Briefly, please could you tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Elaine and I’ve unofficially graduated from my Polytechnic (some call it the tertiary education), so I’m currently chilling out either at home or with my friends. I am turning 20 this year, so I don’t know how much of an insight I can give here, but I’ll try my best!

If you’re interested in swapping postcards with me, do drop me a message at postcrossing.

My whole life! I’ve probably not lived enough to see Singapore change, but I’m sure it has changed..haha. I’ve had the same bedroom my whole life, although it has changed over the years as my mom loves to switch around stuff in the house.

Well, I have to say that I am blessed to be living in Singapore because firstly, there are no natural disasters I can think of. I am very thankful for that because I think Singapore would disappear from the face of the earth if she met with any calamity. There’s a reason why she’s called the “Little Red Dot”.

Many people from the west would die (well, literally) to live in Singapore for the great sunny weather, but as the saying goes “the grass is always greener on the other side”. I sometimes wish that Singapore had the four great seasons. I’ve never seen real snow in my life! There is a snow city here but asking me to pay for a two-hour playtime in man-made snow? Nah-ah.

In case you still don’t know, Singapore hosted the first F1 night race event last year. I am personally proud of that. I still wish, I had worked for the event under one of my part-time workplaces (Raffles Hotel, actually). My friend served beer during the event!

Wait..I think I’m digressing. Anyway, Singapore is a very, very safe country. You could walk down the streets during broad daylight and during the night without having to worry about someone robbing you. But of course, this does not mean that there is no crime.

Singapore is also very clean and green. At every corner, you get to see a green bin where you can throw your rubbish. I do know of tourists mentioning that Singapore is literally green everywhere. Everywhere you turn, you get to see trees and more trees.

I could go on about this like forever..hahaha. But I’ll just stop here for the benefit of your eyes, if you’re reading this, that is.

I really cannot think of anything that travellers should stop doing, I guess travellers in Singapore have been generally well behaved

Visit the different temples around Singapore. We have the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Sri Mariamman Temple in Chinatown. Just follow the little rules they have and you can enter the temples.

If you’re a fan of museums, there are quite a number to visit. Most of them are in the City hall area, so you can actually walk from one to another.

Travellers should get used to the way Singaporeans speak, especially those you might encounter while trying to bargain. Their English language is probably not their best forte, so don’t be surprise if you hear broken English. You might even hear Singlish, where sentences tend to end with lah, mah, hor, meh. Google Singlish if you want to know more about it

Singapore is a multi-racial country; since there is no four seasons to look out for, traditions and festivities are the ones you should look out for instead. Festivals such as Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Hari Raya and Christmas are the ones that are greatly celebrated by all Singaporeans here. Even myself, it was my first time experiencing Deepavali, an Indian festival, because I was on a school assignment. You can check out some of my pictures on Flickr. I had to use a film SLR camera for school requirement purposes.

Last but not least, food. Check out the Chilli Crab, Hainanese Chicken Rice and Laksa around little corners of Singapore. Sometimes, small shops are the ones that are not to be missed! Or if you like, you can visit Clarke Quay where the night comes alive with loud music and drinks along the Singapore River. Wednesday is Ladies’ Night, so ladies should check out the different clubs/pubs that permit free drinks and entry for ladies.

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Briefly, please could you tell us a bit about yourself?

I’m Tadamine Maki from Tokyo, a 30-year old Japanese man, working at a bank on weekdays and at a TV station on weekends.

I started writing about Japanese culture a year ago. I majored in architecture at college and graduate school. Then, after 4 years working at a construction company, I changed my job to become a writer to introduce traditional Japanese culture.

Now I run two blogs, TokyoDailyPhoto and KyotoDailyPhoto. TokyoDailyPhoto shows you the modern side of Japan and KyotoDailyPhoto shows the old and traditional side of Japan. The blogs are updated almost everyday.

How long have you lived in Tokyo?

I have been in Tokyo for 20 years in total.

What do you like most about living in Tokyo?

I enjoy a variety of delicious food easily, from all over Japan and many countries, in Tokyo, if I can afford it. Along with Chinese, Korean, French and Italian food, we also enjoy Indian, Brazilian, Turkish cuisines, etc.

Is there anything you do not like about living in Tokyo?

The heat and humidity in the summer. Plus, too many people on the trains during rush hour. So I use my bicycle to commute and don’t want to get on a train, heading for the business district in the middle of Tokyo, at 8 am on a weekday in the summer. But it may be better to be on a diet.

What do you wish travellers would do when they visit Tokyo?

Just wandering the streets in Tokyo is one of the better ways to get to know and enjoy Tokyo, I think. If you prefer the chaotic side of Tokyo, then go to Shinjuku and Shibuya. If the modern and fashionable side of Tokyo, Omote-sando and Ginza. If you would like to enjoy the brand-new skyscrapers, Shiodome will satisfy you. Asakusa is one of old towns in Tokyo and there you will see the other side of Tokyo. If you really would like to enjoy the traditional side of Japan, I advise you to go to Kyoto, 2 and a half hours by express train.

What do you wish travellers would stop doing when they visit Tokyo?

Please stop feeling bad if you can hardly make yourself understood in English in Tokyo. Most of us are poor at speaking and understanding English, including me, even though we learn English for six years at least. Because we don’t have to speak English in daily life. But we are always happy to welcome you.

If a visitor had time to do or see only one thing in Tokyo, what should it be?

If you like or are interested in fish and sushi, it would be best to go to Tsukiji fish market, the biggest fish market in the world, very early in the morning while you are still suffering from jet lag. Early in the morning in Tokyo equals to night in Europe or afternoon in the US. So it may be easy for you to get up early in Tokyo. At the market, you will hear workers’ unique voices at the tuna auction and see many kinds of fish, arranged at small, crammed shops, before you taste “real” sushi in restaurants there. Some sushi restaurants, unfortunately not all, at the market are more reasonably priced and more delicious than the ones in the streets of Tokyo. But you need to wait in line to eat sushi there.

If you are more interested in electronic goods, some big electronic shops in Akihabara and Shinjuku will fully meet your demand.

If a visitor had time for only one meal in Tokyo, which dish would you recommend?

There are many types of delicious food in Tokyo, but I will recommend sushi. Sushi is a small rice ball, slightly flavoured with vinegar, with a slice of raw or cooked fish put on top of the rice ball. A bit of wasabi, Japanese horseradish paste, is added as a flavoring between the sliced fish and small rice ball. We usually eat sushi with a drop of soy sauce, Shoyu.

Yakiniku, grilled beef, is also my recommendation. This cuisine came from Korea, but now it is very popular in Japan.

Do you have any other insider tips for visitors to Tokyo?

If you would like just to see beautifully dressed women, it is best to wander around at Ginza 7-chome or 8-chome, from 7 to 8 pm on weekdays. The district has a galaxy of “clubs”, bars where elegant women, dressed to the nines, serve guests. Most bars start at 8 pm, so you can see the women walking to the bars. But I don’t advise you to go the bars, because the fee is very expensive.

In case nature calls on the street, it is best to go to department stores or 24/7 stores, called convenience stores in Japan. The department stores usually have toilets on every floor and 24/7 stores are on every corner of the streets in Tokyo, so you will find them very easily. Half of the 24/7 stores will allow you to use the washroom, even if you don’t buy anything at the store. (The rest of the stores have no washroom for customers.) The clerk may not speak English at all, but will understand what you want and will allow you to use the washroom if you simply say to them, “toilet, please” or “toire kashite kudasai”.

Karaoke box is a good place for resting and relaxing, if you get tired from walking during daytime. Karaoke box is originally a shop where you can rent a small room with a sofa and a table. Guests usually sing some songs using the Karaoke machine, while they eat and drink. We can also use this room just for drinking or resting, if we want. The rent fee is very reasonable, about 1 USD per person, per hour, not including food and drink. But that fee is only during daytime on weekdays.

Note

Anni Poulsen: For an almost daily dose of photos from Tokyo head on over to TokyoDailyPhoto.

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Briefly, please could you tell us a bit about yourself?

I am a stay-@-home wife. But, every now and then, I am involved in projects related to urban and regional development studies, which give me the opportunities to visit some Indonesian cities/places. I hold a bachelor degree (undergraduate) in urban and regional planning from Institut Teknologi Bandung.

In my spare time, I maintain my blogs: Writing from My Desk, Yang Melintas (in Bahasa Indonesia) and Buku, Buku, Buku! (in Bahasa Indonesia).

How long have you lived in Jakarta?

I was born in Jakarta 44 years ago and spent most of my life here. However, I lived in Bandung (West Java Province) for eight years and in Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta Special Region Province) for a year. So, I have lived in Jakarta almost 35 years.

How is Jakarta coping in the aftermath of the recent flood?

Thank you for asking. People have finished cleaning their houses and pupils their schools. But they still have to repair their damaged belongings or buy new ones. News media and community organizations collected and distributed donations for floods casualties.

What do you like most about living in Jakarta?

Jakarta is the biggest city in Indonesia. You can find almost everything in Jakarta.

Is there anything you do not like about living in Jakarta?

Traffic congestion and ehm.. fear of criminality when riding untrusted public transport *sigh*

Why should travellers visit Jakarta or Java?

Jakarta, the most densely populated urban area in Indonesia, has been interacting with people from other countries for centuries. This can be traced in museums, old buildings and the old port in the “old town” area. However, Jakarta also offers modern life with internationally-chained restaurants, cafes, shops and malls.

Java, the most densely populated island in the country, has many interesting places to visit and subcultures to offer.

I highly recommend Bromo mountain in East Java Province to watch the sunrise there. You have to depart pre-dawn from nearby cities (among other is Probolinggo), walk across the sand and climb the many concrete steps to reach the crater-rim. It’s a breathtaking view you’ll never forget!

In West Java Province, near Bandung, you can find Tangkuban Perahu mountain to enjoy the volcanic panorama there or trek down into the crater.

Bandung and its surrounding areas also have some interesting tourism objects such as Dago Pakar forest park, Maribaya and Ciater hot springs. Enjoy “angklung” (a bamboo musical instrument) performance at Saung Angklung Ujo, or just enjoy the city lights from northern Bandung at night.

In the northward of Yogyakarta lies Borobudur Temple, a grand Buddhist temple, while in the eastward of Yogya lies the Prambanan Temple compounds. Both Borobudur and Prambanan Temples are UNESCO World Heritage sites. During the dry season, in particular at night, Ramayana Dance will be performed at Prambanan Temple.

In Yogya, and Solo as well, we can visit the Keratons – the Javanese kings’ palaces. In Solo, try to visit the Pasar Klewer, the biggest market for batik and lurik (handwoven fabric). Wow, so many things to tell.., and I have yet to mention arts, crafts, food and other things.

However, Indonesia consists not only of Java and Bali. We also have Sumatera, Lombok, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku islands and Papua. Besides some parts of Java and Bali, I have visited only Padang and Bukittinggi in West Sumatera Province, Lombok island and a little part of South and East Kalimantan. I wish, I can visit more parts of Indonesia.

What do you wish travellers would do when they visit Jakarta and Java?

I wish, they would take their time to visit interesting places of Jakarta and Java.

If a visitor had time to do or see only one thing in Jakarta, what should it be?

I would like to suggest the “Miniature Park of Beautiful Indonesia” (Taman Mini Indonesia Indah) where visitors can browse Indonesian culture in a one-stop-visit, since each province of Indonesia has its own pavillion there. Also, there is a miniature replica of Indonesian islands from Sumatera island in the west to Papua in the east.

If a visitor would look to see or buy Indonesian handicrafts, I would like to suggest a visit to the Pasaraya Department Store in Blok M (floor 3 and 4, if I am not mistaken). They sell good quality Indonesian handicrafts of all kinds.

If a visitor had time for only one meal in Jakarta, which dish would you recommend?

Each region of Indonesia has its own specialty dish and lucky us in Jakarta we can find almost any kind of food, we would like to eat.

Now, it depends on the visitor’s choice, if you like a hot and spicy dish there’s Padang food or Manado food, for a sweet tasty dish there’s nasi gudeg from Yogya, Sundanese food, East Javan food or gado-gado (cooked local vegetables mixed with peanut sauces) from Jakarta.

Do you have any other insider tips for visitors to Jakarta and Java?

- While in Jakarta, use only taxi from reputable companies such as the “Blue Bird” group (”Blue Bird”, “Pusaka … this” or “Pusaka … that”) or “Express Taxi”.

- Being in the tropical zone, most Indonesian places are hot, 24-32 °C or 75-89 °F. However, cities like Bandung or Bukittinggi are colder at 18-20 °C or 64-68 °F.

Related Articles

View of a Local in Batu Belig, Bali

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Our new View of a Local series consists of interviews with local people in various towns and cities in different countries.

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Briefly, please could you tell us a bit about yourself?

I’m Enrico Dee, 28 years old and I work as a Technical Support Engineer in Makati City, Philippines. I took up Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in University of Saint La Salle in Bacolod City.

One of my greatest passions in life is travelling. During free time, I usually travel from one city to another, exploring its wonderful sights and appreciating the city’s local history and culture.

I also love seeing the various festivals of the Philippines. These festivals showcase the unique and colourful life of the people in our country.

I have travelled the northern Philippines up to Laoag City in the province of Ilocos Norte, 500 kilometers north of Manila, down to the province of Basilan in Mindanao, some 900 kilometers south of Manila. All of these journeys are documented in my travel blog called “BYAHILO: Your Journey Begins Here”. Byahilo is a combination of two Filipino words “Byahe” meaning to travel, and “Hilo” meaning nausea. Literally, byahilo means a travel sickness.

How long have you lived in the Philippines?

I have lived in the Philippines for 28 years. I was born and raised in Bacolod City, some 600 kilometers south of Manila for 24 years, then in 2003, I moved residency to Makati City, Metro Manila.

What do you like most about living in the Philippines?

The Philippines has just so much to offer. There are 7,107 islands in our country. 7,107 ways to enjoy the sun, sea and sand. More than a thousand ways to marvel at the great architectural masterpieces. More than a hundred ways to learn our historic past. There’s always something new, every day. You will never run out of adventure here in the Philippines.

Is there anything you do not like about living in the Philippines?

The politics, like in any other country, is dragging the progress of our country to a standstill. The horrendous traffic jam in Metro Manila during peak hours. The traffic jam in Manila is second only to Bangkok’s.

Why should travellers visit the Philippines?

The Philippines is made of 7,107 islands. White sand beaches are all over the archipelago. Fantastic view of the sunrise and the sunset. We have the most perfect cone volcano. The Philippines is home to hundreds of animals endemic only to the islands. We have colonial houses, churches and even cemeteries of outstanding architecture that are centuries old and well-preserved. Many of our sites have already been declared as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

The Filipinos are noted as some of the most hospitable people in the world. We are known for our friendly smiles and warm welcome. There is no month in the Philippines that has no fiesta. This is because we Filipinos love to celebrate and we live life to its fullest.

What do you wish travellers would do when they visit the Philippines?

Ride a jeepney. The jeepney is the Philippine’s main mode of transportation. It’s cheaper than a cab. Also try to ride a calesa. A calesa is a horse-drawn carriage. This type of transportation was very common during the time when the Philippines was still part of Spain. But there are parts of the Philippines, especially in Manila, where calesas are still being used.

Enjoy the sun, sea, and sand in Boracay. It’s an island in the central Philippines known for its white, powdery sand beach. Explore the cool weather of the northern Philippines by going to the Banaue Rice Terraces and see how the Igorot tribe plants rice. Marvel at the beauty of the Honda Bay and the St. Paul Underground River in Palawan. Known as one of the longest underground rivers in the world. Walk through the historic streets of Intramuros in Manila. Intramuros is also known as the “Walled city of Manila”.

If a visitor had time to do or see only one thing in the Philippines, what should it be?

Visit Palawan. In Palawan everything’s already there. This province is known as the last frontier of the Philippines and the cradle of the Philippine Civilization. Enjoy the white sand beaches in Honda Bay. Explore nature’s beauty in Tubbataha Reef, and the St. Paul’s Underground River, both declared as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Marvel at the unique limestone formations, and dive the sunken ships in Coron.

If a visitor had time for only one meal in the Philippines, which dish would you recommend?

I think, it’s going to be the “Balut”. Balut is a boiled, fertilized duck egg seasoned with salt and vinegar. Usually the liquid part of the egg is sucked out first. The duck embryo is next to be consumed, then the yolk, and finally, the egg white. Many people also consider balut as an aphrodisiac. Balut is available all over the Philippines, but the town of Pateros is known for mass-producing this commodity.

Do you have any other insider tips for visitors to the Philippines?

Just don’t listen to any negative travel advisories about the Philippines. The media is always exaggerating what’s really happening in our country. The Philippines is a very peaceful country. Resorts and public places are always secured. There’s no need for you to worry about your security.

Note

Anni Poulsen: Enrico shares not only some nice stories, but also some fantastic photos on his blog including his latest series from the 35th Paraw Regatta. So treat yourself to a visit to BYAHILO.

Put your pin in our map

Our View of a Local series consists of interviews with local people in various towns and cities in different countries.

The map below shows the places covered so far.

Use the zoom and directional buttons to navigate the map. Click on the red points to view more information and the satellite button for a satellite image.

For more information about how you can take part in our View of a Local series, please go to our View of a Local page >>

Technorati Tags: travel, the Philippines, View of a Local