Here's your little pocket guide to nomading in Singapore

The Palmtree pocket guide to nomading in Singapore

After 3 spectacular weeks in Singapore, the Palmtree editorial team wants to gift you a small pamphlet’s worth of fun and useful tips on things to know, where to go, and what to eat in Singapore. Enjoy 🇸🇬

Singlish

Anyone who’s been to Hawaii has heard the locals speaking Pidgin English — a local dialect that layers into American English the words, expressions, and intonations of Hawaiian, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, and Portuguese.

Well, Singlish is Singapore’s version of that, except with Malay, Mandarin, Hokkien, and Tamil.

The first time we heard Singlish was in a Grab taxi when the driver kept adding “-lah” to ends of his sentences 🤔. Turns out that “-lah” is a term for emphasis.

There’s also chope (to call dibs), makan (eat), and huat (to prosper), and so many more.

Psst: when in Singapore, don’t actually try to speak Singlish. Unless you’re a local.

The food scene

Where to begin? Hawker centers, of course!

You could technically call a hawker center a “food court,” but that’s just wrong. They are collections of food stalls where you and the community can dine together on delicious and authentic Chinese, Indian, and Malay food of nearly infinite varieties.

Hawker center fare is also affordable, which means if you’re in Singapore for any amount of time, you know: 1) you’ll always be well fed, 2) you’ll never have to eat the same thing twice.

Some hawker center fun facts:

• You can chope a hawker center table by leaving a small tissue package on it. On the flip side: don’t claim a table with a tissue package on it.

• As of December 2020, hawker culture is on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

• There are over 100 hawker centers in Singapore. We loved Lau Pa Sat (pictured above).

Of course, there are tons of restaurants to enjoy in Singapore, but we decided not to go fancy on this trip. Keep in mind that most shopping malls in Singapore offer some form of hawker center.

Tip: We found some “hidden” hawker stalls for locals on the top levels of a few malls.

Mall culture

In our present-day Amazon-obsessed shopping culture, shopping malls can feel like a relic. This is not the case in Singapore.

Malls are everywhere here — both underground and above ground — and they’re a vital part of the country’s cultural and well-being ecosystem.

In addition to being a place to shop, eat, and hang out with your friends, Singapore malls are air-conditioned sanctuaries from the intense heat and humidity that hover over the country most days. Many of them are connected underground as well as connected to the subway system, which means you can enjoy a pretty decent day in Singapore under the earth.

If you visit Singapore, you will inevitably find yourself in a mall. And you will appreciate it.

Our “best of” Singapore list

• Toastbox: kopi and laksa omg

• Chicha San Chen: no-Fs Taiwanese boba

• Machaya: a damn good matcha

• Guzman y Gomez: the best attempt at Mexican food

• Gokoku: Japanese bakery omg

• Fair Price: reasonable groceries

• SaladStop!: when you must have fresh veggies

• Fairmont hotel: swanky rooms, spectacular service, best fitness center and spa (with cold-plunges)

• Park Royal Collection Pickering hotel: beautiful, terraced gardens, smart modern eco-vibe

• Marina Bay Sand Mall: best overall mall with free nightly laser-music show

• Fort Canning: most interesting scenic nature walk, right in town

• Mount Faber: elevated nature park with tons of trails and views

• River Valley to Gardens by the Bay: best route for a 6am run

• Walking + MRT: best way to get around, better than Grab

• Sentosa: touristy fun and beach resort for kids, otherwise meh

Let’s end this with a few more handy Singapore tips

• Carry an umbrella: rain, thunder, and lightning is a way of life here

• You can pay by tap pretty much everywhere — this includes public transportation. Some places only accept cash, but it’s rare.

• Wanna live in Singapore? It’s not the easiest. You’ll need to marry a local, get a job with a work visa, or start your own company.

💎 If you liked this, be sure to catch up on Part 1 and Part 2 of our Singapore coverage.

Shout out to Palmtree reader Dan W. who’s headed to Singapore with his family in a couple of weeks 👏🏼