Morning walk @ Fort Canning Park with sister

 Singapore -  My sister and I started our walk around Fort Canning Park at 7am, and it turned out to be a lovely morning. The haze had subsided considerably, and the weather was much more comfortable for walking. The cooler morning air and greenery made the early start worthwhile.

Fort Canning is one of those places in Singapore where you can enjoy nature while walking through layers of history. The park itself is 22 hectares and has nine historical gardens, making every visit feel like there is something new to discover.

One of the highlights was the newly renovated Spice Garden, which reminded us of how closely Singapore's early history was connected to spices, plants and trade.

We also stopped to admire Scholars in Conversation: Sir Stamford Raffles and Dr Nathaniel Wallich, two life-size bronze statues unveiled in May 2024. Rather than standing formally on pedestals, the two figures are depicted having a natural conversation. The sculpture commemorates their contributions to Singapore's early botanical heritage and stands at the site of Singapore's first botanical garden.

As we continued walking, we passed the old lighthouse site, reminders of Fort Canning's role as an important communication centre during the colonial period. The hill once had a flagstaff, time ball, lighthouse and telegraph office.

We also walked past the Fire Director's House, before heading towards the Singapore River and the rapidly changing Clarke Quay area. The former Liang Court site is now part of the major CanningHill development, with Moxy Singapore Clarke Quay, CanningHill Piers, CanningHill Square and Somerset Clarke Quay taking shape. Moxy is expected to receive its TOP around the end of 2026 and open in 2027.

Moxy (left) Somerset (foreground) and Condo (background)

We ended our walk at Sang Nila Utama Garden, where we spotted a squirrel, and an archaeological excavation site. Archaeological evidence shows Fort Canning Hill was inhabited as far back as the 14th century.

Sang Nila Utama garden

Spot the squirrel

A beautiful morning walk, exercise, nature and Singapore history all in one. Sometimes the best way to rediscover Singapore is simply to walk

Tongue Tip Lanzhou Beef Noodles – @ Grantral Mall - Tai Seng MRT

 Singapore - I recently found myself craving a comforting bowl of Lanzhou beef noodles, so I decided to give Tongue Tip Lanzhou Beef Noodles a try. There is something satisfying about watching a bowl of hand-pulled noodles come together, especially when you can customise the type of noodles to suit your preference.

For my lunch, I ordered the Lanzhou Beef Noodles with small flat noodles. I like having the choice of noodle types, as the texture can make quite a difference to the eating experience. I also requested less chilli oil, as I prefer some spice but don't want the chilli to overpower the soup.

The bowl arrived looking simple but inviting, with tender slices of beef, plenty of coriander and leek, and a fragrant soup. The beef was nicely cooked and tender, while the soup was flavourful and comforting. Despite asking for less chilli oil, there was still a small kick of spice, which was actually perfect for me.

I particularly enjoyed the balance. The chilli added warmth without taking over the natural flavour of the beef and soup. The coriander and leek also added a nice freshness to every mouthful. With the small flat noodles soaking up the delicious broth, it made for a very satisfying lunch.

Sometimes, a good bowl of noodles doesn't need to be complicated. Good noodles, tender beef, a flavourful broth and the right amount of chilli can make a very enjoyable meal.

Overall, I had a nice and satisfying lunch at Tongue Tip Lanzhou Beef Noodles, and I think it is worth another visit. Next time, I would like to try a different noodle style and perhaps another item from the menu.

A Taste of Hainanese Heritage at The Hainan Colony @ Tai Seng MRT

 Singapore - Today, I discovered another interesting little eatery near the Tai Seng MRT — The Hainan Colony, located at Tai Seng 18, a nine-storey mixed-use commercial and retail building.

This was my first visit to The Hainan Colony, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. The restaurant is a simple, no-frills diner, but its story is what makes it interesting.

The menu features classic dishes prepared using family recipes, celebrating the unique fusion cuisine created by early Hainanese immigrants who came to Singapore and worked as chefs for British colonial families.

Over time, these Hainanese chefs adapted Western dishes using local ingredients and their own cooking techniques, creating a distinctive style of Singaporean Hainanese cuisine that many of us have grown up enjoying.

Looking through the menu, there were quite a number of tempting choices. After some consideration, I decided to try the Beef Stew Baguette.

And what a good choice it turned out to be!

The beef stew was rich and comforting, with tender pieces of beef braised together with carrots, potatoes and a blend of spices. The beef was soft and flavourful, and the sauce had that wonderful hearty taste you expect from a good slow-cooked stew.

But what really completed the dish was the baguette.

It was served warm, with a wonderfully crispy exterior and soft, fluffy interior. Dipping the crispy bread into the beef stew and soaking up the delicious gravy made every bite even more enjoyable.

It was a simple meal, but sometimes simple is exactly what you want.

My first visit to The Hainan Colony turned out to be a very pleasant discovery. Good food, interesting heritage and a relaxed, no-frills atmosphere — all at one small diner in Tai Seng.

I had a very good meal here, and I would definitely come back to try some of their other Hainanese-inspired dishes

Tora-San at Grantral Mall @ MacPherson

 Singapore - Today’s food adventure brought me to Tora-San, located at Grantral Mall @ MacPherson. Getting there was easy and it was just a short five-minute walk from Tai Seng MRT Station.

Tora-San offers around eight different set meals, ranging from sashimi selections to cooked dishes. After looking through the choices, I decided to try the Bara-Chirashi Don.

The bowl came generously topped with fresh sashimi, including salmon, tuna and yellowtail, all cut into small cubes. The sashimi tasted fresh and delicious, and the combination of different fish gave every mouthful a nice variety of flavours and textures.

What made the meal even more worthwhile was the set that came with it. Besides the Bara-Chirashi Don, I also received miso soup, sesame tofu, hot green tea and mochi ice cream for dessert.

The total came to $26.13, which I thought was quite reasonable considering the amount of food included in the set. It was a satisfying Japanese meal without feeling overly expensive.

After lunch, I decided to explore the mall, which was my first visit to Grantral Mall @ MacPherson. The mall opened in late 2024 and is a relatively mid-sized neighbourhood shopping mall.

The 1st floor has various restaurants and eateries, while the 2nd floor houses Scarlett Supermarket, which focuses mainly on Chinese groceries, fresh vegetables, snacks and other food products. The 3rd floor is largely dedicated to children's enrichment centres, while the 4th floor consists mainly of offices.

It was also interesting to learn more about the ownership behind the mall. Grantral Mall @ MacPherson is part of the Grantral portfolio under Elegant Group, which is associated with Guangzhou-based Grantral Group. The group has been expanding its presence in Singapore's retail property scene.

Its Singapore mall portfolio includes The Clementi Mall, Grantral Mall @ Clementi, Grantral Mall @ MacPherson, Changi City Point, KINEX and Tanjong Katong Complex.

All in all, it was a worthwhile trip — good sashimi, a value-for-money Japanese set meal, and a new Singapore mall discovered!

Toa Payoh West Market & Food Centre

 Singapore - My food adventures around Singapore’s hawker centres continue!

Today, I decided to visit Toa Payoh West Market & Food Centre, taking the Circle Line MRT to Caldecott MRT Station. From the station, it was about a 10-minute walk to the food centre.

I arrived around 11am, and the heat was already scorching!  Thankfully, most of the walk was sheltered, so I didn’t have to battle the full force of the Singapore sun. By the time I reached the food centre, I was definitely ready for something to eat.

Interestingly, this was my second day exploring hawker food in the area. Yesterday, I had tried the Bak Chor Mee at MacPherson Teochew Minced Meat Noodles, and that bowl left quite an impression on me.

I really appreciated the traditional Teochew-style bak chor mee. The noodles were cooked beautifully and tossed in a savoury mixture of chilli and vinegar, giving every bite that wonderful combination of tangy, slightly spicy and savoury flavours. The crispy wanton was another highlight, adding a lovely crunch to the noodles.

Today, however, I was at Toa Payoh West Market & Food Centre again and fortunately, many of the stalls were opened. 

My first meal was pork ball and century egg porridge with youtiao from Congee88 (#02-29).

At $6.50, I found the porridge rather expensive for what I received. Perhaps I was expecting something more memorable, but honestly, nothing really stood out about this bowl of porridge. 

The pork balls and century egg were alright, and the youtiao added the familiar crispy texture, but overall, it was just an ordinary bowl of porridge — especially considering the price.

But thankfully, the day got much better when I discovered Uggli Muffins (#02-34).

This is an award-winning muffin stall, and the owner was having a promotion — 10 + 2 free for $16. I wasn't looking to buy 12 muffins, though. I simply wanted to try a couple.

I ordered two muffins for $3.20, but the friendly owner gave me three! What a pleasant surprise. I tried three flavours: hazelnut, chocolate and cranberry.  And I have to say — they were really delicious! 

The muffins were moist, flavourful and satisfying. Sometimes, the best discoveries on a food trip are the unexpected ones, and Uggli Muffins certainly turned out to be one of mine.

To finish off my food adventure, I had a hot soya bean drink from Pure Soya Bean (#02-28) for $1.90.

I have to admit, $1.90 for a small bowl of hot soya bean felt like one of the more expensive soya bean drinks I've had at a hawker centre. It was pleasant enough, but at that price and portion, I wasn't particularly impressed.

Another hawker centre explored, another few dishes tasted, and another Singapore food adventure added to the memories.

Kebun Bahru Hawker Centre @ AMK 7th Hawker Centre

 Singapore - Another day, another heartland food adventure!

Today, I made my way to Kebun Bahru Hawker Centre @ AMK, just about a 30-minute bus ride followed by a short walk into this quiet heartland precinct in Ang Mo Kio. I always enjoy exploring these neighbourhood hawker centres because you never quite know what delicious discovery is waiting for you.

As soon as I arrived, one stall caught my attention — Hong Heng Beef Noodle Soup & Laksa at #01-16. I saw their beef noodles and thought, I have to try this! 

I ordered their $5.50 beef noodle, and what a good decision it turned out to be. The bowl came with a generous combination of sliced beef, beef balls and beef tendon, together with mustard vegetables and a sprinkling of Chinese celery. 

I opted for the thick bee hoon, which was quite different from the usual bee hoon. It was smoother and slightly thinner, almost resembling spaghetti. The savoury dark gravy was not as thick as I expected, but it complemented the tender beef nicely. The mustard vegetables added a subtle tang, while the chilli with cincalok gave the dish an extra punch.

The accompanying beef broth was clean-tasting and comforting. Overall, this was one of the better beef noodles I have tried, and at $5.50, I thought it was excellent value. Definitely a bowl that hit the spot!

Feeling adventurous, I decided to try another stall — 226 Boneless Chicken Rice.

Unfortunately, this was where my food adventure took a wrong turn. 

The only thing I really liked was that the chicken was boneless. The chicken itself wasn't particularly tender, and the rice had a rather hard texture. With two chicken rice stalls available, I had chosen this one — and unfortunately, I made the wrong choice this time!

Still, that's part of the fun of exploring Singapore's hawker centres. Not every dish will be a winner, but discovering a great bowl of beef noodles makes the journey worthwhile.

Godmama @ Funan Centre - One of Top Peranakan restaurant

 Singapore - Today’s food adventure brought me to Godmama at Funan, a modern Peranakan restaurant known for giving traditional flavours a contemporary twist. Located on the 4th floor of Funan, Godmama celebrates Peranakan heritage through both its food and its warm, modern setting.

I was seated outdoor and in Singapore's hot weather it was very warm and uncomfortable. For my meal, I decided to try something a little different — the Hae Bee Hiam Aglio Olio.

This is not your usual Italian-style aglio olio. The spaghetti is tossed with fragrant hae bee hiam (spicy dried shrimp), garlic and olive oil, creating a wonderful combination of Italian pasta and bold Peranakan flavours. The dish is finished with savoury dried shrimp, giving it an extra layer of umami and a lovely seafood fragrance.

The spaghetti was nicely al dente, just the way I like it, with a pleasant bite. The hae bee hiam brought a spicy, savoury kick that worked surprisingly well with the pasta.

My only reservation was that I found the dish a little too salty for my taste. Perhaps slightly less salt would allow the hae bee hiam and garlic flavours to shine even more.

Overall, it was an enjoyable and interesting dish — a great example of how Peranakan flavours can be creatively incorporated into modern cuisine.