24 VARIATIONS ON SINGAPORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA'S MUSIC IN THE MEADOW @ GARDENS BY THE BAY

Some of the best things in the world are free. The Singapore Symphony Orchestra's outdoor concerts are one of them. It's been ages since the last time I've attended an SSO outdoor concert, and this is the first time we're visiting Gardens by the Bay for such an event. The weather on a late Saturday afternoon (14 March 2026) was cool and not stifling, and there's no threat of rain, just the perfect setting for the concert.

There were thousands in attendance, to witness an hour-long performance led by SSO's award-winning Associate Conductor Rodolfo Barráez, who will soon be leaving the orchestra for a new posting. The programme had no Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky or Ravel, instead focusing on Singaporean, Latin American and women composers, which made for a refreshing change. For many, it was a chance to enjoy a picnic and drinks in the great outdoors, and to enjoy good music... 

A rehearsal and sound check.

Conductor Rodolfo takes a breather.

With the stage crew.
The concert does not take place without them.

The SSO members take a break too.

My concert paraphernalia.

A view of the audience.

Rodolfo makes a plea for world peace.
Boy, do we need that.

The Singaporean pieces by
Sandra Lim and Wang Chenwei get an airing.

A view of bassist Yang Zhengyi.

Young violinist Low Peng Yang
plays Manuel Ponce's Estrellita.

As the sun sets...

... the concert stage glows

Sulwyn Lok's Mass Rapid City,
a train piece, closes the memorable concert.

Post concert photos:

A gift from Deutschland,
Ich bin ein Bearliner,
Florestan und Eusebius.

SUKA MAKAN: MONKI TAIWAN CAFE @ STAR VISTA

Who does not love Taiwanese food? The food is the reason why people travel to Taiwan and sample the delights of Shih Lin night market and other foodie haunts. Much closer home is Monki Taiwan Cafe, which serves up the same treats to be found in the streets of Taipei. This friendly and informal cafe used to be located near Holland Drive Market, but has since relocated to the more upmarket Star Vista. The dishes are delicious, more than ample and filling, while the prices are still reasonable. Here is what we sampled on our latest visit.

Japanese styled display of items

Monki's bestseller: Braised pork rice.

Simply delicious:
Braised beef brisket stew / soup

Just enjoy the beefy goodness and richness.

Just Desserts:
Water-melon snowflake ice with jellies.

Not sure why this cafe has a simian mascot.

Now we know.
Hou jiak (delicious) is the homonym
of "monkey eats".

MONKI TAIWAN CAFE

The Star Vista

Vista Exchange Green #01-41

Tel: 6258-8112

MONKI 台灣小吃部 (@monkitaiwansg) • Instagram photos and videos

SUKA MAKAN: SOME SHOPS ON CHUN TIN ROAD, OFF UPPER BUKIT TIMAH ROAD

It is common practice to sometimes have meals near your workplace. Chun Tin Road is walking distance from Bukit Timah Plaza, and is where I sometimes have meals with friends, usually at Wednesday lunchtime. There used to be a French restaurant (Vis a Vis) on this short stretch of 1960s shophouses, and there is a good vegetarian restaurant (D'Life) still here. But on this occasion, I opted to go Korean and joining me was the jazz-crossover pianist Tze Toh, who regularly hangs out in the Beauty World area for food and inspiration. This is what we had.

The informality of this Oven Fried Chicken Korean outlet is what brought me here years ago. The food is simple, unpretentious and fairly reasonably priced. A nice kimchee stew (not the full-blown Army Stew variety) is filling enough, and the fried chicken is good enough to write home about.

 

OVEN FRIED CHICKEN

16 Chun Tin Road

Singapore 599603

Tel: 6463-3505

A long-time favourite is Ng Kim Lee Confectionery, the only shop from the 1960s that is still running to this day. This family-run business has been handed to the next generation, but still maintains its standard in local pastry favourites like lao po bing, beh teh saw and other assorted yummies. 

NG KIM LEE CONFECTIONERY

4 Chun Tin Road

Singapore 599591

Tel: 6466-3515

The Beauty World district has its own history, which began when Cheong Chun Tin, a rich merchant bought a large plot of land and erected rows of shop houses on what is Cheong Chin Nam Road today. It's history is nicely summarised on the heritage boards erected just outside the Beauty World MRT exit.

Beauty World also holds special significance for the Chang family, simply because it was the original location of Chang Clinic when it opened in 1965. Chang Clinic moved to Bukit Timah Plaza in 1978. The shanty town businesses of Beauty World were later cleared and relocated during the early 1980s, after sustaining a number of fires. All there exists today is the original staircase running down from Chun Tin Road to a public carpark below.

The red arrows indicate roughly where
the old Chang Clinic was located.