About the show
As night falls, join me on 'Sleepless in Singapore' for a laid-back journey through my daily life in Singapore and tales from travels around the world. Then, fall asleep to the soothing sounds of Goethe, Schiller, or Kant being read in a calming voice.
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Episodes
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Episode 27: US East Road Trip (pt. 1) – Blue Ridge Mountains
July 21st, 2024 | 47 mins 25 secs
alabama, arkansas, bagels, cabin, drone, florida, georgia, kentucky, louisiana, maryland, mongolia, mustang, new orleans, pennsylvania, philadelphia, roanoke, singapore, tennessee, train, virginia
In this episode of "Sleepless in Singapore," I recount the highlights of a 2022 road trip through the US with my friend Markus, starting from King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, and covering destinations like the Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway, Mount Vernon, and Gatlinburg, while sharing our experiences with American culture, local foods, and the unique charm of roadside motels, followed by a reading of Tom Sawyer.
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Episode 26: World Trip I (pt. 17) – Guam, Seoul & Kyoto
July 14th, 2024 | 28 mins 11 secs
arashimaya, busan, chuck e. cheese, frankfurt, guam, hanok, ihop, kfc, kyoto, laos, macbook, micronesia, osaka, palau, ross, seoul, singapore, south korea, stationery, tiway, toyama
In this episode of "Sleepless in Singapore," I recount the final leg of my extensive journey that began in April 2017, including my contrasting experiences in Guam, revisiting Korea and Japan with local friends, and a brief but memorable return to Singapore before heading back home.
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Episode 25: World Trip I (pt. 16) – Brunei, Palau & Yap
July 7th, 2024 | 47 mins 56 secs
bali, barbershop, beard trim, brunei, diving, drone, el nido, guam, hostel, manila, market, micronesia, mosque, palau, photography, pizza, snorkeling, timor-leste, wet market
In this episode of "Sleepless in Singapore," I recount a memorable trip to Brunei, exploring its unique culture, local markets, and the stunning Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, followed by adventures in Palau and Yap, highlighting incredible landscapes, diving experiences, and the fascinating local customs, and ending with a reading from Tom Sawyer.
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Episode 24: World Trip I (pt. 15) – Singapore, Bali, Timor-Leste
June 30th, 2024 | 27 mins 9 secs
apeng, bali, bangkok, bintang, clark, dili, elephant, fortunata, gardens, hema, laksa, mandalay, nusa, otah-otah, prata, queenstown, shots, singapore, steamboat, supertrees, timor-leste
In this episode of "Sleepless in Singapore," I recount my second visit to Singapore, highlighting vibrant nightlife experiences, delicious local cuisine, and spontaneous trips to Bali, Nusa Penida, and Timor-Leste.
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Episode 23: World Trip I (pt. 14) – Laos, Thailand, Myanmar
June 23rd, 2024 | 48 mins 37 secs
bagan, cambodia, chiang mai, chiang rai, elephant, hostel, laos, luang prabang, mandalay, market, myanmar, onsen egg, pagoda, pai, sightseeing, spring roll, thailand
In this episode of "Sleepless in Singapore," I continue my Southeast Asia journey, recounting my adventures from a unique flight to Laos, exploring Luang Prabang's markets and waterfalls, meeting fellow backpackers, visiting Chiang Mai and Pai in Thailand, and concluding with my experiences in Myanmar, including temple visits, the U Bein Bridge, and the stunning pagodas of Bagan, followed by a reading of Tom Sawyer.
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Episode 22: World Trip I (pt. 13) – HCMC & Siem Reap
June 16th, 2024 | 47 mins 56 secs
angkor wat, cambodia, couchsurfing, cu chi, food tour, ho chi minh, hostel, laos, mekong, nutella, peanut butter, siem reap, spring rolls, tom sawyer, vietnam
In this episode of "Sleepless in Singapore," I recount the second half of my Vietnam trip, detailing my adventures in Ho Chi Minh City, including near-miss traffic incidents, exploring the Cu Chi tunnels, and a memorable local food tour, followed by my experiences in Cambodia, visiting Angkor Wat, and meeting new friends, before concluding with a reading from Tom Sawyer.
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Episode 21: World Trip I (pt. 12) – Hanoi
June 9th, 2024 | 41 mins 36 secs
banh mi, beer, boutique, cambodia, chiang mai, food, germany, halong, hanoi, hanoi hilton, ho chi minh, hotel, laos, mausoleum, motorcycle, museum, nikki, rice, sapa, shangri-la, sightseeing, thailand, train, vietnam
In this episode of "Sleepless in Singapore," I share my experiences from my Southeast Asia trip, detailing my journey through Vietnam, including the challenges of budget travel, exploring Hanoi's vibrant food scene, a memorable night that influenced my career, adventures in Sapa's rice fields, and a mixed review of Halong Bay, concluding with a relaxing stay at a luxurious hotel by West Lake.
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Episode 20: World Trip I (pt. 11) – Georgetown, Koh Tao & Bangkok
June 2nd, 2024 | 37 mins 18 secs
bangkok, border, chatuchak, georgetown, hanoi, karaoke, khao san, koh tao, malaysia, murals, penang, scooter, seafood, sightseeing, thailand
In this episode of "Sleepless in Singapore," I recount my travels from Tioman Island to Penang and Bangkok, highlighting Georgetown's street food and colonial charm, an adventurous boat ride to Koh Tao, and a tumultuous stay on Khao San Road, before ending with a reading of Tom Sawyer.
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Episode 19: World Trip I (pt. 10) – Kuala Lumpur & Tioman
May 26th, 2024 | 46 mins 44 secs
airasia, berlin, chow kit, durian, germany, heidelberg, hiking, kuala lumpur, malaysia, manila, mersing, penang, singapore, tioman, travel
In this episode of "Sleepless in Singapore," I recount my solo travels in Southeast Asia, starting with a challenging AirAsia flight from Manila to Kuala Lumpur, exploring the vibrant markets and trying durian for the first time, and ending with an adventurous trip to Tioman Island, where I discovered beautiful waterfalls and enjoyed some unforgettable moments with friends.
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Episode 18: World Trip I (pt. 9) – Philippines
May 19th, 2024 | 46 mins
airbnb, breakfast, el nido, helicopter island, hong kong, jungle, kuala lumpur, makati, manila, market, motorbike, palawan, philippines, shangri-la, sightseeing, singapore, tour, travel
In this episode of 'Sleepless in Singapore,' I recount my solo adventure in the Philippines, from parting ways with Philip in Manila, navigating quirky Uber rides and surprising encounters in Makati, to exploring the remote beauty of El Nido, learning to ride a scooter, and reflecting on the bittersweet end of our world trip together.
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Episode 17: Bhutan
May 12th, 2024 | 1 hr 9 mins
airbus, altitude, archery, betel, bhutan, bhutanese, culture, dumplings, hiking, momos, monastery, mountain, paro, pilot, thimphu, traditional
In this episode of 'Sleepless in Singapore', I recount my thrilling and culturally rich trip to Bhutan, from the breathtaking landing between the mountains at Paro Airport to exploring serene monasteries, engaging in local customs like chewing betel nut, and embarking on challenging hikes including an ascent to the iconic Tiger's Nest, all while savouring the unique local cuisine and experiencing profound moments of quiet beauty and deep spirituality.
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Episode 16: World Trip I (pt. 8) – Taiwan & Hong Kong
May 5th, 2024 | 41 mins 59 secs
alishan, beer, catholic, dumplings, food, friendships, hong kong, hostel, hot springs, karaoke, markets, mount fuji, nature, rainbow village, scooters, sightseeing, sun moon lake, taipei, taipei 101, travel
In this episode of 'Sleepless in Singapore', I recount my nostalgic and adventurous return to Taiwan after 32 years, from the vibrant streets of Taipei filled with scooters and neon-lit churches to a thrilling road trip with new friends, exploring bustling markets, quirky tourist spots like Rainbow Village, and relaxing in a remote hot spring, all while navigating cultural differences and reconnecting with memories from my childhood.
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Episode 15: World Trip I (pt. 7) – Japan
April 28th, 2024 | 53 mins 12 secs
asahi, bhutan, ferry, fukuoka, hiroshima, japan, kobe, koyasan, maid cafe, matcha, nara, shinkansen, sushi, temples, tokyo
In this episode of 'Sleepless in Singapore', I recount my previous travel experiences in Korea and Japan, sharing details from emergency preparedness in Korean subways, to the unique culinary and cultural discoveries, including the serene yet bustling life in Japanese cities and the indulgence of authentic Kobe beef.
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Episode 14: World Trip I (pt. 6) – Korea
April 21st, 2024 | 51 mins 56 secs
backpacking, barbecue, busan, dmz, incheon, instagram, korea, memory, mongolia, octopus, seoul, silk road, travel, ulaanbaatar
In this episode of "Sleepless in Singapore", I reflect on the changing plans of my travels with Philipp seven years ago, including our thwarted attempt to enter China, a spontaneous but enlightening detour to Korea, and the unexpected friendships and technological surprises that reshaped our journey and left lasting impressions.
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Episode 13: World Trip I (pt. 5) – Lake Baikal & Mongolia
April 14th, 2024 | 40 mins 41 secs
beijing, berlin, couchsurfing, desert, dumplings, irkutsk, jungle, katya, lake baikal, milky way, mongolia, mount everest, mutton, nepal, russia, safari, silk road, south america, steakhouse, steppe, trans-siberian, ulaanbaatar, visa, yurts
In this episode of "Sleepless in Singapore," I reminisce about our adventurous journey from Irkutsk to Mongolia including a serendipitous encounter with a world traveler in Irkutsk, our awe-inspiring visit to Lake Baikal, and a challenging yet enriching safari in the Mongolian steppe, culminating in a change of plans from visiting China to an unforeseen, life-altering destination.
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Episode 12: World Trip I (pt. 4) – Kazan, Yekaterinburg and the Transib
April 7th, 2024 | 44 mins 13 secs
asia, beer, border, couchsurfing, europe, hostel, irkutsk, kazan, lake baikal, mongolia, moscow, russia, shashlik, sneakers, soviet, train, travel, yekaterinburg
In this episode of 'Sleepless in Singapore', I recount my journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway, highlighting the stark contrasts between Kazan's vibrancy and Yekaterinburg's solemnity, and share both amusing anecdotes and reflective insights gained along the way.