Women Who Travel Podcast: Why Singapore Is Best Explored Solo
Born and raised in Singapore, Jemimah Wei uses her hometown as the backdrop to her new novel, The Original Daughter—a story of sisterhood and family drama set in the turn of the millennium. But as well as it being a great source of inspiration for the author, she also believes it to be a great destination for solo travelers. Lale sits down with Wei for her tips on how to plan a trip, navigate its vibrant hawker centers, and make the most of its 24/7 culture.
Lale Arikoglu: Hi there. Welcome to Women Who Travel. I'm Lale Arikoglu. Today I'm excited to talk to author and journalist Jemimah Wei, about her home Singapore and about how exploring the city, the beaches, the green spaces, and the 24/7 culture is the perfect solo travel expedition. Yes, for many travelers, the airport itself is a destination, but the island state with its diverse array of communities and cultures is compact, safe and easy to explore.
Jemimah Wei: This is the story of five million people that exists nowhere else in the world. We are a very young country, we turned 60 this year, and already we have established ourself very quickly. Singapore is an island everywhere, so you walk long enough, you hit the water. There's so much to do. There is so much to eat. There is so much to see. And I think something that people are always a little surprised by is Singapore's language of administration is English, so everybody speaks English and that makes us a very attractive location for global investors, which is also why it's so safe and wealthy, but also makes it very accessible just linguistically for tourists coming in.
LA: Jemimah, is so lovely to have you in the studio. Just before we started recording, I was saying that I have been to Singapore but only for a few hours when I pass through the airport. It is kind of famously a stopover city, but there is a lot to explore. I don't want to fall onto a very predictable cultural reference, but Crazy Rich Asians really put it on the map as being a destination unto itself. What do people miss out on when they just fly through Changi?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Verge
15 minutes ago
- The Verge
Ayaneo's dual-screen Android handheld is its next modernized Nintendo DS
First announced just a few weeks ago in late July, the Ayaneo Pocket DS dual-screen handheld is now available for preorder through Indiegogo starting at $519 but discounted to $399 for the earliest backers. Shipping is expected to start as early as October 2025. Although the company is concurrently running another Indiegogo campaign for a similar dual-screen handheld called the Flip 1S, that device features more powerful specs, runs Windows 11, and starts at $1,279 with discounts, while the less expensive Pocket DS runs Android 13. There are currently many handhelds that replicate the design and functionality of Nintendo's iconic portables, including the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance, but few can properly recreate the Nintendo DS experience, which is still Nintendo's best-selling console of all time. The new Pocket DS potentially fits that bill with a 7-inch, 16:9, 1080P OLED folding top screen paired with a smaller 5-inch, 4:3, 1,024x768 LCD display on the handheld itself. It will be powered by a very capable Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 processor, but we don't yet know what the Pocket DS' emulation capabilities will be. The entry-level model features 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage (expandable through a microSD card slot), but the Pocket DS can be configured with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, pushing its price to $759, or $639 with early backer discounts. The handheld also features a pair of anti-drift TMR joysticks, Hall effect triggers with sensitivity adjustments, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, gyroscopic controls, a fingerprint scanning power button, and an 8,000mAh battery. Ayaneo hasn't revealed the handheld's actual battery life, but it will offer multiple performance modes and the ability to turn off the second screen for those trying to max out their playtime. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Andrew Liszewski Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Gadgets Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Gaming Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All News
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Cast Of ‘Law And The City' Had Fun Filming And Dining Together
Law and the City is a legal drama about five friends, all lawyers, who meet to discuss their lives and cases over a series of meals. Lee Jong-suk, Mun Ga-young, Kang You-seok, Ryu Hye-young and Im Seong-jae play the friends who share professional and personal challenges, and in real life, the cast also had no problem getting close, despite differences in age or professional seniority. 'This might be hard to believe,' said Im Seong-jae (Newtopia, When The Stars Gossip) . 'But near the end of the filming I actually realized and was surprised by the ages of our five associate friends. We got so close, like real friends that I completely forgot about our ages." Im plays Ha Sung-gi, a talented lawyer who takes a special interest in helping interns, but avoids talking about his own past. 'Jong-suk and Ka-young have such a strong presence you hardly notice their age,' said Im. "Hye-young approached every scene like a veteran and You Seok often leads like a senior, even coming up with unexpected ideas. Because of this close bond, we didn't really think about age while working together.' At almost every meal Im's character posted photos of the food they shared, but in real life, he rarely takes food photos. 'Probably because I don't relly use social media,' he said with a laugh. 'Honestly, I rarely ever turn on the camera.' There are so many eating scenes in the drama it's practically a mukbang and Mun Ka-young (My Dearest Nemesis, True Beauty) did have a favorite. 'There's a famous tofu restaurant right in front of the Seoul Arts Center,' said Mun. 'Since we started filming early in the morning, I had tofu stew and pan-fried tofu for my first meal pof the day. I remember suggesting to the cast that we should come back some time just to enjoy the food together, aside from filming.' Kang You-seok (Resident Playbook, When Life Gives You Tangerines) notes that the frequent meal scenes did make them hungry. The cast met at restaurants, like their on screen counterparts, when they were not filming. 'We'd chat, review the script, and at other times just eat together,' said Kang. 'Those moments definitely helped us grow closer.' Kang plays Cho Chang-won, a lawyer unhappy with his current job and often abusive boss. His character occasionally says things without thinking, which can make things awkward. 'I think that's one point where I'm similar to him,' he said with a laugh. 'As I've gotten older I try to think before I speak, but even now there are still times when I say things before fully thinking them through. Another similarity is that we're both cheerful and enjoy being around people.' Ryu Hye-Young (The Nice Guy, Gangnam B-Side) plays Bae Mun-jeong, an attorney with a strong sense of justice. 'I think it comes from her deep affection for people,' said Ryu. 'Bae Mun-jeong is full of love for others. Because she views the world positively, that belief seems to be her driving force.' She was drawn to the script because her character is very clever at using the legal system to achieve personal justice for her clients. 'What's most appealing is how the law lets you protect justice in many different ways within an established system," said Ryu. "That makes it truly meaningful for me.' Mun's character Hui-ji became a lawyer because she wanted to protect the people she loves. Her own family went through a difficult incident. 'Hui-ji grows a lot through meeting many people and handling various cases,' said Mun. 'She naturally listens to others' stories with warmth and a genuine heart because she knows these stories are not so different from her own.' Lee Jong-suk (Romance Is A Bonus Book, W: Two Worlds) plays Ju-hyeong. He's an excellent attorney, the person his fellow lawyers consult when they're in a quandary. It's the first role for Lee since he appeared in Big Mouth in 2022. 'I had been thinking about what kind of project to take on next and I wanted to try something more relaxed and relatable—something I hadn't explored before,' said Lee. 'I was looking for a drama that viewers could comfortably watch at any time without feeling lost, even if they missed an episode, and Law and the City felt like the perfect fit.' The title itself was appealing to him, and although the story centers on lawyers, it leans more toward a slice-of-life and office drama rather than a traditional legal series. 'It highlights the small moments of every—friends sharing concerns, encouraging each other, and chatting over lunch," said Lee. "I believed this was a story many people could relate to, which is why I chose to be a part of it.' Ju-hyeong may be a brilliant attorney because he keeps his emotions in check. According to Lee, these traits help him judge cases more rationally. Because he approaches each case without bias or emotion, he can handle work objectively. However, he wasn't always like this. 'There were times when he was deceived by clients and couldn't understands their true intentions," said Lee. "Times when he defended a case he believed in only to discover the truth. His logical and emotional control didn't come naturally but developed over time. Through the challenges and experiences of being a lawyer he gradually learned to manage his emotions and began approaching cases more logically rather than seeing them solely from the client's point of view. This approach likely proved to be more effective.' This survival strategy developed after nine years of navigating the challenges of working life. Outside of his work, Ju-hyeong fortunately has supportive friends he can trust and relay on. 'Outside of work, I imagine he also views situations more objectively,' said Lee. "Ultimately, we can learn that avoiding unnecessary emotional drain helps us focus on the core issues that need to be resolved. I hope everyone finds happiness.' Happiness is what the five characters in this drama are striving for and they do find some happiness in sharing with each other. Law and the City airs in the U.S. on the drama was directed by Park Seung-woo and directed by Seung-hyun.
News24
3 hours ago
- News24
Four years strong: The Mthombenis mark anniversary with romantic adventures in Asia
Dr Musa and Liesl Laurie-Mthombeni celebrate 4 years of marriage in Asia. The couple shared their sweet anniversary messages on their socials. The Mthombenis tied the knot in 2021. Four years into their fairytale marriage, Dr Musa and Liesl Laurie-Mthombeni are still serving nothing but pure relationship goals. Their latest anniversary celebration proves that some love stories keep getting sweeter. The power couple has been displaying their adoration for each other, turning social media into a love letter platform. Taking to Instagram to mark their special milestone, both stars melted hearts with deeply personal anniversary tributes that showcase exactly why South Africans can't get enough of their romance. 'Happy 4 years of marriage to this shooting star of a woman, Liesl Laurie-Mthombeni. Literally the best 4 years I've been doing anything. It's our anniversary, naughty girl. We did it and continue to do it,' Dr Musa wrote, with his signature playful tone. But the beloved TV personality didn't stop there. True to form, he continued singing his wife's praises: 'To the lady that acts like she's full so that I can eat the last of the food on her plate. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Liesl Laurie-Mthombeni (@liesllaurie) 'To the lady who eats the crust off my pizza slices. To the lady who owes me R500 that I know I'll never get back.' Liesl's response was equally heartwarming: 'You know I'm a shy person who isn't good with words, so I have little to say on a special day such as this, except that marrying you was the best decision I've ever made. I'll continue to choose you every day until the end of time,' she shared. Their anniversary celebrations aren't confined to Instagram posts alone. The married couple is currently living their best life on holiday, celebrating their four-year milestone with a romantic escape that spans from Hong Kong to an idyllic island getaway in the Philippines, because why settle for one destination when you can have two? Dr Musa Mthombeni and Liesl have become synonymous with wanderlust, earning their reputation as South Africa's ultimate globetrotting power couple. They've mastered the art of putting the fun back into travel, turning every trip into content that leaves their followers with a serious case of fomo (fear of missing out). View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dr Musa Mthombeni (@drmusamthombeni) The secret to their jet-setting lifestyle? An uncompromising approach to adventure that many couples could learn from. When previously asked about how they manage to travel so extensively despite their busy schedules, the couple revealed their travel philosophy. 'Once it is in the diary, it is in the diary. We will then move all our work commitments, shoots, family time, and all our other important things in our lives in and around that travel time because once the trip is booked, we are going, and we will make it happen,' Laurie-Mthombeni explained. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dr Musa Mthombeni (@drmusamthombeni) Dr Musa said, 'You will never reach a point in your life where you find yourself available to travel. Retirement is too far for you to say you will travel then. I'll have too many broken bones to really enjoy travelling. So, I make the time.' 'Even if you find yourself losing money in the short run, do it. If you have leave days, take the leave days. So, do as much as you can while you're still young and able to travel, because the future isn't guaranteed, and anything can happen. If you can travel, do it.'
