Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Scooting Across the Garden City

F1 pitstop building - you can literally see the tyre marks left behind by the cars

[SPECIAL FEATURE]

Editor's Foreword: In this second installment of the #LIVE2RIDE series, I am extremely delighted to feature a beautifully written guest post by Michaela Eadie, my lovely partner from Rearviz International!

I had the pleasure of hosting Micheala and her companion, Gene, on an uplifting scoot adventure around the city which began from the heartlands of Lavender, to Gardens by the Bay, and finally to the scenic coastline of East Coast Park.

Here is her story:


I was recently given the opportunity to meet up with our newest supplier in Singapore and test out how well the RearViz Mirror works while riding an electric scooter.

RearViz suppliers from Scoot Adventures Singapore took us out for a scoot around their city showing us their favorite spots to ride. Scooting more than 30km over the course of the day, we got to experience not only the scenic hot spots of the city but also the beautiful, hidden areas where Singapore locals love to eat and ride.

From left, Marc, Michaela, Gene and Lisa
The day kicked off with a taste of the local cuisine at a busy food market where we were the only tourists to be seen. We then headed to pick up Marc's electric scooters to take out for the day. 


Yong Tau Foo, a local dish made from fish and meat paste, accompanied by dry noodles

You can't get any local than this!

After only a few minutes of testing out the E-Scooters, we were soon scooting through the city in ease, without having to break a sweat! Riding E-Scooters are so much fun! 

Being the first time I had tried an electric scooter out, i was taken back by how easy they were to use and utilize for any activity. You only had to take a look outside in Singapore to realize this fact as almost everywhere i looked i could see at least one E-Scooter rider commuting to work or riding with their partner. 


Scooting along Marina Barrage, home to some of the most spectacular views of Singapore

Awe-inspiring view of Marina Bay Sands

We traveled around the city scooting passed hot spots such as The Singapore Flyer, The Marina Bay Sands, Gardens By The Bay, the beach and more. I must say I have never been in a more picturesque, architecturally-inspiring place in the world. Singapore is seriously amazing, everywhere you look.

Reflections of the city

How well does the RearViz work for Electric Scooters
?  

As this was the first time I had tested out a RearViz Mirror while riding an electric scooter, this gave me the perfect chance to see how it works. I found that strapping mine to my upper forearm and pivoting the mirror out wide was the the perfect position for me as it gave me a large, clear rearward view when i rode.
Behold the stunning coastline of East Coast Park

Marc, myself and my partner, Gene all wore their mirrors in slightly different positions. Marc wore his above his elbow or it could also be on the wrist. So this made it clear that just like cycling with a RearViz, riders can wear the mirror anywhere they find suitable and comfortable making it adaptable to any riding style or scooter type.

Riding for almost the entire day, we all wore our RearViz Mirrors for hours on end, often forgetting it was even there. Just like cycling with a RearViz, I was able to look forward and see behind for any hazards by using my peripheral vision. This made it super easy to keep an eye out for all of us and other cyclists or scooter riders who were passing behind me. 

Overall the RearViz was a winner for electric scooters! It was just as suitable to wear when scooting as it is to cycle with, never failing to give me a clear view of my surroundings when scooting through the busy city of Singapore. 

Rainbow Rearvizes!


A big thank you goes out to Rearviz Scoot Adventures Singapore for being such welcoming hosts and showing us around their beautiful city. Singapore is simply breathtaking! We are so lucky to have had the chance to experience the local riding culture first-hand with the great company of the team from Rearviz Scoot Adventures Singapore.

Ride to live, live to ride!

Story Credits: Michaela Eadie

Enjoyed this post? Share your thoughts in the comments below. 
Stay tuned for the next story! #LIVE2RIDE.


Thursday, March 2, 2017

DUAL-MOTOR DYNAMITE: A Dualtron 2 Limited Review

#LIVE2RIDE is a series of travel adventures and e-scooter reviews of fellow riders

[SPECIAL FEATURE]

Editor's Foreword: I've made many new friends over the course of my amazing e-scooting adventure :)

Recently I've had the privilege to interview a fellow enthusiast who goes by the call-sign, Noblewolf, who graciously accepted my invitation for this special story, which will be the first in a series of collaborative blog posts covering the theme "LIVE2RIDE" - a light-hearted documentary chronicling the travel adventures of fellow riders and their choice of electric scooters.

Noblewolf is a seasoned rider of the incredibly powerful Dualtron 2 Limited Edition, one of the best off-road electric scooters that money can buy. 

Here is his lovingly-written review of this amazing machine that many have regarded to be the Ferrari of e-scooters:



8 January 2017 was a fine sunny Sunday. Me and a fellow quadcopter hobbyist (or “drone” whatever you want to call it) went to this open field across my place and crashed our quads.

Well (just being honest here)… our quads spent more time bruised and belly-up on the grass than enjoying the airborne sunny breeze.  So we needed a drink, and it’s kind of tiresome walking the infamous “walk of shame” retrieving your crashed quads.

I borrowed my friend’s ETWOW electric scooter to buy some drinks. It was my first time riding an e-scooter, and I really enjoyed it. It was like watching the world zip past you with so little effort! E-scooters have been around for a few years and why don’t I have one?!

I spent the rest of our crashing session browsing Carousell looking for electric scooters. At that time, I told myself that I got to have one, like… by today. 

Hence I brought home a brand new Inokim Quick 3 Super before bedtime. 

Best of its class, an all-round multi-purpose machine: The Inokim Quick 3

The Inokim Quick 3 is a very solid, powerful and stable electric scooter; it has a mobile app support which is nice touch. I added a rear rack and used it to haul my quads, remote transmitter, a chair, FPV gears and some chips and finger foods.

The lack of suspension however, shakes my cargo in all directions of God’s creations.

A considerable share of our pavements can be a little unforgiving for e-scooters without suspension. The pavement to driveway interfaces with drops - some as high as 75 mm! There are cracked pavements created by tree roots uprooted and exposed over time….cracked pavements due to…well, probably they just wanted to crack for no reason, creating all other sorts of unevenness. The list goes on…

Back to Carousell.

Enter the Dualtron

What intrigued me next is this machine they call the “Dualtron”.

Being a newbie, some of my hobbyist friends told me that it is fast, powerful, and heavy. Well, I am the kind of person who, the more you discourage, the more I feel encouraged. I’ve probably broken some screws in my skull but, **grin**, it ain’t gonna need fixin’.

A beast waiting to be unleashed

I self-collected the Dualtron 2 Limited (“D2Ltd” for short) on 27 January, 2017, skipping lunch just to be there on time to ensure that I will get the first one that comes out of that crate.

I quickly unboxed my set like a little boy under a Christmas tree having been good all year round, put on the handlebar, front mudguard and voila! “Let’s go for a test ride!”

Dualtron 2 Limited

Matt black masterpiece

I pushed the D2Ltd to the driveway and turned it on, I like the cool blue hue on the control panel, much like my Nokia 8250 screen back in the days. God, I love that phone. I positioned myself, held on tight (they said it’s powerful). 

I haven’t been on a Ferrari seat yet, but I’ve tried a low-9 quarter mile on a 67-bug. So maybe I have a superlative tolerance of what to expect, knowing this is just a scooter. JUST. With the CAPS.

Suddenly there was a very strong jerk and I almost dropped off the deck, as if there was a car behind that bumped into my back. I would completely understand how that must have felt if I were in the middle of the driveway!

Check out the full suspension! This machine was built to eat rough terrain for breakfast

No Manual? Never Mind

Naturally, I wanted to look back but the jerk consistently propelled me forward.
It took a few snaps to realize that as I held on tightly to the handlebar because of the jerk, the harder I depress the throttle.

It was at that instant that I discovered that it was not a car that bumped me from behind, but bearing the brunt of the torque generated from the Turbo-Dual mode, taking me off from at the start!

Yes, the D2Ltd is powerful but I didn’t expect that amount of torque from the dual 60v 800w motor…at all!

Talk about power to weight ratio, it makes sense now.

The whole experience felt like a comedy and I was advised to turn off the turbo and activate the single-motor. Turbo Dual is too powerful to be enabled, and especially if it propels you forward from a complete stop.

I can only think of only one question to shake off the initial shock - “Is there a manual?” (Oh come on, it’s my first Dualtron scooter!) Surprisingly, there is no manual yet! Probably the Koreans are still compiling it. 

Ready to roll!

After the test drive, I decided to roll out.

I believe that life choices are all about what you need, what you want and doing what you love. Yes, it’s about emotions when it comes to getting the scooter you want, but at the end of the day, it all boils down how you behave, how you exercise discipline in ensuring safety to yourself, and more importantly, the safety of others.  

Performance Up. Portability Down

Overall, the design consideration of the Dualtron 2 Limited places emphasis on weight than portability - which is both good and bad in my opinion.

It’s a folding scooter yes, a 30 kg folding scooter.

It is meant to be folded from the ground, lifted up to the trunk of your car. It is not meant to be folded from the MRT gantry and lugged through the train door. Unless the uncles and aunties can let you through train door and fold it as you board, to which we will all be very thankful!

The D2LTD folds at the steering stem to ensure rigidity of the frame where it matters with utmost importance. There are no hinges or folding mechanism throughout the front to the rear wheel which usually would be subject to metal fatigue due to prolonged use during which you will hear a rattling noise.

Super Suspension

How the front and rear wheel suspension is designed is pure genius. It works like a torsion bar, only that it is a piece of very hard encased rubber block subject to torsion by the swing arms. Although I read some reports that it softens over time, it has yet to be felt. 

You know rubber, it doesn’t want hot places with continuous imposed dead load at the same time. So I made a custom pedestal with caster rollers for it so I can stroll the D2LTD anywhere in the house with its tires off the floor and I am able to store it inside my room.

Impressive Specs

The tech specs are also impressive. The D2LTD is powered by dual 60v 800w motors with a 28AH battery. It has two charging ports where you can plug in two chargers at the same time to cut the charging time in half. 

It also has a provision for an external battery via its 4-pin port - the main power switch underneath will be converted to a battery selector switch once it detects the presence of an external battery. This gives you an option where to use the built-in battery or to use an external battery. 

The D2LTD has a longer deck compared to the earlier Dualtron models.

Upgraded Breaks

Previous Dualtrons are equipped with only mechanical brakes which makes an upgrade to a hydraulic braking system a necessity – for enhanced braking output. A number of Dualtron users who upgraded to hydraulic brakes swear by them, and are convinced they’re best brakes in the market…ever. Riders who aren’t used to the absence of electronic braking in the earlier models might find that a worthy upgrade.

Well, good news! 

Catering to the discerning demands of fans everywhere, the D2LTD now uses an upgraded mechanical + electronic braking system which regenerates power charge back to the battery. In fact, the new braking system is now coupled with regenerative electronic brakes with user-adjustable strength (0, 1, 2 through P11) and a stoplight switch for additional safety. 

Personally, the addition of electronic brakes improves the braking, albeit needs time to get used to. When the lever is pulled, the mechanical brakes engage first and electronic brakes bite after a 2-second delay.

I find it a little annoying, but still, at least, better than just mechanical braking. However, I want to modulate my own brakes as to when and where do I need to stop with sharper accuracy, and not with a pre-calculated 2-second delay on top of every time a brake is engaged. Thus, a hydraulic upgrade is inevitable.

Adding a touch of class, the D2LTD comes with a nice “Dualtron 2 Limited” engraving on the steering post and deck.

Otherwise, the D2LTD still retains the same signature looks that it is well loved and famous for. 

Story Credits: Noblewolf

Enjoyed this post? Share your thoughts in the comments below. 
Stay tuned for the next story! #LIVE2RIDE.

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Night Adventure to Marina Bay Sands (Feat. RearViz)

Date of Adventure: 26 November 2016

One of my greatest joys in life is to drop everything right after work, throw all my stresses out the window, and hop on my e-scooter for an uplifting evening scoot to Marina Bay Sands, Singapore's "Pearl of the Orient"!

For this ride, I chose my Aleoca e-Potenza carbon fiber e-scooter (the smallest in my current fleet of e-scooters) and of course, the RearViz which you should always remember to along on ALL your scooting adventures. 

Personal safety should never be taken for granted so don't leave home without it! 

There are different routes to Marina Bay Sands, including the super convenient and scenic Bishan-Kallang Park Connector network. I'll be doing a review on that in my next few posts, but for this trip, I decided to take the Beach Road-Suntec City route.

Danger Lurks at the Traffic Junction

If you happen to travel on the same route as me, you'd probably arrive at the traffic junction opposite The Concourse at some point (Pictured below).

As you can see from the photos, it is an extremely busy T-junction, as drivers are rushing impatiently home after work. The shocking thing is, some cars won't stop for you even if the "green man" comes on! 

In fact, I highly encourage fellow riders to dismount and push your scooter across a traffic junction rather than to attempt to ride across it. In my personal experience, drivers are somehow conditioned to slow down for a pedestrian crossing on foot than on a bike or a scooter. 

3 cars attempting to beat the green man!

The RearViz Doing Its Work

There is simply no letting up in the heavy mass of vehicles crossing the junction, like hungry tigers unleashed from their cages waiting to pounce on an unlucky victim! Luckily, the crowd of pedestrians made it across the road safely. PHEW!

 Cars were honking to signal to the pedestrians to "hurry up".  We live in a nation of stressed out, impatient drivers :(

While waiting for my turn to cross, I took a peek at my RearViz only to see more vehicles creeping up from behind and turning into my path rather quickly. 

Danger lurks behind!

Good Lord, just look at how fast this car was travelling and cutting around the corner! Aren't cars supposed to slow down as they turn into a junction? I think it was a silver Mercedes. How he passed his driving test is beyond me.

ZOOM!!! 

Cyclist Nearly Gets Knocked Over!

At the rate the traffic was going, I was silently telling myself that an accident was bound to happen.

As if being teased by the Grim Reaper, in the next sequence of images, you'll personally witness how an e-biker nearly gets knocked over by an oncoming car.

Look at the black car on the right turning into the junction...
can you tell what model it is?


Now here comes the e-biker...probably a deliveryman who just knocked off (puns not intended) from work at the nearby wet market...


In a split second, Black Car cuts aggressively into the deliveryman's space, nearly knocking him off-balance. Just imagine how you'd feel if a car with powerful engine cuts into your path, leaving you no time to react?

LUCKY DAY!

This is perhaps the reason why there have been so many reports of e-biker deaths recently. 

Even though e-bikes are allowed on our roads by Law, there is absolutely NO GUARANTEE that cars will make way for you - even if you have the right of way. i know it doesn't make sense, but I am convinced that living in a fast paced society produces equally fast paced, stressed out, impatient drivers. 

What do you think? Feel free to comment.

I sincerely hope that fellow e-scooter riders, if you're reading this, STAY OFF the roads if you wish to stay alive! Or as I will highly recommend, get a RearViz, so at least you get a clear view of any dangers behind you, like in the case of this deliveryman. You never know when you might to need to avoid an incoming vehicle at the split second, and that could save your life.

It was the deliveryman's lucky day, truly. But how many more lucky days will we be fortunate enough to live through?

After what felt like ages (for some strange reason, time seems to pass slower when you personally witness a dramatic incident), I continued on my journey, while the RearViz diligently "kept watch" over my safety, watching my back, capturing images of hulks of metal whooshing by.

TIP FOR RIDERS: You don't have to watch your RearViz all the time as that wouldn't make sense especially when you need to look forward most of the time. All it takes is a glance at the mirror, while you're at a traffic crossing, or in any situation you'd expect an oncoming vehicle from behind you. I also use it to check on my riding companion if she's riding safely behind me.

The RearViz could save your life!

Wave after wave of traffic, like a tsunami of heavy metal.

Cars creeping up behind you can potentially cause an injury if you're not aware - even at the slowest of speeds!

Arrival at Marina Bay Sands...and a Delightful Treat

After an eventful and safe journey (thank God!), I arrived at the spectacular Marina Bay Sands. And guess what? I was right on time to witness a stunning Light and Water show, aptly titled, "Wonder Full" by the waterfront at Marina Bay Sands Event Plaza.

This is a nightly 13-minute showpiece with the stunning cityscape of Singapore lit up in the backdrop. Through an amazing convergence of light, music and sound, it depicts the universal tale of the journey of life that is popular with locals and tourists. I understand from the hotel's official website that the show continues to play to over 30,000 spectators per week!

What a treat!

Please enjoy the photos that follow...

Meet the Aleoca e-Potenza carbon fibre electric scooter, against the resplendent backdrop of Marina Bay Sands!


Inspired by the double-helix shape of the human DNA, the Helix Bridge connects Marina Centre to Marina South, and is the longest pedestrian bridge in Singapore. Truly, it's a sight to behold and an engineering marvel!

Designed by renowned architect Moshe Safdie, this is the Art Science Museum, located within the integrated resort of Marina Bay Sands. It was inspired by a lotus flower. Some say it represents good Feng Shui!

 Stunning cityscape of Singapore by the Waterfront!


The Wonder Full Light and Water Show...

The image of the little girl looks like it rose from out of the water!

A visual spectacle depicting journey of Life, fueled by a soundtrack by the late legendary composer, Iskandar Ismail.


In case you didn't know, the Wonder Full show has won the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Award for its contributions to tourism in the heritage and culture category. Even if you're not into light shows and water displays, this is one amazing spectacle you shouldn't miss!

The show is free to watch and is accessible to the general public. You can catch it by the waterfront at Marina Bay Sands Event Plaza at 8 pm daily. There is an additional show at 11:00 pm on Friday and Saturday nights. So don't say I bo jio hor! :P :P

Throngs of spectators, both local and overseas arriving to watch the Light and Water show.

No words can describe this beautiful scene.

I love Singapore!

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Scoot Adventure on St. John's Island and Pulau Lazarus (Feat. RearViz)

Date of Adventure: 13 November 2016

If you're planning to embark on a quick and cheap weekend getaway from all the daily stresses of life, drop everything right away and head down south to St. John's island and Pulau* Lazarus!

* Malay for "island"

With its private setting, crystal clear waters and soft angelic white sand, it's no wonder that Pulau Lazarus is known as Singapore's best-kept secret (take that Lonely Planet!). 

Incidentally, Lazarus, according to the Bible, was a beloved friend and disciple of Jesus Christ who was miraculously raised from the dead, exemplifying the power of God overcoming Death.

I guess it's no coincidence that whoever steps foot on the island will immediately feel a sense of Life being restored. I know I felt that way, but don't take my word for it, visit it for yourself to experience the miracle!

As a self-confessed "Scooter-holic", there's no better way to explore Singapore than on a kick or electric scooter. Trust me, there's a HUGE difference walking for miles on in the tropical heat (33 degrees celcius no less), and covering maximum ground on 2-wheels in half the time - with cool wind in your hair (sorry, no smells of colitas though - they're illegal here in my country LOL).

For this adventure, I've brought along my trusty Oxelo Town 7 kick scooter, and a really cool gadget which I'll reveal in just a moment.

Getting to St. John's Island

Planning your trip to the islands is super easy. 

1. Take the MRT to Marina South Pier as shown below.

Marina South Pier, circled, at the bottom of the MRT map. Can't miss it!

Marina South Pier

2. Upon arrival at Marina South Pier, walk over to Singapore Island Cruise and Services "orange" counter (pictured below). A round trip ferry ticket to St. John's Island, then to Kusu Island and back to mainland costs S$18 (adult) and S$12 (child). You may grab a hard copy of the ferry schedule at the counter. Or refer to the screenshot below.

Note: Pulau Lazarus is not listed on the ferry schedule (that's why it's a secret) . You'll have to take ferry to St. John's and cross over to Lazarus via a linkway, which I'll show you later on in this post.




Tickets to paradise: a round trip ferry ticket to St. John's Island, then to Kusu Island 
and back to mainland costs S$18 (adult) 

Introducing the RearViz

Following a spate of fatal accidents involving e-cyclists over the past few weeks, the spotlight has been cast on the awareness of road safety for all 2-wheelers!

On 27 October, a horrible collision between 3 electric bikers and a container truck left two of the riders gruesomely crushed and the third seriously injured.

As the cycling community struggles to recover from the shock, another e-biker was pronounced dead at the scene after colliding with a tipper truck, just a few days later.

It is for this reason that spurred me to contact the good people at RearViz, makers of the world's first arm-worn safety mirror for cyclists and e-scooter riders like me. 

I was first introduced to this brilliant little gadget that has since accompanied me throughout all of my adventures (including this one), through a viral video on Facebook last year. 

Here is the video:


And here it is for the first time in Singapore...


In case you're wondering if it works, I'll be sharing in-depth review later on in this post, with St John's and Lazarus as the perfect backdrop for my road test. Or click here if you'd like to get one direct from my online store.

Ed's Note: All product reviews on my blog are entirely independent, unbiased and non-sponsored.


Oh, FYI, the RearViz doubles up wonderfully as a makeup mirror too, as you can see LOL.

Drama On The High Seas...

At around 10:45 am, we were ready to board the ferry, but not without some drama.

Since it's the weekend, it's no surprise to receive the warm company of excited holiday makers of all nationalities, shapes, sizes, and ages. As you can probably imagine, it was like a wet market atop the jetty with noise levels shooting beyond the roof. 

A group of millennial adventure seekers snapped away hurriedly on their IPhones, squealing in delight each time someone gave a LIKE to someone else's selfie on Facebook. Another group sang strange songs in a staccato of off-pitched notes and chatted away in rapid fire succession.

For a head-splitting moment, I regretted not bringing ear plugs and my mom's Axe oil for pain relief.

But hey! That's what HOLIDAYS are all about. People get excited, but wait till you read what happened next...

So aboard the ferry we went, which seemed suspiciously small and under-capacity just by one look. 


Throngs of excited holiday makers jostled for space as they boarded the suspiciously under-capacity ferry

By 11 am, the cabin reached full-house and was packed like a sardine can - yet there were passengers still standing along the aisles and some even jostling for space even though the seating rows were obviously maxed out.

The situation was made worse by the stuffiness and heat in the cabin, and yes, THAT group was still chit-chattering away in rapid fire succession. 

Boy do I need that Axe oil!

To readers from overseas, Axe oil is a popular brand of medicated ointment made in Singapore
and is sold in 50 countries. 

Digressing a little :)

Anyway, back to the story...

Yup, that's how cramp my seat was, luckily there's enough room for my Oxelo!

After what seemed like ages, the crew FINALLY decided that the ferry was officially under-capacity (Duh!) and instructed everyone to leave the overcrowded boat before it starts to sink. 

Just kidding :)

Actually we were instructed to wait for a bigger boat, which was an excellent solution.

Wow, couldn't they have figured this out in the first place! 

Passengers awaiting impatiently for a bigger ferry after being ushered 
in a rather unorderly manner out of the smaller boat

By 11:05 am, which was quite a delay from the original departing time, the impatient passengers can be heard grumbling as they were ushered in haphazard fashion back to the jetty and awaited the arrival of the bigger ferry.

After what seemed like ages, the boat finally motored its away slowly to the jetty.

Then the drama unfolded...

Members of one group (which I can only presume are non-local), seemingly possessed by a moment of madness, leapt 2 feet across the jetty towards the rear platform of the ferry just to secure a seat, regardless if the boat was still on its way to the docking bay.

This reckless action caught the attention of the ferry crew who shouted angrily at the group, who didn't seem to care less about their own safety.

Some people!

Anyway, drama and stupidity aside, please enjoy these pictures of the bigger ferry's cabin...


Something caught my attention for this shot, and it's definitely not just the spacious, cooler, QUIETER cabin. Hehehe...oh behave.

If you close your eyes, and with a bit of imagination, you can hear the rumble of this speedboat zipping by...

After half hour, we finally arrived on St. John's Island!

Turn back time a couple of notches, and just breaaaaaathe....now imagine the crisp, refreshing scent of the 
lush flora and jade green sea...

Check out these wispy fir trees. Don't you think they look right out from a scene of Lord of the Rings? Can you imagine elves peeking around the trunks? If you're lucky, you might spot a peacock :)

2 wheels are better than 2 legs. Meet my trusty sidekick, 
the Oxelo Town 7! 

Trust me, there's a fair bit of ground and lovely scenery to cover on this island, and this is the best way soak in all the beauty the island has to offer and more importantly...prevent sore feet LOL!

Wild basil and their distinct pink flowers

If you look closely enough, you can spot Wild Basil growing naturally on this island! They smell like Mint, and are a cooling relief for annoying mozzie bites. 

Grab a bunch and scrunch them with your fingers till the leaves produce natural, menthol-scented oils that you can rub over your skin. 

Somebody told me it can be eaten but I rather chew on my peppermint Mentos thank you :p

Life is all about stopping to smell the roses. This is the kind of post-card moment you can never get on the mainland. Spotted this fishing boat taking a break from its daily duties as I was scooting along one of the many gravel paths on the island.

After scooting for about 10 minutes, I arrived at the linkway to PULAU LAZARUS (pictured below)!

It's a little like a runway as you can see...complete with plenty of fantastic Instagramable photo ops all around you.

This is also where I decided was the perfect spot to do my review of the RearViz...


Review of the RearViz
Ed's note: I would like to emphasize that this is an independent, non-sponsored road test and is based on my personal experience, assessing both the pros and cons of the product. This means you get the most accurate review possible free from any publication bias :)

As promised earlier in my post, I am excited to present my review of the RearViz, an arm-mounted safety mirror for cyclists and e-scooter riders. This is really a cute, brilliant gadget that has since been my trusty companion on all of my scooter rides.

At first look, it's like a cross between a compact mirror and a Power-Ranger comms device. 

Which is why it has caught the attention of several passers-by who stopped to ask me what it was. It's a great conversation starter. Who knows you might even turn strangers to friends and form a cycling or scooting group!


The RearViz is surprisingly lightweight and comes with a high-quality velcro strap 
that clings securely and comfortably around your arm. I have rather thick arms, but thankfully the strap was long enough for me.

Compact, clamshell design

The RearViz is designed like a clamshell. Just pop open the top cover to reveal the mirror. Note the bright colour in the inner housing, which is actually a safety feature that makes you more visible to motorists. The mirror is also curved outwards slightly to provide a wider field of view.

My only gripe is that there is no instructional manual or a tip sheet within the package that advises you how to put on the RearViz. It would have been very useful for first-time users just like me. 

Calibrating the RearViz Mirror

I discovered that you have to adjust it to the right spot on your arm (pictured below for the recommended spot) and it is also important to calibrate the mirror to get the right view behind you. All it takes is a proper 1-time calibration and you don't ever have to do it again on your subsequent trips. 

There are some reviews I read online that claim you can only see views of the sky after securing the RearViz on your arm, but that is only because the user hadn't calibrated the mirror correctly.

Calibrating the mirror is easy as it is mounted on a 360-degree rotating bezel that you can adjust to any position.

When calibrated properly, you will be able to achieve the views as pictured below.

Thanks to the convex mirror, you get a wide, crystal clear field of view behind you, which is very handy if you ride on the road or are about to cross a junction with vehicles creeping up unknowingly behind you.

On a sidenote, I heard of users mounting the RearViz on their wrists, but after trying it out extensively and calibrating the mirror to every angle possible, I decided that it doesn't work for me. The arm is always the best spot. 

If you happen to be a RearViz user mounting it on your wrist, please feel free to share your comments on my blog on how you calibrated the mirror to work. I am looking forward to know :)

The RearViz works, with proper calibration of the mirror view

What I appreciate most about the RearViz is you never know when a passer-by or a vehicle is creeping up behind you. All it takes is a quick glance at the RearViz to avoid a potential accident. Click here for detailed specifications of the RearViz.

Picture Perfect Pulau Lazarus

With my RearViz well adjusted and calibrated, it was time to explore Pulau Lazarus!

After crossing the linkway, you will be treated to a series of stunning views of the unspoilt scenery of the island, including this not-so-secret "cove" resplendent with its sparkling turquoise water reminiscent of a scene from "The Beach" starring Leonardo DiCaprio!


Could this be possible? Cystal clear turquoise waters in Singapore? Believe it! 

Moving further inland, you'll arrive at an exclusive, powdery white beach perfect to do a little yacht spotting or go ahead and sun-tan to your heart's content. 

Enjoy the pictures that follow :)

No rowdy beach-goers to ruin your day. Just pure exclusivity and plenty of sunshine, sand and sea. *Imagine The Beach Boys' soundtrack playing the background*

Fancy renting a yacht?


Interestingly, one of the secrets of Pulau Lazarus is the existence of an obscure helipad compound that promises a breathtaking view of the Singapore skyline! I would presume it is used for emergency medivacs for the camp-goers on the island. I won't reveal where exactly it is but I'll leave to your adventure seeking spirit to discover this elusive sightseeing spot!

Are you up to the challenge to discover this secret helipad compound?

Unraveling a Secret on St. John's Island
One very important thing to note about St. John's is that there is absolutely NO drink vending machines or provision shops on the island. So what happens if you forget to bring water and you're dead thirsty after hours scooting in scorching heat? And no, climbing a coconut tree is not the solution (for your own safety!)

A secret that many people don't know (that's why it's a secret) is that there is a water cooler at the Marine Park Outreach and Education Centre. 

Here's how to get there:

1. Scoot your way to this spot, near the ferry pier from which you disembarked on St. John's Island. Follow the signs and walk up a hill.


2. Follow the footpath all the way up the hill and you'll arrive at this spot:


3. If you're lucky enough you might spot this lone peacock roaming the grounds outside the Marine Park Outreach and Education Centre. Some say it's a good omen if you see a peacock in the wild. Do you believe it's true?

Photo lovers be warned! Peacocks are nimble creatures despite their size and scoot
(puns intended) away as quickly as the Road Runner if you get too close. 

Use your zoom if you want a nice closeup shot :)

4. You might like to check out the thought-fully curated marine exhibition while inside the centre.



5. Walk out the backdoor and VOILA...a water dispenser! 

By the way, it's the one on the left, please don't use the one on the right LOL :)

Thirst begone! 

Singapore is an treasure trove of endless hidden gems just waiting to be discovered even though we're just a little red dot on the world map!

And the best way to soak in all the wonderful sights and sounds the country has to offer is on a kick or electric scooter. 

Where will our next scoot adventure be? Stay tuned to the next blog post to find out!


Live to Scoot, Scoot to Live!