Cookies Policy

Last updated: April 2026 · Effective immediately

Hey there — quick note before we dive in

This is My Singapore Diary, a personal travel blog run by just one person — me. I’ve written this cookies policy the way I write everything else on this site: honestly, and in plain language. If something’s confusing, just reach out and I’ll explain it.

01 — So… what even is a cookie?

Okay, so a cookie has nothing to do with the chocolate chip kind (unfortunately). In website terms, a cookie is a tiny text file that gets saved on your device when you visit a site. Think of it like a sticky note your browser keeps — it helps the website remember small things about your visit.

For example, a cookie might remember that you’ve visited before, what language you prefer, or how you got here. That’s basically it. Nothing mysterious or scary.

02 — Does My Singapore Diary use cookies?

Yes, it does — and I want to be upfront about that. This site uses a small number of cookies, mostly to understand how people are finding and reading my content so I can keep improving it. Some come from me directly, and some come from third-party tools I use to run the blog (like Google Analytics).

I genuinely don’t collect any personal details like your name, email, or location unless you choose to contact me directly. These cookies are more about patterns than individuals.

03 — What types of cookies does this site use?

Here’s a plain breakdown of the cookies you might come across on this site:

Essential Cookies (Required) These are the basic cookies that keep the site running properly. Without them, things like page navigation and loading wouldn’t work. They don’t track you — they just make sure the site functions the way it should. There’s no way to turn these off, but they don’t collect any personal data either.

Analytics Cookies (Optional) I use Google Analytics to understand things like which pages are most popular, how long people spend reading certain posts, and where visitors are coming from (e.g. Google Search, social media, etc.). This helps me figure out what’s useful and what I should write more of. The data is anonymised and aggregated — I can’t see who you are personally, just that someone visited.

Functional Cookies (Optional) These cookies help remember small preferences to give you a smoother experience — like keeping you on the right page or remembering that you’ve dismissed a notice. They don’t track you across other websites and they expire after a short period.

Advertising Cookies (Optional) If this site ever shows ads (for example through Google AdSense), those platforms may place their own cookies to serve relevant adverts. I don’t control these directly, but you can opt out of personalised advertising through Google’s Ad Settings. I’ll always be transparent if and when this applies.

04 — Third-party services that may set cookies

A few tools I rely on to run this blog can place their own cookies on your device. Here’s who they are:

Google Analytics — tracks visits and page behaviour in an anonymised way, so I know what’s helpful to readers. You can opt out via Google’s opt-out browser add-on: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout

Google AdSense — if ads are enabled, Google may use cookies to show relevant adverts based on browsing habits across the web. You can manage this in your Google Ad Settings: https://adssettings.google.com

YouTube / Embedded Videos — if a post has an embedded video, YouTube may set cookies when you watch or interact with it. This is governed by Google’s Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

I only use services I genuinely need to run the blog well. I don’t sell your data to anyone — ever.

05 — Can you control or turn off cookies?

Absolutely — and you should feel free to. Here are a few easy ways to manage cookies on your end:

Via your browser settings — every major browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) lets you view, block, or delete cookies. Just search “manage cookies” + your browser name and you’ll find step-by-step instructions.

Via opt-out tools — for analytics, you can install the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on. For ads, head to Google’s Ad Settings.

Just a heads-up: blocking all cookies might affect how some parts of the site load or behave, but you’ll still be able to read everything — that’s the most important part anyway.

06 — How long do cookies stay on your device?

It depends on the type. Session cookies are temporary — they disappear the moment you close your browser tab. Persistent cookies stick around for a set period (usually a few months, sometimes up to 2 years for analytics), but they can always be deleted manually through your browser.

07 — Will this policy change?

It might. As the blog grows, I may add new tools or services — and if that happens, I’ll update this page to reflect it. The “last updated” date at the top always reflects the most current version. I’ll never make sneaky changes without updating that date.

If anything here feels unclear or you want to know more, I’m genuinely happy to explain — just drop me a message.

Still have questions? Just ask.

I’m a real person running a real blog about a city I love. If something in this policy doesn’t make sense, or if you have any privacy-related questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch — I read every message.

📩 Contact page: https://mysingaporediary.com/contact/