Weekend Guide: Relax, Recharge and Rejuvenate

After a long week at work, we all need to shake off Zoom fatigue, ease our tech-neck aches, and do something truly enjoyable. That’s what weekends are for – to rest and recharge.

If you’re stumped for how to spend a fruitful, fulfilling weekend, try these interesting pursuits – from epicurean, artsy, to active –  that will put you in a fresh frame of mind for the work week ahead.

The opportunity to dine out has never been more appealing than in this time of pandemic. What a treat it is to be able to eat out with loved ones at your favourite places and catch up face-to-face in the cosy, luxurious confines of a top-notch restaurant.

For a bit of everything that dining out offers, reserve a table for the Dolce Vita Saturday Brunch at the Mandarin Oriental Singapore. You’ll get to enjoy a wide range of Italian classics with a modern twist, where dishes are lighter and more refined. You’ll be spoilt for choice, as you dive into a lavish spread of epicurean appetisers and irresistible sweets, as well as tantalising main courses.

For a global dining experience in a beautifully-designed restaurant, try Melt Café. Known for its extensive buffet presentations, BBQ options, and wide variety of stations, this buffet dinner package lets you sample different cuisines all at once, giving you the opportunity to taste different flavours in the same seating.

From pottery to carpentry, sewing to baking, there’s something incomparably special about doing it yourself, whether it’s a gift for someone, or an item for your own use.

The recent stay-home mandate saw many DIY artisans emerge, so much so that DIY-ing as a trendy, cultish practice, has also become something of a bragging right.

If you’re curious about DIY-ing, check out the Fayy Terrazzo And Marble Trays Workshop, during which you and your crew can get together and create beautiful handmade terrazzo and marble trays as practical keepsakes for yourselves and your loved ones.

At this 2-hour workshop, you’ll learn what jesmonite is, and how to fashion 10cm by 10cm terrazzo and marble trays out of this eco-friendly, non-toxic substance that’s a choice material for many designers. Each participant also gets to take home two of their very own handmade masterpieces.

Casual doodling has been known to relax the mind. It’s a good way to generate creative ideas and discover your inner artist too. There are many mediums to try your hand at – from acrylic, water-colour, to charcoal and pencil. 

Those who’ve always aspired to develop their artistic skills, can start with basic pencil sketches. A sketchpad and some pencils will set you up tool-wise. You just need to then find an inspiring spot and your style of drawing, and you’re good to go. If you have a passion for faces, ask a friend to ‘sit in’ for you. Otherwise, park yourself at a café, where you can people-watch and sketch.

Nature-loving artists may consider a park, and those with a love for architecture and urban landscapes will be spoilt for choice subjects anywhere in the city.  

After a rigorous work week of high-tension stress, chasing deadlines, and video meetings from home, a relaxing massage would be rejuvenating. Massages have the benefit of undoing knots and kinks in your body, smoothening out frayed nerves, and inducing better quality sleep.

If you need a quick, 30-minute session that targets the neck, shoulders, eyes and scalp, indulge in the Porcelain 4-in-1 Acupressure Massage as an instant weekend perk up. Plus, acupressure massage has the additional benefit of encouraging blood flow, relieving aches, pains, and lactic acid that causes stiffness in muscles. It also triggers the body to release endorphins, a natural painkiller.

Or shell out for something luxurious with your partner or BFF, like the Fullerton Spa 60 min Body Massage, which combines traditional aromatherapy with deep relaxation massage moves. At the award-winning Fullerton Spa, the expert therapists use nature’s most powerful and effective active ingredients and oils, coupled with calming techniques, to help your body and skin feel rebalanced and restored.

Armed with a smartphone, everyone’s a sharp shooter these days. But the litmus test of good photography is getting it right with a conventional camera. Learning to take better pictures isn’t just useful, it can change your perspective of the world too.

Whether you’re a beginner looking to take better photos, or a skilled photographer who wants to pick up next-level techniques, Leica Akademie has just the programme for you.

This 1-to-1 customised workshop lets you learn at your own pace and according to your preferences. A dedicated Leica Akademie instructor will guide you through the paces of lighting techniques and picture composition, to ensure that you leave the session with a fresh outlook to the world of photography.

Who says you can’t travel for leisure just yet? A great weekend get-away that doesn’t require a passport is the Wanderlust Adventures Special Catch & Cook Cruise.

Within a 4-hour time frame, you’ll get to enjoy a private and very refined fishing session on a yacht, cook your catch, and bring it home for dinner to pair with your favourite wines.  

The yacht cruise, which sets sail at One Degree 15 Marina, also includes a cruise around the Singapore Flyer and Marina Bay Sands area, for spectacular city skyline views. The trip comes complete with captain and crew, fishing instructors, and all the necessary fishing equipment.

The weekend is a good time to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty for a good reason: marinating meat, firing up the grill, tossing a huge salad and mixing cocktails. It’s the perfect time for throwing a BBQ and getting together with family and friends you have not seen for a while.

For a seamless experience, it’s important to get a grill that’s convenient to use and clean. Something like Char-Broil's gas grillers and smokers are great for BBQ novices. They are space-saving and small enough to fit apartment patios too. 

What you’ll need next are choice cuts and fresh seafood from the butchery and fish market. While you’re there, select a meat rub or marinade that’s a crowd pleaser. Or, you could make your own fresh, healthy version without preservatives  – by blending together simple ingredients like garlic, onions, mustard, salt and pepper.

Don’t forget the thirst quenchers – craft beers, ales and more – that will wash down hunks of smoky grilled meats perfectly. 

Hiking has become popular of late, thanks in part to staying home and WFH regulations. Being cooped up makes us want to seek the great outdoors all the more. And no other fitness activity gives you as much of a sense of space, fresh air and getting ‘lost’ in the sights and sounds of nature, than hiking. It’s also a way to build stamina and stay in shape.

What you’ll need before you set off is hiking paraphernalia, such as comfy, quick-dry gear, footwear that’s suitable for long-distance walking on different terrain, hydration, and a good GPS watch to give you directions. Plus some equally adventurous company to share the sparkling conversation and good memories, of course. And don’t forget to wear sunblock.

Workdays are hard on your pets. If you work full-time and don’t have flexible hours, most likely, time with your fur baby is limited to a quick stroll twice a day and a short cuddle before bedtime.

The weekend is the best time to make up for lost time with your pets and bond with them. Pet behaviourists believe bathing and brushing your pets are easy ways to connect with them and to make them feel secure and loved. At the same time, you are keeping them clean and groomed. 

Active play is essential to keep your pets fit and at a healthy weight. Besides a longer walk than usual, or a spot of catch, let your pets enjoy an exercise session in the pool. The Mutts & Mittens Active Dog Swimpass allows your pet and two accompanying adults five 1-hour swim sessions – a great way to have fun with your pets while keeping them entertained and happy.

Gardening is a past-time that transcends age. While gardening is a daily joy, the weekend is a good time to devote more time to it, to re-pot, prune, fertilise and debug.

Whether you’re gardening to sustain or beautify the environment, newbie gardeners can always start small, literally in a small space, like a balcony, or a planter. Depending on your plant predilections, you can grow flowers, leafy shrubs, or even edibles, like vegetables, herbs, and fruits, to enable a garden-to-table lifestyle.

This hands-on hobby can be therapeutic and fulfilling, especially when you start to see your plants grow and thrive. The physical action of potting soil, watering shoots and trimming branches can also be a good way to decompress and recharge from the challenges of a gruelling work week.

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