With Edward Snowden leaking secrets of mass surveillance in the US and beyond, it seems that Orwell’s dystopia of Nineteen Eighty Four is coming true. But can we be accused of over-reacting? In one camp, popular social media sites like Reddit have rallied behind Snowden, revering him for revealing the governments’ betrayal of the peoples’…
Ella Fitzgerald, Star Wars and the Invisible Man
How can Ella Fitzgerald, Star Wars and the Invisible Man be related? Jazz. My Great Grandmother recently passed away, and amongst her things my Great Aunt found an old recording that my sister and I made for her as eleven year olds. I don’t remember filming it, and it showed us both playing instruments and…
Blue kingfishers
Low branches hang from prehistoric trees, almost skimming the camo green waters of the Singapore River. Boats pass each other sluggishly, with only the occasional tourist standing on deck to take photographs in the midday sun. The rest look contently through the smeared glass, with a guide describing how the banks looked a century ago,…
The Quest for Seven Waterfalls
‘Siete Tinajas,’ hissed the locals of Quillabamba in their soft lisps as we crossed the square, Seven Waterfalls. My friends and I made our way into the cool innards of the helado parlour, which boasted every colour and every tropical fruit flavour, including the perfume-infused lucuma that is produced locally. Two glistening balls of ice…
The Smog Blog
It has been the talk of the nation and it even made international news. The Singapore haze descended on us last Monday, and the acrid yellow bonfire smoke has only just started to desist. I am suffering from cabin fever and my local pool is still closed, with the National Environmental Agency continuing to encourage…
Eating fluffy clouds
I crave these two fluffy white local cuisines on a daily basis: 1) Kueh Tutu is a traditional Singaporean delicacy which is sadly facing distinction due to lack of local demand. However, in a stroke of good fortune, we have a legend here in Clementi in the shape of a white haired elderly lady named…
How to get down from the top of a volcano
My skin and clothes had turned the same smudgy grey-brown. The earthy taste of dirt was wedged between every tooth, and a paste was forming on my dry tongue. My wrists were now sore hinges, and both legs shook as I dismounted from the bike. My poor bottom was more than a little shaken up….
How I nearly died in Australia
Researching a place before you arrive can save your life. Although my story happened over five years ago, it still brings me huge embarrassment given how well reported this marine animal is, especially in Australia.* Allow me to set the scene: I am at Manly beach, just down the coast from Sydney Harbour. The white…
City of colour
Here’s a collection of shots from the last fortnight: Flower ‘mala’ necklaces in Little India Rainbow shutters on the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts, Clarke Quay Grapefruit, watermelon and green tea breakfast Traditional architecture near Chinatown Sunset at Sentosa Island beach Two hungry chicks waiting to be fed Park Royal Tower, with 15,000…
Singapore – 10 things you should know
Having been here for over a month now, I’ve noticed some interesting things about Singapore: 1) ‘Kiasu’ is something ex-pats and tourists will learn about very quickly here. It describes the local ‘fear of losing,’ and this mentality of ‘not coming last’ causes people to ignore queues, politely shove you out of the way and…
Ferns and forest 