Singapore's TidbiTs

On the 30th of November 2025, Genting Dream Cruise made a 6 days and 5 nights maiden voyage to Bali, Indonesia from Singapore which I booked through travel online portal Klook. I was among more than 3,000 passengers who were part of this maiden voyage. Yea that’s quite a lot of people! Check-in at Marina Bay Cruise Centre (MBCC) even though busy with more than 3,000 pax was relatively smooth. Add another 1,800 staffs or so, so the cruise ship was indeed sailing at full capacity. As check-in was between lunch and dinner, we were greeted by the on-board tea break with snacks and fried noodles and rice at the outdoor dining area. A staff informed me that there were about 4,000 passengers though not sure if the information given was accurate as from googling, the ship capacity is up to 3,400 passengers and 2,000 staffs. The ship looked to be at full capacity but not particularly overwhelming thus a figure of 3,000 and a bit seemed about right. The bottle necks were mostly during disembarka...

Lontong is a popular traditional malay dish, which can be eaten anytime, during breakfast, lunch, even dinner. The dish comprised of compressed rice cakes with curry-ish gravy (sayur lemak or lodeh) whose ingredients include vegetables such cabbage (lots of it), long beans, fried tofu, carrots, and egg. The rice cakes or boiled compressed rice are similar to soto ayam or ketupat found in satay dish, except lontong is roundish due to the shape of the banana-leaf wrapped rice inside the metal mould, though these one can find the pre-cooked version in supermarkets and sundry stores. Sambal chilli or chilli paste is optional too for those who wants the added zest. But what is lontong without the sambal right? The sambal tend to be of the sweeter type, not the spicy sambal belacan type. Do you notice the serunding? Lontong would not be complete without the serunding! Serunding is the golden brown fried coconut flakes. You can get lontong like the one shown here for about $4.50. Egg is opt...

Laksa is a popular spicy and tasty noodle dish that originated from the Peranakan, descendents from the early Chinese immigrant who married local Malay women thus gave rise to the fusion of flavours from the ingredients used. This dish is very popular with both Chinese and Malay alike, and of course to the many tourists or visitors to this island who have got hooked on it. Curry Laksa The laksa noodle is the thick rice noodle type. The laksa curry is a rich spicy coconut-based noodles soup, the ingredients which may include bean sprouts, tofu (taupok), cockles , slices of chicken and egg. It is usually topped with a spoonful of sambal belacan , a fermented shrimp and chilli paste, and laksa leaf for the added zest. The Malays call laksa leaf daun kesum rather than daun laksa. Daun means leaf. Cockles' laksa is the more common type of laksa but there are other options such as those containing pieces of chicken for those who are allergic to seafood. Laksa leaf is a herb which is a...

The good old humble rice porridge or congee made its way into american fast food restaurants. There is chicken (what else!) porridge breakfast meal sold for $3.60 at KFC that includes a cup of coffee or tea. If you buy ala carte the porridge cost $2.60. A good hearty breakfast or meal to start your day. At some KFC outlets you can surf for free too while having your brekky. At Long John Silver you can also get porridge set complete with two half-boiled eggs for $5.20. Half-boiled eggs are usually part of kaya toast set , but still delicious to be mixed with congee as well. It is certainly a great way to start your day by having a hot comfort soft meal of porridge or congee with generous amount of nicely smelled fried shallots sprinkled on top of it. Black soya sauce and pepper are optional, but a bit of soya sauce is a must for many, to give some added taste and zest to otherwise bland-looking dish. Breakfast porridge at KFC You can get one for only $1.80 at Old Chang Kee, which is goo...

We all love coupons and deals. And as much as we love our kaya toast , roti prata , nasi lemak, mee siam, etc., that are easily available at hawker centres or food courts , we can't be eating those day in and day out. We want some variety. American fast food restaurants have invaded our shore since decades ago and like it or not they are here to stay. Fortunately they seem to have adapted to local taste and even have porridge or congee set complete with coffee or tea and the optional half-boiled eggs. Nasi lemak and chicken rice can be found in some fast-food chain lunch and dinner menus! Porridge meal with half-boiled eggs So if we crave for some western food and pancakes there is a $5 breakfast deals that include two pieces of blueberry or chocolate pancakes with hashbrown and scrambled egg and a cup of iced milo. The good old milo. To put energy in your body. You can sprinkle the pancakes with maple syrup or spread some butter. And you can surf the internet using the free wirel...