January 02, 08:35 AM 
514 Chai Chee Lane 03-16, Singapore 469029 Singapore is becoming more like crowded-go-where instead of hungry-go-where. We bring you to 11 spots that has less of that maddening crowd.
1. Cosy Bay
Always wondered about the deserted lighthouse at Tanjong Rhu? Restaurant Cosy Bay used to occupy it. What’s left of it now is the large grass patch between Pebble Bay Condominium and the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Residents of the condominium play cricket or soccer there with their kids or walk their dogs around evening but it is otherwise quiet and perfect for a picnic.
Why you should visit it: It’s not the destination but the journey that counts, but why not have both when they’re amazing? The journey to Cosy Bay (cross Marina Bridge to the new park connector along the Marina Bay Golf Course) is good for anything from walking to jogging, cycling and skating, and has a scenic view of the Flower Dome and Singapore Flyer, especially at sunset. The PCN after Cosy Bay can even bring you to East Coast Park. For an even more secluded Park Connector, try the Kallang PCN.
2. MBS Bridge/Dragonfly Bridge
Most of us enter Gardens by the Bay via the underground linkway from Bayfront MRT because it is the easiest and shortest route, but you can actually also enter via Marina Bay Sands (MBS) that leads to the Dragonfly Bridge. I used to think that the MBS bridge was only open to hotel guests. Filled with lots of trees, it is quiet, romantic and brings a good view of MBS, the sky and Gardens by the Bay.
Why you should visit it: It leads to the Dragonfly Lake and The Meadow which are relatively secluded parts of Gardens by the Bay and crowded only when there are concerts. You actually get a more breath-taking overview of the Supertrees from the Dragonfly Bridge.
3. Haw Par Villa
Haw Par Villa was built by Aw Boon Haw (Tiger) for his brother Aw Boon Par (Leopard) in 1937. Your Christmas gift can never beat this - the land alone cost Boon Haw US1.95 million.
Why you should visit it: Not everyone’s into mainstream theme parks with cute cartoons and adrenaline powered joyrides, so we need 1000 statues of Chinese deities, devils, dragons, and other legendary figures from Chinese folklore for a little magic. The park’s famous illustrations of Ten Courts of Hell are also a useful tool for parents to scare kids and teach them the values of not stealing or cheating on examinations. Consider going there next Halloween before Halloween Horror Nights at Sentosa. Oh, and it’s free!
4. Beach Road Army Market
This is the go-to place for older generations of male Singaporeans to replace lost military items and avoid punishment, but our badass storekeeper was once fined and jailed in 2010 for selling a M16 firing pin. Did you even know that the Army Market has reopened after renovations?
Why you should visit it: Shopping from eMart is very convenient and many NSFs/NSmen use their allocated credit for purchases. This means shops at the army market will be losing more and more business. Our army boys can consider doing what their father used to do and also bring along their girlfriend - there are some newly opened trendy stores selling vintage clothes. Most of the stores were bought under the Government’s Stall Ownership Scheme in 1996 and their 20 year leases are expiring by the end of 2015, so visit them in person before you’re only left with a high-definition virtual tour!
5. Labrador Park
History buff? There are historic structures and relics for a lesson on World War II. Sporty nature lover? Lots of greenery from the nature reserve for you, including a hill for a hike and jetties to fish from. Labrador Park was more 'rural' but now, just jog slightly more and you will see boats docked at the frontdoor of condominiums Caribbean at Keppel Bay and Reflections at Keppel Bay.
Why you should visit it: It’s like East Coast Park, Fort Canning Park and happiness combined with a low crowd, futuristic buildings and serene waters, so yeah it’s basically a safe haven to turn to.
6. Pulau Ubin
The only time we went there are probably for school excursions like Outward Bound Singapore (OBS) or for a cycling/fishing trip on the few rare moments when we weren’t lazy to wake up at 5am to board the bum boat from Changi jetty.
Why you should visit it: Because Singapore has urbanised too quickly. Contrary to popular belief, there is a lot to explore, like the Ketam Mountain Bike Park, the famous Tua Pek Kong temple, Jejawi Tower, Chek Jawa Wetlands, Tudor-styled cottage Chek Jawa Visitor Centre, and the four abandoned quarries that are now filled with flora and fauna. Basically everything from the unmarked gravel roads to the 45 remaining kampong houses scream old school and Ubin is so cool that it was once a hotbed for initiation ceremonies by secret societies (don’t get any ideas). If you are lazy, book minibuses to tour around the island. If you are crazy lazy, visit Fort Canning, Pearl’s Hill Reservoir or Horsburgh Lighthouse and lie to yourself that it is as good as Pulau Ubin (granite from Ubin was used in their construction).
7. Japanese Cemetary Park
I know what you’re thinking: a cemetery?!
Why you should visit it: Why only read off your Social Studies textbook about the Japanese? Let your imagination go wild at the deserted cemetery thinking about the lives of the Japanese merchants and prostitutes buried there since 1891. Famous memorials belong to Hisaichi Terauchi and Yamamoto Otokichi, and the peace at the cemetery will be welcomed respite from our fast paced life. Just don’t be an itchy hand and touch the tombs.
8. Tiong Bahru Bird Corner
It was a favorite gathering place since the sixties for bird lovers who would gather on weekend mornings to admire each others’ prized pets singing in their nicely decorated cages while sipping coffee at the Ting Heng Kopitam. It even gained global fame in the late eighties when a Dutch reporter wrote about it and attracted attention from others in United States, Holland and Japan.
Why you should visit it: Bring your parents there and have them tell you a story. Previously imported for $6, songbirds now cost more than $100 and can go up to a four-figure sum as they have to be imported from Africa and Europe.
9. Sungei Road Thieves Market
The flea market sells almost everything from second hand clothing and shoes audio/video tapes, books, old coins and notes to used cameras, handphones and other electronic items. And yes, it was called the thieves market because it was open secret that you can find your stolen belongings there.
Why you should visit it: To find your stolen belongings that you left at your corridor, to shamelessly compete with the old uncles for a spot to pedal your goods for free, or to stand out because competition is too high at flea markets. Just go there at 7am to chope your spot because packets of tissue paper on the floor won’t work. Head over to the famous Sungei Road Laksa after a hard day of pedaling.
10. Orchard Central or Kallang Leisure Park or Dawson’s Place
So we obviously want shopping centres on the list. Kallang Leisure Park (KLP) garners more traffic on weekends but is relatively quiet on other days. Though there’s little to shop for, there’s a cinema, a skating rink, and Starbucks to peacefully chill at when all else fails. Dawson Place is a HDB retail center located along Alexandra Road and consists mostly of supermarkets, food courts and small shops and salons. Again, there’s not much to shop for but it’s a good hideout after visiting Ikea. If you still insist on going somewhere closer to civilization then Orchard Central is a good hangout place for you after pushing through the crowd in town.
Why you should visit them: Because you insisted on having a shopping centre in this list and they make for good hideouts.
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