Singapore with a Local

Brimming with inside knowledge, local tour guides play a key role in our tours. In this blog, we asked our Singapore guide Nelson Lim Keng Hi to tell us a bit about himself and his home city state.
 
ECT: How long have you lived and worked in Singapore?

NLKH: I am one of the 3.6m true-blue, born and bred Singaporeans.

ECT: You have been a tour guide for 30 odd years – what’s the secret of a good guide?

NLKH: I feel it is a tour guide’s primary duty to make sure that my guests enjoy and appreciate all of Singapore; its multiculturism, its development, the interesting variety of foods and the challenges it has overcome - and still faces. My greatest pleasure is when tourists ask me questions.

ECT: One of the highlights of our Singapore holidays is the walking tour of Chinatown. What makes this area a must-visit?

NLKH: The majority – 74% - of the population of modern Singapore is Chinese so everyone must make a visit to Chinatown. The Chinatown Heritage Centre is fascinating as it tells the stories of the early Chinese immigrants as they worked from hand-to-mouth – all a far cry from the dreams they had of striking it rich before they landed in Singapore.

To get the complete flavour of the early 19th century development of the different races that make up Singapore, it’s also important to visit the Malay (13.5%) and Indian (9%) quarters designated by the modern founder of Singapore, Sir Stamford Raffles in 1822.

ECT: The Singapore skyline is famous across the world. Where is the best place to see it?

NLKH: The roof top of Marina Barrage. As well as the awesome view, you might also see  locals flying their kites here, especially if you go on a weekend evening. The barrage was built to address the challenges of water catchment, flood control and water sufficiency in Singapore which is interesting to learn about. Ask your guide!   

ECT: If visitors try only one food in Singapore, what should it be?

NLKH:  Peranakan dessert Chendol. This is a very popular local dessert (and my favourite!) made up of shaved ice, coconut milk, palm sugar syrup, red beans, sweet corns and green jelly noodles made from rice flour and pandan. Singapore is a hot place and nothing beats savouring a bowl or cup of sweet, iced dessert.

ECT: What surprising place should visitors see and why?

NLKH: My NiceHome Gallery. Eighty per cent of Singapore’s population live in Housing Development Board (HDB) apartments and this gallery in the heart of Toa Payoh Town (the first town built by the HBD) gives you an idea of what they’re like inside. Make time to walk around the town centre too – it provides an insight into how people live in Singapore.

ECT: What one word should visitors to Singapore learn?

NLKH: Singapore is now a generally cultured and polite place so a good word to learn is Xie xie (谢谢 ), Mandarin for ‘thank you’.  It is pronounced ‘shyeh shyeh’, with the stress on the first syllable. Xie xie is used in many of your interactions and it is always impressive and courteous when tourists say thank you in Mandarin.