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Home ยป Things To Do ยป 15 cool apps we are loving

15 cool apps we are loving

28 April, 2020 by Expat Living 6 Min Read

https://expatliving.hk/great-apps-things-to-do-in-the-lockdown-at-home/

Run out of cool things to do at home? Expat Living intern Nur Maisarah Abubakare asked the team for some of the apps they canโ€™t put down at the moment โ€“ from games and fitness to virtual travel and more. Here are 15 recommended apps for beating the lockdown blues!

#1 Heads Up!

If you love an addictive game of charades, Heads Up! will be right up your alley. Aside from being free, it has a big-name celebrity endorsement in the form of Ellen Degeneres! How to play? Your phone shows a card that you canโ€™t see; then, the other players try to mime the person or thing on the card. Your job is to guess what your card says before time runs out.

Available for iOS and Android.

#2 Houseparty

This one has had plenty of global buzz through the lockdowns. Houseparty lets you hang out with friends online while video-chatting and taking part in fun quizzes or games. After signing up, you allow the app to access the contacts in your phone or your Facebook friends list. Then, itโ€™s as simple as swiping up on the screen to see your chat feed and join a party.ย 

Available for iOS and Android.

#3 Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp

Animal Crossing must be doing something right, because itโ€™s rated 4.8 stars and above on both the App Store and Google Play Store! The app allows you to interact with animal friends, build custom furniture and gather resources while managing your own campsite. Not only is it fun, but the game is also currently donating a part of its profits to museums that have closed as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak!ย ย 

Available for iOS and Android.

#4 Bunch

Feeling competitive? Try Bunch, which not only allows for video-chatting, but boasts a large variety of multiplayer games to play: Flappy Lives, Draw Party, Trivia, Bunch Pool and more! Youโ€™ll soon be addicted. Trust us.ย 

Available for iOS and Android.

#5 Draw Something

Want to test your drawing skills? If so, Draw Something might just be the best game you could download during the lockdown. It allows for remote connection and is fun, easy and carefree. All you have to do is choose a word to draw for your friends to guess. Itโ€™s an entertaining back-and-forth game that passes the time!ย 

Available for iOS and Android.

#6 Shine

Not only is this a self-care app that helps you find peace and calm, but itโ€™s designed as a support system you can use right on your mobile device. Shine provides research-backed tips to productivity and podcasts for relaxation techniques. Itโ€™s even added a new โ€œCalm for COVID-19โ€ section for bite-sized discussions about surviving in this time of crisis.ย 

Available for iOS and Android.

Shine - great apps

#7 Smule

If you love singing together with friends โ€“ even singing with celebrities! โ€“ then youโ€™ll want to download this app asap. Itโ€™s great for beginners as it comes with interactive features to show if youโ€™re singing in the right key and pitch. Perfect for anyone searching for a good KTV app to belt out some tunes!

Available for iOS and Android.

smule app

#8 Headspace

Headspace is your personal guide to meditation and relaxation. Not only is it widely known for its peaceful sleep and movement exercises, the app also has a long list of articles you can read, with different topics depending on how youโ€™re feeling: Meditation, Sleep & Wake Up, Stress & Anxiety and more.

Available for iOS and Android.

headspace app

#9 Audible

Do you prefer listening over reading? Try Audible, where books are read out to you. Not only are your first 30 days free, but the selection is huge! The best part? The books you get will remain available even after your subscription expires.ย 

Available for iOS and Android.

Audible

#10 Project Foodie: Guided Cooking

Project Foodie hears the cries of help from the amateur cooks out there, and understands they are capable of so much more. Thatโ€™s why it breaks down recipes step by step in an easy-to-follow video format โ€“ led by professional chefs, no less! If you want to widen your culinary horizons, Project Foodie is the app for the job.ย 

Available for iOSย 

#11 HearMe

If too many days of isolation are getting under your skin, HearMe is there for you. Itโ€™s an app that anonymously connects you with understanding HearMe listeners from anywhere in the world, in under one minute, and for free.ย 

Available for iOS and Android.

hearme app

#12 Duolingo

Highly rated language-learning app Duolingo enriches your mind and allows you to connect with others around the world, all while absorbing a new language of your choice. One day when things are better, youโ€™ll be able to take that trip to France youโ€™ve always dreamed about and speak fluently with the locals!

Available for iOS and Android.

duolingo

#13 YouVisit

Another great app for lockdown time is YouVisit, which allows you to โ€˜travelโ€™ to the rice fields of Bali, enjoy a helicopter ride over NYC or walk through the Ayutthaya temples in Thailand. You can use it on your mobile with a VR headset or via the web. Itโ€™s in 8k resolution, too, so you really do feel like youโ€™re visiting the locations!ย 

Available for iOS and Android.

You visit VR APP

#14 Rave

No need to watch videos alone any longer! With Rave, you can stream videos from Netflix, YouTube and other sites with your friends. The app can sync what youโ€™re watching so your group can message and voice chat with each other while the video plays.ย 

Available for iOS and Android.

#15 FitOn

How does a free workout sound? FitOn gives you access to hundreds of workout videos โ€“ including cardio, HIIT, yoga, dance, prenatal, postnatal, strength-training, Pilates and barre. Thereโ€™s even offers the choice to exercise alone or remotely in a group! A pro account of $30 per month gives you access to premium music, customised meal plans and more than 500 recipes.ย 

Available for iOS and Android.

fiton

A few more suggestions from the EL team…

Netflix

โ€œThis one’s a no-brainer! Since I’m spending every minute at home, I’ve been bingeing on all the new releases. My favourite series include Kingdom, Money Heist and Kim’s Convenience. If you’re in the mood for something darker, and you can’t commit to a full series, The Platform is a fantastic film to bookmark.โ€ โ€“ Anthia Chng

Bloom

“Iโ€™ve been using this app for months; it helps you log your mood and work through every kind of emotion you feel on a daily basis. Bloom suggests activities such as guided meditations, breathing exercises and daily reminders based on how youโ€™re feeling. There are hundreds of calming tools that can change your mood at different times of the day. Highly recommended at a time when we can all feel overwhelmed and anxious. Thereโ€™s a 30-day free trial available at the moment!” โ€“ Georgia Bissetย 

Nike Training Club

โ€œIโ€™ve just started on this new training app created by Nike, which creates a free fitness plan of workout days and rest days depending on how you answer a few questions. It also allows you to work around what equipment you have (I have none!). There are suggestions for healthy recipes, and also videos and tutorials on how to get started as a beginner. The ability to track your progress is very motivating!โ€ โ€“ Georgia Bissetย ย 

Yummi

โ€œMy 13-year-old just started using Yummi and weโ€™re now doing a weekly cooking challenge; she’s got Sri Lanka this week, I’ve got Argentina, and hubby has Jamaica!โ€ โ€“ Kate Woodburyย 

True Surf

โ€œMy travel- and beach-loving daughters are beating the lockdown gremlins with this surfing game, which uses real-time data from famous breaks like Pipeline and Margaret River. You can do different tricks and level up (well, I canโ€™t โ€“ but they can!), which opens up access to more waves around the world.โ€ โ€“ Shamus Sillar

 

Like this? See more in our Things To Do section

Adventure guide to Hong Kong’s outlying islands
12 free (or very cheap) things to do in Hong Kong

Categories: Things To Do Tags: Apps Living In Hong Kong lockdown Things To Do

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Serves 4, or 2 if you're hungry๐Ÿ˜‰

Preparation time: 15 mins Ingredients:
โ€ข 6 digestive biscuits
โ€ข 50g butter 
โ€ข 250g cream cheese (1 brick) 
โ€ข 6 Oreo biscuits
โ€ข 125g blueberries (1 box)
โ€ข 100g milk or whipped cream 
โ€ข 5 tablespoons sugar

Instructions:
For crust:
1. Crush digestive biscuits in a big bowl and add melted butter.
2. Press together at the base of the cake mould.
3. Set aside to cool.

For filling: 
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Companies tagged in the photos for more details๐Ÿช‘
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How good do these look ๐Ÿ˜ New recipe from @charissa_and_co_wellness. You can try a free sample by scanning the bar code on our online articles ๐Ÿ’œ

Recipe: Flourless Pecan Cranberry Brownie

Ingredients

Brownie base:

2 servings of Nuzest Clean Lean Chocolate Protein
1.5 cup of pumpkin puree
1 cup of hazelnut butter or almond *
1/2 cup of raw dark cacao powder
1/2 cup of chopped pecans
1/3 cup of dehydrated cranberries
2 teaspoons of Manuka honey ** Optional
White chocolate drizzle:

1/3 cup of melted cacao butter
2 tablespoons of cashew nut butter
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1-2 teaspoons of Erythritol
Dark chocolate drizzle:

1/3 cup of melted cacao butter
2 tablespoons of cashew nut butter
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 tablespoon of coconut oil
3 tablespoons of raw dark cacao powder
1 teaspoon of Erythritol
Instructions

Brownie base:

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
Grease a square baking tray with coconut oil and line tray with parchment paper.
In a large blender, mix all the brownie ingredients together until smooth.
Pour the brownie mix into the pan and bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
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Chocolate drizzle:

You will need two separate mixing bowls for the white and dark chocolate drizzle.
Melt the cacao butter at low temperature and mix with the rest of the ingredients.
Pour the chocolate drizzle over the cooled brownies.
Pop them in the fridge to set or enjoy them as warm brownies.**
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TGIF ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŒฟ

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Good morning! Weโ€™ve got another delicious recipe from @charissa_and_co_wellness ๐Ÿ’•

Recipe: Persimmon Vanilla Chia Porridge

Serves 2

Ingredients

PERSIMMON-VANILLA-CHAI-PORRIDGE.jpg
Chia Vanilla Milky Layer:

1/2 cup of chia Seeds
1.5 cup of coconut milk
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
2 servings of Nuzest Clean Lean Protein Vanilla 
1 tablespoon of tahini paste
2 Medjool dates
2 slices of fresh persimmon
Persimmon Coconut Porridge Layer:

1 whole persimmon chopped
1/2 cup of coconut yoghurt
2 tablespoons of coconut flakes
1 teaspoon of almond butter
Instructions

Chia Vanilla Milky Layer:

Blend all the ingredients together apart from the chia seeds.
Once the mix is well blended, add the chia seeds and mix well. Place in a glass jar and leave overnight in the fridge.
Persimmon Coconut Porridge Layer:

Blend all the ingredients together until creamy and smooth. Place in a glass jar, leave overnight in the fridge.
The next morning you can enjoy your porridge by layering your chia porridge with the persimmon porridge.
Optional: Add in between crunchy texture by sprinkling some raw buckwheat groats already activated or quinoa puffs
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