Location: Central

Singapore: Asia’s Monte Carlo

Singapore is fast becoming the Monte Carlo of Asia and is often similarly described as the playground for the rich. Just 684 square kilometers in size, Singapore is the smallest country in Southeast Asia and at a mere 2 square kilometers, Monaco is also punching well above its weight. The Asian country shares many characteristics of its European counterpart.

Singapore can boast a low crime rate, a green environment, and an enviable public transportation system. It is considered a great place to live (and in both countries, the life expectancy is over 85 years) as well as work and play, a description that is also attributed to Monaco.

In the 1970s, the Singapore Tourism Board started marketing the city as a venue for conventions and other organized events to increase occupancy rates. Eventually, occupancy rose as high as 90%, as a result. Singapore’s manufacturing sector is dwindling, but the services industries, which have been encouraged to thrive, have continued to create jobs. The World Bank has dubbed it one of the world’s “easiest places to do business” as there is high transparency, reliability, and a pro-business government. Singapore also increased its attractions within the last 10 years to include a Universal Studios theme park, gaming establishments, and the famed Singapore Flyer, a huge Ferris wheel experience with air-conditioned pods.

Singapore also enjoys a thriving street racing industry. The Marina Bay Street Circuit even closely resembles Monaco, drivers claim, so enthusiasts compete on a stage that feels right at home. The Singapore Grand Prix is Formula One racing’s original night race, run on a 5.073-kilometer street track through the city’s heart. The race is held at night to avoid the blistering temperatures of the day.

Singapore, like Monte Carlo, is also famous for its food festivals like the month-long food festival that was born in 1994 and is now an annual event organized by the Singapore Tourism Board. International chefs travel from all over the world to showcase delightful food to suit every palette. Clearly, Singapore is seeking to wrest that title of Image Credit: Wikimedia[/caption]

Singapore also possesses a unique and diverse culture that will help attract the adventurous food lovers to its shores. Modern Singaporean culture (mod-Sin) merges with contemporary dining and is enriched by the Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Western influences.

The safety and cleanliness of the country are comparable to Monte Carlo. Spitting in the street and chewing gum are unheard of. Green spaces are also being created in Singapore, and the country received its first sought-after UNESCO World Heritage nomination for the botanic gardens and

Zouk’s Upcoming Flea Market Is A Paradise For Bargains, And You’re On The Guestlist

Zouk is renowned on our shores and across the border for being the place to go for a wild night out. But one thing it’s also known for? Its Flea & Easy pop-up bazaar!

Next month, the Zouk Flea & Easy will be returning once again, and you can be sure Zouk’s signature cool won’t be missing from this daytime event.

Zouk Flea & Easy X Sunset Pasar 

Happening at Zouk’s new home ground, The Cannery will transform into a space that’s not only family friendly, but pet friendly as well.

A collaboration between Zouk Singapore and Sunset Pasar, this alternative flea market will feature stalls hawking a tightly curated selection of emerging brands and designers, alongside tasty local nosh. Enjoy music from a line-up of live open mic performances and DJ sets!

Keen to sell your wares at the Zouk Flea? Submit your vendor application by 9 June! Want to take the stage and showcase your talents? Open mic sessions are open for sign ups, and it’ll be free.

ZouKiDisco

If you think Zouk’s flea will be just like any other flea you’ve dropped in on, think again. This flea market will see the return of ZouKiDisco.

With no age limit at the door and Zouk’s resident DJs on the decks, both the young and young at heart will get to bust a few moves on the dance floor.

Also present are kid-friendly activities like face painting and bouncy castles that will keep the little ones entertained for hours. Do note that only kids between the of ages of 1 – 10 are allowed entry, and each child can be accompanied by one adult.

Entry to ZouKiDisco is tagged at $18 per pax for adults and children, and comes with 1 complimentary non-alcoholic beverage!

Looking to get some shopping done while the kids have fun? Head to Zouk Flea & Easy X Sunset Pasar! Bring your kids, your pooch, and soak up the good vibes at this chill bazaar.

Zouk Flea & Easy X Sunset Pasar 
Address: Zouk Singapore, 3C River Valley Road, The Cannery, #01-05 Singapore 179022
Date: 9 July (Sunday)
Time: 12pm – 7pm

Also read, 10 ‘Die Die Must Try’ Events And Eats To Rev Up Your First Half Of June [1-15 June]

Food At The Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar Isn’t Cheap — Here’s What’s Worth It And What’s Not

In the past couple of days, much has been said about this year’s Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar.

Some have pointed out that Artbox 2.0, and others have said the food there is not worth the price or the queue.

The DiscoverSG team headed down to taste-test the food ourselves, to distinguish those that are worth the money (and the queue) from those that are not. Full disclosure: we picked many of these items based on their insta-worthiness and novelty.

Our conclusion? Some of the most photogenic foods actually tasted the worst.

These are some of the things we liked.

Worth It

1. Katoshka (Muslim owned)

One of our favourite stalls at the bazaar–by far– was Katoshka, which serves up russet fries drenched in sauce. Here, you don’t have to worry about running out of sauce for your fries. Not your average cup of cheese fries, this snack packed a punch without being too overwhelming.

We tried the Sambal Cheese ($5.90) and loved how the crispy fries mixed with the spicy cheese. While the serving size is quite small, we think it’s worth every dollar

We also tried the Asam Boi Special ($3.90), a sour plum drink. The drink was on the sweet side, with just the right amount of sourness from the Asam.

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2. Banana Cheese Fritters 

Another sweet treat we tried is the Banana Cheese Fritters ($6)–the humble pisang goreng with a twist. There was barely a queue or a wait when we were there. We went with a classic chocolate flavour from a list of options including chocolate rice and oreos. Served warm, these were the perfect balance of sweet and salty–great for those who want a sweet treat that isn’t too cloying.

The melted cheese brought a very subtle flavour to the fritters. If you’re looking for a stronger cheese flavour, we suggest asking for an extra helping of cheese.

And now, on to the stuff we didn’t like.

Not Worth It

1. Milk Bites (Non-halal)

The Singaporean wisdom of ‘if there’s a queue, join it‘ led us to Fried Milk. An interesting concept, these bite-sized squares of fried milk pudding come in 3 different flavours: Original, Pandan and Thai Milk Tea.

We tried the platter ($9), which came with 4 milk bites of each flavour. Freshly fried, these desserts were crunchy on the outside and oozy on the inside. The consistency of the cream was a bit chunky for our liking and the flavour was quite overwhelming. Suffice to say, we weren’t fans of these.

2. WORD (Muslim owned)

WORD is no stranger when it comes to cooking up a storm. Their outlet at Upper Thomson Road serves up delicious Western fare alongside crafted sodas and mocktails.

At their pop up stall, we tried the Minah ($8), a bucket of soda dressed to the nines. We were in for a bit of a wait despite the short queue due to a shortage of staff. When we did get our drink creation, we were pretty disappointed. Crafted from Fanta Orange, Ice Cream Soda and two scoops of ice cream, this tasted like diluted Fanta and felt like it could easily have been made at home.

While we appreciate the size of the drink, hauling it around was also a bit of a struggle, especially given the crowd.

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3. Loco Loco

Loco Loco made a splash at last year’s Geylang Bazaar for offering up flavoured churros. This year, they have 3 outlets spread out over the entirety of the bazaar. We picked up the Chilli Crab Churros ($6) and Beef Scotch Eggs ($6).

The Chilli Crab Churros were warm and the chilli sauce topping tasted like the real-deal, minus the spiciness. Sadly, these Churros were unexpectedly dense. Without the sauce, this snack would have ranked low on our score scale.

The Beef Scotch Eggs were served warm and with a serving of keropok. We waited about 10 – 15 minutes for the Scotch Eggs, so pick this up only if you’re willing to wait around for this dish. While the eggs were nicely done, the beef was pretty plain.

At least they’re photogenic?

Image Credit: passerbyshaz[/caption]

SOFNADE is one spot you might want to check out for a sweet treat. Serving up Cendol Soft Serve, Galaxy Milkshakes and Donut Balls, it’s no wonder this dessert stall is a favourite among sweet tooths.