What apps to download before going to China from Singapore

Shanghai Oriental Pearl Tower

With the advance of the technology, I would say we are very lucky to be able to live in the world these days. The last time I went to China was in the end of 2018 and I could not use the Chinese payment apps like WeChat Pay and Alipay. I had to use cash to pay wherever I went. And sometimes, I would not be able to purchase something (like using the vending machine to buy drinks). I was reluctant to use my credit card to pay too, since the exchange rate given by the bank was awful and there was other charges for using it. 

Trust Visa Debit/ Credit Card (Photo source: Trustbank.sg)

First of all, if you live in Singapore, the digital bank and cards like Trust and YouTrip are the two great assets that you must have beforehand, because they offer the online currency rates - not far from what you usually check from XE.com, there is 0% foreign transaction fee (not even the 1% Visa charges), and also no annual card fee to pay. You manage all your money using the apps on your fingertip. 

For the Trust saving, you can earn up to 2.75% p.a. interest rates on your first S$800k depending on how much you put your money in and earn up to 11% savings on groceries and food at Fairprice Group when you spend on your Trust debit card. You can read more details in here. You can also apply their VISA credit card to earn up to 15% cashback on your preferred category and unlimited 1% cashback on all other eligible spend. Read more details here. If you do not have one yet and interested to get one, you can let me know and I can give you a referral code and get yourself S$10 Fairprice e-voucher as a lovely start :) 

YouTrip Mobile Wallet link with Mastercard 
(Photo source: You.co/sg)

As for YouTrip, you can sign up using your local Singapore mobile phone. It is a multi-currency mobile travel wallet with linked Mastercard and money changer in the app.  There are currently 12 wallet currencies in which you can do the money change without having to go down to money changer. The currencies available as for now are: SGD, MYR, AUD, USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, HKD, NZD, CHF, SEK, and THB. 

You can first top up your SGD money using PayNow or to link your bank account for easy transfer. You can also top up using a Visa/ Mastercard but there will be 1.5% fee for Visa Credit. Fees waived for all Mastercards and Visa Debit. 

After topping up your SGD into the account, you can then start the exchange between those 12 available currencies and keep your money there. But when you want to use it overseas, you can pay in any currencies (not only those 12). For example, you can use it in Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, and so on. They will convert the currency automatically and deduct it from your SGD or other currency balance that you stored. Just tap your card (they will issue and send you a physical card once you sign up), and key in the passcode on the credit card machine for a more secure transaction. And Voila! If you do not have one yet and interested to join, you can let me know too. I will send you the referral link and get yourself S$5 on your account upon confirmation and acceptance :)

With YouTrip, you can also transfer money overseas or send to other YouTrip User. And if you want to take your SGD money back into your bank account, you can do the withdraw through PayNow or transfer back to your local bank account. So it was up to you how you want to manage  your money. You can link WeChat Pay and Alipay with similar cards like Wise or Revolut too, if you already have one. Once you have them, you can link the above cards (no more required to have a local China bank account and credit card) with WeChat and Alipay. 

I post this blog because more people are travelling to China recently due to more available direct (some budget) airlines between countries, the easy access to pay using the Apps, available translation apps (I use Google translation apps so far), available maps App using English (fyi Google map in China does not give an extensive locations and accuracy, some even are misleading), convenient to travel using public transport such as Metro, bus and ferry, with the downloaded Metro apps that were linked to WeChat or Alipay - just scan the QR code at the entry and exit gate, more world class entertainment parks, such as: Universal Studio in Beijing, Disneyland in Shanghai, Pop Mart theme park or Pop Land in Beijing, Legoland in Shanghai (opening in 2025), and so on. 

Chinese apps to download

So, from my recent trips to Shanghai, I did some research before going, and here are the list of the apps I downloaded before going:

1. WeChat

If you have not had the account yet, you can sign up using your local mobile number. Then you can click here on how to link your credit card with WeChat Pay. I linked my YouTrip Mastercard with WeChat Pay. You need to submit your Passport information as a verification, otherwise you cannot use it. 

2. Shanghai Metro apps (linked to WeChat pay). Once you download the no. 1, next you can download the metro apps. In my case, I downloaded the Shanghai Metro app - Discover, Mini Programs, Search Shanghai Metro App - the red color one - and registered. To use it, you need to turn your bluetooth on, then it will produce the QR code, which you can scan when entering and exiting the metro gate. The fee will be charged into the credit card that you linked with in your WeChat Pay.

3. Alipay

This is another very useful payment apps in China, it works similar like Google pay, but with more services. You can click here for more information on how to register your Alipay. Same thing, you need your passport information for verification plus your photo. Then add your foreign credit card under the Bank Cards. For Alipay, I link it with my Trust Visa card. 

The apps can be set in English and there is the floating translation button that you can click too for easier translation from Chinese to English while using the app. 

4. Shanghai Metro apps (linked with Alipay)

Once you download the Alipay, I search e.g. Shanghai metro - I choose Shanghai Metro Daduhui - registered, saved it, and could find it under the My Apps (My Mini-apps). I can copy this apps button into my mobile home as well for easy use. 

Same with the no. 2, you need to turn on your Bluetooth when scanning the QR code at the entrance and exit gate. It is much more convenient than buying the metro ticket manually at the ticket machine. It will save you a lot of time in taking public transport. 

5. Didi Travel (linked with Alipay)

If you go in larger group with elderly or children, you might want to travel around using hire transport service like Grab and Gojek. In China, you use Didi. You can download the mini-app in Alipay or WeChat for Didi service. Follow the instruction on how to use it. I did not try it during my trip in Shanghai as I travel alone and metro is very convenient public transport to go anywhere.

6. Amap

It is very useful map that you can access during your trip in China. You can enter search using English and Chinese language. Click 'Route' to find out how to get there - by driving, metro or bus, cycling, and walking. Just turn your location button on and it will give you various alternative to reach your destination :)

7. Disney Resort

As I visited Disneyland in Shanghai, I downloaded this app beforehand. Here, you can purchase your ticket based on your needs. There is a Super Early Bird One-Day price ticket if you know already when you are going to visit and choose it to get discount, at least 15 days in advance, or Early Bird One-Day price ticket at least 10 days in advance. In fact, so many options to choose. Weekdays and weekend prices are different, so if you visit many days in Shanghai, I recommended you to choose weekdays than weekends.

You can pay the fare using foreign credit card. However, with additional 3% charge. In this case, I tried other alternatives such as: Klook, Traveloka, and Trip.com. At the end, I bought it through Trip.com as it offered the best price among all.

With Disney Resort app, you can use it during your stay in Disneyland. You will use the map function the most. There, you can see how much is the waiting time for each rides. How to get there from your location (you need to turn on your location button) and how many minutes to reach. Where you can have your lunch, snacks, or dinner. Where to shop if you need to get something to bring back home, and so on. They also tell you the schedule of the parades of the day, and toilet locations.

There are more apps you can download based on your needs during your travel in China. I myself is a newbie and not very well in reading Chinese words. It will be better if you have friends from China who use more Chinese apps and have time to explain to you what to download and how to use.

Actually I would love to use their share bike to go around Shanghai by myself, but with the limitation of the area/ location knowledge, plus not knowing much Chinese words, taking metro is more than good to go. But I was lucky enough being able to cycle around in the middle of the Shanghai city with the guide and help of my local Shanghai friend who is familiar with the road there. He also helped me to unlock the bike - using 2 different bike apps from 2 different companies :) 

Meituan share bike in Shanghai

The traffic for bikes have lessen up these days unlike more than 2 decades ago. Now people take more metro, bus, electronic motorcycle, didi, or car to travel around. But it is good for me and they still have bike lane for bicycle and motorcycle users. Many road was covered with big trees at left and right, giving cool shades for riders like us. I was very lucky experiencing it and hope can experience it more next time :D

Oh ya, for mobile access, you need a SIM card that allows you to access Google, what's app, Facebook, or Instagram. In Singapore, you can purchase your physical China SIM or e-SIM from Lazada or Shopee SG. I purchased the ICC China Mainland 3-30 days Unlimited Data SIM card (China Mobile Network). It worked very well during my stay. Just insert it (if you buy physical card) when you reach there, turn the roaming and mobile data on, and you can start using it.

I hope the above info can help you a little in preparing your visit to China. And wish you a wonderful trip to China soon!!! :)

The first step

Punggol

Yeah, I was late to catch the sunset. It was a last minute decision to just go cycling and catch the orangey sky from afar, because I just ate too much. Not that being ungrateful for the food I had eaten, it was just it had exceeded what it should be for the day. Hahaha.... 

You should have heard this proverb before, "The first step is always the hardest. But once you take your first step, things will get easier from then on."

I had just overcome my first step to go back to the evening cycling. My last was too long for me to remember. Perhaps after finally cutting my long hair, I had become lighten, and eager to fly again, as if removing stack of stones from my head. 

My accompany (the bike, not the guy in the photo hehehe....)

The weather was good. It was not a windy night, but as I cycled, the wind blew gently towards my face, so yes, it was still good and enjoyable. 

I did not put earpiece this time as I expected the road to be crowded with people. It would be dangerous not to hear what was surrounding me as I cycled. So it was such a good time to listen to many sounds - people's conversation in many different languages, parent's warning their kids when they were on the road, ringing bell sound, car's engine, cicada, frogs, dogs, and so on. 

My nose too smelt so many different smells as I went by. The smelly public toilet, grilled chicken, perfume or deodorants, sweat, and so on. 

My mind was running too. I just let it running wild, to explore whatever it wanted to recall, remember and imagine. Sometimes I smiled as I remembered something; sometimes I felt sour when recalled another. 

Waterway Point at night

But most importantly, my energy was still there, even after so long. Perhaps the enjoyment of doing what I loved doing had given me those energy to keep going. That was why when a friend of mine wanted to start exercising, I suggested him to just doing what he loved doing rather than signing up in something that he doubtfully had motivation to do. 

Well, at least it worked in me. I loved cycling and I just loved doing it :)

Time for the day

It was simply satisfying and I really hoped that I could do it more often in the near future. My weight had increased lately and I seriously had to do something about it hahahahaha..... Wish me luck please!!! I hope everyone is in good health and happy inside out!!! Cheers and keep up what you are doing!!! Jia you!!! 

A Little Reflection

Are you wasting your time???

It has been a while since my last post. How are you doing guys? Hope everyone is doing good and blessed with good health. Covid has changed so many things in us but hope that it will not let us being defeated by it

I have heard many bad news for the past 2 months of who have had it and who could not manage to survive. The death happened to anyone, be it young or old. I can not imagine how the related person have to face it and go on with their life.

This will only be a short post as when I looked at the quote above, I had a sudden inspiration to write this. 

Ok, alright. Because of Covid, we can not travel. And well, I can not travel. So I have plenty of time to spend. Naturally, I should spend it doing something like working, back to workforce life. 

I can choose to go back doing the office job, fully use the qualification I attained years ago and get the salary I deserve, or doing something else, something I love doing, something my passionate call me for, but the return may not be high or enough. Well, for some people, money is never be enough right?

Since a year ago, I had chosen to work part time, a job that many people generally are capable to do, whether you have experience or not. And fate brought me to land to another place, which is more suitable for my liking and personality. 

And starting February, apart from my part time job, I had started to pursue my interest related to something I used to love, but not die-hard loving, which was crystal. 

I was mesmerised by the beauty of the nature. They were nature too, built in over million and billion years naturally. And they were believed to carry many positive benefits with them. 

When I started my second part time job, I often felt unease. It might be due to a new place, and also the nature of the job that needed me to deal with items that could harm me, such as: knife, cans, slicing machine, hot pots and pans, hot water, oven, and so on. 

Bruises and cut wounds took turn tattooing my parts of body every week. Actually, it was something that I could avoid, but somehow, it happened. So I started wearing crystal to work: a pair of earrings, necklace (that I hid inside my shirt), and 2 bracelets (one left and one right - they were put in my pockets when working).

Somehow I could feel the energy from it. They might not prevent me from getting wound and blisters, but they helped me in keeping myself calm when it happened. 

It was somehow giving me calm effect, believed that they were there to protect me, give me strength and confidence, calm me down when it was busy or angry, and they too, helped me in clearing the misunderstanding, encouraging me to speak up what my heart was saying, and at the end, won the heart of my colleagues. 

You may or may not believe, but I personally feel it inside me and what change it has brought me into.

Both part time job and crystal interest may not give me enough money to live by. In fact, every month I spent most of my salary to purchase the crystal. But anyhow, I still feel that it is better than taking the full time office job that would not make me happy because the motivation would be to earn bigger money, but not because I like the nature of my job. 

So since it is part time, I do not work every day. One week, I may work 2 to 4 days only. The rest of the time, I spend it to engage myself in buying crystal (physical and online), getting design inspiration, learning how to do it, making it, and so on. This way, I can use my creative side in making DIY crystal bracelet too upon the buyer request.

For now, my sisters are my greatest supporters. Few close friends are also supporting me too. To be frank, I do not earn much from it. Because I am happy enough that they too believe in the goodness from it. Just as long it can cover the cost, that is enough. 

So going back to the quote above, I just want to tell myself, and to confirm it, that there is no rules that I must work office job, earn lots of money, in order to call myself living my life in decent way. There are still many other choices that I can make (while I am still given that choice), and still call it living my life according to my wish, my passion, my love, and then work out with the little money that I earn. 

Most important, keep my health (both physically and mentally) in good state by developing positive thought as much as possible, spread good things around to people surrounding me, live stress-free life (the more you earn, the more you attach your life style with it), learn how to balance (when to buy and when to stop), use my other talent in good way (in this case, my creative side), and just be myself. Be happy and content with everything, and never compare my life with other people. 

With this post, I hope you can reflect into what you are currently doing in your life too. Whether you are living your life according to what you want, whether you can fulfil your dreams or on the way into it, and so on. Always remember, there is no right and no wrong, but it is better if you can give yourself a chance to follow what your heart is saying. Wish you all a great day ahead!!! Stay safe and take care!!!

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! :)

Sunset Catcher

Treasure our precious - (Instagram: Rimareyka.writes)

These few days the weather was beautiful and it allowed me to go for cycling around the Waterway Park. If I was lucky enough (which I did), I could catch the sunset towards 7 pm in the evening. As I was still proudly calling myself as the 'sunset catcher', let me share some beautiful shots into this blog post. Hope you like it! :)

Sunset from Waterway Park, Singapore

Lush greenery and the beautiful sunset at Waterway Park, Singapore

The sunset from Waterway Point - Punggol, Singapore

With my loyal bike :) - Waterway Park, Singapore

Hidden among the bushes and trees - Sunset at Waterway Park, Singapore

Lucky people who always passed through this road!!! - Sunset at Waterway Park, Singapore

Tried hiding away??? I knew you would not!! - Sunset at Waterway Park, Singapore

Beautiful sunset allured me to catch its view non-stop!!! - Waterway Park, Singapore

Finally last view before saying good bye and see you again next time!!! Sunset at Waterway Park, Singapore

Happiness is in a journey

How time flies! Three months had passed since the beginning of the year 2018 and I had visited few places and spent valuable time with dear friends and my loved ones. Spring had started in the four-season countries, while in Singapore, it had been raining at any time of the day for the past one week.

Perfect time for reading and sipping tea with biscuits :)

It was rather a perfect time to read a book, to sip a cup of hot tea or coffee accompanied with delicious biscuits, and to snuggle under my Doraemon blanket. However, the rain had deterred me from catching my favorite physical activities, such as: morning walk and cycling. Since I had difficult time to wake up early in the morning lately, I could only go for cycling in evening time, and only when the weather permitted, just like yesterday.

After ensuring the sky was bright enough and no rain, I took the bicycle out from home. Glasses were worn to protect my eyes from the wind, sand, and dust. Hair was clipped and tied to a pony tail. Waist pouch was clipped to secure my mobile phone. A string bag was packed behind my back filled with water bottle and a small wallet made of clothes. Both ears were plugged and English songs were played continuously on my ears. Geared well, I started cycling once I reached the lift downstairs - to my usual destination.

My reflections from the mirror :D

The sky was half bright and half cloudy, the color was just like the inverted kueh talam ubi. Therefore, no expectation to see the sunset. The air was very cooling though, very pleasant. It was good that not many people took the same route as mine. Usually it was very crowded during weekend, but I saw many had preferred sitting down, picnic-ing, and chit chatting with their friends and/ or families along the seaside while catching fish.

Many thoughts were played on my head when cycling. Like just now, I was thinking how people chose to spend their evening on weekend and how I spent mine. It was completely two different things. They had accompany, sat down, and relaxed while I would rather cycling, moving my both legs ups and downs, filling my lungs with fresh cooling air, and sweating my body up - alone.

Cycling made me feeling free like a bird (Instagram: Rimareyka.writes)

Cycling had never failed in giving me a sense of freedom - especially when cycling alone. I could cycle as fast as I wanted, sing loudly the song that I played on my phone, shout out loud at the descended road, express my hearts out, smile and laugh while recollecting beautiful memories from the past and feeling grateful for all things happened in my life, collect inspiration to be written into my blog, and I could even cry when remembering the sad and awful incidents in my life. People might think that I was crazy doing all that at one journey, ha-ha... But with my speed, people would hardly notice it though! ;)

The sky was getting very dark at the road ahead but it did not deter me from cycling. It even started drizzling but I kept going. I refused to take the U-turn or to avoid the storm. It was just like the life that I went through. Despite knowing clearly that the road ahead might not be smooth, full of obstacles and challenges, I would not go back to the past or give up on moving on. Because by facing the difficulties ahead - the life challenges - only then I had the opportunity to get and learn something new, and even - God knew it well - find my happiness ahead. Just like people said, rainbow came only after the rain.

Let it rain, baby! You are not alone (Instagram: Rimareyka.writes)

True enough, after some time, it was raining. Slowly, it got heavier and I had no choice but to stop when the splatter got fuller and painful. I saw a shelter and decided to stay under it for a while. Soon after, many cyclists took the same shelter standing up together. Despite feeling shattered with wet and coldness under the heavy rain, I was feeling good. Good because I was not alone. Good because it only showed that many were facing the same challenges in their life journey and together we could wait until the storm had over, or braced ourselves to get wetter and sick if we chose to keep going. Nevertheless, we were sure not alone.

Beautiful night view after the rain - Punggol Sunrise Bridge

In a while, rain stopped. One by one, people left the shelter, and so did I. To my surprise, in just less than 100 meters away from where I stood before, the ground was dry and showed no sign of rain. I felt that the incident was clearly a sign for me to learn from the nature and life itself. I continued cycling, going another one big round while collecting a source of inspiration - a sign for me to update this barren blog - to share with others what I went through and learned that evening, which were: not to take the bad things too hard and good things for granted. To brave yourself and keep walking forward. No one said it was easy, but it would be worth it.

I kept cycling and suddenly my favorite song below was tuned on my playlist:

"Underneath the Sky" 

by Cameron Ernst

Like a low sitting fog at the break of day

Let it fade, let it fade

Like a hold of a frost on a window pane

Let it all melt away

I see it now so clearly where I couldn't see before

Finally now it was worth the wait

I hear my heartbeat

Feel my wings take flight

Everything is golden underneath this sky

Underneath this sky (2x)

I can jump, I can soar, and I'm not afraid

Let the wind hit my face

I can take on the clouds, they're no longer gray

Take 'em on any day

I see it now so clearly where I couldn't see before

Finally now it was worth the wait

I hear my heartbeat

Feel my wings take flight

Everything is golden underneath this sky

Underneath this sky (4x)

Look beyond at the horizon

And remember the day

This was the day yeah

Keep your eyes there

There's nothing like it

I was born to be brave

Forever brave

I hear my heartbeat

Feel my wings take flight

Everything is golden underneath this sky

I hear my heartbeat

Feel my wings take flight

Everything is golden underneath this sky

Underneath this sky (4x)

Beautiful full moon on 15th Feb lunar calendar - 31st March 2018

"Wooohoooooo......." I shouted again on the descended road. Thank SB for everything!!! You never failed in supporting and encouraging me facing the challenges in life. You even pampered me with the beautiful moon that I found before exiting the park. Thank you, thank you, and thank you for everything!!! :)