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The renowned three Michelin-starred sushi omakase restaurant, Sushi Takahashi of Tokyo, has opened its first international location at Mohamed Sultan Road. Venture through the entrance and past a Zen Japanese garden to reveal a minimalist dining space with a mere dozen counter seats.
The sushi takes centre stage here – Takahashi prioritises sourcing fresh ingredients directly from various Japanese regions, with a particular focus on Hokkaido. Each delicate morsel is a harmony of seafood and sushi rice prepared with natural spring water from the Yamagata prefecture. Standouts include the menuke, a deep sea rock fish from Hokkaido torched with charcoal and served with ginger, and ankimo, fresh monkfish liver from Hokkaido marinated and aged in Chef Rinto’s secret sauce for two weeks. The latter is a luscious pâté that explodes sweet and umami on the tongue.
This article is part of Singapore Airlines’“Beyond the Cabin Season 2”video series, in which cabin crew unveil experiences in their favourite destinations.
Most people associate adventure with outdoor activities, but in perennially sunny Singapore, it’s sometimes necessary to seek respite in the shade. Fortunately, the tropical city offers a wide array of fun-filled indoor experiences, from rock climbing to skydiving (yes, you read that right!).
Just ask Singapore Airlines cabin crew member Matt Joosa, who enjoys discovering all that the Lion City has to offer. “There are always new indoor activities in Singapore. I try to be creative on my off days, as there are so many places to explore,” he says.
Here, Matt takes us on a fun-filled tour of the great indoors of Singapore.
Adelaide isn’t just one of Australia’s most approachable capital cities – it’s also home to a range of iconic experiences that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. Wedged between golden beaches and the lush Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia’s largest city beckons travellers with unforgettable wildlife encounters, lip-smacking culinary adventures and artistic masterpieces waiting to be discovered around every corner. Here are seven iconic experiences to tick off on your next visit.
1. Cuddle a koala
Though just half an hour’s drive from the city centre, there’s a distinctly rural feel to Sequoia Lodge where 14 exquisite suites are perched above an idyllic valley of mixed farmland and eucalyptus forest filled with native wildlife. Guest experiences include guided bushwalks which provide an excellent opportunity to meet the neighbours.
Enjoy a private audience with a koala on a tour through Sequoia Lodge. Photo: South Australian Tourism Commission
But if you want to guarantee an animal sighting, book a private tour of Cleland Wildlife Park. Visiting before it opens to the public gives you some one-on-one time with iconic Australian species including kangaroos, emus and echidnas. Then finish the tour with a photo op and a proper cuddle with one of the fluffy resident koalas.
2. Attend a masterclass in native Australian ingredients
Know how to tell saltbush from samphire? What about the difference between a Davidson plum and a desert lime? If you’re completely lost, don’t fear. In addition to being one of the nation’s best fine diners, Restaurant Botanic offers a crash course in native Australian botanicals.
Native Australian botanicals get the fine dining treatment at Restaurant Botanic. Photo: Restaurant Botanic
Many ingredients are harvested from the 51-hectare Adelaide Botanic Gardens before service, and with only 34 seats, the staff take pride in explaining the provenance and use of these ingredients to every diner.
Add in some thoughtful and startlingly complex beverages – think blood lime consommé with native thyme and roasted bunya bunya branches – and you have Australia on a plate.
3. Get comfortable with an Australian fashion icon
Worn by farmers and prime ministers alike, the RM Williams Chelsea boot is an instantly recognisable Australian icon. So durable that they’re sometimes passed down through generations, each boot is crafted from a single piece of leather that is stretched, shaped and stitched by hand in Adelaide’s northern suburbs.
Every RM Williams boot is still made by hand. Photo: The Tailor
You can meet some of the craftsmen and see them at work on a private tour of the facility, then visit the showroom where brand ambassador Rita Stenta will fit you for a pair of boots so you can walk away wearing a piece of Australian craftsmanship.
4. Admire art from the world’s oldest living culture
Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have called this land home for more than 60,000 years, and that rich culture is on full display at the Art Gallery of South Australia. In addition to the must-see exhibitions during the annual Tarnanthi Festival, the rich permanent collection showcases the stunning breadth of Australia’s many Aboriginal cultures.
Vibrant desert dot art, intricate cross-hatched bark paintings from Australia’s tropical north and satirical mixed media works from across the country highlight the striking vision and ongoing strength of the world’s oldest, continuous living culture.
The Art Gallery of South Australia was the first state gallery in Australia to include work by Aboriginal artists in its collection. Photo: South Australian Tourism Commission
5. Catch a game of Aussie Rules
Few sports globally can match the sheer athleticism (and chaos) of Australian Rules Football. At any given time, 36 players are chasing an oval-shaped ball across the turf, laying bone-crunching tackles and leaping over each other to take spectacular marks.
Port Adelaide Power and the Adelaide Crows both play home games at Adelaide Oval. Photo: Port Adelaide Football Club
It’s an exhilarating spectacle when viewed from the boundary line at the Adelaide Oval. And when 50,000 screaming fans fill the stadium every weekend in winter, the RoofClimb gives you a unique perspective on the action from a seat 50m aboveground.
6. Take home Australia’s national gemstone
Forget ice; when it comes to gemstones, fire is what’s in. That’s what jewellers call the iridescence that flashes across the face of cut opals. Every stone has a unique fingerprint of sparkling blue, red, green and yellow light, making it one of the most sought-after gems in the world.
95% of the world’s opal is mined in Australia’s outback. Photo: Unique Opal Mine
At Unique Opal Mine, you can watch opal-cutting demonstrations and learn about the different types of opal at a museum designed to resemble an underground mine. Once you’ve settled on a favourite, you can pick up a souvenir from a showroom filled with hundreds of rings, pendants and necklaces.
7. Embark on a vinous journey
South Australia’s 18 grape-growing regions produce more than three quarters of the nation’s premium wine, and you can sample the very best the state has to offer without leaving the CBD.
Among the 15,000 bottles at East End Cellars, you’ll find lean, mineral-driven Clare Valley riesling and elegant sparkling from the Adelaide Hills, juicy McLaren Vale grenache and sumptuous old vine shiraz from the Barossa Valley.
The outdoor seats at East End Cellars have some of the best people-watching in Adelaide. Photo: East End Cellars
Not sure where to start? Let the knowledgeable staff point you in the right direction. Hosted tastings on Friday and Saturday evenings provide an opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the best local winemakers.
For our full list on things to do and places to see in Adelaide, check out our Adelaide City Guide. For more information on Singapore Airlines flights to Adelaide, visit the official website.
Solo travel is one of the best gifts anyone, but especially women, can give themselves. And as these female travel founders know, it’s even easier today when there’s so much help available to plan a solo trip, design bespoke itineraries and even meet fellow travellers on your journey.
From Singapore to South Korea and Canada, these pioneering women are changing the travel landscape, not only for female travellers but for the women-owned businesses and initiatives they partner. All are dedicated to empowering women to discover more of the world, and themselves, through travel.
To mark International Women’s Day on 8 March, they share their favourite travel memories, and what solo travel has taught them.
Jennifer Haddow, owner of Wild Women Expeditions
Runs the world’s largest adventure travel company for women
Jennifer Haddow’s travels with Wild Women Expeditions were life-changing in more ways than one: she became such a fan of the all-female tour operator, she bought it.
“My passion has always been women’s empowerment,” says Haddow. “I knew travel could be a powerful way to give women sustainable livelihoods, especially in parts of the world where opportunities are limited.”
One of Haddow's most memorable solo travels was trekking to Everest Base Camp in Nepal. Photo: Wild Women ExpeditionsJennifer Haddow, owner of Wild Women Expeditions, en-route at Everest Base Camp, Nepal. Photo: Wild Women Expeditions
Travelling solo empowers you to take on new challenges and adventures that you’d never have thought possible
Since its start in Canada in 1991, Wild Women Expeditions has not only offered all-female tours but hired female guides, enlisted women-owned partners and supported women-led initiatives wherever possible.
Its itineraries include everything from weaving classes in Peru to treks across Japan. The focus, regardless of programme, is to create inclusive, supportive environments for women to thrive.
“Our guides around the world are incredibly talented and it is an honour to work with women who are changing their communities and giving back to other women,” says Haddow. “We are truly a global sisterhood.”
What benefits does travelling solo offer women?
“Travelling solo pushes you out of your comfort zone and empowers you to take on new challenges and adventures that you’d never have thought possible. Solo travel is also an independent journey physically, mentally and emotionally. It’s total freedom to challenge yourself and do what you’ve been dreaming of without being influenced by anyone else.
Trekking along the Nakasendo trail in Japan is but one of many journeys that Wild Women Expeditions organises for women. Photo: Shutterstock
“That’s why Wild Women Expeditions exists. You may travel solo but you’re never alone! We’ll match solo travellers with a roommate, and don’t charge a single supplements fee. You’ll have an instant group of built-in companions. The bonds that develop between women as they push and challenge themselves to new adventures is a beautiful thing, and always results in a few tears, lots of laughter and stories that last a lifetime.”
The bonds that develop always results in a few tears, lots of laughter and stories that last a lifetime
What was your most memorable solo journey?
“Trekking to Everest Base Camp in Nepal was one. Watching the sun rise over the highest point on the planet was a life-changing moment. It is incredibly inspiring to be led by local women, who are amazing guides and can tell the story of their country and share their culture.
“When I travel I am always most excited to meet local women and learn from them. I remember sitting with a group of Egyptian women on a mango farm on the banks of the Nile, sharing hibiscus tea with the grandmother and mother and aunties and daughters in their village home. The pyramids were fantastic, but it is connecting with the local people that is most heartwarming.”
Hyojeong Kim, founder of NomadHer
Built an app to connect female globetrotters
Founded in South Korea, NomadHer is a travel app exclusively for women. Once verified, women can connect with more than 150,000 others to share travel tips, arrange meet-ups and support each other’s journeys.
NomadHer founder Hyojeong Kim on Arambol Beach in Goa. Photo: Hyojeong Kim
The independence gained from navigating foreign environments alone is invaluable
“At 19, I had a troubling experience with a Couchsurfing host, which propelled me to action,” shares NomadHer’s founder Hyojeong Kim. “I sought a community where women could support each other on the adventures that they embark on and share ideas for safe travels.”
Propelled by this experience, in 2019 Kim decided to create an app that would make it easier for female travellers to connect with one another for safety, solidarity and companionship. Since then, NomadHer has organised more than 1,000 meet-ups, such as hikes and surf camps, and its members represent more than 180 nationalities.
Krystal Tan, founder of Blue Sky Escapes
Merges the physical and spiritual aspects of travel
Whether it’s horse riding with nomadic tribes in Mongolia or a silent retreat in Laos (an especially popular choice among solo female travellers), Singapore-based travel consultancy Blue Sky Escapes spurs travellers out of their comfort zones, helping them learn more about themselves in the process.
Krystal Tan, founder of Blue Sky Escapes. Photo: Krystal Tan
Travelling solo opens you up to the magic of spontaneity and self-discovery
For founder Krystal Tan, solo travel often inspires personal and spiritual growth. “I have experienced first-hand the shifts in my own worldviews after an experiential journey, and it always leaves me with renewed perspective and clarity,” she says.
“In 2016, I worked with a ground partner to craft an experience in Mongolia where we would be the first foreigners to help several nomadic families migrate their animals to their summer location, on horseback. We camped in remote places that even our guides had never visited, helped the families set up their gers and sat in the meadows with them drinking vodka, eating fermented cheese and enjoying the banter. This experience made me realise we really don’t need very much to feel fulfilled. It was also one of the pivotal moments that drove me to take the plunge and leave law practice to focus on Blue Sky Escapes. I wanted to design experiences that could prompt similar shifts in others.”
Horseback riding across the plains of Mongolia is one of the many experiences that Blue Sky Escapes organises. Photo: Blue Sky Escapes
My time alone was my chance to integrate and embody all those experiences into one unified whole
How has travelling solo changed you?
“Travelling solo opens you up to the magic of spontaneity and self-discovery. My first solo trip after having a baby was to Botswana. I was still breastfeeding, so I had to pump and freeze milk as I travelled, and I missed my baby when I saw lionesses with their cubs. Being away from my newborn, in a remote, natural habitat gave me the chance to process becoming a mother – after an unmedicated, 27-hour labour, months of sleep deprivation, breastfeeding, and then juggling all of that with a return to work, I had found myself questioning my identity.
“I shed tears when our guide cleansed my energy with wild sage, as was the custom in his tribe.It’s believed the fragrant smoke helps cleanse the mind, body and soul of stagnant energy that does not serve you. I was confronted with all the baggage I had brought along with me, yet also felt an overriding sense of peace, which moved me to tears. My time alone in Botswana was my chance to integrate and embody all those experiences into one unified whole. I found I was better able to accept it all as a part of me without any resistance, and returned home more enlivened and invigorated.”
Tan photographs a mountain gorilla in the wild in Rwanda. Photo: Krystal Tan
What was your most memorable solo journey?
“My most memorable journey was the time we tracked endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda. It’s incredible how much of yourself you recognise in these intelligent beings – their hands, facial features, mannerisms. It’s a strange, charged connection words can’t fully capture. A truly humbling and grounding experience I’ll never forget, and certainly one that calls for protecting these animals.”
For more information on Singapore Airlines flights to the abovementioned destinations, visit the official website.
Known for its rich multicultural heritage and strong hawker food culture, this Malaysian metropolis has its fair share of returning fans. Now, there are even more reasons to visit thanks to the chefs, hoteliers and creatives that are integrating the city’s storied past with contemporary appeal in their respective fields.
Here are nine exciting things across Kuala Lumpur to bookmark for your next visit.
1. Wake up and paint at this boutique hotel
This one is for the art lovers, and those with a curious spirit. Kloé Hotel is an 88-key stay in the heart of the city, where each of its five suites is decked out in a unique concept: plant lovers can pick the lushly furnished Room to Grow; music enthusiasts will enjoy the Room to Listen, which comes with a vinyl player and records; while the artsy creatives will love the Room to Draw where an easel and canvas, along with a selection of art books, await your touch.
Live your artist dreams in the Room to Draw. Photo: Kloé Hotel
There are ample other spaces to unwind in the hotel, like at the poolside deck chairs, or in the light-filled hotel lobby. Nurse a flat white at the communal table, or flip through the selection of coffee table books before heading out to explore the many nearby malls.
2. Float and find meditative peace in bustling Chinatown
You’d be hard pressed to find another city hotel that boasts floatation pods as part of their facilities, but at Else Kuala Lumpur, you’ll be able to book a session alongside your stay. These 30- or 60-minute sessions in tanks filled with highly concentrated Epsom salt water will cocoon you in a meditative state as you disconnect from the stressors of daily life.
Let your thoughts float away as you lose track of time and space within the floatation pod. Photo: Else Kuala Lumpur
This stylishly designed 49-room boutique hotel also comes with a well-equipped gym and a terrace plunge pool with roomy daybeds.
When you’re done reconnecting with yourself, step outside and you’ll find the famed shopping belt Petaling Street, cultural hubs Central Market and REXKL at your doorstep – not to mention the hip bars and street eats of Chinatown.
3. Experience a visually stunning art exhibition in a new creative venue
Where the beloved REX Cinema once stood, this immersive art gallery is now a part of REXKL, one of KL’s newest cultural hotspots housing a trendy mix of vintage, clothing and lifestyle stores, a labyrinthine bookstore and a rooftop bar.
REXPERIENCE is co-founded by new media veterans Shin Tseng, Sébastien Jurkowski, Shin Chang and Eugene Yeo, who are creating fascinating new art experiences with the use of latest projection technologies.
REXPERIENCE is a visually stunning contemporary exhibition space in the new cultural hub REXKL. Photo: REXPERIENCE
Here, you can enjoy atmospheric environments created by international visual and sound effects artists, such as the currently showing “Piying Dream” by Danny Rose Studio. This production draws inspiration from the art of Chinese shadow puppetry to invent a Chinese legend that viewers can immerse in. Exhibitions rotate every few months, so that you’ll always have something new to look forward to.
4. Make like the cool kids and hang out with the creatives at this urban hub
Composed from a row of refurbished interconnected shophouses, The Zhongshan Building is a creative hub in the historic locale of Kampung Attap that a community of young artists, artisans and musicians call home.
Enjoy an afternoon wandering through the building discovering bites and local goods. Here, you can enjoy a fan-favourite espresso martini Shakeratoooo from Piu Piu Piu and savour café treats such as the roast ribeye steak sandwich at the French-inspired Tommy Le Baker, who make their own sourdough bread.
Peek into the quirky interior of Piu Piu Piu. Photo: Michelle JN Lim
Then, shop at artisanal craft stores like stationery wonderland ana tomy and embroidery crafts store takos. Modern apothecary Re{me}dy not only stocks skincare and wellness products, but is also where you’ll find lifestyle goods such as the naturally dyed bags from local brand Muni.
At sundown, enjoy listening parties of diverse music genres at fono. Do note that the opening hours of the establishments vary, so follow them on social media to get the latest news.
5. Discover local indie brands at a pop-up market
The Sunny Side Up Market is a weekend pop-up market located at Slate @ The Row along Jalan Doraisamy. It is a one-stop destination for an alternative shopping spree that even your pets can get in on.
Vendors at the Sunny Side Up Market. Photo: Sunny Side Up Market
Founded by Aida Salleh more than a decade ago, the urban flea market features local brands and small home businesses that sell a range of curious alternative goods from handmade cheese to plant-based toiletries, as well as treats and accessories for pets. This pop-up community market occurs every month, so check ahead and time your visit accordingly.
6. Choose your own adventure at this interactive horror house
Unlike the escape rooms of yesteryear, Hauntu combines live theatrical performances and participant role play to transport you to a multi-sensorial world where vengeful spirits reign.
Prepare for a chilling time. Photo: Hauntu
In this 60-minute interactive game, you’ll be transported to the past at the fictional Colle Eastern Hotel, where you’ll uncover evil agendas and make decisions that result in a unique end each time. These episodic storylines change yearly, but one thing rings true: these tales are not for the faint of heart.
7. Explore contemporary Peranakan eats
Tuck into hearty traditional meals featuring flavours influenced by the Peranakan community – also known as the Straits Chinese – at this farm-to-table restaurant. Bōl is stationed in a colonial-era terrace house in Bukit Bintang, a lively neighbourhood bristling with pre-war houses, boutiques, hipster cafes and restaurants, so you’ll get a taste of history in more ways than one.
Contemporary takes on traditional Peranakan dishes. Photo: Bōl
Against the backdrop of a beautiful bucolic wallpaper reminiscent of Peranakan floral motifs, enjoy signature dishes such as the Peranakan staple buah keluak (pangium fruit), lamb shank and itek tim, a crystal-clear pulled duck consommé with sour plums. For dessert, try the hawthorn flavoured sorbet with gula melaka (palm sugar).
8. Check out the new French fine dining kid on the block
Venture off the beaten path to Bamboo Hills, a hip dining enclave a short drive away from the city centre, to discover one of the most exciting new openings in the city of late. Potager is chef Masashi Horiuchi’s – of Entier fame – latest brainchild. Here, he brings his decades of French culinary techniques to bear on Malaysia’s quality produce.
Chef Masashi Horiuchi. Photo: PotagerThe breezy inner courtyard of Potager. Photo: Potager
Their recently launched menu is a strong showing that includes Cameron Highlands-grown white corn tuile, jelly, velouté and cornbread that burst with natural sweetness, and truffle-laden escargot with heirloom grain from Sarawak (go with the chef-recommended black glutinous rice).
The breezy experience starts with a stop at the beautiful open-air garden, around which the restaurant’s wine bar, four private dining rooms and main space are organised, and ends with a little souvenir of the experience to take home. The latter includes a serving of cacao husk and osmanthus tea, alongside travel-sized amenities with notes of tomato, basil and black pepper – the restaurant’s signature scent that reminds of hearth and home.
Potager now takes lunch reservations from Fridays to Sundays. Choose between a five- or nine-course meal; reservations are essential.
9. Nerd out with a sustainability-forward cocktail bar
Styling themselves as a flavour lab, Reka:Bar makes use of state-of-the-art distillation and fermentation equipment to create ground-breaking cocktails for patrons looking to kick back and experiment with local-themed drinks amidst its futuristic atmosphere located in Bukit Damansara.
Titled “The Domino Effect”, its signature cocktail menu illustrates how the various drinks are connected to one another. For instance, the main ingredient of one drink is reused as a garnish in another, dialling down on wastage.
They also champion the use of responsibly sourced local ingredients through drinks like Liquid Ambra (made with buah long long, a local sour fruit) and Dusun 2.0 (which uses traditional Sarawakian rice wine tuak, chilli padi and jackfruit).
For our full list on things to do and places to see in Kuala Lumpur, check out our Kuala Lumpur City Guide. For more information on Singapore Airlines flights to Kuala Lumpur, visit the official website.
This article is part of Singapore Airlines’ 
