Pickleball, Laughter and Old Friends at Apex Tennis

 Singapore - Some of the best moments in life happen when you get together with old friends, pick up a racket and simply have a good time.

Today, I had the pleasure of playing pickleball with three former colleagues — Edmund, Willy and Lesley. What started @ 7pm and the game of pickleball quickly turned into a game filled with laughter, friendly competition and plenty of jokes. It was great to catch up with people I had worked with before, but this time without the pressures of meetings, deadlines and work!

We played at Apex Tennis at 33 Admiralty Road East, a rather beautiful and unique location in Singapore. The venue is set within a charming black-and-white bungalow, surrounded by greenery. What was once a lovely bungalow setting has been transformed, with the beautiful lawn now accommodating a number of tennis courts.

The surroundings themselves made the experience special. There is something quite relaxing about playing sport in such a green and open environment, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

There were good shots, missed shots, unexpected returns and plenty of moments where we just laughed at ourselves.

What I enjoyed most wasn't really who won or lost. It was the opportunity to reconnect with Edmund, Will and Lesley, share stories from our working days and create some new memories together.

Pickleball is becoming increasingly popular, and I can understand why. It is easy to pick up, keeps you moving and, most importantly, is a fantastic way to spend time with friends.

A Hawker Food Adventure at Cheng San Market & Food Centre @ AMK Ave 10

 Singapore - Today’s lunch adventure took me to Cheng San Market & Food Centre along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10. It was a sunny day, and the bus ride was about 25 minutes on a direct route — a convenient journey for another neighbourhood hawker food exploration.

Cheng San in Ang Mo Kio were named after Kampong Cheng San, a former village and large rubber plantation that previously occupied the area before HDB towns were built.

My first stop was Teochew Fish Ball Noodles at #01-148. The fish balls were wonderfully springy, with that satisfying bounce that tells you they have been made well. 

The noodles were generously tossed with oil, giving them a rich, savoury flavour that went surprisingly well with the fish balls. A simple bowl, but definitely a tasty start to lunch.

Next, I queued for Chwee Kueh at #01-136. Two young ladies were busy preparing the fresh steamed rice cakes, and the stall is famously focused on just one thing — chwee kueh. At $2 for four pieces, it was an easy choice. The rice cakes were soft and almost melt-in-your-mouth, while the generous topping of finely chopped chai poh (preserved radish) was savoury, fragrant and delicious. Freshly made and very satisfying.

For my next stop, I visited Fu Hua Soya Bean at #01-108, run by an elderly couple. I had the tau fu fa with gingko, and it was lovely — smooth, fresh and comforting. 

There is something special about these small family-run stalls where the food is prepared fresh and served with a personal touch.

I finished my food trail with fried banana fritters at #01-138 for $1.30 and a peanut pancake for $1.50. The banana fritters were wonderfully sweet, although the peanut pancake was unfortunately below my expectations.

Overall, Cheng San Market & Food Centre was another enjoyable neighbourhood food discovery — good fish ball noodles, excellent chwee kueh, fresh tau fu fa, and a couple of mixed dessert experiences.

A Hot and Humid Food Adventure @ Maxwell Food Centre

 Singapore - Today, I met Edmund at the ever-popular Maxwell Food Centre, one of Singapore's well-known hawker destinations. There were so many tourist of different nationalities.  With its many famous stalls and Michelin-recognised names, I was looking forward to exploring some of the food here. One thing I wasn't quite prepared for, however, was the heat and humidity inside the food centre! It was really hot, and after walking around looking for food, I was already sweating.

My first stop was Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake, a famous heritage stall that is Michelin awarded that has been at Maxwell Food Centre since 1986. The family business dates back even further, having started on Tras Street in 1962. Today, third-generation hawker Deitrich Mohan runs the stall alongside his mother, Madam Hoon Poh Hwa.

This was actually my first time trying a Fuzhou oyster cake. I ordered two and watched it being prepared and fried. It was crispy and packed with fillings including oyster, minced pork, prawns and coriander. Personally, I found it much too oily for my taste, although I appreciated the traditional preparation and the history behind the dish.

The mother was extremely friendly, and we started chatting while waiting. It was a lovely interaction with a hawker who has clearly dedicated many years to preserving this family tradition. Around 1pm, her son arrived to take over the stall, continuing the family legacy.

Next, we tried Jin Hua Fish Soup. The fish was fresh, but unfortunately it didn't have the flavour or texture I was hoping for. Looking back, we probably should have ordered their fried fish meat noodles with milk, which is their speciality. Sometimes you learn from ordering the wrong dish!

For dessert, we went for 75 China Street Peanut Soup with handmade glutinous rice balls for $3.50. This was a pleasant surprise — warm, comforting peanut soup with soft and tender handmade glutinous rice balls. A refreshing way to finish our meal.

By then, the heat had really got to us, so we walked over to the URA Centre to enjoy some much-needed air-conditioning!

A Disappointing Sushi Experience at Iro Iro

 Singapore - I recently visited Iro Iro with Edmund, as we both share a deep love for Japanese food. Over the years, we have had the opportunity to enjoy sushi at many restaurants, both in Singapore and Japan, so we have developed a fairly high expectation when it comes to the quality and freshness of sashimi.

Unfortunately, our experience at Iro Iro was rather disappointing, particularly when considering the quality versus the price we paid.

Iro Iro is a family-run business, and I must say that the hospitality was warm and personal. An elderly lady welcomed us, served us hot tea and looked after the dining area, while her daughter and husband worked behind the counter preparing the food. There was a genuine homely feeling to the restaurant, which we appreciated.

We both ordered the Maguro Chirashi Don. When the bowls arrived, however, we could immediately tell from the appearance of the maguro that it was not at the quality we had expected. Having eaten high-quality tuna in Japan and Singapore, we look for that translucent, glistening, jewel-like appearance that reflects freshness and quality. Unfortunately, the maguro here lacked that visual appeal and did not meet our expectations.

We also ordered the Sushi Moriawase, hoping the selection would be better. Sadly, this too fell short of the quality we would expect from a restaurant at this price point.

Iro Iro certainly has the warmth of a family business, and the service was friendly. However, for two diners who appreciate high-quality Japanese cuisine, the food quality did not justify the price.

It was an experience, but unfortunately, not one that left us wanting to return.

A Morning at Sembawang Hot Spring Park with Friends

 Singapore - There is something refreshing about starting the day with a simple outing, good friends and a little bit of nature. This morning, we met at Canberra MRT at 9am and began our short walk to Sembawang Hot Spring Park. It took us about 15 minutes on foot, and soon we arrived at one of Singapore's more unique natural attractions.

Kiat Leng, Carol, Heng Choo and Shih Ting

My last visit was on 2 May 2022, when I came here with my two sons. This time, it was nice to return with friends and create another set of memories.

One of the highlights of our morning was breakfast. Kiat Leng started cooking the eggs, placing them in the designated egg-cooking area. While the eggs were cooking, we laid out our picnic mat and prepared ourselves for a relaxing breakfast.

Eggs cooking station

We also had freshly baked focaccia, beautifully wrapped and tagged by Heng Choo as freshly baked. The focaccia was delicious — soft, flavourful and a wonderful accompaniment to our eggs.

Of course, we could not leave without soaking our feet in the hot spring. The cascading pools provide different temperatures, starting from around 90°C, then 70°C and finally 40°C, which was the temperature we could comfortably enjoy. We settled our feet into the 40°C water and relaxed for about 30 minutes.

Sitting there under the scorching morning sun for half an hour certainly worked up an appetite!

The eggs were ready — half-cooked, with a little light soya sauce and pepper. Together with the freshly baked focaccia, it made for a surprisingly delicious and satisfying breakfast. There was something special about enjoying such a simple meal outdoors with friends.

After spending around two hours at Sembawang Hot Spring Park, we decided it was time for our next adventure. We packed up and walked towards Chong Pang Market for lunch.

A simple morning of hot springs, good food, sunshine and friendship sometimes, that's all you need for a great day!  

An interesting find....

A Food trail at Chong Boon Market & Food Center @ AMK

 Singapore - Today, I decided to take a little lunch adventure to Chong Boon Market & Food Centre.  

The name was carried over from the old Chong Boon Chinese School, a village school that served the local community during the area's kampong (village) days.

Getting there was surprisingly easy — I hopped on Bus 45, and just about 15 minutes later, I arrived at this neighbourhood hawker centre. Sometimes the best food discoveries are just a short bus ride away!

My first stop was 339 AMK Carrot Cake, also known as Sheng Fa Ji, located at #01-14. The stall, run by Mr. Tan Bak Seah, is known for its soft and flavourful carrot cake and a rather potent chilli sauce. I went for the smallest plate at just $4.

The carrot cake was soft, savoury and satisfying, with the chilli adding a nice kick. For a simple plate of fried carrot cake, it certainly started my lunch on a good note.

Next, I tried 453 Fish Soup, where the Batang fish soup cost $5.50. Unfortunately, this was the disappointing dish of the day. I love Batang fish, and having eaten plenty of fresh Batang over the years, I can usually tell when the fish has been frozen and thawed. The meat here did not taste particularly fresh and lacked the firm, clean texture I look for in fresh Batang. Sadly, this bowl did not meet my expectations.

To finish lunch, I headed over to Lucky Soya Bean Milk at #01-26 and ordered bean curd for dessert. This was a much better ending with a smooth, silky and delicious curd. It was exactly what I needed after the disappointing fish soup.

Overall, it was a mixed lunch experience: good carrot cake, disappointing fish soup, and a very enjoyable bean curd to finish.

A Food Trail at Teck Ghee Market & Food Centre @ AMK

 Singapore - Tuesday lunchtime brought me to 409 AMK Market & Food Centre, a 20 minutes bus ride to a familiar neighbourhood food centre with plenty of local flavours to explore. 

Teck Ghee in Ang Mo Kio is named after a former local village (kampong) and Chinese plantation from the mid-20th century, which likely took its name from early landowner and pioneer Lim Teck Ghee.

Unfortunately, a number of stalls were closed today, but there were still several popular stalls operating and enough good food to make the trip worthwhile.

My first stop was Wang Ji Hainanese Chicken Rice (#01-30). At just $4, it is hard to complain about the price. The chicken was tender and moist, and what really caught my attention was the generous drizzle of fragrant sesame oil over the chicken and bean sprouts. The aroma was inviting, and the combination worked very well with the rice. A simple plate of chicken rice, but satisfying and definitely worth trying.

Next, I headed over to Pure Soya Bean (#01-25). There was already a queue, always a good sign when visiting a hawker centre. Their soya bean drink is a refreshing follow-up after a savoury meal — smooth, light and easy to enjoy. The queue suggests that I wasn't the only one who appreciates what they serve.

My third stop was perhaps the most interesting story of the day: Bendemeer Fresh Cockles Fried Kway Teow (#01-13).

The stall is run by a younger generation carrying on the family's hawker tradition. The young man behind the wok has special needs, but watching him prepare the fried kway teow with dedication was genuinely heartwarming. There was also a good queue of customers, many seemingly happy to support him and his family.

And the important thing is — the fried kway teow is actually good!  The noodles had a pleasant wok hei, with that smoky, slightly charred aroma that you look for in a good plate of char kway teow. The fresh cockles added another layer of flavour and texture.

Food centres like 409 AMK are more than places to grab an inexpensive meal. They are where family traditions, second-generation hawkers and neighbourhood support come together.

Sometimes, the best food discoveries are found right in our neighbourhoods.