As a child, I was shorter than everybody else so I was the butt of jokes. My real name is Meliton, which rhymes with “skeleton.” So they called me “Meliton Skeleton” because I was thin too.

I had to step up to the plate and try to be better than them. I dealt with it by trying to come up with more ingenious insults. I always went to my father for inspiration.

When I started telling jokes, I fit in better, and the other students became friendly.
Comedy has always been a part of my family. If you were an outsider looking in at them, it’d be like watching a sitcom. My mum was a drama queen; when she was upset with my dad, she’d have a fainting spell, but she’d make sure she was beside a sofa.

When I want to do something funny, I get inspiration from my mum and how she deals with life, people, and my father’s death. We were having the wake and right in front of his coffin she was already talking about the car she wanted to buy with all the contributions. It’s a way of coping.

I first came to Singapore with a band. I was the singer. I was thinking “I’m so good, I’m going to be fabulous on stage, they’ll be mesmerized by my dance moves and everybody will love me,” but people walked out every time we were on. We were doing very good songs, but not popular ones.

There was one time I tried talking to the crowd, and this guy looked me up and down, and his friends laughed. I was humiliated, I wanted to hit him, but instead I pinched his cheek hard and said very gayly, “You’re sooo cuteee.” Everybody laughed.

After that, the band wanted me to act gay but at that time I was still in the closet. I had a girlfriend and I didn’t want people to know. I was worried. Did I slip? They dressed me up, and I lipsynched to Tina Turner. I had a skirt, a coconut bra and we didn’t have a wig so I used a mop.

At that time, all I felt was humiliation because there’s a difference between a comedian and a clown. You laugh with comedians, but you laugh at clowns. Slowly but surely, I started feeling this sense of accomplishment. I realized I had the power to make people laugh. Turning into a “comedian” was a very slow process.

People don’t take gay guys seriously; they think they’re funny party animals; not serious about life and always joking. If my insults came out from a straight man they wouldn’t sit well, but with a gay man, it can be put down to him just being bitchy.

The thing about comedy is, you reach a point where you start thinking, “Is this mine? Did I read it somewhere?” I’d listen to a comic and think, “I’ve been using that line forever.” A comic once said, “There are only 10 jokes in the world, comedians just learn to tell them in different ways.”

Singers can sing the same song every night but people will still request it. No one requests jokes. No one says “You tell that joke very well! Can you tell it?”

Restaurants

1. Blu Kouzina
893 Bukit Timah Rd., 6875-0872
Serving up top-notch souvlakis and meze dishes, Blu Kouzina offers an authentic Greek dining experience right down to the décor and alfresco seating.

2. Brazil Churrasco
16 Sixth Ave., 6463-1923
For meat lovers, dining at this cozy little restaurant is like finding heaven on a plate. Tuck in to a dizzying variety of meats in an all-you-can eat buffet and wash it down with a couple of caipirinhas.

3. Casa Roma
#01-09 Royal Ville, 833 Bukit Timah Rd., 6464-8509
A great place to dine with the family, Casa Roma has a comprehensive range of pizzas and pastas, complemented by delicious homemade bread.

4. Fortune Seafood Steam Boat
887 Bukit Timah Rd., 6469-5957
The fact that its signboard reads “Forture” instead of “Fortune” doesn’t stop it from being packed daily.

5. Omar Shariff Authentic Indian Cuisine
#01-02 Sixth Avenue Centre, 805 Bukit Timah Rd., 6466-7318
Dine on North Indian classics at this restaurant named after the renowned Egyptian actor who starred in such films as Doctor Zhivago.

6. Pizza da Donato
8 Sixth Ave., 6219-7562
With all the casual class of an Italian roadside diner, Pizza da Donato was Singapore’s first pizza-by-the-slice shop when it opened in 2005. Choose from a wide variety of rectangular pizza slices; they’re all $7 and all superb.

7. Stammtisch
#01-04 Sixth Avenue Centre, 805 Bukit Timah Rd., 6468-1649
More than just a haunt for homesick Swiss and German expats, their pork knuckle and emmenthal and gruyere fondues are the talk of town.

8. The Tea Party
#01-07 Sixth Avenue Centre, 805 Bukit Timah Rd., 6462-3563
As you might expect from its name, top-grade tea is the specialty of this laidback café. Low tables and comfortable sofas make it the perfect chill-out spot.

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Bars

9. Bar Bar Black Sheep
879 Bukit Timah Rd., 6468-9382
With its rustic outdoor setting, cozy interior, affordable beers and expansive multi-cuisine menu, this is exactly the kind of bar you’d want to live down the road from.

10. The Cavern
903 Bukit Timah Rd., 6468-2344
Head here to avoid a hard day’s night. Beatlemania is alive and well at the recently opened Bukit Timah branch of this pub dedicated to the Fab Four.

11. Lazy Lizard
2 Sixth Ave., 6468-6289
Another gem of a pub on Sixth Avenue, Lazy Lizard has much character and quirkiness. A great place to knock back a few pints and catch some live sports.

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Shops

12. Bikehaus
785 Bukit Timah Rd., 6468-3887
Stocking a range of high-performance race and mountain bikes, Bikehaus is beloved by the city’s cycling community.

13. Durian Lingers
#01-08 Royal Ville, 833 Bukit Timah Rd., 6763-8382
Few establishments can boast a name which makes a truer statement. Durian Lingers specializes in the King of Fruits; particularly the Mountain Cat, Phoenix and D24 varieties.

Others

14. Ikeda Spa
787 Bukit Timah Rd., 6469-8080
Channeling Zen at every corner, Ikeda is inspired by Japan’s ryokans. Elegant ikebana arrangements and kakejiku (wall scrolls) welcome you before your ganbanyoku (magma stone bed) and traditional Japanese massage sessions.

Dining

1. Chat Masala Too
18 Greenwood Ave., 6762-2133
The second outlet of the East Coast institution Chat Masala brings more of the quality naans, tikkas and, of course, masalas you’ve come to expect.

2. Greenwood Fish Market
34 Greenwood Ave., 6467-4950
This intimate little bistro lives up to its name with an open display of fish and oysters. You can’t go wrong with their seafood and sashimi platters.

3. La Braceria
5 Greendale Ave., 6465-5918
Specializing in authentic Italian cuisine, their homemade sausages are perfect complements to their exquisite pasta.

4. Shin Yuu Japanese Restaurant
16 Greenwood Ave., 6763-4939
Its name means “family and friends”, and sure enough it’s a great place to gather. Try their signature special chawanmushi and aburi salmon sushi.

5. Ubin Seafood
12 Greenwood Ave., 6469-7677
The name “Ubin” (or some variation of it) is synonymous with good seafood and this Greenwood set-up is possibly the most stylish to bear it.

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Bars

6. L’Estaminet
4 Greenwood Ave., 6465-1911
“L’Estaminet” is what the French call their local village bar, and that’s an apt name for this place. Choose from their variety of Belgian beers —and yummy food—and soak in the atmosphere.

7. The Wagon Wheel
22 Greenwood Ave., 6469-3688
An old-fashioned pub with great character, The Wagon Wheel’s oxtail stew is the definition of a hearty meal.

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Shops

8. Jane’s Art & Craft
75/77 Hillcrest Rd., 6469-5920
Many homes in Bukit Timah have Jane’s to thank for their antique and antique-inspired furniture and artifacts.

9. Lana Cakeshop
36 Greenwood Ave., 6466-8940
This no-frills, old-fashioned cakeshop still wins new fans with its signature chocolate cake.

10. Organic Hut
8 Greenwood Ave., 6467-2677
Catering to those conscious of health and the environment, Organic Hut has a wide selection of nature and body-friendly products.

Dining

1. Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre
116 Upper Bukit Timah Rd.
This classic two-story market and food center is home to many hawker favorites both new and old. Chikuyo Japanese Cuisine, Chin Hock Mutton Soup, Peter’s Pan Western Food, Mien, Ann Le Xiang Rojak, BBQ Leng Kee, Tip Top Beef Brisket and Tom Kitchen are among the top picks. Every food center has those one or two stalls with a ridiculous queue and here it’s Sin Chew Satay Bee Hoon and Cuttlefish Kang Kong.

2. Chocz. Chocolate Café & Boutique
#B1-01 Bukit Timah Plaza, 1 Jln Anak Bukit, 6462-1185
Bringing premium chocolates to Singaporeans since 2001, homegrown chocolatier Chocz imports fine raw materials from Europe, Africa, South America and Asia to produce innovative gourmet pralines.

3. Island Creamery
#01-02, 11 King Albert Park, 6467-1571
The ice-cream flavors available here are anything but ordinary; teh tarik, chendol, pulut hitam and durian top the list.

4. Ristorante Da Valentino
11 Jln Bingka, 6462-0555
This trattoria tended by an Italian family is ideal for a romantic dinner. Expect classics like parma ham with melon, rucola salad, porcini pizza and squid ink pasta. The adjacent Pearla’s Pastry Boutique is well worth visiting for their traditional Italian baked goods and customized cakes.

5. Wishbone Restaurant & Café
#B2-05 Bukit Timah Plaza, 1 Jalan Anak Bukit., 6733-3777
This cozy café in Bukit Timah Plaza’s basement has been serving up quality Western cuisine for as long as anybody can remember.

Shops

6. Hockhua Wine
#02-09/10/11 Bukit Timah Plaza, 1 Jalan Anak Bukit., 6462-3735
After making a name as a supplier of traditional health products (Hockhua Tonic is just next door), Hockhua added wines to its portfolio and now boasts a cellar with over 120 wines.

7. The PianoMan’s Shop
#B2-16 Bukit Timah Plaza, 1 Jalan Anak Bukit., 6465-4465
Fancy tinkling the ivories? The PianoMan’s Shop has new and used pianos that will lend character to any home; whether or not you actually play them.

8. ToTT
#01-01A, Sime Darby Centre, 896 Dunearn Rd., 6219-7077
Recently opened in the Sime Darby Centre, ToTT (Tools of the Trade) is a kitchen wonderland. It stocks everything from pots and pans to appliances, kitchenwear, books, cutting boards, china, knives and serving trolleys. They also have a bistro and conduct cooking classes.

Others

9. Attitude Performing Arts Studio
#01-15/29 Bukit Timah Plaza, 1 Jalan Anak Bukit, 6467-9738
Specializing in dance (ballet, jazz, hip hop) for both children and adults, Attitude also conducts dance-based fitness classes like Latino Jam and Cardio Dance along with the Les Mills workouts BODYCOMBAT and BODYJAM. The adjoining Fringe Café serves boutique coffee and healthy meals.

10. Z Fencing
#02-23 Bukit Timah Plaza, 1 Jalan Anak Bukit, 6295-1432
Z Fencing is Asia’s leading fencing club with over 17 years of experience behind the blade. Discover the chivalry and romance of the art of dueling.

Dining

1. Mimo kitchen & Bar
55 Fairways Dr., 6467-7748
Enjoy a taste of the countryside with all the modern trappings at this intimate restaurant.

2. Picotin Bistro & Bar
100 Turf Club Rd., 6877-1191 Co-owned by celebrity chef Emmanuel Stroobant, Picotin serves up excellent European fare and they even do home deliveries.

3. Rider’s Cafe
51 Fairways Dr., 6466-9819

Hearty breakfasts like Eggs Benedict are the specialty here. Stop in for a bite before a ride at the adjacent Bukit Timah Saddle Club.

4. Unique Seafood Market
#03-01/02/03 Turf City, 200 Turf Club Rd., 6883-2112
The former grandstand building of the race course is now famous for the two Unique Seafood Market restaurants (Ah Yat Seafood Restaurant and Owen Seafood) on its third-floor terraces. With over 100 types of seafood in 60 tanks, a culinary adventure awaits.

Bars

5. La Maison
55 Fairways Dr., 6467-7748
An old race course is the last place you’d expect to find a swanky nightspot. This self-described “concept club” created with the help of French hipster Andre Saraiva a.k.a Andre (graffiti artist and man behind the Le Baron chain of clubs), fills its floors on Fridays and Saturdays.

Shops

6. The French Bookstore
#01-36 Turf City Shopping mall, 200 Turf Club Rd., 6423-1279
Exclusively stocking titles in the language of love, this is a great place to immerse yourself in a different culture.

7. Turf City Superstore
Turf City, 200 Turf Club Rd.
Brimming with a seemingly random collection of cheap clothes, footwear, toys and household products, shopping at the Turf City Superstore is a modern-day treasure hunt.

Others

8. Asoka Muay Thai Gym
#01-02B Horsecity, 100 Turf Club Rd., 6466-2257
With the popularity of martial arts on the rise in Singapore, Asoka offers something a little different; Muay Thai classes in the tranquil surrounds of a former horse stable.

9. Bukit Timah Saddle Club
51 Fairways Dr., 6466-2264
With a focus on show jumping and dressage, this equestrian center has produced riders that have competed for Singapore in major regional competitions. Classes and leisure riding are also available for riders of all experience levels.

10. Horsecity
100 Turf Club Rd., 6463-6012
Horsecity is Singapore’s largest riding center and caters to every imaginable equine need. Riding lessons are available for all ages, saddles and other gear can be purchased at the Horseshop, and you can even take steps towards owning your own horse.

11. Om Shiva Yoga
#01-02B Horsecity, 100 Turf Club Rd., 6466-2257
Choose from their long list of yoga variants and salute the sun while you breathe in the fresh air of Bukit Timah.

12. Rider’s Lodge
100 Turf Club Rd., 6465-4828
Rider’s Lodge is a one-of-a-kind hotel with rodeo-inspired colonial style rooms. It’s the only hotel in Singapore that caters specifically to riders.

13. Sylvia’s Secrets
#01-02C Horsecity, 100 Turf Club Rd., 6465-5338
A comprehensive beauty and wellness oasis for waxing, manicures and pedicures, spray tans, massages, aromatherapy sessions and hot stone treatments.

Dining

1. Cheong Chin Nam Road
Along this strip are some of Singapore’s all-time favorite late-night eateries like Al Ameen, Sinma Claypot Live Frog, Al Azhar, Joo Seng Teochew Porridge and Johnson Lock Roasted Duck and Chicken.

2. Don Quijote Spanish Restaurant
#01-09 Kilat Court, 17 Lorong Kilat, 6465-1811
It might take a few visits to sample everything on Don Quijote’s tapas menu but vieras al horno (baked scallops with bacon bits) and berenjenas al horno (baked eggplant) are top picks.

3. Firestation hillside gastrobar
274 Upper Bukit Timah Rd., 6465-0600
This chic bar and restaurant brings new life to the colorful old Bukit Timah firestation, serving hearty dishes like steaks and pastas.

4. Galbiati Gourmet Deli
The Rail Mall, 400 Upper Bukit Timah Rd., 6462-0926
Everything at this cozy all-Italian deli is homemade by chef and owner Roberto Galbiati. Dine-in or takeaway, and check out their extensive range of Italian products.

5. Myke’s Oven
88 Jalan Jurong Kecil, 6763-7790
Housed in an old shophouse in the former Bukit Timah Village, Myke’s Oven is famous for their freshly baked croissants, Danish pastries and Japanese biscuits.

6. Sweet Salty Spicy Food Market & Thai Canteen
The Rail Mall, 392/394 Upper Bukit Timah Rd., 6877-2544
To go with its mouthful of a name, this revered deli-food market offers many mouthfuls of contemporary Thai cuisine.

7. Udders Ice Cream
#01-08 Kilat Court, 17 Lorong Kilat, 6466-1055
This cheeky homegrown brand makes most of their ice cream by hand, and only start on a new batch when they’re about to run out of stock. Flavors include Bailey’s & Bourbon™, Tira-miss-u™ and Choya Lime Umeshu Sorbet.

8. Vis-à-Vis
12 Chun Tin Rd., 6468-7433
This long-standing French/Thai restaurant has a loyal following and its seasonal menu changes every three months. Famed dishes include the Meltique sirloin, French onion soup and dark chocolate soufflé.

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Bars

9. BLooiE’s Roadhouse
The Rail Mall, 426/428 Upper Bukit Timah Rd., 6766-1588
Providing a slice of American roadhouse culture, this bar and grill is engineered for entertainment and dining inside, and relaxation outside. Their dress code includes “a smile.”

10. Bojangles
#01-16 Bukit Timah Shopping Centre, 170 Upper Bukit Timah Rd., 6463-3459
Chill out at this shopping centre pub with a difference and tuck into their famous thin-crust pizza with a side of chicken drumlets. Play pool for free daily from 4-8pm.

11. Maple Pub
100 Jalan Jurong Kecil, 6463-6393
A corner pub from a bygone era, Maple offers a decent range of beers at affordable prices. Its outdoor garden seating makes it a stand out.

12. Ten Years After
#B1-19/20 Bukit Timah Shopping Centre, 170 Upper Bukit Timah Rd., 6462-4695
Rock and roll with the three-piece house band at this basement pub and revisit classic tunes between Monday and Saturday.

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Shops

13. Cake Avenue
#01-01 Kilat Centre, 33 Lorong Kilat, 6877-9008
The gourmet cake designers at Cake Avenue will whip up a masterpiece for any special occasion.

14. Eden Galerie
#01-04 Sun Court, 21 Lorong Kilat, 6463-1885
Adding an instant air of class to any home, Eden Galerie’s diverse collection of Chinese and Tibetan furniture is exquisitely crafted from Chinese elm.

15. Huber’s Butchery
Goh & Goh Building, 122 Upper Bukit Timah Rd.
Huber’s stocks only top quality meats, sausages and hams together with an exclusive range of condiments, oils, wines and beers.

16. HWB Concept Marketing
#01-09 Beauty World Plaza, 140 Upper Bukit Timah Rd., 6467-1101
HWB stands for “Hidden Wall Bed,” those beds that fold away into walls like you see in movies. These guys can design one to suit your living space if your CD collection has gotten a little out of hand.

17. Ng Kim Lee ConfectionEry
4 Chun Tin Rd., 6466-3515
Looking every bit its age, Ng Kim Lee nevertheless receives rave reviews for its egg tarts and red bean buns, and for its more modern cheesecakes.

18. Shopintimates
#04-38/39/40 Bukit Timah Shopping Centre, 170 Upper Bukit Timah Rd., 6469-8840, www.shopintimates.com.sg
Shopintimates is an adult store that stocks everything from “fleshlights” to stamina spray and many things in-between that are unsuitable for print. Visit their website if you’d like to make a more discreet purchase.

Others

19. koreatown
Lorong Kilat
With Lotte Korean Mart, Kim’s Family Food Korean Restaurant, Woori-Nara and J.H. Kim Taekwondo Institute all in a line it’s not too much of a strech to think of this place as South Korea in miniature. Lorong Kilat has a strong Buddhist presence as well, with both the Mahabodhi Monastry and the Lao Shi Nian Fo Misssion shop.

20. Memories at Old Ford Factory
351 Upper Bukit Timah Rd.
Surrounded by a condominium development today with landscaped gardens throughout, it’s hard to imagine that this was the site of Singapore’s darkest hour. The Old Ford Factory is now a tranquil spot, with the building itself an exhibition gallery that costs just $3 to enter.

21. Muse b’art
274 Upper Bukit Timah Rd., 6465-8485
This make-up, body-art and “special effects” studio also holds training sessions and workshops with an international cast of artists.

Dining

1. 3 Inch Sin
#02-27 Cluny Court, 501 Bukit Timah Rd., 6314-1217
Choose from eight flavors (including coffee, raspberry, bitter orange, peanut butter and mint) of pint-sized, molten chocolate nuggets of sin.

2. Adam Road Food Centre
2 Adam Rd.
Rated among Singapore’s best hawker centers, Adam Road Food Centre is particularly renowned for its Malay and Indian-Muslim cuisine. Here you’ll find Adam’s Nasi Lemak and Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak competing side-by-side, along with Adam’s Indian Rojak, Nasi Singapura House of Lontong and Noo Cheng Adam Road Big Prawn Mee.

3. Choupinette
#01-01, 607 Bukit Timah Rd., 6466-0613
You’ll see shades of the French countryside at this cozy café. Their Croque-Monsieur makes for one of the best breakfasts anywhere.

4. Hanabi Japanese Restaurant
#01-03 Kings Arcade, 559 Bukit Timah Rd., 6465-5525
The all-you-can-eat lunch and dinner buffets feature a spread of over 100 types of sushi, sashimi, tempura and grilled meat.

5. Himalaya Kitchen
#01-12/13 Crown Centre, 557 Bukit Timah Rd., 6736-8433
For North Indian and Nepalese delights, look no further. And if you prefer a dish from anywhere else in India, it’s on the menu too.

6. La Petite Cuisine
#01-05 Serene Centre, 10 Jln Serene, 6314-3173
This French eatery may be casual and affordable, but their escargot, foie gras and duck confit would make any Parisian go “oh là là!”

7. Relish by Wild Rocket
#02-01 Cluny Court, 501 Bukit Timah Rd., 6467-3987
Gourmet burgers get an eccentric twist at Relish. Favorites include the Ram-Lee Burger (a beefed up night market classic) and the char siew open foccacia burger.

8. Sogurt
617 Bukit Timah Rd., 6468-8940
This self-serve “froyo” boutique carries flavors like white chocolate macadamia, blueberry acai and raspberry pomegranate with every topping imaginable.

9. Taste Matters
#02-19 Cluny Court, 501 Bukit Timah Rd., 6297-9713
Lemon tarts and Guaca Melaka (smooth avocado ice cream drizzled with gula melaka) are the best examples of the homemade goodness oozing out of this dessert parlor.

10. Tierney’s Café
#02-20 Serene Centre, 10 Jalan Serene
While Tierney’s Gourmet is gone, this no-frills café channels its spirit through delightful classics like beef stew, fish and chips and chicken chop.

Bars

11. O’Riordan’s Irish Bar
#01-03 Crown Centre, 557 Bukit Timah Rd., 6314-8612
Warm Irish charm awaits beneath Crown Centre’s art deco inspired signage. Slàinte!

12. The Old Brown Shoe
619F Bukit Timah Rd., 6468-4626
Named after the Beatles song, or possibly just aged footwear, tuck in to classic English pub grub here and wash it down with a real ale.

Shops

13. BBQGrillCulture
#01-07 Serene Centre, 10 Jalan Serene, 6875-1657
Forget about the kitchen and celebrate the great outdoors! These grill specialists stock the widest range of barbeques in the country, with brands like Broil King, Weber and Masport.

14. German Market Place
615 Bukit Timah Rd., 6466-4044
This one-stop shop for all things German was one of the first in town to import food and beverages from Deutschland.

15. Le Bénaton
611 Bukit Timah Rd., 6235-4800
Fronted by a rustic wooden deck, Le Bénaton stocks a variety of rare boutique French wines.

16. OOI i.n.c
#02-22 Cluny Court, 501 Bukit Timah Rd., 6465-1197
This indie boutique offers value for money jewelry, accessories and leather bags.

17. Perniq Home Accents
#01-01A Cluny Court, 501 Bukit Timah Rd., 6463-7190
If your home is missing that one distinctive decorative feature, be it a lamp, statuette or a fine piece of woodwork, you can fill the gap here.

18. Sophia Rose
#02-23 Cluny Court, 501 Bukit Timah Rd., 6464-8433
For days when the air-con gets too chilly, fight the frostbite with a stylish cardigan from Sophia Rose.

19. Toy Station
#02-09/10/11 Serene Centre, 10 Jalan Serene, 6468-3054
Lined wall to wall with toys to suit all ages, Toy Station might inspire you to start your second childhood early.

OTHERS

20. Gallery V
#02-11 Cluny Court, 501 Bukit Timah Rd., 6467-9108
Gallery V is dedicated to showcasing Vietnamese fine art with pieces both for sale and loan. They also offer consultancy services for commissioning works for homes and corporate spaces.

I wasn’t a particularly interesting kid. I did the normal things and mum started me off reading very early. I inherited both my brother’s and sister’s collection of books and comics, so I grew up reading both boys’ and girls’ material.

My dad died when I was five, so my mum was a working mum. A lot of my time was spent alone at home and I had to exercise a certain amount of discipline. There was no one to tell me to do my homework, so I had to do it myself. As a child, what you know is that one parent has gone away, and you know that the other parent is upset. Instinctively, you feel that you have to do your part. That generally involved not getting mum angry.

The ability to communicate with young people is important, and that comes only when you remember what it was like to be in that position. It’s important to remember how to be a child.

All the major turning points of my life seem to be accidental. I went through the first two decades of my career focusing on law, and in 2001 I bumped into Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, who was Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs at the time. He was a contract tutor at law school so he recognized me. He asked me how I was, and then he asked the strangest thing: “Are you married?” I said I wasn’t, and he said “Okay” and went off. “What was that all about?’ I thought, and then I got invited for a tea party.

For the very first time after the 2001 General Election, there were three single women MPs. That was the time that the People’s Action Party realized that there was a growing constituency of single women and that it’d be good to get representatives of that demographic. Before that, the profile was always “married with two children;” it was a significant departure from the usual PAP quota.

If you want to have policies which get the support of women, you need the input of women. One of the reasons I agreed to stand was that I felt it was important to have women’s voices in Parliament.

In a typical week when there’s a Parliament sitting which lasts about two days, I’ll be at work in the morning and I’ll be in Parliament in the afternoon. Every Friday I have a meet the people session, and on Saturdays and Sundays there are constituency events. You have to try and juggle everything.

You learn to make pockets of time for yourself and make do with two or three hours. I try to exercise in the mornings and in between events, even a half hour break helps.

I’m happy having an active career. It’s enjoyable because it keeps the mind sharp. What I find in all my different portfolios is that you learn every day. I don’t have a particular goal in mind, but what I do want is to learn new things.

In the first of our exciting new series of quarterly neighborhood guides, we explore Bukit Timah, one of Singapore’s most sought after residential areas and a bustling lifestyle precinct with something for everyone. Multi-million dollar bungalows form a mosaic in the neighborhoods branching off from the main road, alongside some of the best F&B choices in the city. Offering a concise, comprehensive guide to such a long stretch is no easy task, though we’re never ones to shirk hard work (especially when it means taste-testing dozens of establishments).

The heart of the area, between Adam Road and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve can be broken up into six distinct clusters: Adam, Greenwood, Sixth Avenue, Race Course, Clementi and Upper Bukit Timah. Each cluster is known for something different, although it’s safe to say they all have good food. We show you around each of them in the itself (see links below); with recommendations for shops, bars, services and, of course, restaurants. First though, a little introduction.

What’s in a Name?
The peak of Bukit Timah rises above several wannabe “Mounts” to claim the title of Singapore’s highest point. But though it means “Tin Hill” in Malay, Bukit Timah doesn’t actually have any tin reserves. The misleading name comes from a colonial-era stuff-up which butchered the name of a local tree; either the Temak or the Teremal (wild nutmeg).

The hill, in turn, lends its name to the suburb of Bukit Timah, and its main artery, Bukit Timah Road, which is Singapore’s longest non-expressway road. Winding north-south for 25km through Little India, Newton and, predictably Bukit Timah, it becomes Upper Bukit Timah Road which ultimately ends in Choa Chu Kang. Today, the road and the swathe it cuts across the country bring memories of a simple time of one-lane carriageways and single digit postal codes. Back then, the only thing Singaporeans had to worry about was a violent mauling at the paws of a Malayan tiger.

In the 1840s, nutmeg, pepper and gambier plantations flourished here, as those resident tigers were slaughtered by Indian convicts. The area’s cool climate and fresh air made it popular even among people who weren’t interested in planting things.
As Singapore entered the Railway Age in 1903, Bukit Timah flourished as an industrial center. Cold Storage Dairy Farm, Eveready Batteries and Ford Motor Company were among the giants to move in. At the same time, the kampong houses synonymous with Bukit Timah gave way to bungalows and prestigious schools. Bukit Timah was a pivotal battleground during World War II, as the Allied Forces made their last stand before surrendering at the Ford Factory.

Explore Adam Precinct 

Explore Race Course Precinct

Explore Upper Bukit Timah Precinct 

Bukit Timah Today
As a popular resident district, the neighborhood can at times be a driver’s nightmare, but despite the traffic, the serene suburb holds countless charms with a myriad of F&B, shopping and lifestyle options.

Several malls of yesteryear line Bukit Timah Road, and within you can find everything from boutiques and spas to jewelers, salons and enrichment centers along with numerous shops offering quirkier wares. Trina, who runs western food stall Tom Kitchen at Bukit Timah Market and Food Centre, loves the variety. “There’s Bukit Timah Plaza, Bukit Timah Shopping Centre, Beauty World Centre and more; even if I don’t have time, I know where to go,” she says. It’s a view echoed by Cassandra of French wine specialists Le Bénaton. “There is so much activity here. You can find everything you need in one little stretch,” she says.

“It’s well located,” says Donato Mazzola, the man behind Pizza da Donato on Sixth Avenue and a Bukit Timah resident for the better part of a decade. “It’s not too far from town, but it’s not in town. It’s a nice neighborhood with a good mix of locals and expats.”

It is perhaps food that dominates discussions of Bukit Timah today, and not without reason. There’s seemingly no end to the selection of restaurants, eating houses and bars (though it helps to know which ones are worth your time—that’s where we come in). “There’s just so much food here—from hawker fare to Italian food, and great ice-cream too,” says Zephyr, a polytechnic student who works at ice-cream specialist Island Creamery. “It’s an area that’s also safe and quiet, but I’ll never get bored here.” And with this new neighborhood guide, neither will you.

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