Visual Kaleidoscope 18 Get in my belly! 20 For science

VISUAL

Kaleidoscope

Since its independence Singapore has grown physically from 590 square kilometres of land, to 720 square kilometres as of 2018 courtesy of land reclamation efforts, resulting in a 22% boost to its total ground area. Even though the city-state is geographically small its rich multicultural society and rapid pace of development has borne an aesthetically pleasing visual kaleidoscope. The 3 ethnic conclaves that the Chinese, Malay, and Indian populace call home are rich in history and personality, as well as sights, smells and sounds.

Kampong Gelam is a merchant commune offering a finelytuned balance between the arts and entertainment. Visitors are exposed to a riot of colours during the day. Eye-catching graffiti by local and international street artists adorn the facades of hip cafes and eateries, as well as modern boutiques and family stores that span generations. Sunsets bring with them the sounds of buskers and live music along Bussorah Street and Haji Lane, all against the backdrop of the Sultan Mosque.

Five districts comprise China Town, expansions of the original zones created from mid-19th Century urban planning that separated zones for immigrants based on their respective provincial origin and dialect. Trendy restaurants, hotels and colonial architecture define Bukit Pasoh as a charming blend of the old and new. Ann Siang and Club Street is the younger crowds weekend nightlife go-to for quirky shops, hip cafes and bars – though Ann Siang Hill Park is a quieter enclave in the area with bright shop houses and a very interesting series of art installations I discovered which tells the story of migrants’ journeys. While Telok Ayer is known for picturesque temples of worship, and Tanjong Pagar is a heavily developed residential area, it is Kreta Ayer that is the heart of it all, where some of the best hawker food imaginable can be found.

Bugis is one of Singapore’s most iconic areas, and is considered quite a shopper’s haven – strong

words when one takes into account that Singapore is a retail haven in its entirety –due to it being one of the more affordable locales in the country. The area first earned its name on the global stage between the 1950s and 1980s due to its nightly gatherings of the transsexual and transvestite community, a phenomenon which added that much extra spice and personality to the overall character of the area.

Little India is such a colourful affair whose history is rich with flavour that has permeated into the modern era. There is food galore and the 24-hour Mustafa Centre shopping mall is most certainly a pull-me-in factor. Full of vibrancy, the well-known Serangoon Road and connecting streets are dotted with houses of worship representing all races. While many artists tend to take up residence here due to its bohemian atmosphere, the observation that brought a smile to my face was that of a few Chinese worshippers paying respects to Buddha at a Hindu Temple, while some of their Indian counterparts did the same at a Chinese Temple.

From the impeccable uniformed personnel standing to attention at the colonial era Raffles Hotel, the government sanctioned professional street artists who tell stories via impressive artwork in pre-approved areas, to the amazingly fit retiree who cycled me around these areas, it is an understatement to say there is so much to see.

PICANHAS’

Attention carnivores who salivate at the sight of tender and juicy cuts of red meat. Should you find yourself with a craving for delicious slabs of protein, then I recommend a visit to Picanhas’. Operating on the principle “We don’t serve food, we serve people”, this locale specialises in Brazilian-styled steaks and hearty plates of food that will leave you wanting more. From the Queen of Steaks to burgers and Don bowls, the offerings on the menu are few, but have been mastered to an extent that I question whether they can be improved upon, as the food was delicious to the extreme. Despite the neon sign proclaiming ‘Steaks for the people’, the side dish of spinach with nutmeg and cream proved itself to be an unexpected star. •• 90 Club Street, Singapore 069458 Open: 12pm-3pm & 5.30pm-10pm (closed Mondays) IG: @picanhassg FB: Picanhas’ www.picanhassg.com This cute social enterprise with an admirable attitude toward promoting sustainability via its low waste products, made for quite a pleasant stop during our adventure. Featuring items including beeswax food wraps, flip-flops made from recycled tires, eco friendly hand washes, gorgeous wood and resin coasters (I bought these!), and even handbags made by Brunei’s very own Helping Hands Penan, there is a bright and sunny disposition in play here that sent a surge of positivity through me. That is just half the space though, as the other 50% plays home to a café rocking specialty coffee and a very healthy menu. Personally, the smoothie bowls were the star of the day after leaving an explosion of flavours on my taste buds. •• 333 Kreta Ayer Road #01-14, Singapore 080333 Open daily: 9am – 5pm IG: @Thesocialspace.sg FB: The Social Space http://thesocialspace.co/ Get in my belly!

Hailing from a Sultanate whose unofficial slogan is ‘Jalan-Jalan Cari Makan’ – a humourous play on the never-ending search for that next good meal – I can confidently say food is a major factor affecting our choice of travel destination. For some of us, it is the only factor to be honest. Boosted by social media, the exposure of interior designs and fanciful foods from eateries galore result in a striptease for our eyes and palates. From vendors at community hawker centres to 2-Star Michellin restaurants and everything in between, Singapore is a rising foodie haven with a permanent spot on our culinary radar. Here are a few places our rumbling stomachs demanded we munch at.

TIPO PASTA BAR

We simply love The Black Hole Group (TBHG). This culinary food collective oversees 12 different brands presenting halal fusion twists on an array of cuisines for the Muslim market. In this instance it was the Tipo Pasta Bar where the custom, handcrafted in-house pastas of the day – onion & garlic lasagnettes, sweet paprika radiatori, and tomato & basil bucatini – wowed us to no end. Building your own pastas is the main staple here and is popular with the locals; but from the Burrata, Bruschettas, and Citrus Vongole, to the Tiramisu, Panna Cotta and more, there are plenty of choices outside the realm of pasta too. As TBHG is fond of saying, “Fall in after us. There’s more to come”. •• 28 Aliwal Street, #01-07, Singapore 199918 Open: 11am-9pm (Mon-Fri) 10am-9pm (Sat & Sun) IG: @tiposg FB: Tipo SG www.tipo.sg

THE HALIA

Walking around the Singapore Botanical Gardens is a good way to build up an appetite, which oft times results in people inevitably stopping by The Halia. Do not assume that dining here is simply the result of necessity, for the menu offers a range of dishes that many people would gladly go back for even if their intentions did not involve walking the gardens. The truffle fries alone made me smile as the portion was pretty big, let alone the mains. Built on a 1-hectare garden that is home to over 250 species of ginger – a nod to the eatery’s namesake – the stunning foliage forms a natural setting for an unobtrusive dining room that ensconces diners within a cool and comfortable surrounding as palm trees stand in vigil of all around them. •• Singapore Botanical Gardens Open daily: 11am – 9pm (Mon-Fri) 10am - 9pm (Sat & Sun) IG: @thehalia FB: The Halia www.thehalia.com

NATIONAL KITCHEN BY VIOLET OON

A culinary icon and food ambassador for Singapore since 1998, Violet Oon in collaboration with a luxury and lifestyle brand – Group MMM – sought to elevate the status of Peranakan cuisine in 2014. Fast forward 8 years, 5 restaurants, and several accolades later, and I was dining at their 2nd branch, National Kitchen, on the first floor of the National Gallery. From the Peranakan tiles, lanterns, crystal chandeliers, and seats designed with small sections of fine rattan mesh, against an interior backdrop of hardwood walls that alternated between dark browns and emerald green, I felt awfully fancy as I ate my bowl of chicken curry. Just one classic dish among many, elevated further by skilled chefs within this gorgeous setting. •• 1 St, Andrew’s Road, #02-01, National Gallery Singapore, (City Hall Wing), Singapore 178957 Open: 12pm-3pm (Daily Lunch), 6pm-10.30pm (Daily Dinner) 3pm-5pm (Fri-Sun Hi-Tea) IG: @violetoonsingapore FB: National Kitchen by Violet Oon www.violetoon.com

STRAITS KITCHEN

After 5 minutes admiring a central pillar with over a dozen shelves on each of its 4 sides displaying numerous teapots, I began wandering from station to station checking out the diverse assortment of starters, mains, and desserts on offer at the Grand Hyatt’s main restaurant. The appeal here is the level of representation. The selection of food represents what you would find in all four corners of the city-state, and the buffet styled approach means everything you need is under one roof. Heavy emphasis is placed on sustainability via preventing food wastage. ‘Ugly fruits’, which are normal fruits people avoid buying because they do not look aesthetically ‘perfect’, are used in great abundance. I can testify to this personally as I gulped down 4-5 glasses of orange juice almost daily. Ugly never tasted so fresh. •• 10 Scotts Road, Singapore 228211 Open: 7am-10.30am (Daily Breakfast), 12pm-2pm (Daily Lunch) 6.30pm-9.30pm (Daily Dinner) IG: @straitskitchen.sg FB: Straits Kitchen @ Grand Hyatt www.singapore.grand.hyattrestaurants. com/straitskitchen

For Science!

Many things in life bring us unadulterated joy. But when it comes to shopping, whether you are a big spender or cautious purchaser, this exercise in retail therapy appeals to us all. There is even an actual scientific basis for it. Researchers are convinced that the hunt for that item, followed by its discovery and acquisition releases endorphins into your blood stream. Dopamine AKA your friendly neighbourhood ‘Happy Hormone’, and possibly even Serotonin AKA the ‘Feel Good Hormone’ course through our bodies and gives us that surge of excitement and pleasure as we anticipate something new, that reward we are treating ourselves to. With so many offerings in The Lion City, we focused on a few locales that are relatively still new, which caught our eye.

Apple Marina Bay Sands

If you have seen one Apple store than you have seen them all … said no one after their gazes fell upon the perfect hemisphere sitting upon the reservoir around which the Marina Bay Sands and esplanade ring. Resembling a glass and steel bubble emerging from the depths, the store which is the tech giant’s first ever built over a body of water, in true Singaporean fashion, also includes an underground corridor populated with yet more gadgets as it links to the Marina Bay Sands mall. With curved glass windows providing a 360-degree panoramic view of the city skyline, the large panels are lined by sunshade rings designed to optimise a fine balance between visibility and shading from solar rays. With a central occulus at its peak inspired by the pantheon of ancient Rome, this is a structure that both Apple fans and, arrheem, even Android users, will want to check out. •• 2 Bayfront Avenue, B2-06, Singapore 018972 Open daily: 10am – 10pm FB: Apple Marina Bay Sands http://www.apple.com/sg/retail/ marinabaysand/