Travel Throwback: How to have a nostalgic day trip in Singapore, Bangkok & Bali

MF editorial team 18 Jul 2017

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Katong, Singapore
The first things you’ll see are rows of carefully preserved, candy-coloured Peranakan (Straits-born Chinese) terraces. Notice the five-step walk-ups adorning each terraced house? This unique feature was the solution to rising tides, back when the houses were just a stone’s throw from the sea.
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Katong, Singapore
For decades, locals have flocked to Kim Choo Kueh Chang, a beloved institution specialising in kuehs (sweet or savoury confectionery) and rice dumplings since 1945. Upstairs, you’ll find a museum overflowing with antiques, from bridal beds to traditional sewing machines, which are still used by the proprietors to this day to sew intricate kebayas, or Peranakan outfits.
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Katong, Singapore
Stop by at The Intan, a two-storey private home museum tucked away in Joo Chiat. With a name that means ‘rose-cut diamond’ in Bahasa Melayu, the personal collection offers a precious glimpse into the heritage of its owner, Mr Alvin Yapp, a local of Peranakan descent. Sip home-brewed tea and snack on traditional kueh while Mr Yapp regales delightful facts about the Peranakan culture, before taking you on a private house tour.
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Katong, Singapore
Experience the best of both old and new at Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong, which integrates a modern guest room wing with a heritage building – the former Joo Chiat Police Station, constructed in 1928. The hotel’s signature restaurant, Baba Chews Bar and Eatery, takes you back to the 1950s with its classic interior and traditional delicacies, including Ayam Buah Keluak, a famous Peranakan chicken stew dish, and Foie Gras Tau Kwa Pau, a delicious pocket of fried bean curd stuffed with a mix of ingredients.
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Wireless Road, Bangkok, Thailand
Head south of Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road for a glimpse into the area’s history. Just across the road, for instance, sits the U.S Ambassador’s official residence. This villa was built in traditional Thai style with teak wood that was common here - a charming reminder of the area’s architectural heritage.
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Wireless Road, Bangkok, Thailand
Sneak in some quiet moments at Lumphini Park – Thailand’s answer to Central Park. Built in 1925 on crown land under the reign of Rama VI, it was named after the birthplace of Buddha in Nepal. Today, it is popular for its lush-green-meets-kitsch cool, health and fitness buffs having a workout and of course, its ubiquitous monitor lizards. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a live jazz performance on Sunday afternoons – a tribute to the area’s musical past.
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Wireless Road, Bangkok, Thailand
Unwind at Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road, refreshingly local in design to reflect the best of its surrounding neighbourhood. Take a picture against a backdrop of vertical gardens that reflect Bangkok’s iconic Lumpini Park, street art style murals depicting the neighbourhood’s story and custom art pieces, such as a wall of wireless radios reflecting the area’s history as the birthplace of the country’s wireless radio stations.
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Wireless Road, Bangkok, Thailand
Featuring nostalgic street food favourites, Metro on Wireless at Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road takes the most popular dishes off the colourful city streets and into its kitchen. Treat your palate to time-honoured favourites like Som Tum, a tangy green papaya salad, and the classic Tom Yum Goong – a spicy lemongrass and shrimp soup made with a piquant concoction of fragrant spices, lime juice and fish sauce.
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Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia
Begin with a hearty meal at Made's Warung. Stemming from humble origins as a roadside stall, the Seminyak institution was established in 1969 and serves delicious fare in a courtyard location off the main road of Seminyak. Sample Nasi Campur Bali, a beloved dish craved for its rich flavours – think a plate of bold ingredients, including shredded grilled chicken, fried tofu, beef, cucumber, tempeh, Sate Lilit (minced fish satay), vegetable curry, corn and chili sauce, served atop a bed of fragrant rice.
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Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia
iscover a quiet respite away from the vibrancy of the beachfront destination and take a short beachside stroll from Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak to the Petitenget Temple. The 15th century Balinese temple is one of Seminyak’s oldest cultural landmarks and still functions as a place of Hindu worship to this day. Soak in the peaceful atmosphere and lush greenery while observing locals burn incense. If you’re lucky, you might get to watch a traditional dance rehearsal on the pavilion nearby, held regularly in preparation of the temple’s annual celebrations.
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Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia
Finally, feast on traditional Babi Guling, or roasted suckling pig, a local recipe passed down through the generations. Stuffed with whole Balinese spices and herbs, the dish is grilled to perfection over a wood fire, resulting in a delightfully crispy skin with succulent meat inside. For a refined spin that preserves the dish’s authentic nuances, try the version served at Salon Bali, the signature restaurant of Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach.

Relive the stories of Singapore’s Katong, Bangkok’s Wireless Road, and Bali’s Seminyak.

Amidst the flurry and bustle of modern lifestyle, revisiting the days of eras past offers a wonderful escape to a simpler time. Discover the enchantment and memories of yesteryear with a nostalgic day trip back in time, and explore the stories of three charming neighbourhoods in Singapore, Bangkok and Bali.

Katong, Singapore: A stroll through Katong rewards you with a rich experience, coloured with decades of tales that have transpired since its idyllic seaside beginnings.

Wireless Road, Bangkok, Thailand: Built in 1920, Bangkok’s Wireless Road sits at the intersection of cosmopolitan style and Thai charm. As the birthplace of Thailand’s wireless radio, it was here that King Rama VI established the country’s first radio tower – sparking a love affair with radio and music among the royal family and the people.

Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia: Beginning as a small township, Seminyak is both sophisticated and laidback today, rich with a diverse culture that merges all the elements that Bali is known for – a true melting pot.

Head up to the gallery above to see wonderful snapshots of these endearing and enduring neighbourhoods in Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. Of course, these little glimpses are only the tip of the iceberg. To get to really know these delightful gems, it wouldn’t hurt to pay a visit in person – and stay with Hotel Indigo while you’re there for an authentic and refreshingly local experience.

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Travel Throwback: How to have a nostalgic day trip in Singapore, Bangkok & Bali

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