Asia Archives | Rambling Feet

A Guide to Dining Out in Singapore for Food Allergy Sufferers

I had a close call with a food allergy abroad recently. I was craving a pork chop bun in Macau and managed to get hold of one in a neighbourhood shop. V, who was with me, saw how much I enjoyed it and got one for herself too.

I didn’t think about the eggs that could have been in the batter, and V was allergic to eggs. By the time I realised my mistake, she had already taken three bites. She spotted the look of horror on my face.

‘Don’t worry; I’ve already taken a pill for that.’ I breathed a sigh of relief.

I penned this post with that episode in mind. Asian cities are great for their street food, but the ingredients that go into these delicacies and their condiments may contain allergens that diners aren’t aware of. For visitors with food allergies, staying satiated, comfortable and alive requires extra research and planning. I’m focusing on Singaporean dishes since I’m familiar with them. Hopefully, the knowledge translates into a less painful experience in the city-state for you and your guests.

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The Lowdown on an Island Hopping Tour from Bohol

When V agreed to spend a long weekend in Bohol with me, there was no way I was going to keep the Piscean away from the water. We didn’t travel to the Philippines just to sample only one beach and one reef at our doorstep, so, through our resort, we booked an island hopping tour from Bohol. It turned to be an eye-popping experience, in both great and not-so-great ways.

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How to Spend Two Weeks in Singapore

Have you seen anyone write about how they spent two weeks in Singapore?

Two weeks in Singapore without leaving the country? You mad, bruh? I’ll die of boredom there.

Perhaps I am. The average visitor stays in the country for 3.5 days. The Lonely Planet guidebook provides only a one-day itinerary. Even the Tourism Board doesn’t have a plan that lasts more than seven days. What are people to do if they’re staying with their friends or loved ones in Singapore for a few weeks, though? It’s tempting to spend a significant number of days in Penang, Bali, Bangkok or some nearby city, but that needn’t be the case.

So here’s the brief I set myself: Create a two-week itinerary for slow travellers that takes in the major sights and more. Give them a glimpse of everyday life and introduce them to the history of the country from more than one perspective.

Challenge accepted.

Last updated: Nov 28, 2018 @ 10:52 PM

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5 Cheap Late Night Eats Near the Singapore Grand Prix

Last updated: Sep 11, 2018 @ 4:21 PM

If you’re reading this, you’re probably heading to the Singapore Grand Prix. I’m looking forward to it as well!

For visitors, there is no lack of options around the city for breakfast and lunch, and the race organisers bring a good variety of street food vendors and celebrity restaurants to the circuit grounds. However, the race and practice sessions end well after most of the food outlets and restaurants downtown close for the day. If you spend the rest of the evening partying or autograph hunting, even the food stalls around the circuit will be closed by the time you’re done. Operating on European time has its downsides.

I’ve put together a handy guide to 5 places near the circuit that operate well into the small hours. While none of them would feature on a racing driver’s diet list, the selection should please most fans no matter where they hail from. Best of all, a single dish from these places rarely exceeds S$20. You can walk or use Grab to get a ride and satisfy those hunger pangs. [Read on]

Travel Bloggers Share Their Most Memorable Impulse Decisions

Travel springs surprises – that’s a given. Unlike life’s other surprises, however, you’re away from home and you seldom have the time to ponder opportunities that may not come your way again. When you’re not certain if things will work out, it’s not bad advice to go with your instincts.

I got 23 fellow travel bloggers from around the world to talk about the impulse decisions that they made and how they turned out. I’ve also added a couple of my own. Spoiler: Most went well and some of them were life changers!

Photos are courtesy of the respective bloggers.

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Mendut, Pawon and Tempeh: What’s Around Borobudur

By the time I was done with sunrise at Borobudur, it was still only 6.30 a.m. People in Singapore only start waking up around that time for work but the crowds were already streaming into the park. My bus back to Yogyakarta wouldn’t leave for another five hours. After inhaling a plate of mi goreng for breakfast, I rented a bicycle across the road from my hotel and was ready to find the other sights around Borobudur.

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