Rain Do What?

Reading Time: 6 minutes

By Adri Faris (18A13A)

It’s raining; and when it rains, it pours. All those days and days of planning for an afternoon at Siloso Beach gone to waste – it’s cancelled. You’re sitting there at home, staring at those stacks of revision papers that stare blankly back at you; clueless as to what you could do now. While the seclusive introverts may be secretly relieved at the opportune rainfall, others may dwell on this as a wasted opportunity. We’ve all been there before.

That’s where we come in. Today, Raffles Press brings you a list of things to do on a rainy day.

Disclaimer: This is by no means a complete list and fun is not guaranteed.

At Home

1. Take a Long, Relaxing Bath

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One of my favourite things to do at home when it rains is to take a long, cold shower. Yes, it might sound a little counter-intuitive, but there’s something magical about allowing the cold water to bathe your skin while your mind fades into oblivion at the immutable sound of rain. Research has shown that cold showers have their fair share of benefits; they improve circulation, keep the skin and hair healthy, strengthen immunity and most importantly, ease stress. If you’re not a fan of cold showers, taking a warm rejuvenating bath does the job too. Allowing the warm water to soak your body gently, juxtaposed with the misty cold environment outside, feels almost therapeutic. Believe me, a long relaxing bath fixes almost anything, so why not give it a try?

2. Create Your Own Film Festival

Admittedly, while compiling this list, I couldn’t think of anything else better to do at home when it rains than to binge-watch all your favourite TV shows. So why not grab a snack and a blanket, get cozy and create your own film festival? Whether it’s getting yourself entwined in a murder plot with a law professor and five of her students; getting yourself embroiled in Hollywood’s most notorious feud between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford; or getting yourself enmeshed in the apparently perfect lives of three mothers of first graders as they unravel to the point of murder, it certainly sounds like the perfect substitute for any outdoor activity I could think of. Check out our lists of recommended TV shows and movies if you’re looking for some inspiration.

3. Be a Chef

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After all those episodes of MasterChef from your own film festival, why not put your ‘skills’ to the test and see if you can master all of these easy recipes on your own at home? Whether it’s something from this list of greatly comforting holiday recipes, or trying to perfect the classic chocolate brownie cookies, it’s definitely going to be one of the best ways to pass the time at home while it pours outside. Here’s a tip: be sure to prepare and stock up on those necessary ingredients first for a rainy day!

4. Swim in Words

Collage 2017-12-07 18_23_27 — “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.” – George R. R. Martin

I must confess; I’m not an avid reader. Writing an article to persuade others to read – while I question myself “Why not just watch a film?” – is therefore a tall order. I must say though, I get this indescribable feeling whenever I find myself reading a good book. Whether it’s indulging in the imagination of others or being the director of the motion picture that takes place within your mind as you read, there’s just something that a good book can offer that nothing else can. You get to meet different people, travel to different places and enter different eras – all in one sitting. A good book will never make you feel alone in the storm. So why not take a nice long swim in words (through this link) on a rainy day?

In Singapore

1. Take Shelter at ION Sky

I’m starting off this list with one of my favourite indoor places to go to in Singapore: ION Sky. Located on the 56th floor (read: that’s 218 metres above Orchard Road), this sanctuary serves as the perfect spot to take shelter if you find yourself stuck in the heavy Orchard Road rain, providing clear 360-degree views of the city with floor-to-ceiling windows. Surprisingly, not many people have been to this place, let alone heard of this hidden gem. Come up to the sky, even if it’s just to watch the rain go by.

Gaining admission to ION Sky is simple: Visitors must spend at least $20 in ION mall for an admission ticket issued at the counter of the Art Gallery on Level 4.

Getting there:

Take the lift in ION Orchard up to the ION Art Gallery on Level 4. The staff will lead you to the Express Elevator which will take you up straight to the 55th floor.

Operating Hours: 10am–8pm

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2. Karaoke

Karaoke is definitely one of the best indoor activities to do with your friends. While your singing may make the rain worse, singing with friends almost always promises a good time. Top that off with a free-flow of soft drinks, snacks and ice cream for 2 hours, and I can’t think of anything else better to do when it rains than this.

One of the best places to Karaoke is definitely Manekineko’s flagship outlet at Cineleisure. With a total of 9 outlets located in the West, North-East and Central regions of Singapore, Manekineko’s rooms are easily the brightest and most attractive KTV rooms in the country.

tumblr_inline_ocohiruojn1ut3kxn_1280 — Price list for Manekineko, one of the most popular karaoke places amongst teens in Singapore. (Source)

Getting there:

Cathay Cineleisure Orchard, 8 Grange Road #08-01, Singapore 239695

Nearest MRT Station: Somerset (NS23)

Price: From $15/pax for 2 hours. Refer to price chart above.

Operating Hours: 11am–6am

For more information, visit: https://www.koshidaka.com.sg/manekineko/

3. Get Cultured

the_national_museum_of_singapore-800x445 — National Museum of Singapore. (Source)

Even though it’s perfectly acceptable to get a cultural fix at one of the many museums in Singapore on a sunny day, surrounding yourself in art when it’s raining makes everything pretentiously better. If you’re one of those people who wanted to visit the Kusama exhibition but everybody else was too busy preparing for the promotional exams to accompany you, fret not, because there are more exhibitions the National Gallery has to offer this month! If art is not your thing, why not stop by the National Museum to feel inspired instead?

national-gallery-singapore-full-facade — One of the most fascinating facades in Singapore, in my opinion. (Source)

Getting there:

National Museum: 93 Stamford Road, Singapore 178897. Nearest MRT stations: Bras Basah Station (CC02), Dhoby Ghaut Station (CC01/NE06/NS24) or City Hall Station (EW13/ NS25)
National Gallery: 1 St. Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957. Nearest MRT station: City Hall Station (EW13/NS25)

Operating Hours: