OCTOBER · NOVEMBER · DECEMBER SINGAPORE INSIDER PEOPLE · PLACES · EVENTS · DINING · NIGHTLIFE INSIDE: NEIGHBOURHOOD GUIDES MICHELIN-STARRED RESTAURANTS CITY MUST-DOS AND MUCH MORE : K tlight amp po on S g d G o la o m h r u o Islamic restaurant b “Triple As! Authentic, Atmospheric h & Affordable” g i Reviewed December 2015 e N Sultan Mosque Discover “Spectacular Architecture” Singapore’s unique Reviewed December 2015 neighbourhoods Malay Heritage Centre with the TripAdvisor “Good for some history” mobile app Reviewed October 2015 Maison Ikkoku “A wonderful café” Reviewed September 2015 Haji Lane Mrs Pho “Funky and Trendy” “Authentic Vietnamese Pho” Reviewed January 2016 Reviewed January 2016 Get the free app, now with offline access to reviews, maps, and photos. iOS Android 2017 light: Kamp , here we come! ot on Sp g Singapore has had an amazing 2016 – we’ve had a spectacular Singapore Art Week in G the first quarter, massive shopping sales from May to August, fantastic National Day d celebrations, a roaring 2016 Formula 1® Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix in o la o m September, and last but not least the recent arrival of MICHELIN Guide Singapore. h r Get acquainted with some of these stellar Michelin-approved establishments in u “The Eat List”, and read what local chef Malcolm Lee, the man behind one Michelin- o Islamic restaurant starred restaurant Candlenut, has to say about Singapore’s buzzing culinary scene. b “Triple As! Authentic, Be sure to also try modern renditions of the iconic Hainanese chicken rice, and sip Atmospheric h a tipple or two at some of the city’s coolest bars, on your foodie adventure here in & Affordable” the city! g i Reviewed December 2015 e Want to dive deeper into Singapore? Venture into the lesser known with tour N organisers Tribe Tours, A+B Edu Tours, and Ruby Dot Trails as they take you off the beaten track to uncover Singapore’s secrets and history. If you’re looking to party, we hope you’ve brought with you a ton of energy, because the revelry will go on well into the New Year! Dress up for some scary-good Halloween bashes, Sultan Mosque Discover experience Little India during Deepavali, send your pulse racing watching tennis “Spectacular Architecture” Singapore’s unique champs at BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, and groove ‘til dawn at the hottest New Year’s Eve blowouts. Reviewed December 2015 neighbourhoods 2016 is set to close with a big bang – see you around the city! Malay Heritage Centre with the TripAdvisor “Good for some history” mobile app Reviewed October 2015 Maison Ikkoku CHRIS EDWARDS “A wonderful café” AND THE HONEYCOMBERS Reviewed September 2015 Haji Lane Mrs Pho “Funky and Trendy” FOUNDER SALES & MARKETING THE HONEYCOMBERS For general enquiries, contact Chris Edwards Alyssa Prenda hello@thehoneycombers. the SINGAPORE TOURISM “Authentic Vietnamese Pho” BOARD, Tourism Court, 1 Reviewed January 2016 Kate Reynolds com MANAGING DIRECTOR Orchard Spring Lane, Reviewed January 2016 Hamish Mcdougall DESIGNERS HO PRINTING Singapore 247729 Aliff Tee SINGAPORE PTE LTD Tel: (65) 6736 6622 EDITOR Zhang Sze Li 31 Changi South Street 1 Fax: (65) 6736 9423 Crystal Lee Singapore 486769 Touristline: 1800 736 2000 Darissa Lee (outside Singapore) SUB-EDITOR Elsen Ho Selina Altomonte COVER PHOTO STB is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness WRITERS Sungei Buloh Wetland of this publication and shall not be Dinesh Ajith Reserve by Louis Kwok liable for any damage, loss, injury Nafeesa Saini or inconvenience arising from or in (www.louiskwok.com) connection with the content of this Zakaria Muhammad publication. You should verify or seek Get the free app, now clarification from the individual third parties referred to in this publication. MA 001 05 16 Q4 with offline access to reviews, maps, and photos. iOS Android Contents 03 HANDY TIPS Essential information about Singapore 04 WHAT’S ON Exciting events in the months ahead 12 COVER STORY Quak Wan Ling, volunteer guide at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, takes us on a tour around the heritage park and beyond 14 DAY TRIPPER Unique, offbeat tours that will show you different sides of Singapore 15 #LIKEALOCAL Singlish words and phrases to know 16 MAP OF SINGAPORE City must-dos 18 THE EAT LIST The hottest on the Singapore dining scene 22 DRINK UP Singapore’s coolest bars 23 HOMETOWN Mural artist Yip Yew Chong shares his top spots in Everton Park 24 IN THE ‘HOOD Navigator: Little India 26 RETAIL THERAPY Local brands and international names – here’s where to shop and what to buy 30 BEST DAY EVER! Things to do with the little ones 32 MAPS & APPS Train routes and useful downloads 02 WANT MORE? VISIT WWW.YOURSINGAPORE.COM Transport TAXI Fares start from $3.00. SMRT Taxis (65) 6555 8888 MRT BUS Trains typically run from 5.30am Fares start from as low as 79 Premier Cabs to 12.00am. Standard tickets vary cents. Try to have the exact fare TIPS HANDY (65) 6363 6888 from $1.40 to $2.70. See page 32 as bus drivers do not give change. for map. Comfort Taxis & CityCab (65) 1800 336 8900 (65) 6552 1111 (65) 1800 336 8900 www.sbstransit.com.sg www.smrt.com.sg www.smrt.com.sg Language Tipping Shopping English is the It is not usual For a pleasant spoken language, practice to tip in shopping experience, though Singlish Singapore, although compare prices, – a collection of it is appreciated enquire about refund colloquial catch by service staff. Most hotels and policies, and check the phrases and lingo – dominates restaurants quote prices as “++,” invoice as well as the everyday conversations among which includes 10 per cent warranty of the product before locals (see page 15). Mandarin, service charge and 7 per cent making a purchase. Retain your Malay, Tamil and various dialects goods and services tax (GST). receipts to enjoy tourist refund are also used. (see page 32 for more details). More information and shopping tips can be found on the Consumer Advisory section at YourSingapore.com (under “Traveller Essentials”). For assistance Visitor Centres or to flag inappropriate retailer behaviour, call 1800 736 2000 or email [email protected]. ORCHARD CHINATOWN 216 Orchard Road (Next to 2 Banda Street (Behind orchardgateway@emerald) Buddha Tooth Relic 8.30am-9.30pm daily Temple and Museum) Connectivity Somerset Mon-Fri 9am-9pm and Weekends and Public Register for free public Don’t miss “Evolution Craftsmen: Holidays 9am-10pm Wi-Fi service with ”, the 2nd Singapore Inspired Chinatown your foreign mobile installation of the CRAFT|SINGAPORE number at any Wireless@SG exhibition located at the second floor of the Singapore Visitor Centre TOURIST hotspot across Singapore, and (orchardgateway). Learn about the receive your login details via evolutionary spirit of Singapore’s HOTLINE SMS. Overseas charges may apply. contemporary craftsmen and see how (65) 1800 736 2000 Alternatively, you can rent a pocket they explore identity and sense of (toll-free in Singapore) Wi-Fi device at Singapore Visitor place in their works. Let their stories (65) 6736 2000 (overseas) Centre (orchardgateway) or Changi inspire you to explore and uncover hidden gems in Singapore. Recommends at Changi Airport. Admission is free. Buy a Singapore prepaid SIM card from Singapore ION ORCHARD Visitor Centre (orchardgateway), Level 1 Concierge Changi Recommends and 2 Orchard Turn telecommunication retail shops 10am-10pm daily located at the airport, major Orchard shopping malls and convenience stores island-wide. HAD A GOOD TIME? SHARE IT WITH US AT #YOURSINGAPORE 03 October TRICK OR TREAT? WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE OCTOBER IS SERVING BOTH. FOR TENNIS FANS, THERE’S THE EXCITING BNP PARIBAS WTA FINALS WHAT’S ON WHAT’S SINGAPORE PRESENTED BY SC GLOBAL, PLUS A SLEW OF FESTIVALS INCLUDING SINGAPORE FASHION WEEK, DEEPAVALI, SINGAPORE JEWELFEST AND SINGAPORE WINE FIESTA 2016. BEFORE OCTOBER ENDS, DRESS UP AND SCARE YOURSELF SILLY AT THE HALLOWEEN PARTIES HAPPENING AROUND TOWN, FROM THE GHOULISH HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS® TO THE KID-FRIENDLY SAFARI BOO! HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS® 6 Universal Studios Singapore® brings you the most intense and immersive Halloween event with five horrifying haunted houses, two terrifying scare zones, and two outrageous shows. Sep 30 to Oct 31 (select nights) Universal Studios Singapore® www.halloweenhorrornights.com.sg HarbourFront Event is not recommended for children under the age of 13. No costumes or masks allowed. TM & © Universal Studios. SINGAPORE WONDER FULL – DEEPAVALI JEWELFEST 2016 LIGHT & WATER CELEBRATIONS Be dazzled by stunning 2016 SHOW collections of the best jewels and gems from around the Southeast Asia’s largest light Join in the merrymaking as the world at one of Singapore’s most and water show will wow you Hindus in Singapore celebrate the extravagant showcases. Festival of Lights at the Little India with a 13-minute spectacle of precinct with a huge festival that interweaving lasers and streaming Oct 7 to 16 features an arts carnival, cultural water screens, dramatised by an Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza performances, a heritage corner original symphonic soundtrack. www.singaporejewelfest.com and night trails. Orchard Nightly Event Plaza at Marina Bay Sands® Sep 17 to Nov 12 www.MarinaBaySands.com/ Serangoon Road & WonderFull Race Course Road Bayfront Little India 04 WANT MORE? VISIT WWW.YOURSINGAPORE.COM RENT BY SINGAPORE PANGDEMONIUM FASHION WEEK Local theatre company 2016 Pangdemonium ends its 2016 season with its very own In collaboration with Digital rendition of the famous Tony Fashion Week and supported by award-winning musical, RENT. Set Council of Fashion Designers of ON WHAT’S in bohemian New York City, it America, Singapore Fashion Week tells the poignant tale of a group 2016 presents a multi-dimensional of young adults, questioning their platform for emerging talents futures amidst social and political and established international unrest, poverty, drug abuse as well designers.