Big Bus Tours
Friday, December 5, 2025
After a wonderful breakfast at the hotel, we jumped on the Big Bus Singapore tour. If you’ve never been to Singapore, it’s actually a smart move — you get your bearings, see the big landmarks, and decide where you want to circle back later.
Midday, we hopped off at Hong Lim Market & Food Centre for lunch. I’d been there before, so I knew what we were walking into: organized chaos. It was lunchtime and packed, just like last time.
One stall had the unmistakable long line — the one with the Michelin Bib Gourmand mention that’s been all over YouTube. Good for them but as much as I would like to try their food, I’m not standing in line for an hour (or two) in a hawker center when there are 30 other excellent options within 50 feet. We split up and found other dishes with a reasonable wait. That’s the beauty of hawker centers — there’s always another gem.
Sultan Mosque
Little India
We finished the bus loop and Ubered back to the hotel. Sophon wanted a nap. I went for a walk… and realized Hong Lim was only a couple of blocks away. Had we known that earlier, we probably would have just walked.
For dinner, we kept it simple at BK Eating House. No frills. Fluorescent lighting. Plastic chairs. The kind of place locals actually eat.
Laksa
I ordered Black Carrot Cake (Chai Tow Kway)— and if you’re American, this is not dessert. No carrots. No frosting. It’s a savory fried radish cake with egg, preserved radish, and seasoning. It’s quickly becoming one of my go-to Singapore dishes.
Sophon ordered Laksa. Huge bowl. Rich, coconutty, spicy broth. He still wasn’t satisfied and added duck over rice. That duck was shockingly good — tender, flavorful, and easily the standout of the night.
By 7:30 PM, we were done. Completely wiped out.
Jet lag humbles you. I used to power through time changes and go out late without thinking twice. These days? Dinner with a beer and I’m ready for bed before the sun fully sets.
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