Tampines Regional Library - Singapore

Our Tampines Hub (OTH) - Singapore

Located at Our Tampines Hub or also known as OTH (Singapore's first-ever integrated community and lifestyle hub), the Tampines Regional Library is the first regional library in Singapore

It is housed together with the Tampines Stadium (a 5,000-seat stadium with a FIFA-endorsed "2 Star Quality Pro football pitch - can be used for both football and rugby match plus other community events), Sport Halls, Swimming Complex (with 6 different swimming pools including the largest rooftop pool in Singapore), 5,000 sq ft playground, bowling centre, sports clubs,wall climbing theme park, jogging track, Public Service Centres (such as: People’s Association, North East Community Development Council, Housing Development Board, Workforce Singapore, and Ministry of Social and Family Development, and ActiveSG), hawker center, child care centre, senior care centre, enrichment centres, wellness centre, gym, community club, auditorium, health centre, clinic, theater (with free movie screening), karaoke, restaurants, cafe, supermarket, rooftop garden with BBQ pits, and so on.

If you are interested to check more on the variety of restaurants or facilities available, you can click here.

Tampines Regional Library Entrance - Level 2

Our Tampines Hub was officially opened on 6 August 2017, but the Tampines Regional Library was re-opened a day earlier. Despite being opened for almost 3 years ago, I visited it for the very first time only few days ago. From overall things available at the OTH, the library is the only thing I was attracted most, and that was why I went.

There are 2 entrance to enter the library. First one is from Tampines Ave. 5 (main road). You can reach there using the bridge connected to the opposite side (following the signage) or simply using the escalator up. The second entrance is from Tampines Ave. 4. Both are located at the level 2.

Covid-19 is still around here in Singapore, therefore upon entrance we have to scan the QR code using our mobile phone to register our visit (for easy trace tracking purpose) and have our body temperature checked. Colorful label is given and pasted onto our clothes.

We are given 30 minutes time to enter and have to get out when the time is up (no seating and reading are allowed at this period of time). Many seating and reading areas are blocked and no activities (such as: storytelling, culinary learning class, PIXEL Labs activities, WISHers reading club - a language learning group for senior citizens and housewives, etc.) are held until further notice.

Returning book machines on the left and Adults Audiovisuals (DVDs) borrowings on the right - Tampines Library Level 2

As it was my first time, I had no idea how the library looked like. I went with handful lists of books that I planned to borrow (after checking for its availability using the NLB Mobile apps). I opened up the apps upon entering and looked for the book that I wanted to borrow. After clicking up the Tampines Library, I would be able to find out the location of the book stored (since some libraries were huge and contained many shelves).

I stopped the library staff and asked for her advice about the shelf's location and I was surprised when she mentioned that the book that I was looking for was located at the sixth floor. What??? Sixth floor??? And the entrance was at second floor only. The lifts and escalators were available at the back (near the entrance from Tampines Ave. 4).

Directory shown at the lift door - Tampines Regional Library

You could see the above directory for the faster access to reach your destination. 

Wow, it was huge and impressive!!! No wonder it was called Regional Library. One thing that came up from my mind almost immediately was... how tiring its staffs must be (or cleaning staffs) to go up and down around the area to do their jobs :D They must have a strong pair of legs. Hehehe.... 

Things got more interested and I decided to take few pictures around and shared with you my amazement. Let us start from the level 2 and slowly go up.

Adults magazines (the racks on the wall are Tamil language magazines) - Tampines Regional Library Level 2

Adults magazines varieties (culinary, business, fashion, travel magazines, etc.) - Tampines Regional Library Level 2

3 Culinary studios on the left and books related to culinary on the right - Tampines Regional Library Level 2

The culinary studios are managed by PA (People's Association). It was first time for the library to integrate the community learning space with another agency's space within the library. Cooking classes are to be held here. Looks clean and neat inside! 

Tampines Stadium - View from Tampines Regional Library Level 2

Tampines Stadium - View from Tampines Regional Library Level 4

You can see the view of the stadium from inside the library (from level 2 to 4). Imagine when there are football or rugby matches going on!!! :)

Picture books borrowing (Early literacy) - Tampines Regional Library Level 3

This will be a great place for parents with toddler. Pictures books, interactive books, folktale story books, and early literacy books are available for borrowing. Those books focus on key areas that are vital to children’s learning and development. Cosy seating area is available too (for non-Covid-19 time, this place will be a heaven for a very young children).

Fyi, many of these children books (32,000 Chinese children's titles) were donated by Chou Sing Chu Foundation (a non-profit organisation founded in 2004 by Mr Chou Cheng Ngok, Popular Holdings Limited’s Group CEO, in honor of his late father, Mr Chou Sing Chu (1905-1986), founder of Cheng Hing Company, World Book Company and Popular Book Company) in an effort to promote learning and reading in Chinese. It conducts programs and activities to encourage reading of Chinese materials in children as well. It is great to know this!!! :)

Indoor playground (run by Playtopia) is available too at Level 3 (currently closed due to Covid-19) at additional cost. Check for the rates here.

Teens' Fiction - Heaven for teens at Tampines Regional Library Level 4

Reading Box inside Teens' Fiction at Tampines Regional Library Level 4

This will be a wonderful place to visit after school or during school holiday time where you can read and borrow any books that you like, and sit at this cool library!!! English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil language books are all available here. We are indeed very lucky to live in this multi-racial harmony country :)

Children's Novels Shelves at Tampines Regional Library Level 4

Children are also pampered with wide varieties of books available too!!! 

Pixel Labs@NLB - a dedicated space that enables patrons to learn, create, invent, and share skills using tools, equipment, and hardware kits -  is also located at Level 4. 3D printing and Arduino workshops (open-source electronic prototyping platform enabling users to create interactive electronic objects), arts and multi-media production, coding lessons, can be learned over here. It is a collaboration between Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore and National Library Board

Terrace on 4 - Seating staircase at Level 4

When Covid-19 is over, they can choose to sit at this cool place too - Terrace on 4. And if you notice, there are power sockets available too at each stair near the seating area, which suits well for those who are using laptop while reading, studying, or researching in this library.

Terrace on 5 - Seating staircase at Level 5

Terrace on 5 is available at level 5 too!!! :)

Study Lounge at Tampines Regional Library Level 5

If you need a more quiet place to study, study lounge is available at level 5.

Singapore Collection (both fiction and non-fiction) at Tampines Regional Library Level 5

At level 5 you can find the Singapore collection books (both fiction and non fiction in 4 different languages) and other non-fiction books.

Reading space at Tampines Regional Library Level 5

Non-fiction collections e.g. Travel, business, etc. - Tampines Regional Library Level 5

The library has a great collections of non-fiction books starting from business, computer, travel, art, recreation, comic, etc.

Reading space at Tampines Regional Library Level 6

My favorite place will be the above reading space at level 6. With carpet and sofa, this will be a great place to read my book comfortably and quietly (quiet reading space). Fiction books from many different languages are available here.

Outdoor space at Tampines Regional Library Level 6

When feeling sleepy and in need of fresh air, the door towards fresh air is just near the escalator. There are seats where you can read your book outdoor too!!! (Currently closed due to Covid-19).

Large print books shelves are located very near to this area. Newspaper reading place is also available at this level 6 with a window view facing outside (currently not available due to Covid-19). 

At this level there is a dedicated space for volunteers to share knowledge and plan activities to promote the love for reading to other users. The whole 6th floor is currently a volunteer-run floor where volunteers assist with the shelving of books as well as attending to user inquiries. Cool right?

Cute mobile carts to transfer the books back to shelves - Tampines Regional Library Singapore

If you cannot wait to visit, below is the info that you need to know.

Tampines Regional Library

Address:

1 Tampines Walk

#02-01 Our Tampines Hub

Singapore 528523

Opening Hours: 

Mon - Sun: 10:00 AM - 09:00 PM

Closed at 5.00pm on eves of Christmas,

New Year and Chinese New Year

Closed on Public Holidays

24-hour Bookdrop

To find more information about the Tampines Regional Library and to check their maps on each floor, click here. Please read important notice on the website before visiting. Hope you enjoy your time there as I did :)

Dream place (IG: Rimareyka.writes)

P.S.: Currently there are 3 regional libraries available across Singapore, which are in Jurong, Woodlands, and Tampines. One is coming soon, which is in Punggol, very near from where I stay. I really cannot wait to find it out as well (too bad the construction is being held due to the recent Covid-19). But I really wonder how it will look like. Will it as nice as this Tampines Regional Library? But for sure, once it is opened, this place will be my second home where I can spend my time reading and do other things there :)

And if you want to find out more about other libraries that I have written up before, you can click on the link here: Sengkang Library, Library@HarbourFront, and Library@Orchard. Happy browsing!!! :)

Full Moon at Waterway Park Punggol - Singapore (5 July 2020)

Remains of the sunset - Waterway Park Punggol

This evening I decided to leave home a bit late (after having my dinner), instead of the usual sunset time as I wanted to avoid the crowd (especially on Sunday where people come in pair - as couple- and families who would exercise or walk together along the park).

So I missed the dark orange sky and only left with the remaining as shown in the photo above. It was still beautiful though :)

Full moon (lunar 15th May 2020 or 5th July 2020)

However, as I rode along the seaside, I was awarded with the mesmerizing full moon that came in front of me. It started really low, as if it was located so so near to this earth.

Pardon my camera phone as the quality of the photo was not as beautiful as many DSLR camera would capture :)

Beautiful view of the full moon - Waterway Park Punggol (5th July 2020)

As I rode to different areas of the park, I stopped once in a while, to capture the beauty of the moon as it had different backgrounds and surrounding.

Full moon view at Waterway Park Punggol (5th July 2020)

Sometimes I would give notice to the passerby who walked from the other side, to make sure they too see the beautiful moon behind them (sometimes they were too preoccupy with their exercise and did not notice their surroundings) 

Full moon view at Waterway Park Punggol (5th July 2020)

SB was really kind to me tonight and blessed me with the beautiful moon view all along my cycling journey :)

Bright full moon at the Sunrise Bridge (5th July 2020)

This view was not something that I would take for granted. Its appearance would depend on the good weather (especially during raining season) and the clouds at the surrounding.

Full moon view at Waterway Park Punggol (5th July 2020)

It shone so bright and gave different colors to its surrounding :)

Full moon at Punggol Park - 5th July 2020

Just like any other things in this world, it changed all the time. Its location, its height, its color, its brightness, and so on. So we had to adjust ourselves towards it and be flexible in order to capture them from every different areas :)

Full moon view near Waterway Point

It could blend nicely with buildings and infrastructures below them too, still beautiful :)

Capture memories with my life's accompany :)

And last but not least, I took it together with my life's accompany - the bike that I had used for so long, endured so many hardships, and changed many wheels as it burst sometimes (thanks to hubby who had personally changed it by himself - I was lucky for having such a talented hubby who could repair so many things in life :). Without him, it would not last that long hahaha.... :P).

I hope you too feeling happy watching it and do not forget to watch outside your window tonight to see if it shines so bright right now. Share the joy and happiness with people who you stay with at this point of time. So, stay safe and healthy. Until next time! :)

Books read for the first half of the year 2020

  

The greatest gift quote (Pic source: Google.com)

Below please find the list of the book I read for the first half of the year 2020:

January 2020

January 2020 

1.The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood

2. Convenience Store Woman - Sayaka Murata

February 2020

February 2020 

1.The Testaments - Margaret Atwood

2. Postscript - Cecilia Ahern

3. Wake Up To What Matters - Avrikita Vajra Sakya

4. Seventeen - Hideo Yokoyama

5. Under A Dancing Star - Laura Wood

6. The Life Changing Manga of Tidying Up - Marie Kondo

7. The Givers of Stars - Jojo Moyes

March 2020

March 2020 

1.Beauty Queen of Bishan - Akshita Kanda

2. The Book of Laughter and Forgetting - Milan Kundera

3. Home Is Not Here - Wang Gungwu

4. Recovering Joy - A MIndful Life After Addiction - Kevin Griffin

April 2020

April 2020 

1.Grown Ups - Marian Keyes

2. House of the Sleeping Beauties and Other Stories - Yasunari Kawabata

3. The Ten Loves of Nishino - Hiromi Kawakami

4. Meditation Saved My Life - Phakyab Rinpoche

5. A Leap of Love - Catherine Lim

May 2020

May 2020 

1.The Zahir - Paulo Coelho

2. Mindfulness - Gill Hasson

3. When the Lights Go Out - Mary Kubica

4. Dakini Power - Michaela Haas

5. Thin Air - Michelle Paver

June 2020

June 2020 

1.The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck - Mark Manson

2. Korma, Kheer & Kismet - Pamela Timms

Reading - A passport to countless adventure (Pic source: Google.com)

Half year had already passed. Time flew too fast this year, especially due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Most people was advised to stay indoor, unless it was necessary to go out (to shop groceries, to see doctor, etc.)

Reading would be one of the chosen activities to kill the time. At the same time, to widen the knowledge, to learn about other people's lives, countries, cultures, religions, and so on. 

Physical travelling around the globe was absolutely not the best thing to do yet. However, "reading is a passport to countless adventure", and all of us was able to do so, with a power of the book, wasn't it wonderful???

With this post, I just wish and hope that all of you are in good health and book could be your best accompany during this period. Take care both your physical and mental health as this may last for quite some time until the vaccine is found and everyone has an access to it. Be patient and more mindful in everything that you do on daily basis. Keep reading and have a lovely day!!! :) 

Amateur cook - Cook simply and from the heart :)

Sweet potato ball - coffee break  :)

Due to Covid-19 many people were forced to stay at home. Some was due to jobless, some work from home, some study from home, and some was like me, a housewife cum cannot-fly-traveller. Hahaha.... :P

I think many of you who knew me well enough, might hear before, that since young, I aimed to be a housewife who stayed at home and cooked nice food to my families, instead of becoming a successful career woman who aimed to hold multiple degrees, live a rich and luxury life.

As long I have a roof to stay, clothes to wear, food to eat every day, I am content enough and happy with my life. To live with my loved ones in harmony and peaceful environment are added points and I am truly grateful for all things that happened to me.

I chose to study Hotel Management was because of that simple dream. I knew, my parents and fellow teachers might feel disappointed with what I have become but this is my life, and I know what I want, and that is enough. 

As long as I love it (IG: rimareyka.writes)

Starting from Circuit breaker to current phase 2, I had to spend most of my time staying at home. Usually on weekdays my mother-in-law would prepare dinner for all of us. But at this period, hubby and I would take turn preparing food too.

Each of us specialises in cooking different food. Mother-in-law is good in preparing Chinese dishes and soup to be eaten with rice. Hubby specialises in cooking hawker style food, such as: minced meat / fish ball / wonton noodle, fried oysters, etc.

Today is always a special day (IG: rimareyka.writes)

As for me, I am specialise in cooking the food that I love eating. Hahaha...... :P It varies from pasta salad, potato salad, burger, tortilla wraps, pasta Bolognese or cream pasta, stir fried noodle / vermicelli / kway teow, fried rice, vegetable fritter, Tahu isi (tofu filled with vegetable fritter), Indonesian style Soto chicken soup, Lontong, Korean pancakes, muesli, Bhutanese dishes (ema datshi, kewa datshi, dhall), and so on. 

Indonesian Tahu Isi (Tofu filled with veg fritter)

I do not intend to brag here but like I mentioned earlier, I cook things that I love eating, and I have too many food that I love hahaha.... :D

Homecooked Swiss Rosti :)

You might have heard too that Singapore was the world's most expensive country in 2019, and therefore, to eat in restaurant, you would need to get ready to pay a lot of money.

Homecooked Korean veg pancake - perfect with Soju :)

In order to taste the similar food but paying less, many times I decided to prepare it myself at home. 

Healthy chicken wrap with Salsa and fries :)

Usually first, I would find how to make it from YouTube videos. I would usually watch at least 3 different posts before deciding which one to follow and to find better tips in more crispy results, or simpler way and ingredients used. 

Homemade green bean popsicles :)

Many food I tried it first time, like the first photo you see in this blog post - Sweet potato balls. And yes, I love making easy dessert too to be eaten after meal or during tea / coffee break :)

Pancake with banana and ice cream :)

The above pancake was made based on my mother's recipe. I modified it by adding banana and Milo powder inside, and topped it with ice cream. It was perfect to have it during tea break. 

Korean noodle for cooling days :D

Recently it rains almost daily. The weather makes Singapore so cool and nice. The Korean drama made me wanting to eat something hot and spicy, and the above was simply perfect!!! Kimchi and dumplings were extra ingredients!!! Hahaha.... :P

My friend already warned me of gaining weight. Lol!!! Thank you for your reminder :D I shall bear it in  mind. 

Dalgona coffee with brown sugar and sea salt flavoured milk

Last but not the least, finally I made the trendy Dalgona coffee too :) The ingredients are simple: coffee powder, sugar and milk. Mixed 2 Tsp of coffee powder, 2 Tsp of sugar, and 2 Tsp of hot water. Mixed it in a bowl using whisk. Stir it non-stop until it is thicken and colour changed to light brown colour (approximately 8 mins). Prepare 2 glass of milk (either cold or hot - to your liking). Fill in the coffee foam on top of the milk and voila!!! Enjoy your Dalgona coffee!!! :)

I may only an amateur cook, but I enjoy cooking because I know my loved ones will enjoy eating it and I just do my best to make it edible and nice. Do not forget to put in the most ingredients in every thing you prepare, which is LOVE :)