Five things to do on the Deepavali public holiday

SINGAPORE - While the Indian community in Singapore celebrates Deepavali today (Nov 10) with their families and friends, others may wish to spend the time exploring the country.

With thundery showers expected over many area of Singapore in the afternoon, please bring along your umbrellas and raincoats if you are heading outdoors.

Here are five things to do this afternoon:

1) Grab a meal at Maxwell Food Centre

Maxwell Food Centre. PHOTO: ST FILE

Bring your family to Singapore's favourite hawker centre - Maxwell Food Centre.

The food centre was voted by members of the public as their favourite hawker centre at the eighth annual City Hawker Food Hunt for the second year running.

Don't forget to check out Stall No 64, China Street Fritters. The ngoh hiang stall is one of two winners of the new Heritage Hawker Stall award.

2) Take photos at Tanjong Pagar Railway Station

Visitors at Tanjong Pagar Railway Station on Feb 20, 2015. ST PHOTO: LIM SIN THAI

Visitors can take photographs or draw their impressions of the historical building and railway platforms.

The Singapore Land Authority said drawings can be deposited at the ticketing counter there and may be displayed at future openings.

3) Watch dance and musical performances at the Istana

Visitors at the Istana on May 1, 2015. ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN

Wildlife Reserves Singapore will also be putting up a display of snakes, the President's Office said.

Nature lovers can sign up for the guided walks at the Istana or download the Istana Garden Walk mobile app for a self-guided Plants Trail featuring the 10 types of beautiful plants in the Istana Gardens, as well as maps for Places of Interest and Plant Trails.

The Istana is open to the public from 8.30am to 6pm.

4) Cycle around Coney Island Park

A visitor cycling at Coney Island Park. PHOTO: THE NEW PAPER

Bird-watching enthusiasts can spend their day at Coney Island Park as there are about 80 species of birds on the island.

The park is open from 7am to 7pm daily as there is no lighting there after dark.

5) Catch the latest Cirque du Soleil show

SPH Brightcove Video
Venture behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil at Marina Bay Sands to find out what life is like in a travelling performance troupe.

Cirque du Soleil returns to Singapore with a new production titled Totem, a Darwinian-inspired piece about the evolution of man from amphibian to flight.

SPH Brightcove Video
With their flashy costumes, incredible physique and gravity-defying stunts, Cirque du Soleil acrobats have honed their acts to jaw-dropping standards. Behind the glitzy make-up and costumes, these performers insist that they are like every other ordinary human being - except that these renowned athletes chose to run away with the circus. In Singapore with Cirque's show "Totem", the 'circus folk' take us behind the scenes.

Watch the performers soar under the trademark blue-and-yellow big top next to Marina Bay Sands.

Tickets were still available for the 4.30pm and 8pm performances today when The Straits Times last checked at 1pm.

SPH Brightcove Video
In Singapore for the first time, Cirque du Soleil's 'Totem' traces the journey of the human species from its original amphibian state to its ultimate desire to fly. Here are some highlights of the show.

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