent, which they have mastered to the core, and their flower designs are a clear reflection of that. As you would expect from their name, they offer flowers that stand out, are always fresh and their bouquets and arrangements are on a whole other level of creativity.

The standards are high, but the prices are low, which plays a significant role, as once you set your eyes on these blooms, you’ll want to have them in your possession as often as possible.

A Better Florists designs indeed stand out, but if their selection isn’t enough for you, you’re also able to request custom-designed bouquets, that are going to be crafted with ‘you’ in mind only. Her Flowers is another flower shop, owned by the same team that has a different variety of bouquets and arrangements making sure that you’re good to go, no matter what your flower preferences are.

They are ideal for any occasion and not just Valentine’s and Mother’s Day. Their philosophy promotes gifting flowers for no reason at all, which I applaud. This means, you’re spreading happiness and positivity with flowers, which is what flowers are really about.

A Better Florist delivers all around Singapore, but recently their flowers have reached larger distances. In fact, they know have flower shops in Hong Kong and Dubai as well. After the huge success in Singapore, it was only a matter of time when the rest of the world would want a piece of them for themselves. After they’ve made it to the list of ten best florists in Singapore, it was no surprise that they were able to make the list of top ten florists in Hong Kong as well.

The website is really easy to use, as you’re able to make a purchase via your computer or mobile phone, within only a few clicks. Perfect for everyone who’s on the go, but still wants a special token of appreciation for their loved ones. They even deliver flowers within 90 minutes, on the same day, which is quite impressive.

Overall, A Better Florist is definitively a game-changer and worth looking into. You’ll be pleasantly surprised when you step into their bloom world. 

This post is brought to you by Elma Humpries

Looking Back at 2016

Wow, it is 2017 already. We have been too busy catching up with friends and celebrating, we only have time to pen out thoughts on last year after the new year.

Zucchini Tower by Joie

The elegance of Vegetarian Dining at Joie by Dozo definitely got our stamp of approval.

Suckling Stuffed with California Maki @ Golden Peony

Golden Peony and the newly revamped Summer Pavilion showcase the reason why they are the leading Chinese Restaurant in Singapore. My Dining Room tantalise our taste buds briefly, unfortunately the challenging market got the better of them.

Double-boiled Fish Bone Soup, Fish Maw, Wolfberries

Wokº15 Kitchen entrance to Singapore dining scene, gave us an awesome Chilli Crab to look forward too. Loves their combination of Chilli Crab with Fried Man Tou. Best part, the view of million dollars Luxury Yachts docking in the marina is just amazing. Truly a hidden gem.

Chilli Crab from Wokº15Kitchen

While we have been to many Korean BBQ joint, we manage to find something unique in Seorae. The Seorae Samgyeobsal, a High quality pork belly in special Seorae cutting. Porkgasm!!

Seorae Samgyeobsal from Seorae Singapore

Cafe Melba represents the Australian Dining experience for the year. A family friendly cafe hidden in the secluded Goodman Art Centre. Surprisingly, the quality of the food here actually taste better during their peak period in the weekend compare than the weekday.

Roast Chicken @ Cafe Melba

The newly revamped Grand Copthorne Waterfront offer a refreshing dining experience. Grissini represent their signature Italian Dining, while Food Capital and their Borderless Brunch spread are just remarkable.

Whole Tandoori Lamb @ Borderless Brunch

This year is also the first time I had more than 15 oysters in one seating. Learning difference between oysters from Europe, American and Australian during The Oyster Festival at Greenwood Fish Market. Definitely an invaluable food education.

Oysters @ Greenwood Fish Market

For those that are familiar with Omakase, you might want to try the Italian version in Your Italian Butler at Vita Italiana.

Lamb Chop from Your Italian Butler @ Vita Italiana

Overall, 2016 has been a remarkable year for Chubbybotakkoala.com. We broken through the barrier of 1 Million visitors milestone for our blog this year and going strong with more than 120,000 views each month.

We would like to wish our Readers, Fellow Influences, Business Owners, Marketing & PR friends from your continuous support in the year 2016.

Happy New Year 2017!!!

xoxo

Chubby Botak Koala & the Little Devil