Hear. Here. Singapore.

I decided to get curious and approach strangers to ask them questions about Singapore. For the first ep, I'm in Everton Park, one of the oldest residential estates in Singapore, and barter a fantastic coffee from Nylon Coffee in exchange for strangers answering, "What's the Most Singaporean Thing About You?  Hear. Here. Singapore. #singapore #strangers #askaboutsingapore #evertonpark #nyloncoffee...

Everywhere you go in Singapore, you hear them. The distinctive rhythm initially holds steady, then ramps up until it blurs into a continuous note that can cause hearing loss if enough of them are around. They are... cicadas. Recorded with our 3Dio FreeSpace Pro II Binaural Microphone w DPA 4060 capsules into our SoundDevices MixPre 6ii. Listen on Headphones Singapore Cicadas Brood X Periodic Cicad...

22km from the city centre, on a quiet hill, lie the remains for over 4,400 who died in the line of duty during World War II. The Singapore Memorial bears the names of 24,346 soldiers and airmen killed in SE Asia, who have no known grave. The Kranji War Memorial reminds us that modern and prosperous Singapore owes a debt to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Visit Singapore   Commonwealth War G...

It's the bird that everyone hates, because of it's annoying call: the Asian Koel starts calling for a mate from as early as 5am, and it's wail has been described as u-wu / oo-oh / ooh-whoo: whichever way you spell it, Singaporeans aren't fans, and some 600 call NParks to complain every year. But did you know that the Asian Koel does do one thing that we should love it for? Read more about Asian Ko...

Presenting our very first episode for an encore. Take a trip to Singapore’s first musical box museum, which aims to share the short history of musical boxes & how they made their way to Singapore. It's at 168 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068619 and is open 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday. We recorded the music boxes in binaural, so put on your headphones t...

Start your morning right with an artisanal coffee brewed by the baristas at Nylon Coffee Roasters at 4 Everton Park #01-40, Postcode 080004.  In this episode, you'll hear  Grinding Beans Mechanised Tamping Espresso Machine w Brew Boiler and Steam Boiler Frothing Milk Cup Cleaning Try to identify each step as it happens!  Their Coffee Bar overlooks a school and quaint little park, perfect for you t...

Every Chinese New Year, across Singapore, you'll hear lion dances to bring good luck in the new year. Learn more about the simple instruments used and, most importantly, how much it costs to get a lion dance troupe over to your home/office/shop to raise the roof and start the year right! For some reason, this is our most popular episode, and it's probably cos even though it's an impromptu recordin...

Immerse yourself in a south bath of Himalayan Full Moon Singing Bowls at The Singing Bowl Gallery. The Full Moon bowls are struck under a full moon, which is said to imbue each bowl with a special aura that makes the note of the bowl more ethereal. The address is 160 Robinson Road #04-12 SBF Centre, Singapore 068914. I'm on a short break, so I'm resurfacing a few classic episodes from our first se...

The sonic logo for every Hear. Here. Singapore episode has undergone a total makeover, and in this episode, we follow the long and winding road that ended up at the legendary Snakeweed Studios to re-record the guitar part, with founder Leonard Soosay working the board.  The SPLICE Cast sonic logo was produced by Omer Abdullah, Geoff Kent, Philip O'Mullan, Simon Viera-Ribeiro, Vijay Nainani and Ken...

When passing the scene of a traffic accident, most folks rubber neck to see the aftermath, and no more. In Singapore, gamblers note down the license plates and then go place a bet on that number coming up in the draw. Welcome to the insane world of gambling on numbers and the folly of trying to beat the house! Hear. Here. Singapore. National Council on Problem Gambling #immersive #3daudio #3dio #h...

Out and about again with my parabolic mic, I decided to track down a single cicada and record it going through a full cycle of the iconic cicada song. Alkaff Mansion is a good spot to get away from the city and record cicadas... but there are also plenty of crows there. Crows happen to be a natural predator of the noisy critters... and mayhem ensues! Hear. Here. Singapore. Image by Mosharraf Hossa...

Bird Singing enthusiasts have been coming to Ang Mo Kio Garden West since the 70s, bringing their pride and joy to hang on rods as the birds and owners socialise. What started out as a handful of hobbyists is now a space for as many as 1,000 cages for daily gathering of nature's most beautiful singers. Visitors are always welcome at the Kebun Baru Birdsinging Club! Hear. Here. Singapore. Kebun Bar...

Jurong Bird Park, featured in early episodes early in 2020, shifted in January 2024 to Mandai, to be next to Singapore Zoo, Night Safari & River Wonders. So, it was time to visit my feathered friends in their new digs, and get up close to the American Flamingos. The way the old place was laid out, you couldn't get that close. Now, in the Crimson Wetlands, I was just a few metres from them and...

Attempted Murder? On Orchard Road?!? Has Hear. Here. Singapore. pivoted to being a True Crime podcast?  No - we're still 100% focussed on the sonic delights of Singapore, but with a newly acquired parabolic microphone, I've been recording birds. I started around my condo, then Botanic Gardens, Dempsey Hill and, finally, on to the famous shopping strip of Orchard Road, where things took a dark turn...

When you're ill, it's understandable to take a day off work after seeing a doctor who issues the necessary Medical Certificate, aka MC. But when you want a day off but haven't got the necessary annual leave allowance, it's a sly practice to "fake" being ill to get that MC and a free day off work! Shaiful Risan wrote this episode and voiced "Jo" Hear. Hear. Singapore Website #singapore #singlish #c...

We learn about a unique Singaporean-to-Singaporean term, "Sinkie". It can be an identifier or a horrid insult, and has mysterious origins. Fear not - I have my mate Nasir to help explain this contentious word used To Singaporeans, For Singaporeans, and By Singaporeans Shaiful Risan wrote this episode and voiced "Nasir" Hear. Hear. Singapore Website #singapore #singlish #comedy #parody #homage #spe...

Founded as a port, Singapore has grown into a leading SE Asian hub for trade and travel and welcomes visitors for both business and pleasure. It's a two-way street, though: Singaporeans also LOVE to travel, and the Singapore Passport was recently ranked no.1 because it grants holders visa-free travel to 196 countries across the world.  Shaiful Risan wrote this episode and voiced "Shah" Hear. Hear....

Singaporeans love to abbreviate things, and illegal loansharks have popularised O$P$ - short for Owe Money, Pay Money. With credit companies popping up, getting your hands on quick cash no longer requires you get in bed with gangsters, and the legacy of these dodgy dealers is now stuff of stories kids are told to warn them to be financially prudent! Shaiful Risan wrote this episode and voiced "Ah...

In Singapore, getting home at night means a hard stop with the last bus / last train: beyond that, you're paying top dollar to get your butt home. We get the inside dope on how to maximize your nights while minimizing wallet damage for getting back for enough shut-eye for hijinks the next day! Shaiful Risan wrote this episode and voiced "Jo" Hear. Hear. Singapore Website #singapore #singlish #come...

Public Housing in Singapore is awesome and has been a big part of Singapore's journey from kampung villages to First World status. Hang w Fai as he explains the ups and downs as well as recommendations on which HDB estate has the best chow Shaiful Risan wrote this episode, and voiced Fai Hear. Hear. Singapore Website #singapore #singlish #comedy #parody #homage #speaksolidsinglish #miniseries #wah...

Having a good time in Singapore can be tricky - go to the wrong place, and you'll have a nice time, but not a great time. Learn about Siam Diu, the Thai-themed Discotheques, and how to chit-chat with the "servers" Shaiful Risan wrote this episode, and voiced Denboy Hear. Hear. Singapore Website #singapore #singlish #comedy #parody #homage #speaksolidsinglish #miniseries #wahlau #kiasu #chope #rese...

Today, January 23rd 2024, marks a year since I lost my brother, Paul. He & his wife loved to travel, but because of his illness and the pandemic shutting borders, he never got to see Jewel at Changi Airport. So I spent a few hours grabbing sounds he would have heard at T1, T2, T3, and Jewel. The sounds in the episode are (in order) Roadside drop-off (T3) Pedestrian Crossing Jewel <-> T1...

Singlish is used everywhere in Singapore, including the work place. Office politics become toxic when someone starts to "wayang" - slang for Theatre or Acting - which means to skive off work! Shaiful Risan wrote this episode, and voiced Ah Lim.  Hear. Hear. Singapore Website #singapore #singlish #comedy #parody #homage #speaksolidsinglish #miniseries #wahlau #kiasu #chope #reserve #stamp #tissue #...

Learn the secret o how to 'reserve' a seat in a hawker centre, food court, coffee shop with a 10 cent packet of tissues - The Art of the Chope!  Zaki was voiced by Shaiful Risan , who also wrote this episode.  Hear. Hear. Singapore Website #singapore #singlish #comedy #parody #homage #speaksolidsinglish #miniseries #wahlau #kiasu #chope #reserve #stamp #tissue See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

The past meets the future as the Lion City moves towards a ca$hless society - digital payments are taking over, and our friend Roy waxes philosophically on the inevitability of progress against the loss of the chill out 90s vibe of Singapore Roy was voiced by Shaiful Risan , who also wrote this episode.  Hear. Hear. Singapore Website #singapore #singlish #comedy #parody #homage #speaksolidsinglish...