Singapore's TidbiTs

Before the arrival of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles in 1819, a small population of Chinese immigrants had already settled in Singapore, cultivating gambier and pepper. Shortly after establishing Singapore as a free port in 1819, Sir Stamford Raffles instructed Lieutenant Philip Jackson, an engineer, to draw up a master plan dividing the town into four areas for easy administration - the European, Malay, Indian and Chinese quarters. Between the 19th and mid-20th centuries, millions left their homes in China driven by famine, floods and unrest, and seduced by the hope of a better life elsewhere. They left in masses with many of them made their way to Nanyang, the southern seas. Singapore, in particular, was sought out as a place where one could earn a living. The new arrival is known as Sinkheh, or 'new guest' in Hokkien. That was what the Straits-born Chinese, who had arrived several generations earlier, called these new Chinese immigrants. It became what the newcomers were known....

Literally "boiled noodles", a delicious dish that can be found in many hawker centres , mee rebus is a popular and tasty Malay culinary creation. It is a simple yet satisfyingly filling dish of the common yellow Hokkien noodles and sweet-spicy flavourful gravy garnished with boiled egg, beansprouts, Chinese celery, green chilli, and fried shallot. A squeeze of fresh calamansi adds tang and brightens up the dish. Mee rebus Mee is a Hokkien word for 'noodles' and rebus is a Malay word for 'boiled', thus we can see how different cultures complement and influence each other.The most crucial element in mee rebus is the gravy, which the soul of this deceptively simple dish. Traditionally, it is made from a stock base of dried shrimp, tau cheo (fermented soy bean), fresh herbs and spices, which is thickened with mashed sweet potato, thus giving rise to umami flavour. However, different vendors have put their own unique spin on the traditional recipe. Some hawker c...

A favourite pastime of Singaporeans who love going across the causeway to JB in Malaysia for shopping, eating, getting a hair-cut or massage, I hopped into a Transtar cross-border bus that originated from Changi Airport to JB CIQ (Customs, Immigration and Quarantine). The bus fare is SGD9. However return fare is RM13. Tried using my ezlink card but the machine was down, so paid using cash instead. I had standby the exact amount as no change will be given. The ride was comfortable and smooth. As it was during a weekday getting a seat is not a problem. Transtar bus is especially great for those living or working in the east. For those living in the west probably Causeway Link buses are the way to go. Transtar cross-border bus The options to go to JB are wide including the regular SBS Transit bus 170 that ply the central areas of Singapore. You can also take the KTM Shuttle Tebrau railway from Woodlands Train Station to JB Sentral and the ride is only 5 minutes, though customs and immigra...