Looking to bring home something more meaningful from your travels than a few trinkets? You’re not alone. TripAdvisor’s 2019 Experience Trends Report revealed that travellers are actively learning new skills while abroad, with the number of bookings for classes and workshops almost doubling (+80%) year-on-year[1].
Whether you’re a foodie, interested in getting crafty, or a culture buff, Singapore provides ample opportunity for travellers who are looking to bring home a new skill.
Learn to cook like the locals do
Take home one of Singapore’s traditional dishes by learning how to cook it in a local cooking class. Just like the Singapore dish Rojak (mixed vegetable salad), Singapore’s cuisine also reflects the country’s unique blend of cultures. To get a taste, try any of these classes:
- Ruqxana Vasanwala’s Cookery MagicFor amateurs to connoisseurs, Ruqxana will teach you how to cook authentic and popular Asian and Singapore meals, with a popular class being the Pulau Ubin Kampong Cooking Escapade. A short ferry ride from the main island of Singapore, this cooking class takes place in an old local house on stilts on the island of Pulau Ubin. Participants will harvest herbs from the garden and cook Singapore specialities Nasi Kerabu (Herbed Rice), Sambal Belachan Tumis, Butter Prawns and Ice Kachang.
- The Cultural Cooking Class at Food Playground. You’ll learn to cook Chinese, Malay, Peranakan[2]and Indian dishes in just three hours, while at the same time discovering more about the country’s heritage and the role food has played in promoting diversity.
- Cook and eat as the locals do with Let’s Go Cook Singapore. Located in a humble residential area, Resident chef, Mei Ling will take you on a Singapore culinary journey, from sourcing to cooking popular and iconic dishes.
Get crafty with some DIY
Put your DIY skills to the test with one of the many craft experiences and workshops to choose from in Singapore. From creating Tumblr-worthy modern calligraphy to carving out a dessert spoon, the sessions are fun, educational, therapeutic, and the best part is that you are supporting the local design and craft scene at the same time. Some of them include:
- Stone for Gold:This workshop will teach you how to cut and carve leather, and leave you with a new wallet, passport holder, coin pouches or a bag.
- Mud Rock:Put your hands on cool clay at Mud Rock, which offers weekly pottery classes led by local artists Michelle Lim and Ng Seok Har. Take a friend or your whole family along as you fashion bowls, sculptures and vases slowly from mud and clay.
- SyraSkins:Learn the intricacies of henna – a millennia-old form of temporary body art – at SyraSkins henna studio. Get hands-on henna practice too.
- Batik painting:With historical links that go back to Java in the 16th century, batik is a special wax technique for decorating cloth. It gained prominence in Singapore when it was used for traditional outfits worn by the Malays and Peranakans. Learn the traditional methods and be guided on the proper use of tools and processes like waxing with the ‘tjanting’ and dyeing.
Learn about Feng Shui
The Chinese practice of feng shui (geomancy) is ingrained in the architectural roots of Singapore, influencing not just people’s homes but also the city’s buildings both old and new. Learn about this practice first-hand with Local Singapore Tours, where a guide will walk you around the city, uncovering the culture within the city. Marina Bay Sands is a great example, and you’ll be taught the significance of their Rain Oculus art installation, and how its shape is believed to create wealth.
Dive deep into the world of Singapore theatre with third-generation performers
Go behind-the-scenes of Chinese Opera performances and meet third-generation performers from one of the last remaining Teochew Opera & Puppetry[3] troupes in Singapore. Lovers of theatre and the arts will learn about this old-age tradition, from the costumes and headdresses to the use of facial expressions, fight choreography and singing. Visitors will also get the chance to embody these practices and push their creative limits by donning opera costumes, learning to play traditional instruments, and performing a skit under guidance. 2019 Best Tour Experience finalist, The Art of Chinese Teochew Opera will leave you feeling inspired and eager to show your off your new stills upon your return home.
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