Gentle Tours

07/08/2025

Have a food tour group to prep for, so I consider this a part of route revision 🤪

Kacang pool (literally a pool of beans), made up of mashed fava (broad) beans, spices like cumin, chopped onions, green chilli, squeezed lime juice and topped with a single sunny side up - you eat and mop up this delicious stew with slices of freshly toasted baguette.

The dish was introduced to our Malay Communities by Arab traders who used to source for timber, textiles and spices in the region.

A hearty dish that is still found in Africa and the Middle East, I'd always think about the time this Egyptian uncle had this on one of my tours and told me he missed his late wife's Ful Mudammas. ❤️

04/08/2025

Did I tell you about the time this lovely couple from the USA tried to suss out my political inclinations and thoughts on Trump vs China. 🙂 I carefully tariked away topic from MAGA to Merlion.

There are many things in life that I'd shy away from having a public discourse on - religion, politics, abusive senior management.. but some things are wrong and void of basic human decency. Which is why I am incredibly proud of our government for this.

03/08/2025

You guys like to read? What are you currently reading?

Refining my commentary and script is always a works in progress, and when one has a trove of free books (I love our libraries) and online sources like our National Archives, or incredible sites like the urbanist, long and winding road - there is no excuse not to improve.

I'm currently reading up on the hawker history that predated the move from street hawkers to purpose built hawker centres and the policies that shaped our hawker centres after.

I'm also reading up to get more background info on our Hindu community and improve my understanding of the shrines and temples that were built in response to migration.

Learning never ends for me as a Tour Guide, it doesn't end for me as an Occupational Therapist either, reading up on Palliative care in prep for an assignment.

Wish me luck ❤️
mel

02/08/2025

What do you know about the Singapore Flag?

In Tourism school, we had to memorise this because it came out during both practical and theory exam. I remembered the assessment commentary I had to give on coach, it was NDP season, the flags were all out in full glory and I was trying not to s**t myself by forgetting what to say. These are what the separate elements represented...

Red stood for national identity and shared values. This was a time where we were healing from racial riots and WW2, so the newly formed government had to foster social cohesion and build stability.

The white represented purity and virtue. The thunderbolt political party also incorporated this idealogy of purity and integrity into their logo.

The crescent moon represented a young nation rising. Historically used as a symbol by the Ottoman empire, I read that it is also representative of renewal and auspicious beginnings in Islam.

The stars were the easiest to memorise - you know how we do that a b c d e f g melody in our heads everytime we had to organise something in alphabetical order?

Yep, the stars were the same. Short of putting my hand over my heart, I was reciting the pledge fervently and quietly when that question was asked.

"Oh Sir, that's a really good question. Thank you for that! The stars on our flag represented Singapore's ideals of happiness... No sorry, democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality."

😝🙆🏻‍♀️🇸🇬🫶

Photo credit: Hoong Qi Hao

19/07/2025

You could have enjoyed an incredible city skyline, heritage tours, delicious hawker cuisine and end the night watching fireworks, with full anonymity.

But Nooo, you chose to attend a coldplay concert.

P.S. Having so much fun. Honestly, it's the meme that keeps on giving.. 😉

19/07/2025

Yo, we're celebrating our 60th year independence on August 9. The SG60 container display is made up of 271 containers, and assembled over 32 hours.

If you have to know something about us Singaporeans, we take our lego very seriously...

Image credit: PSA Singapore

09/07/2025

In addition to rising costs in raw materials and difficulties in hiring help, many of our older hawker heroes struggle with succession so it's really heartening to see this young gentleman step up to the plate (literally) and put out a good plate of char kway teow. ❤️

📍Bendemeer Fresh Cockles Fried Kway Teow 阿生芒加脚鲜蛤炒粿条
409 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10, # 01-13, Singapore 560409
Everyday 10.30am to 6.30pm
Closed on Monday

Stirring wok of love.

09/07/2025

I think top 3 is well deserved 🎉🎉🎉
I might be biased but I was hoping for more love towards Thailand, Indonesia and Hong Kong.

05/07/2025

I've always loved what they did with retail and f&b at Capitol and the Kempinski hotel. Cannot wait to try the food here 🙆🏻‍♀️