Beyond a “been there, done that” travel bucket list stop, any of these Singapore experiences would make yours the most fascinating postcards to send home.
1. Taking part in the “chope” culture
Singapore English, or Singlish for “to reserve”, chope-ing is a fine art most often executed in hawker centres, especially during busy meal times when empty tables are rare commodities. Join us in slapping a packet of tissue paper onto the required number of seats to mark your turf, then go gather your street food banquet. Trending in the Central Business District: business cards for a chope upgrade.
Try it at: any coffeeshop or hawker centre
2. Queueing up
Kiasu is Singlish for FOMO (fear of missing out), and the philosophy driving Singaporeans’ unwavering patience when waiting in line for coveted limited edition releases, freebies or the latest food fad (case in point: two hours for Hokkaido cheese tarts). Cue up your queue mission with an umbrella (if outdoors) and a great sense of humour.
Try it at: anywhere you see a queue forming
3. Eating an ice cream sandwich
Way before rainbow treats became an Instagram sensation, Singaporeans have clasped ice cream using a slightly sweet, fluffy slice of bread coloured with pastel swirls, in our rendition of the classic frozen confection. The ice cream uncle and his pushcart are as iconic to Singapore streets as hot dog vendors are elsewhere, a handheld antidote for year-round tropical heat.
Try it at: the ice cream pushcart usually located in front of Ngee Ann City on Orchard Road
4. Drinking kopi and teh
Piccolo, macchiato, cortado or marocchino have got nothing on the Singaporean style of ordering hot beverages: kopi-o-kosong-peng, teh-C-siu-dai, Milo dinosaur and kopi-gao are just a few buzz-words for getting your caffeine on in a kopitiam (coffee shop).
Try it at: any coffeeshop or hawker centre
5. Bingeing on durians on the sidewalk
That pungency piercing through the air marks the onset of yet another durian feast unfolding on a Singapore sidewalk, rickety stools and all. A combination of wanting to eat the fleshy fruit straight from its spiky husks and the fact that durian aromas linger indoors for days is why many locals take this indulgence outside.
Try it at: durian stalls in Geylang
Nearest MRT station: Aljunied
6. Having a Tiger on ice
We literally take our national beer ice cold in a slender glass mug filled with ice cubes. This chilling hack serves the dual purposes of staving off the humid swoon, and also pairs perfectly with our line-up of spicy heritage dishes.
Try it at: any coffeeshop or hawker centre
7. Being fascinated at Haw Par Villa
A public park filled with larger-than-life dioramas of statues and tableaux depicting Chinese folklore, legends and superstitions, Haw Par Villa is a wonderland of intricate carvings in Technicolour tones. The infamous 10 Courts of Hell exhibit, interpreting Taoism’s morality stories for every misdeed, is a rite of passage for setting most local children straight.
Nearest MRT station: Haw Par Villa
8. Taking a selfie at Marina Bay Sands Skypark
If you didn’t take a selfie while dipping in the 150m-long infinity pool 57 levels high on the Marina Bay Sands rooftop, have you really been to Singapore? It’s the only such pool of that altitude in the world – and bonus points if you score one at sunset with our dazzling skyline in the background.
Nearest MRT station: Bayfront
9. Shopping at Mustafa in the middle of the night
Mustafa department store in Little India is as superlative as shopping gets in Singapore: more than 300,000 items across 400,000 sq ft spread over six floors, open 24/7/365. Savvy customers come for everything from kitchen appliances and toys to saris, spices and major bling between midnight and 6am, when they don’t have to jostle with as many as 15,000 other bargain hunters during the day. Mustafa also boasts some of the best foreign currency exchange rates in the country.
Nearest MRT station: Little India
10. Snapping food pics
Singapore dining etiquette is simple: do not start eating until everyone at the table has snapped pictures of magnificent noodles, simmering curries, colourful desserts, and more. Find them all via popular hashtags such as #sgfood, #sgeats and #burpplesg.
Try it at: any eatery; be it a hawker centre, cafe or restaurant
– TEXT BY DESIREE KOH
PHOTOS: SINGAPORE PRESS HOLDINGS LTD
This article was originally published by Singapore Press Holdings.
