Issue No.

Shanice
Page 10
Hedger
Yayoi
Page 8
Kusama
Tyersall Park
Page 4

Ins chers
Vou
ide

www.shiok.com
 4 12
The Real Tyersall Dining On The Go
What A moving dining
happened to experience.
Tyersall Park?

6 14
Crazy Raclette
Rich Cheese
Asians
Fan-tour Toast
Meet the An unlikely
man behind combination of
the fan-tour. sweet and savoury.

8 16
Yayoi Kusamas Chilli
Whimsical World Crab
A world of polka Croissant
dots, lights, and Only at
mirrors. SixBySera.

10 18
The Singapore Stay at
Rojak Singapore
Shanice Hedger; for under
a biracial Singaporean. $30
2
EDITORS NOTE
Warmest greetings! My team and I would like to welcome you to our
very first issue of SHIOK! After months of hard work and persever-
ance, weve finally produced SHIOK!, a tourist magazine through the
eyes of a local, featuring must-see places, unique food on the go (liter-
ally) and affordable accommodations in Singapore. In addition, we had
the pleasure of meeting Shanice Hedger, an aspiring singer who tells us
what its like being a Eurasian in Singapore (page 10).

When someone says Shiok!, it refers to an expression of happiness and

pleasure. To us, it means bringing to you the best and most intriguing
activities in Singapore that will make our readers go: Wow, this is so
shiok!

We aim to take you on an adventurous ride with every turn of the

page. Little did you know that our tiny island boasts so many exciting
activities! Let us take you on this special journey and make your visit to
Singapore a memorable one. Buckle up and enjoy this adventure youre

about to embark on!

Yours truly,

Tan Yin Yun

Designers Sub-editors
Nadya and Joy Nathanael and Hanisah
Visual Editor
Natasha

3
 PLACE
THE REAL TYERSALL
NATASHA ADILLA PUTRI delves into the history behind the real Tyersall Park, the awe-inspiring fictional man-
sion in Kevin Kwans hit novel, Crazy Rich Asians.

H as there always been a real-life Tyersall Park? This has been the question of many readers of the best-selling novel,
Crazy Rich Asians, a story about the lives of old money Asian families in Singapore.

In Singapore-born author Kevin Kwans novel, Tyersall Park is the palatial home of Shang Su Yi, the matriarch of the
Shang-Young family in the book. Her house later became a much-contested asset among her many money-hungry
descendants after she fell ill. Su Yis fictional mansion was described to be a majestic looking palace reminiscent of the
Chatsworth and Blenheim Palace, with a driveway bisected by palm trees and fearsome Gurkha guards. In reality, there
was indeed a palace on the site of Tyersall Park. Tyersall Park is a forgotten place in history that has housed one of Sin-
gapores largest private residences, Woodneuk House, as well as a palace known as Istana Tyersall.

1804-1905: The New Tyersall Palace

Photo courtesy of National Archives Singa-
pore

The Tyersall House was originally constructed in 1804 and initially belonged to the first lawyer of
Singapore, William Napier. He later decided to sell the land and house in the 1860s to Abu Bakar, the
21st Sultan (Muslim sovereign) of Johor, whom Napier was an advisor of. However, in 1890, the house
was destroyed by a fire. Sultan Abu Bakar revamped the Tyersall House to become the new Istana
Tyersall located at the top of a hill. Its design was inspired by Corinthian architectural style topped
with a red-tiled roof.

Unfortunately, the Sultan passed away 3 years after the Istana was built and it was left abandoned
after the second fire in 1905.

1890-Now: Woodneuk House

However, before the Sultans passing, he left one

existing legacy, which is now the well-known
Woodneuk House. In 1890, located somewhat
south of Tyersall, the Woodneuk House was built.
It has a blue-tiled roof, different from that of
Istana Tyersalls and was specially made for Sul-
tan Abu Bakars wife, Sultana Khadijah, who died
in the house in 1904 right after it was bought by
his son.
Photo courtesy of National Archives Singapore
4
 PLACE
1939-1942: Tyersall Park Camp

Photo courtesy of National Archives Singapore

According to the book Moon Over Malaya - A Tale of Argylls and Marines, Tyersall became a
camp base for the Argylls, a Canadian Army Reserve infantry battalion, from 1939 after the
misfortunes that fell upon the palace and the house.

In 1942, the huts were fumed with a third fire, as it was heavily bombed by Japanese medi-
um bombers. It killed as many as 700 patients and staff.

1990-2005: Acquisition of Tyersall grounds from the state

government
A Notice of Acquisition of Tyersall was made on Nov 30, 1990. This led to a dis-
pute among the Sultans son, his great grandson and his relatives over who was
entitled to the $25 million compensation.

Photo courtesy of GoodReads,
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin
Kwan
On Aug 31, 2005, a decision was made. Tyersall Park was acquired by the gov-
ernment except for the Woodneuk House. The house now belongs to the son of
Tunku Ibrahim Ismail, the crown prince.

Tyersall Today

10 hectares of the acquired land has since been made into the
new attraction called the Learning Forest. It is located next to
Botanic Gardens and it showcases the biodiversity of different
habitats with an array of broad walks and elevated walkways.

It is not known if there will be future development plans for

the remaining land, however. According to the Urban
Redevelopment Authority (URA) map, a few plots of the
acquired land have been marked as null, meaning the
government has no legal or binding force over the area.

As of now, it is illegal to trespass and access the abandoned

buildings but the Learning Forest located near the Tyersall
Gate will be open. Complimentary tours of the Learning Forest
are held every Saturday of the month and registrations
must be made at least 15 minutes in advance.
Photo courtesy of National Archives Singapore

5
PLACE
Crazy Rich Asians
Fan-Tour in
SINGAPORE Join NADYA SUFIE ACHARY as she speaks to Mr Phil C.,
the man behind the Crazy Rich Asians Fan Tour.

C razy Rich Asians is the title of the best-sell-

ing novel by Kevin Kwan. The novel tells the sto-
ry of 3 affluent Singaporean Chinese families and
their crazy rich antics in an ultra-rarefied world.
Due to its overwhelming popularity, a Hollywood
remake of the book is currently in the works. The
film will star Constance Wu as Rachel Chu, Mi-
chelle Yeoh as Eleanor Young, Awkwafina as Goh
Peik Lin, Gemma Chan as Astrid Teo, Remy Hii as
Alister Cheng and Harry Shum Jr as Charlie Wu.
Recently, the actors have been spotted in Singa-
pore where they were seen filming for the movie
in areas such as City Hall and Tanjong Pagar.

Pictured above is the best-selling novel, Crazy Rich Asians, and the author, Kevin Kwan.
(Photo courtesy of Mr Phil)

To capitalise on the popularity of Crazy Rich Asians, Mr Phil C. decided to create a Crazy
Rich Asians Fan Tour that would relive iconic moments from the book. The tour brings you
to places mentioned in the book and gives you an opportunity to taste the local flavours
of Singapore through delicacies offered. Mr Phil is a fan of the series himself, stating that
he enjoyed the first book out of the trilogy the most, as he felt that the author had fewer
reservations in stating places and events relating to real life scenarios in Singapore. Crazy
Rich Asians was the first book where he was able to visualise the places he read as it was
not set in a faraway country.

Mr Phil says: Everything from the book speaks to me and I felt like an insider for once.

The Crazy Rich Asians Fan Tour is tailored to the tourists preferences. Mr Phil would
carefully curate the itinerary based on the clients interests. Some of the recommended
locations offered are Tyersall Park, Holland Village, Dempsey Hill, Hamilton Scotts and
many more.

One of Mr Phils favourite locations from the Crazy Rich Asians Tour is Hamilton Scotts, a
condominium mentioned in the second book, China Rich Girlfriend.

6
 PLACE

The condominium has a sky garage in all its units for 2 cars in the living room.
(Photo courtesy of Mr Phil)

Hamilton Scotts is a luxury apartment that is home only to an exclusive few. Each apartment
includes a Sky Garage, which houses cars in front of high-rise apartments. The first of its kind in
the world, tenants drive their cars into the carpark and onto a turntable which transports the car up
to their respective apartments that is identifiable by a thumbprint biometric system. Judging from
the expressions of tourists when they first set eyes on the building, Mr Phil felt as though they truly
believed that they had become Crazy Rich Asians.
Mr Phil has been in the tourism industry for 10 years now. As a little boy, whenever relatives from
Taiwan came to visit, I would play tour guide, loving every bit of it. Years went by and today, this be-
came my career, one that I have a huge passion for because I love my country, said Mr Phil (tours-
bylocals) who was born to a Singaporean father and Taiwanese mother. He enjoys giving private
tours where he can have conversations with his clients rather than sounding like a broken tape
recorder on a bus of 40.

Mr Phil recalled that when he had first started in the touring industry, the people in the industry
warned him that being a tour guide was not a stable occupation as it was unorthodox.

Mr Phil says: I guess there will always be naysayers when you go off the beaten tracks but Id rather
be happy with what I am doing than suffer and whine about how much I hate going to work on
Mondays.

His insistence on following his passion has since beared positive results as the sign-up rates for his
tours have been observed to be very encouraging with year on year growth.

Ms Penni Zola was one of the tourists who went for the Crazy Rich Asians Tour. She shared in a re-
view how Mr Phil was an excellent guide as he had great knowledge of the history of Singapore. She
also mentioned that she saw areas that would not be on a regular tour in Singapore.

Mr Valentino C., who had also been on two other tours with Mr Phil, shared that he really enjoyed
how he gave a more detailed history lesson while being fun and flexible with the schedule and plac-
es he had visited.

For more information on the fan tour, check this website:

toursbylocals.com/crazyrichasiansfantour

7
PEOPLE

YAYOI KUSAMAS
WHIMSICAL WORLD
Name: Yayoi Kusama

Birthday: March 22, 1929

Place of Birth: Matsumoto,

Nagano, Japan

Fun Fact: Her works did not

start with polka dots, but once
it did, they started to hold a
Photo courtesy of Matthew
very dark meaning.
Larking, CNN

Every time I have had a problem, I have confronted it with

the axe of art. - Yayoi Kusama
Photo courtesy of Tan Yin Yun

8
 PEOPLE

Join Tan Yin Yun as she steps into the renowned Japanese artists world of polka dots, mirrors and lights.

Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, who is known as
independently avant-garde, is a much revered pop
culture icon who is known for her kaleidoscopic
take on art with polka dots, mirrors and lights. Little
did you know, her signature splash of colours and
patterns actually represent the not-so-whimsical
childhood she had.
Born in 1929 in Matsumoto, Japan, Kusama was the
youngest of four children from a well-off family. Her
childhood was not as ideal as most people would
picture. Her parents marriage was arranged. Her
father, a womanizer, was largely absent during her
childhood and he only married her mother for her
wealth. As a result of the marital pain, Kusamas
mother always took out her frustrations on her
and would often send her out to spy on her father.
This left Kusama with a permanent aversion to sex
and the male body. Her parents loveless marriage
and mothers physical and emotional abuse on her
caused her mental trauma and led her to have vivid
hallucinations at the age of 10.
She began having visions of flowers talking to her
and patterns coming to life. That was the beginning
of the creation of her world of polka dots. She used
art as a method to express the growing pains from
her childhood and to cope with her hallucinations.
Even when Kusama moved back to Japan in the early
1970s, she was not forgotten by the Western art world.
Through her tough childhood and battles with her
inner demons, Kusama found art as a release and a
platform to tell her story and she now reigns as one of
the most influential and unique contemporary female
artists, creating her work from her home in a mental
hospital in Tokyo.
Now 88, Kusama has held many exhibitions since
2006. Her quirky and unique creations have definitely
attracted people of all ages and nationalities to her
exhibitions. More importantly, the influence of her
works on other artists and movements, which spans
generations, can be attributed to the fact that Kusama
has always be one step ahead of her time. Her work
inspired pop artists like Andy Warhol and performance
artists like Yoko Ono.
Polka dots are featured repeatedly in Kusamas art
work. To her, a polka-dot has the form of the sun,
which is a symbol of the energy of the whole world
and our living life, and also the form of the moon,
which is calm. Round, soft, colourful, senseless and
unknowing. A dot can never be alone, its like a per-
son who needs to be surrounded with people.

At the age of 13, she was sent to work in a mili-

tary factory during World War II where she spent Prof Masahiro Yasugi, a curator at the exhibition,
her time in darkness, her only company being the pointed out that the works reveal a certain repetition
sound of air-raids. The horrors of the war were left of imagery until Kusama suddenly takes a completely
engraved in her mind, leading Kusama to create different tack, suggesting a production process where
several anti-war works, and to also value individual she faces the canvas without any conscious plan and
and creative freedom, according to theartstory.com, spontaneously creates a painting.
a non-profit organisation that demystifies modern
art and further art appreciation. From June 9 to Sep 3, 2017, the YAYOI KUSAMA: Life
is the Heart of a Rainbow exhibition will be held at
Kusamas mother wanted her to be an obedient the Singtel Special Gallery at the National Gallery.
housewife but she went against her mother and The exhibition will hold over 120 works that Kusama
pursued art in Matsumoto and Kyoto. Even at a has created over seven decades. Some of her works on
young age, her artistic talent was apparent and was display include paintings, sculptures, collages, video
shown in exhibitions all over Japan. During her time and even large-scale installations. Talks and guided
studying in Matsumoto, there was a movement to tours are also available.
reject the influences of the Western culture and she
was only allowed to study Nihonga - which was the For more details, visit:
method of using 1000-year-old traditional Japanese nationalgallery.sg/see-do/programme-detail/500/
techniques and materials to create paintings. yayoi-kusama-life-is-the-heart-of-a-rainbow.

In 1957, Kusama moved to New York City after she

had enough of the conservative Japanese culture
and her abusive mother. After handing Kusama
some money before she moved to New York City,
her mother told her to never set foot in their house
again. In an angry outburst, Kusama destroyed hun-
dreds of her own works.

9
PEOPLE
THE SINGAPORE ROJAK
Shanice Hedger, a proud biracial Singaporean, tells NADYA SUFIE ACHARY about
her life as a Eurasian in a multicultural society.

Shanice Hedger, the seventh runner-up of the second season of The Final 1.
Photo courtesy of Nadya Sufie.

B
orn to a Singaporean-Chinese mother and a father
of Indian and English descent, 20-year-old Shanice
Hedger is what Singaporeans would call a rojak -
apart from being the name of the traditional salad dish, it
is also a term used in colloquial Malay which translates to
mixture. Shanice is just one of the many rojaks amidst
a growing community of multiracial Singaporeans today.
Having grown up in the town of Colchester in the
United Kingdom during his younger days, Shanices
paternal grandfather later joined the navy once he was
of age; his ship soon found its way onto Singapores
shores, and the birth of an interracial romance began
after he fell in love with a Singaporean-Indian woman
whom Shanice now calls her grandmother. The
story of the relationship which blossomed between
Shanices grandparents was not the only one which
happened across racial boundaries within her family.

10

Having come from an underprivileged background,
both of her parents joined the workforce during their
teenage years to earn a living. Fate led them to cross
paths with one another as colleagues before they
ultimately fell in love.
According to Shanice, her parents did not face any
disapprovals regarding their racial differences while
they were in the dating stages of their relationship,
sharing: "My [paternal] grandparents had no issues
because they themselves were already from a mixed
relationship. My moms side there was like this
sense of mutual trust [from my maternal grandpar-
ents] that their daughter would not date a person she
could not trust."
As someone belonging to an ethnic minority group in
Singapore, Shanice dedicates some of her free time
towards the Eurasian Association (EA) which caters
to the interests of the local Eurasian community.
Through the association, she has taken part in several
events such as the annual Inter Racial Inter Religious
Harmony Nite organised in large part by the Thye
Hua Kwan Moral Society, a non-profit organisation
aimed towards providing all-rounded support to Sin-
gaporeans regardless of their backgrounds. The event
celebrates the racial and religious harmony in Singa-
pore via performances put up by the four main ethnic
groups: the Chinese, Malays, Indians and Eurasians.
Shanice has been attending the celebrations since
2013, and helps to represent the Eurasian commu-
nity in the recital of the pledge in English. It is her
involvement in events and activities like these which
foster her sense of belonging on this little red dot.
She says: I think its very nice because Ive always
felt that, its not that Eurasians are not a part of Sin-
gapore, but sometimes were just [listed as] Others
on a form. Its nice that they acknowledge that our
heritage is bigger than it seems through events like
these.
11
PEOPLE
Apart from her participation in such celebrations,
Shanice also performs at events which allow her to
outrightly convey her lifelong passion for singing.
Having begun performing since the age of 7, Shanice
eventually took her burning passion for singing to
platforms such as YouTube where she established
her personal cover channel in 2011. Her undying
passion spurred her to greater heights when she
decided to participate in both seasons of The Final
1, a local reality-singing competition.
Despite only making it to the Top 20 in the first
season, Shanice did not allow her elimination to
discourage her from singing. Instead, she re-audi-
tioned for the second season where she eventually
came in seventh.
She describes herself to be tenacious in her pursuit
of what she desires, saying: I feel like when an
opportunity goes past me, I would never forgive my-
self if I dont try for it. I told myself: Okay Shanice,
if you dont do it now, you will never get to do it
again.
For someone in her 20s, Shanice has definitely had
some thrilling experiences. Her status as someone
who belongs to a minority ethnic group in Singa-
pore did not deter her from pursuing her goals or
standing up for what she believes in. On the plus
side, she feels that one of the satisfaction she gains
from being a Eurasian is being able to celebrate
more festivals, such as Christmas and Chinese New
Year.
Shanice continues to involve herself in the EA
amidst her busy school schedule and occasional
singing gigs, hoping to meet more Eurasians whom
she can connect with along the way while strength-
ening the bond between the Eurasian community
and other Singaporeans. After all, Eurasians includ-
ing Shanice herself, in her words, are all rojak.
FOOD

Dining On The Go

H op on board the GOURMETbus with NATHANAEL PHANG as he finds out more about this
moving dining concept.

Tired of classic indoor dining? Singapores GOURMETbus offers a whole new dining experience on board
its double-decker, 34-seater tour bus.

Launched by local tour agency Duck & HiPPO in 2016, this intriguing service combines the elements of
sightseeing and dining into one allowing tourists and Singaporeans alike to enjoy their meals while
marveling at the sights of Singapore.

The bus runs daily with the exception of Sundays and offers both lunch and dinner shows, accompanied
by an impressive menu boasting a wide array of Asian dishes whipped up by restaurant partners Soup
Restaurant and IndoChine Group respectively. The upper deck of the bus is designed to replicate the
ambience of a fine-dining restaurant, while the lower deck features a free-sitting lounge and a kitchen
where the meals are plated.

The tours have been facilitated by 47-year-old Mr Glenford Kalaw ever since it was first introduced.

Mr Kalaw shares that he takes great pride in his job, saying: The most rewarding aspect of my job is
basically meeting tourists and getting to know [more] about their cultures. I also get to show them around
Singapore while allowing them to have this unique experience of dining on the bus.

Garden Rhapsody light-and-sound show at

12 Gardens by the Bay, photo by Nathanael Phang
 FOOD

Photo by Nathanael Phang

Photo by Nathanael Phang

Samsui Ginger Chicken and Yong Chow Fried Rice are among the dishes served during the three-course lunch tour,
while the five-course dinner includes Vietnamese and Lao flavours such as the Nem Khao Roll with Honey Ham
and Lemongrass Rubbed Grilled Chicken with Herbed Mashed Potato.

A mid-journey stop is made at Gardens by the Bay after the main course has been served, where patrons will have
the opportunity soak in the sights of the stunning greenery. Thats not all guests on board the dinner tour will
get to witness the tourist hotspots signature light-and-sound show first-hand Garden Rhapsody.

Ms Jacinda Chearn, 28, a staff under Duck & HiPPO, shares that the inspiration for GOURMETbus was derived
from similar gourmet experiences overseas, such as those which can be found in Barcelona and Paris. The idea
of bringing such an unusual dining experience to Singapore was the organisations way of, in Ms Chearns words,
thinking out of the box.

To bring the GOURMETbus experience to Singapore, the organisation had to obtain the necessary licence and
approval from government bodies. A lot of thought also had to be put into the planning of the tour routes to
ensure a seamless journey for the guests on board. Fortunately, according to Ms Chearn, road planning has been
something that [Duck & HiPPO] is very familiarised with, as the organisation has already gained valuable expe-
rience in this field from the planning of numerous routes for its other tour packages, such as its City Sightseeing
Package and Night Tour Package. She adds that the bus travels between 40 to 45km/h to ensure that patrons do
not suffer from motion sickness at any point during the journey.

Many customers expressed their satisfaction with the overall GOURMETbus experience - among them is 32-year-
old Mr Bryan Reyes, a tourist from the Philippines. I like [the] ambiance and the set-up of the bus. It was not
crowded and there was enough space, remarked Mr Reyes delightedly, adding that the tour was very informative
and that the food was highly enjoyable.

However, he did recommend some improvements that can be made to enhance the overall experience, saying:
Perhaps more menu choices, and more time on the bus please!

Reservations for GOURMETbus can be made at gourmetbus.com.sg.

13
FOOD Photo taken by Hanisah Rashid of the Raclette cheese

Raclette Cheese Toast

Join HANISAH BTE RASHID as she gets a taste of the unlikely combination of savoury
cheese and sweet toast available at Bojio Caf.

A service staff member scraps hot molten cheese off a cheese block and slowly drips it onto
the golden-brown toast below. The cheese pools onto the center of the bread, with some spill-
ing onto its sides, providing a mesmerising visual that many would want to capture on their phones.

When I first bit into the strange concoction, I was initially hit with the saltiness of the cheese.
However, it quickly dissolved into sweetness as I chewed onto the sugar-dusted, honey coated toast.
The hot cheese softens the toast so there isnt a usual crunch one would expect from toasted bread,
however, it is not overly soggy. When dipped into the charcoal ice cream, it surprisingly doesnt
overwhelm the flavour of the dish as it is not overly sweet and instead complements the existing elements well.

Raclette is the latest variation of the melted cheese trend in Singapore that has been
popular among Singaporeans with its elaborate and mouth-watering presentation. One of the eateries
offering this cheese, Bojio (Hokkien word for not inviting someone along to an event or ac-
tivity) Caf , offers a unique take with its Raclette Cheese Toast. The menu item con-
sists of Shibuya toast, a Japanese style brick toast that is coated with honey and is butter-fried.

It is then topped with hot raclette cheese that is scraped off a cheese block. The hot cheese melts onto
the centre of the toast, infusing the savoury flavour of the cheese and sweetness of the toast together.

14
 FOOD

Bojio Caf recently opened in June 2017 at Westgate

and it is the new addition to the Meet & Melt caf
chain in Singapore. The caf chain opened its first out-
let in August 2015 with the aim of creating a healthier
dessert alternative that can be enjoyed by everyone.
All stores under the Meet & Melt cafe chain serve
homemade ice cream with no added preservatives. In-
stead, reduced sugar and fresh ingredients are used.

Mr Ryan Yeo, 39, an associate partner at the Bojio Caf,

said that the homemade ice cream enabled the caf to
stand out from the rest as it presents a flavour that is
creamier and a texture that is denser than store bought
ice cream. Each caf in the chain also provides a differ-
ent unique selling point in addition to the homemade
flavours. Mr Yeo highlights how Bojio Caf also offers
many variations of toasts for customers to choose from.
Photo taken by Hanisah Rashid of the Raclette Cheese Toast
I ordered the original lava toast with mentaiko sauce (marinated cod roe), [and found that] the mentaiko
sauce itself is very good. Both sweet and salty. Its quite a good mix, says Ms Cai Yi, 26, a shipping executive.

Ms Lim Hui Wen Marissa, 26, a service staff member of Bojio Caf, reveals that she believes the creative presentation
of the food items is what sets the caf apart from the rest. The presentation is very appealing and easy on the eyes.
Hence, she feels that customers would have a greater urge to brag about the food served in the caf to their friends
by posting the elaborate creations on social media.

The use of unique presentation is very apparent in the Raclette Cheese Toast as the cheese is served on the spot and
scraped off a cheese block with a knife. Customers may not want to miss a chance to capture the experience as they
are able to witness the captivating visual of the cheese dripping onto the toast right in front of them.

I would recommend this dish to cheese lovers who are interested in trying a different cheese experience as they may
enjoy the savoury and sweet flavors of the Raclette Cheese Toast served at the caf. Dont say I bojio!

Photo taken by Hanisah Rashid of Bojio Caf

Bojio Caf is located at Westgate 3 Gateway Dr #02-28

Singapore and is opened daily from 11:30am - 9:30pm

15
FOOD

Chilli Crab
Croissant
J oin JOY TAN as she tries out croissants dipped in a famous local delight.

One of Singaporeans favourite comfort food is Chilli Crab, which

consists of crabs served in a sweet yet savoury sauce that is usu-
ally eaten with mantou, a steamed or fried bun. However, a dish
available at Six By Sera serves the Chilli Crab sauce with a peculiar
substitute to the mantou - it is instead eaten with croissants.

The Chilli Crab Croissant is a menu item available at Six by Sera,

a cafe which opened in March. The founder of the cafe is 23-year-
old Seraphina Poh, a graduate from At-Sunrise Global Academy
with a diploma in Pastry and Bakery. Ms Seraphina was initially
planned to pursue a career in business but decided against it in
the end, in favour of studying pastry and bakery instead.

However, it turned out to be the right decision to make as she

eventually found her calling in cooking. Due to her family and
friends undying support for her endeavours, she managed to
pluck up the courage to take a leap of faith and open her very own
cafe, Six by Sera.

Located just a 3-minute walk away from Farrer Park Mass Rapid
Transit (MRT) station, Six by Sera is a one of a kind cafe which
serves local delights with a slight twist. One of the popular dishes
at the cafe is the Chilli Crab Croissant. The dish is made up of a
chilli crab sauce, which is similar to the iconic Singapore dish but
is instead served without the crab and with a poached egg on its
side.

16
 FOOD

The buttery croissant surprisingly complements the spici-

ness of the chilli crab sauce, providing a delightful com-
bination of savoury and piquant flavours. The yolk of the
poached egg spills out when it is sliced open, blending well
with the savoury flavour of the sauce. The golden-brown
croissant still manages to keep its original crisp when it is
dipped into the sauce. The dish seems to be a winning com-
bination for customers of the cafe as they compliment the
interesting flavours of the dish.

Mr Jonathan Ong, 28, a Sales and Marketing manager who is

a frequent customer of Six by Sera, says: My favourite dish
here is the Chilli Crab Croissant as the spice of the sauce is
very tangy and the croissant is good,

According to DanielFoodDiary, more than 100 new cafes

were opened in 2016 alone. The trend of salted egg crois-
sants that had sent the nation into a frenzy in 2016 had
also led to many cafs such as Antoinette, Bridge Caf and
Kokomama Marketplace to offer the food item. Therefore,
Six by Sera is not the only cafe which offers Singaporean
style croissant such as this.

Even with the increased competition, Ms Seraphina remains

unfazed as she is confident that the homemade flavours of
the Chilli Crab Croissant would be able to win the hearts
of customers. She points out how some caf owners are
at times dishonest with which food items are homemade
and store bought. Hence, determined to ensure quality
and transparency with her customers, she labels all of her
homemade items.

Ms Seraphina says: I see competition as something that

can help me get better. I will ask myself why am I losing
out and it allows me to come up with new dishes from time
to time. Also, I know that there are lots of cafes along this
street, but I dont see that as a bad thing. When people
come here for another caf, they might happen to see new
cafes like Six by Sera, and they might come back to try next
time.
Chilli Crab Croissant at Six by Sera,
photo by: Joy Tan

Address: 89 Rangoon Road, #01-03 Urban Loft

17
PLACE

Stay in Singapore
for under $25
J oin JOY TAN as she finds out how tourists can stay in Singapore without breaking the bank.

According to a survey by HRS Global Hotel Solutions, a single nights stay at a hotel in Singapore costs an
average of $235, while a night spent at a hostel can easily cost up to $45 as stated by hostelworld.com.
Fortunately, even in such an expensive city like ours, it is not impossible to find cheaper options for those
who need to tighten their purse strings.

Imagine having rooftop gardens, movie decks, in-house cafes and air-conditioned bedrooms for just $20 per
night in Singapore - sounds too good to be true? Heres some hostels we recommend you to check out that
are easy on the wallet:

1. BUNC HOSTEL

Bunc Hostel lobby, photo by: Joy Tan

Located in a conserved shophouse, Bunc Hostel is only a

2-minute walk away from Rochor Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)
station.

The hostel, which slogan goes were more than just a

bed, has book exchange corners, outdoor movie decks and traditional board games to keep tourists
occupied in their leisure. Their custom-made beds include reading lights, privacy curtains and many
more.

Ms Sydney Gonzales, 26, a guest at Bunc Hostel, says: The staff is always helpful and friendly, this is
by far the best hostel that I have seen in my life.

With all these amenities, it only costs $20 for a bed in an 8-bed mixed dorm. Female guests who
prefer an all-female dorm can get a bed in a 6-bed female dorm at for an additional $10.

Address: 15 Upper Weld Road

Nearest MRT Station: Rochor MRT and Little India MRT
Telephone: +65 6262 2862 (6262 - BUNC)
18
 PLACE
ABC Premium Hostel is a stones throw away from
2. ABC Premium Hostel Farrer Park MRT station. At ABC, the owner places
communication and homeliness as the hostels
top priority - as such, a 24/7 hotline is made avail-
able for hostel guests to dial should they have any
enquiries.

Every part of the hostel is specially designed by

the owner so as to make tourists feel at home; the
walls are lined with random yet adorable sketches
which will never fail to light up ones day, while
the rooftop garden in the hostel allows everyone,
with or without green fingers, to take part in
gardening. A corner filled with bean bags allows
guests to watch the television comfortably.

Ms Ng Chen Ni, 39, a member of the business

management of ABC, says: Our ultimate goal is
to ensure that our guests comfortably enjoy their
stay here at the hostel.

Every bed includes a security key card which gives

ABC Premium Hostel rooftop garden, access to personal lockers, luggage and shoe stor-
photo by: Joy Tan age to prevent theft. The most economical beds
H

start from $25.

Address: 91A, 93A & 95A Owen Road

Nearest MRT Station: Farrer Park MRT (Exit D)
Telephone: (+65) 6298 9390

3. SHOPhouse hostel

H
Farrer Park

Little india
bugis

SINGAPORE

Shophouse Hostel, photo by: Joy Tan

Located 5 minutes away from Bugis MRT, in the heart of town, lies the Shophouse Hostel. Shophouse is part of
The Black Hole Group consisting of three other eateries, including an indie caf called The Working Title known
for its burgers. Guests living in The Shophouse enjoy a 20 per cent discount for food items bought from The
Black Hole Group.

The rooftop of the hostel allows visitors to bask in the sun or moonlight to soak in the sights of the Singapore
skyline. Many guests, such as 30-year-old Mr Matias Vizcaya, feel that this is their favourite part of the hostel.

Mr Matias says: The rooftop is a quiet environment with free wifi access. The view from here is also very nice.

The fully air-conditioned rooms with high-quality beddings start from $20 per bed per night.

Address: The Shophouse at Arab Street, 48 Arab Street,

Nearest MRT station: Bugis MRT
Telephone: (+65) 6298 8721

19
when light meets might

Travel.Lifestyle.business