The Chinese proverb, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” needs to have a corollary: that the problem is you have to keep taking steps until you’re actually done. If you don’t take any steps, you don’t make any progress towards the thousand miles. Elementary? Yes, but harder to deal with … read the full post

If you’re a fussy eater who likes to know every ingredient that goes into your meal, this healthy soup is the perfect Singapore hawker dish for you. Every bowl of yong tau foo is custom-prepared with the diner choosing the ingredients and even the flavour of the broth. Common in hawker centres and foodcourts across … read the full post

Singapore may be an expensive city to visit, but at least it’s easy to get a cheap flight out of here. Changi Airport is well served by budget airlines and a one-way flight to another Southeast Asian country can cost less than S$100. Here’s a quick guide to where you can go. Burma: Burma is … read the full post

If there’s one dish that tops the “must-eat” list of visitors to Singapore it’s chilli crab. Whether you eat it in a hawker centre or a posh seafood restaurant, digging into a whole crab swimming in sweet and spicy sauce is the most memorable (and messy) meal that Singapore has to offer. Unlike most hawker … read the full post

Emerald Hill is one of the most colourful streets in Singapore and makes an easy detour from the shopping belt of Orchard Road. Come for the beautiful Peranakan architecture, a bit of antiquing, or maybe a drink at one of the trendy bars? During Singapore’s early colonial days, the Orchard Road area was home to … read the full post

With its beautiful temples, exotic markets and delicious food, Singapore’s Little India neighbourhood is not to be missed. Even if you only have a couple hours to spare you can still see the highlights of this ethnic enclave. This quick walking tour takes about two hours, including time for some shopping and a cup of … read the full post

Note: The Raffles Hotel Museum closed permanently in February 2013. Raffles Hotel is the one place in Singapore where nostalgia about the British colonial days seems to be encouraged, and only then because it’s a serious money maker. A night in the cheapest room at this luxury heritage hotel costs S$700 and even a Singapore … read the full post

UPDATE: The Singapore Crocodile Farm has closed. Most visitors are familiar with animal-based attractions like the Singapore Zoo and Jurong Bird Park, but did you know that Singapore also has a crocodile farm? The Tan Moh Hong Crocodile Farm opened in the 1940s and little has changed since then. The first indicator that the croc … read the full post

No matter where on earth you travel, you can always find two things to quench your thirst: Coca-Cola and Guinness beer. In Southeast Asia Coke is served in all manners including plastic bags filled with ice, but the best way to enjoy a Guinness remains at a traditional Irish pub. With St Patrick ’s Day … read the full post

Sometimes simple is best. Roti prata, a popular Singapore hawker dish imported from South India, is a deliciously buttery flatbread served with a bowl of curry. It’s equally popular for breakfast or a midnight snack, and is one of the few hawker dishes that is easily made vegetarian. Roti prata (called roti canai in Malaysia) … read the full post