Pack Up: An expat’s guide to Singapore
EXPAT Ivana Pearce moved from Amsterdam to Singapore where she can use the country as her home base to explore Asia and still stay connected to her roots in Perth.
Q. If Singapore were a person, how would you describe its personality?
A. Andrea Zuckerman, Season 1 (Beverly Hills, 90210). Conscientious and frizzy hair from the humidity. She’d love to sit with the cool kids, and in a few seasons time she’ll achieve it.
Q. Why did you move to Singapore?
A. For work, and to develop Itinable, an app to share city tips with friends. We had been living for three years in Amsterdam, which we loved, but 24 hours on a plane is too far from friends. So when a work opportunity came up in Singapore, we took it.
Q. How does Singapore differ to what people might expect?
A. I’m not sure it does. Singapore does exactly what it says it will on the box. People do forget, though, it is officially the most expensive city in the world to live in, so going out for dinner and drinks is not for those with a weak constitution.
Q. Favourite Singaporean dish?
A. If you’re happy with the hawker centre experience (Maxwell Centre, Newton Circus, Lau Pa Sat to name a few), then it’s hard to beat the Malay stalls, but you should be looking out for chicken rice and carrot cake as well (spoiler — this is not a cake and contains no carrot!). We have Din Tai Fung (thanks Taiwan), famous for their steamed pork dumplings, and Tim Ho Wan (thanks Hong Kong), where you should try the baked bun with barbecue pork.
Q. What’s Singapore’s best-kept secret?
A. Level 33 has a great vantage point over Marina Bay which captures The Fullerton Hotel and Marina Bay Sands in one panoramic view. There’s your money shot.
Q. What’s your favourite place to shop?
A. Everyone knows Orchard Rd, but a friend introduced me to Far East Plaza. It’s all about Korean fashion, which is achingly cool. You might have to hunt through a bit, but there are real gems in there.
Q. For kicking your heels after dark you go to …?
A. You’ll end up in Chinatown, probably Club St after some time in Keong Saik Rd. I also like Kinki at Customs House. The Arab Quarter has some options.
Q. Best free fun?
A. I like Fort Canning (alternatively, the Botanic Gardens, Singapore River or East Coast Park) because that feeling of the jungle canopy being so present. You get the sense that if you turn your back on Singapore for one second, the jungle will claim her back.
Q. What’s your favourite hard-to-find haunt?
A. Tiong Bahru is a bit off the beaten track. There are some great little cafes and it has authenticity. Don’t miss Plain Vanilla Bakery.
Q. What is one must-see experience in Singapore?
A. The architecture in Singapore deserves props. Marina Bay Sands Esplanade Theatre and the other modern architecture is one thing, but the colourful shop houses around the city with their Peranakan pastel-coloured glazed tiles are pretty great, too. You’ll suddenly find yourself in front of one of the gorgeous colonial buildings from British Malaya.
Q. How do you get around?
A. Public transport is great and insanely affordable. Taxis get all the accolades, but the MRT is clean, fast, regular, well connected and airconditioned. Buses, too.
Q. To get away you go to …?
A. I like to cross the border into Malaysia or ferry over to the island of Bintan for a round of golf, or catch a ferry to Batam Indonesia and you’re at a day spa more affordable than any in Singapore. It’s pretty easy to head further afield into Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, the Maldives, too. Or Perth!
Where to stay
Marina Bay Sands is a five-star
hotel famous for its stunning views. For a lower-cost option, Big Hotel is a chic boutique hotel not far from Orchard Rd.
Originally published as Pack Up: An expat’s guide to Singapore