Part 2 of my Singapore guide is here. It may have just be the craziest four days of my life. It was so hot that I wore bikinis as outerwear and spent the little down-time I had on the rooftop pool, soaking in the views of Katong. So much of DNA is rooted in Southeast Asia thanks to my mother. She was born in Singapore and raised in Malaysia. Give this lady a prawn-mee noodle soup and she is the happiest girl on earth. I’m the same way. Best meal hands down. Go on and take a peek at this amazing part of the world. It’s so far, yet feels so close to home and to my heart.

Little India: I recommend staying at the super chic and cozy Vagabond Hotel. You’ll be in the heart of Little India. You’ll find yourself in search of the best curry and Teh Tarik (my favorite milk tea). It’s a great little spot to shop for trinkets and smell the spices.

Solid & Striped x Anthropologie swimsuit

Marni skirt

Dear Frances sandals

Janessa Leone hat

Polene Paris bag

Versace sunglasses

Mulberry bag

Olenka tank

Julianna Bass pant

 Katong: In Katong, you’ll find mansions and villas alongside many Peranakan restaurants. This has always been a prestigious and chic, residential area with so much shopping, food, and neighborhoods to explore. I recommend staying at the gorgeous Hotel Indigo. This pool is everything.

Tigerlily bikini

San Diego Hat company visor

Lunch at Candlenut: this is the world’s first Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant. It’s super chic, contemporary, with an authentic approach to Straits-Chinese culture. Chef Malcom Lee created an array of dishes for us. I fell in love with the large prawns and fried tofu. Extra spicy of course.

Peranakan architecture: you can spot them from a mile away. They come in colors like seafoam green, mustard yellow, and pastel pink. They’re lined with beautiful floral tiles with giant open shutters. Take a step back and taste the rainbow.

Alice Mccall top

Gardens by the Bay: this is both an entertaining attraction, and an educational one. You’ll learn so much about the plant kingdom. It’s home not plants that are seldom seen in this part of the world, ranging from species in cool, temperate climates to tropical forests and habitats.

Popiah making at Kway Guan Huat: this is an 80 year old business! Customers patronize Way Guan Huat to buy handmade Popiah skin and condiments to host their own Popiah parties. Yep, Popiah parties. Now I need to bring this back to the States. This may be my favorite appetizer. I like to call it a sweet and spicy little spring roll.

Get a real Crazy Rich Asians experience: we visited the gorgeous home of Daniel Boey, is a creative director and TV personality who has designed experiences for fashion events worldwide. He threw a Crazy Rich Asians party at his home in celebration of the film release. It felt modern but with a whimsical Alice in Wonderland flare. How amazing is that chair?!  The house was so gorgeous that everyone took their shoes off and wore house slippers the moment we stepped on the property. It was fun! And thanks to my asian roots, I do the same. This was one night to never forget.

Nells Nelson blazer

Tigerlily bikini top

Lie Sang Bong skirt

The post SINGAPORE PART 2: Katong and Little India first appeared on NATALIE OFF DUTY.

My mother was born in Singapore, and all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins on my Chinese side still live in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It’s no surprise that I have such a strong love for everything Southeast Asia. The delicious food in particular. My love for intensely spicy curries and laksa noodle soups began the day I was born. But the more I grow up, I’ve had this urge to learn more and more about the place my mother is from. While I’ve made many trip to Malaysia and absolutely love it, I’ve only been to Singapore once as a kid. When I had the opportunity to visit again to really enrich myself in everything this wonderful country has to offer on Singapore’s Crazy Rich Asian press trip, I jumped at it. Not only did we get to experience much of Singapore’s “crazy rich asian” indulgences from the top hotels to the best and most chic restaurants and bars (listed below), but we also went deep into Perankan history. “Perankan’ was the word of the trip. Peranakans are the descendants of Chinese immigrants who came to the area in the 15th and 17th century. You’ll notice the traditional Peranakan styled homes in my guide below. They comes in rows and rows of every color of the rainbow with a gorgeous British colonial design.

The 21 long hours of travel were well worth it. The moment we got off the plane, we were hit with that warm humidity you only get in Southeast Asia. I always feel at home when I’m on this side of the world. I get excited hearing “lah” at the end of every sentence (it’s the way my mother speaks), and I get excited knowing that I can laksa at any time of the day. We checked into our hotel for only an hour before beginning our non-stop tour of Singapore. I was so ready to indulge in the country’s rich history, colors, and innovative technology and architectural design. Sleep could wait.

Here is part 1 of my BEST OF SINGAPORE GUIDE:

The Warehouse Hotel:

The Warehouse Hotel is a new and super chic boutique hotel alongside the Singapore River. It was built in 1895 and was once a spot for underground activities and secret societies. While that history is gone, the building was restored into this stunning and minimal 37 room hotel. You’ll notice a lot of concrete, wood, and sleek marble accents.

Po Restaurant:

Po is a spot we found inside The Warehouse Hotel. Po means “grandma”. I still to this day call my grandmother a-po-po! My favorite appetizer here is the classic Popiah, a crepe-like roll. I like mine simple and filled with sweet sauce and chili sauce along with bean sprouts, lettuce leaves, chopped peanuts, shallots, and shredded omelette.

National Gallery Singapore:

The National Gallery Singapore is an art gallery in the the Downtown Core of Singapore. It has the world’s largest public collection of Singapore and Southeast Asian art. This beautiful building also has a few wonderful restaurants and rooftop bar, with views of Marina Bay Sands. I fell in love with this space’s layout, skylight, and floor plan. It’s a work of art on it’s own!

Nour Hammour leather jacket

Charles & Keith clutch

Dear Frances slides

H&M skirt

Lou & Grey earrings 

Haji Lane:

Haji lane is the narrowest street in all of Singapore. It’s home to a really eclectic mix of independent boutiques. My favorite shop was Supermama, a craft store filled with curated and interesting objects. If you walk towards the stunning Sultan Mosque, you’ll find tons of little side streets with food and shopping. Grab a boba tea and explore by foot or vespa!

Bevza top and bottom

Mulberry handbag

Hawker Markets:

Sometimes hawker food just tastes better than any Michelin-star restaurant to me! When I visit these markets, I feel like a kid in a candy store. There are so many vendors to choose from, I never know where to begin. I always head straight for the laksa before picking up a Tiger Beer or Teh Tarik (my favorite milk tea). You’ll also find amazing char away teow.

Crazy Rich Asians Tour:

Our guide, Phil Choo, took us around for the Crazy Rich Asian Tour of Singapore. If you’re very interested in real estate and home decor, you’ll be super excited for this one. During our drive around the residential area, we found so many gorgeous fields of lush surrounding the mansions. It’s no wonder that the land alone could cost up to around 90 million dollars. Land in Singapore is beautiful and rare, making Singapore one of the most expensive countries in the whole world.

Pamplemousse NY blouse

Anthropologie skirt

Carven sandal

Polene Paris bag

The pool at The Hotel Indigo:

Stay at Hotel Indigo if you know you’ll have time to relax and lounge by the pool. It has the most insane views of Singapore. I could stay up here all day with a glass of wine.

KYA swimsuit

Boating through Marina Bay Sands:

I was in awe during our boat ride through Marina Bay Sands. The sun was setting, and the skyline turned a gorgeous light grey with speckles of pink.

Anthropologie top

Carven jeans

Drinks at Native:

This bar is unique in that they focus on foraging and using regional produce, supporting local craftsman. You’ll find they mix the unexpected with familiar ingredients like turmeric, cinnamon, and tapioca. The space felt like something you’d find in downtown Manhattan. It’s that chic.

I have so much more to share with you from Singapore. PART 2 to come.

The post THE BEST OF SINGAPORE GUIDE PART 1 first appeared on NATALIE OFF DUTY.