There are places in Singapore that quietly take your breath away, not for their grandeur but for their grace. Kee’s, the restaurant inside 21 Carpenter, is one of them. From the moment you step in, it feels like a lesson in how design can whisper rather than shout. The space, conceived by WOHA Architects, has that rare balance of history and modernity. Once a 1930s banking hall, it now hums with the energy of a contemporary bistro. Brass details catch the light, soft tones make you linger a little longer, and everywhere you look there’s intention. It is not just a place to eat breakfast; it is a space that makes you pause and notice how beauty and function can live together.

The menu is thoughtful, the service unhurried, and the experience reminds you how much design can shape emotion. Even the way the morning light hits the marble counters feels orchestrated. It is not grand for the sake of it; it is human, warm, and quietly confident.

What truly set my morning apart was the incredible service. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with a warmth that felt entirely genuine. Glynn, one of the team members, welcomed me with such grace that it immediately set the tone for the day. She gave me a little tour of the space, explaining its story and the philosophy behind its design. Then she surprised me with a beautiful plate that read “Welcome to Singapore.” It was such a simple gesture, yet so thoughtful that it completely charmed me. In that moment, I understood what hospitality really means. Not just good service, but care translated into small, unforgettable acts.

The hotel that holds it, 21 Carpenter, is equally remarkable. Located between Clarke Quay and Chinatown, it began life in 1936 as a remittance house where Chinese migrant workers sent money and letters home. WOHA has transformed it into a 48-room boutique hotel that still carries the soul of that story. The architects kept the original four shophouses and added a modern extension on top, wrapped in a delicate aluminum façade etched with excerpts from those old remittance letters. The result is both poetic and precise.

What I love most is the reveal. From the street you see only the elegant old building, restored with quiet pride. But when you cross the road and look again, you notice the new structure floating above it. It is as if time has folded over itself. The old and the new coexist, not competing, just completing each other.

Every detail speaks of care: the timber floors, the subtle typography, the thoughtful quotes that appear when you least expect them. It is design that tells a story rather than shows off a concept. There is something deeply emotional about it, and I find myself wanting to stay there one day, to wake up in a place that feels both rooted and forward-looking.

Breakfast at Kee’s and a stay at 21 Carpenter are not just experiences; they are reminders that beauty, kindness, and thoughtfulness always go hand in hand.

Some places remind you that perfection still exists. The Peninsula in Penang is one of them.

We found it by chance, walking along one of the main streets in Penang. We looked up, saw the lights, and decided to go in. It started with a dessert called Eton Mess that we commented on, and from that moment, it became a total love affair. We have never stopped going back.

The atmosphere is effortless. The architecture feels preserved, not polished. Every detail is thought through, from the linen napkins to the perfect water glass, from the quiet confidence of the staff to the way the light falls on the tables. Even the toilets are another level.

And the food is extraordinary. Inventive, precise, yet deeply comforting. I had a dessert made with mushroom purée, sweet marinated mushrooms, and flowers. It sounds impossible, but it was exquisite. Earthy, surprising, and completely right.

The team radiates joy. You can feel that they love what they do. The energy is warm, creative, and beautifully human. Maybe the entrance smoke is a bit much, but then again, it is Penang, and we all love a little drama for Instagram.

The Peninsula is the kind of place that feels like stepping into a page of Kinfolk, elegant, grounded, and full of soul. It is proof that when good taste meets good hearts, everything can go right.

The last time I set foot in Club Med Cherating was in 1986. I was 16 or 17, working as a GO at the Mini Club. Now it is 2025, I am 55, and returning felt like stepping into a time warp. It was as if nothing had changed. The only difference was the faces around me and, to put it politely, the GOs of today are a little different from the ones back then.

The beach, though, remains as breathtaking as ever. A stretch of sand that feels utterly untouched and unmatchable. Walking along the coast was like slipping into another world. Low season meant space to breathe, so I could walk alone, play tennis with a fantastic coach, or wander through nature in peace. It was the perfect refuge from my hectic life.

The food was still excellent, just as I remembered, and the rooms were simple yet reasonable. Renovations are coming in June next year and prices will surely rise, so if you want to experience Cherating in its current unpretentious, timeless state, now is the moment to go.

Not much has changed, except perhaps the crowd. Let’s just say Club Med Cherating attracts a very comfortable set these days. Not the sexiest of the lot, but somehow that makes it even funnier.

I spent four nights there, and it was worth every penny. The sea alone, vast and unforgettable, is reason enough to return.

While exploring Singapore, I wandered into a beautifully curated shop called Artifactt (yes, with two T’s), tucked away on the ground floor of Palais Renaissance, 390 Orchard Road. It’s run by the elegant and warm Annie Li, and feels more like a design gallery than a store.

There, I stumbled upon something unexpected — a line of ceramics by Ann Demeulemeester, one of the iconic Antwerp Six. I had no idea she had her own tableware collection, created in collaboration with Belgian design house Serax. The pieces are sculptural, poetic, and that deep green glaze… absolutely hypnotic.

Having studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp while she was teaching there, this discovery felt incredibly personal. A full-circle moment.

I made myself a quiet promise: the day I have an apartment in Singapore, I’ll come back and buy the whole set. Plates, bowls, the works.

Artifactt may look a little intimidating from the outside, but go in. The prices are surprisingly reasonable, and everything inside is beautifully chosen. You’ll want to bring it all home.

Follow them on Instagram at @artifactt_official
or visit their website.

If there’s one woman who reminds me that dancing is vital for the soul, it’s Carmen Avilés.

She dances in a slip, in a dress, barefoot, on stage, off stage, everywhere. It’s raw. It’s instinctive. And it’s real. Dance isn’t a performance for her, it’s a pulse, a way of being. Flamenco runs through her veins, and you feel it in every movement, every flick of her hand, every stomp of her foot.

We don’t dance enough.
We scroll. We pose. We rehearse a TikTok move for likes.
But what happened to dancing just because the music was good?
After dinner. In the living room. At breakfast even.

Dance, like Carmen does, for yourself.

There’s something deeply moving about how she honours flamenco’s gypsy roots, not just in the dance, but in the clothing too. Long, sweeping skirts, earthy colours, bold confidence. It’s a world away from trends. It’s heritage in motion.

Carmen reminds me that being alive is not about how we look, but how we move.

Go follow her.
And more importantly: put on a song tonight and dance your heart out.

IG: @carmenaviles13

This month, we fell head over heels for RIKA STUDIOS in the 9 Straatjes. The shop itself is a masterclass in elegant restraint – fresh flowers, curated art, and garments that felt thoughtful and timeless.

Shoes, perfumes, a few pieces of clothing – not much, but everything spoke volumes. Proof that simplicity can still inspire you to want it all.