Heveya has Belgian roots and a Bali soul, and they are well known in Singapore for their natural rubber mattresses and breathable bamboo sheets. They approach rest with an attention to detail that feels both intentional and refined. And next year, we will be creating a collection together. I cannot wait to share it with you.

But last night wasn’t about business.
It was about atmosphere. Taste. Ideas. And the pleasure of seeing a Christmas celebration done differently.

Instead of the usual festive clichés, Heveya served the most extraordinary 100 percent vegan spread. Elegant, surprising, and genuinely delicious.
Popcorn that made you rethink popcorn. A “foie gras” made entirely from tofu that somehow tasted like the real thing.
Smoked dragon fruit paired with cashew nuts. Hot chocolate that wrapped itself around you like a blanket.

Nothing excessive, everything intentional.

The setting was equally thoughtful. Guests lounged on their signature mattresses and soft sheets, turning the entire space into a living room of comfort. A carol singer arrived and filled the room with warmth. And the crowd, interesting, curious, creative and it reminded me how inspiring it is when people gather without pretense.

It was a gentle reminder that Christmas can be beautiful without the formula.
It can be simple. It can be thoughtful. And yes, it can be entirely vegan.

Here’s to Heveya, for the taste, the courage, and the inspiration.
And to the year ahead, where we will create something beautiful together.
Stay tuned.

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.