A day out in Singapore
Engineering social inclusion through on-demand events
Blue skies, a warm 28 degrees. Riding bus 700 downtown. A pleasant slow day. It could have been a Sunday. No specific plan. So I am checking drop!in (www.idrop.in), when I come across this mobile gaming event looking interesting. The event was at the Capitol, Stamford Road Singapore.
Since 700 was going into the area I figured that this was the event I wanted to check out.
I like to go to events. Meeting new people, learning new skills, or simply escaping for a little while from the struggles of everyday life.
When stepping into the Piazza of the Capitol, I was positively surprised to see the Singaporean version of a Farmers Market, the Makers Market. Obviously, I spent some time checking out the necklaces, clothes, and other goods that were on display.
But, I still wanted to check out the mobile gaming event still I was already a bit late. From the description on drop!in, I had to go inside and in the basement (B1). I stepped on the escalator downwards.
And there it was. Speakers (check), Race Tracks (check), stereotypical anime characters (check), some guy doing Karaoke (what?).
Yup, this must be it.
When I arrived, It seemed that most of the racing was already over and they were handing out the prices, …well I was a tad late.
Pocket racers GT is created by a company called Playtoken and an app accompanying a real toy collection racing game. They seem to use these kind of events to market their product. Fair enough for me. As long as I am entertained ;-)
Heavy hearted, I decided to move on as I have not been in the area of Singapore for a while.
From Stamford road, I took my path towards one of Singapore’s hidden gems of alternative culture which always reminds me of Camden Market London or Afflecks in Manchester, the old Excelsior shopping center.
And “for the record”, LP’s gotten expensive in this part of the world.
From Excelsior it is only a short hop over the across the Coleman bridge to Boat Quay.
Coleman Bridge was originally constructed in 1840. The bridge was designed by and named after George Drumgoole Coleman (1795–1844), an Irish architect and Singapore’s first architect. Plus, it is a great spot to take pictures of the CBD.
Despite the glitzy touristy front, Boat Quay’s dark back alleys are the smelly reminder what happens if you just dump everything out the back door. Still reminds me of a summer time version of Harry Potter’s Diagonal Alley.
Besides the funky looking duck (hi), I met the artsy ladies of “Hardly Studio” working on a great mural. I’d recommend to check it out when you are in the area!
Definitely makes Singapore a visually more engaging place. Urban art FTW!
Apps like drop!in, brought me out of my apartment this morning and let me to meet nice and creative makers at a Makers Market, a gaming event, and an arts collective.
Urbanization in Asia will continue and by 2030, 85% of Asian population will live in urban areas. Working against the urban problem of anonymity (‘not-knowing-your-neighbor’), apps like drop!in help to get people to talk, to meet, to exchange knowledge and passions.
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Read more from me at : I try to make the world’s cities more inclusive, innovative, healthy, and thriving
