on the Go with Bo!

Mag's Wine Kitchen - superb steak!

Circular Road right behind Boat Quay has several restaurants, yet this one somehow stands above the other ones I've been to.

Mag's Wine Kitchen is a small restaurant with a very limited menu, yet what they have is superb. The tables are practically in the kitchen ... it's one of those places which are supposed to make you feel at home, like you're sitting in your friend's kitchen. The service is very personable ... although I have to say that the last time we were here they kept screwing up our order! But I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

The steak is delicious! Make sure you ask for a table in the centre by the kitchen.

Tour the Black & White houses with Geraldene

So many people say 'but there's nothing to see in Singapore, everything is so new!" I have to agree with Geraldene on this ... and that is, all it takes is for you to scratch a bit under the surface and you will find a whole bunch of fascinating places and stories to go with them.

Visiting all the Black & White houses on this island is one way to step back into the colonial past of Singapore and find out about its heritage. I was surprised to see how many B&W houses are still preserved. There are whole areas such as Alexandra Park that one doesn't even notice when you drive by, for the whole area is shielded by beautiful trees.

So what are B&W houses? They are old bungalow style houses dating as far back as 150 years, that are today owned by the government. These are then rented out at a premium, of course :-) It's the quintessential image of colonialists sitting on their verandah, below large fans and sipping their Singapore Sling. The houses have an open design, for remember, people were living in them prior to the invention of air-conditioning. Thus it's the draughts that blow threw the house that keep it nice and cool.

In any case, I'm not going to tell you too much for that will then spoil the tour with Geraldene. And I don't remember everything anyway!!

So who is Geraldene? She's a Singaporean lady who knows her local history inside out and is thus a wealth of information. She remembers what Singapore used to be like before any of us expats came to drop by! Besides that, she knows everything about her local plants, trees, architecture, art, etc.

We did a 4 hour trip in a mini-van. What was great about this tour is that besides just viewing the B&W houses, we also went into four of them. It's special to see the interior of these mansions. Actually, in the last house that we visited, the tenant had a shop on the premises selling outdoor terrace furniture and all sorts of accessories. She used a lot of the same furniture to decorate her house, and it looked stunning. The name of the shop is Galanga Living. The contacts are: tel 6475 2633, info@galangaliving.com, www.galangaliving.com.

To find out when her next tour is, e-mail her at geraldenestours@hotmail.com or phone her at +65 8155 1390. This is a brilliant way to dive into Singapore's heritage.

Eating at hawker centres

Hawker centres are very popular in Singapore and are basically a conglomeration of food stalls in a designated area. The selection of food tends to be extensive (local food - Malaysian, Indonesian, Chinese, Indian, etc.), the price very cheap and the environment authentic.

Imagine having a full meal with a drink for 5 SGD = 2.3 EUR = 3.7 USD!!!

And do not worry ... hawker centres are very clean and there is no danger of getting sick from the food. After all, this is Singapore!

The following hawker centres are the ones I've been to that I liked. I'm sure there are many more though ...

> Lau Pa Sat: this is a beautiful cast-iron Victorian structure in the centre of the business district (aka CBD). It once used to be a wet market, but is today a huge hawker centre. Come here at lunch and you will be sitting next to high-powered bankers!!


> Chinatown: all of Smith street is closed at night and becomes one long hawker centre. Located in the centre of Chinatown, coming here for dinner will definitely give you a very Chinese experience.
> Newton Centre: this is a Singapore classic and most probably the most touristy of them all. Perhaps because it's close to Orchard Road. Don't let the 'touristy' comment scare you away though. I've had some great food here.

Hawker centre etiquette:

> napkins: one of the first things I noticed when I started going to hawker centres is that no one ever gives you any napkins. Hmm!!! How am i supposed to clean up after my mess? Then it became clear to me why there were several people on the streets and in metro stations selling packs of paper napkins for 1 dollar. The reason is ... you will need them to wipe your mouth at the hawker centres. So make sure you spend that $1 for otherwise you will have to use your hand to wipe your mouth. And I would know!

> reserving tables: another problem that I would always encounter is that when I would go and get food, and then head for the empty table that I saw earlier ... it would be occupied. So there I was huffing and puffing that someone stole my table ... and no other table would be available for the place is invariably full. And then someone told me. Before you go get your food, you put your packet of napkins on the table where you want to sit ... and that means it's reserved. See ... the $1 pack of napkins is well worth the money.

To conclude ... Singapore is known for it's great food. And this is one Singaporean culinary experience that you simple must have.

Incredible India - Golden Triangle (January 2008)

Incredible India! What a brilliant slogan for their marketing campaign, which in two words encapsulates everything about this astonishing country full of history, colourful smells and colourful people.

How does one describe India? You either love her or you hate her ... but you will definitely not walk away without having an opinion. She challenges you at all levels, she will transform you and as I like to say, you will end up being touched by mother India!

How? read on ...

John Erdos Gallery - furniture that's edgy and raw

There are furniture stores ... and then there are great furniture stores! And the John Erdos Gallery in Singapore definitely falls into the latter category.

There are two reasons why you should give this store a visit:

1) the furniture/accessories: The design is simple with clean lines, contemporary with an Asian feel and warm due to the natural materials that John uses. The line is primarily manufactured in Indonesia from recycled teak wood and metal. And best of all, it's very well priced. Perhaps due to that, John does not believe in discounts. We tried very hard to bargain with his staff, with no avail. Even my Korean friend did not succeed!!!

2) the space: John has brought to life two beautiful adjoining shop houses. By breaking down the walls between these two shop houses he has opened up the space and created an intriguing environment. There are a myriad of different rooms connected with stairwells, two inner courtyards that bring air and natural light into the whole shop, and even a big pond with fish in it, which you cross by walking on the stepping stones. Shop houses, because they tend to be deep and stacked in a row, can be very dark. However, this space is expansive and will give you an idea of what an authentic Singaporean shop house looks like.

Actually, there's also a third reason why you should visit the store ... the friendly staff. They're not pushy, are knowledgeable about their products and give great advice.

Even if you're not planning to buy anything, it's worthwhile to go and see this store at 83 Kim Yam Road. Good luck walking out of there without even one purchase though. Everyone I've brought there walked out with at least an accessory.

So run ... 83 Kim Yam Road is waiting for you!

An island getaway: Sentosa Island

Have you ever heard of island fever? When you've been on an island for too long and you need some terra firma under your feet ... thus you head for the mainland?

So where do Singaporeans go when they need to take a break from their fast-paced life? You guessed it ... to another island ... Sentosa Island. It's kind of like and island-off-an-island concept ... right?

Sentosa island is being groomed to be the entertainment hub of Singapore. You have it all: fantastic hotels, beaches, terrific golf course, beach bars, water parks, shows ... and in the not-so-distant future when the grand Resorts World at Sentosa is complete, you will also have casinos, theme parks and more.

What strikes me most about Sentosa is that when you're on this small island, you really feel like you're on some island resort ... and Singapore feels far away. You even have the white sand beaches, swaying palm trees, colourful sunsets ... it's a complete tropical island feel ... until you look towards the sea and see a million ships. That's when you realize you're actually very close to a very busy city and not quite on a tropical hideaway in the middle of the Indian Ocean. But actually, I have to admit that seeing this view is quite fascinating. It gives you a very futuristic sense of life. You feel like you're in some virtual reality of the future, where industrialization and the living environment have become one.

So what do I like to do on Sentosa?

1) If we come here with guests, we always ask the taxi driver to take us to Sentosa Cove. This is one of the most exclusive residential parts of Singapore with multi-million dollar homes. But since land is at a premium on an island, you will see that the houses are on very small plots. Nevertheless, the houses are architectural marvels. When you arrive by cab to the entrance of Sentosa Cove, just tell the guard you've come to look at a house that you're planning to buy. Otherwise they won't let you in. They have a 'residents only' policy ... understandably!

2) Sunday brunch at the Sentosa Spa & Resort is dejour (ask to be seated on the terrace). As far as I'm concerned, it's the best brunch in Singapore. The buffet is outstanding, the champagne endless and the design of the hotel is very open, very Balinese. What's also great about this brunch is that you can use the hotel pool till 1700. So you can make it a day here.

3) If you've still got energy after the brunch and snooze by the pool, take the stairs from the pool area down to Tanjong Beach. You can either tan some more, or join all the hot bods at KM8, a beach bar that grooves into the sunset. Very tropical. You can also simply walk down all the three beaches and head towards Cafe del Mar on Siloso Beach, and watch the sunset there. It makes for a perfect end to the day!

And then you slowly head back home with a feeling that you've been on a tropical getaway all day long ... while in reality you've only been 20 min from your apartment.

That's Singapore ... everything within easy reach!

You need more information on Sentosa Island?

Incredible India - Jaipur (January 2008)

Jaipur is a gem in Rajasthan and hence is firmly planted on the tourist path of many fellow travellers. Consequently, the touts are aggressive and persistent and scams can always be found. Besides this only annoying factor, walking through the city centre at sunset, when you can observe the hues of pink spill across all the buildings, you feel like you’re in some Rajasthani fairy tale. The colours are so vivid and the people too. Although it doesn’t have a big lake or river or iconic monument to impress, it’s the totality of this city, bathed in dusk light, that makes it so memorable.

Discover more of Jaipur ... from it's palaces, to bazaars, to forts, to its observatory ... read on ...

Incredible India - Delhi (January 2008)

I have to say that Delhi pleasantly surprised me! I was expecting a car-clogged city on the verge of a chaotic breakdown. But it wasn’t. The streets were relatively clean and free of major traffic (it could be that the gods were with us and that this was simply an exceptional two days). The city is laid out in a grandiose fashion, which can be best seen in the neighbourhood surrounding the Secretariat buildings, the Parliament and the India Gate. New Delhi and Delhi is vibrant, full of history, and is a good introduction to India.

Delhi is a city that many visitors forego and use it only as a landing place before they embark on to their next (first) city. I can now say that I think that is a mistake. Take a few days and experience this capital city of the largest democracy in the world. It has lots to offer.

Read on ...