Episode Archive
33 episodes of Sleepless in Singapore since the first episode, which aired on January 21st, 2024.
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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.
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Episode 11: South East Asia 2023 (pt. 2)
March 31st, 2024 | 54 mins 31 secs
adventure, backpacking, bangkok, cave, chiang mai, chiang rai, chumphon, cultural experience, ferry, floating market, high-speed train, huoixiai, jakarta, koh tao, laos, local cuisine, luang prabang, lunch, market, mekong river, night market, overnight train, pak beng, scooter, street food, temple, train, vang vieng, visa
In this episode of "Sleepless in Singapore," I recount some experiences and mishaps from a Southeast Asia trip with my friend Hatim, including an accidental upgrade to super VIP on a ferry, a culinary adventure with chicken feet, an insightful train journey to Bangkok, a scooter incident with the police in Chiang Mai, and a memorable two-day boat trip down the Mekong River to Luang Prabang, all intertwined with cultural insights, local interactions, and the challenges and delights of travel.
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Episode 10: South East Asia 2023 (pt. 1)
March 24th, 2024 | 50 mins 52 secs
cambodia, cameron highlands, flip-flops, fuji x100v, georgetown, ipad pro, jamahkiri diving club, koh phangan, koh tao, lightweight travel, malacca, malaysia, mekong river, merino wool, packing cubes, penang, road trip, singapore, southeast asia, surat thani, tanarata, thailand, train trip, travel photography
In this episode of "Sleepless in Singapore", I celebrate reaching the tenth episode and share the story of my light-travelled road trip from Singapore through Malaysia and Thailand, meeting friends, experiencing diverse accommodations, and embracing the adventure of travel with minimal baggage, highlighting the freedom it brings and the unforgettable experiences along the way.
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Episode 9: World Trip I (pt. 3) – Kiev & Moscow
March 17th, 2024 | 49 mins 29 secs
airbnb, blue cup coffee shop, burger, caves, china, coffee, eggs benedict, germany, ginger lemonade, ketchup, kiev, kiev monastery, kremlin, liberation day, mexico, military parade, military train, monastery, moscow, moscow metro, old bar, pancakes, pervak, russia, saint sophia's cathedral, sightseeing, subway, trans-siberian, ukraine
In this episode of 'Sleepless in Singapore', I recount my adventures in Kiev, where we met Kolya, the elf-like Airbnb host, and explored the city from its rooftops to its unique restaurants and historical sites, before embarking on a memorable journey to Moscow, where we celebrated my birthday in an unexpected karaoke night and encountered tanks and military parades.
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Episode 8: World Trip I (pt. 2) – Eastern Europe
March 10th, 2024 | 53 mins 24 secs
airbnb, bratislava, bucharest, budapest, chisinau, cuisine, culture, eastern europe, erasmus, europe, goulash, kiev, nightlife, notabene, smokehouse, soviet, szimpla, szimplakert, thermal bath, train, transnistria, travel, vienna
In this episode of 'Sleepless in Singapore', I recount our way from Bratislava through Budapest, experiencing a mix-up at a bar, enjoying the city's beauty and cuisine, dealing with a less-than-ideal thermal bath, embarking on an overnight train journey to Bucharest, navigating ticket challenges, before heading to Chisinau with a brief yet surreal experience at its train station.
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Episode 7: World Trip I (pt. 1) – Leaving
March 3rd, 2024 | 40 mins 44 secs
backpacking, beijing, bratislava, budapest, devin castle, eastern europe, germany, mannheim, reflection, tom sawyer, trans-mongolian, trans-siberian, travel, vienna, visa, wiener schnitzel
In this episode of 'Sleepless in Singapore', I recount the beginning of a transformative journey from back home, my small village near Mannheim, Germany, through Eastern Europe to Southeast Asia, where I still am today.
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Episode 6: Kenya (pt. 2)
February 25th, 2024 | 47 mins 13 secs
burj al arab, burj khalifa, chef, dubai, elephant, eucalyptus, giraffe, kenya, land cruiser, lion, maasai, marina, milky way, mombasa, night sky, safari, spice souq, sundowner, tsavo, zebra
In this episode of "Sleepless in Singapore," I recount the second part of my Kenya adventure, detailing a fascinating safari experience, a serene stay on Chalet Island, and our final day in Dubai, filled with unique encounters, breathtaking wildlife sightings, and memorable moments that beautifully wrapped up our journey.
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Episode 5: Kenya (pt. 1)
February 18th, 2024 | 49 mins 58 secs
african cuisine, culture, dubai, emirates, flydubai, giraffe, henna, indian cuisine, kenya, kenya airlines, le meridian, mombasa, nairobi, private island, safari, sightseeing, singapore airlines, traditional, travel, wedding
In this episode of "Sleepless in Singapore," I share my journey to Kenya for a friend's African Indian wedding, detailing the complexities of travel arrangements, a day-long layover in Dubai, and the vibrant wedding festivities, along with a teaser for the next episode on our safari adventure and a Dubai sightseeing tour.
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Episode 4: Greenland
February 11th, 2024 | 53 mins 29 secs
ammassalik, burger, drone photography, frozen yoghurt, german language, greenland, ice cream, iceberg, iceland, icelandic cuisine, keflavik, kulusuk, landscape photography, northern lights, photography, reykjavik, seal hunting, singapore airlines, tom sawyer, tupilak, winter travel
In this episode of "Sleepless in Singapore", I recount my journey to Greenland, exploring its icy landscapes and encountering Northern Lights, icebergs, and local wildlife, followed by a reading of Tom Sawyer in English and German.
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Episode 3: Coming to Singapore
February 4th, 2024 | 48 mins 56 secs
advice, bali, business, consulting, covid-19, employment pass, expat, fiancée, food, lockdown, natural beauty, podcast, projects, relocation, singapore, startup, stopover, transformation
In this episode of "Sleepless in Singapore", I share how I became an expat in Singapore, including developing the initial idea of moving, the first weeks in lockdown and finally 'becoming Singaporean'.
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Episode 2: Bangkok
January 28th, 2024 | 48 mins 58 secs
bangkok, chatuchak, city sightseeing, dining, foot massage, footpath walking, gaggan, ice cream, iconsiam, indian cuisine, river boat, river view, sarnies, shangri-la, sony alpha 7r5, southeast asia, street market, travel photography, tuk-tuk
In this episode of "Sleepless in Singapore", I share my experiences from a weekend trip to Bangkok, including river boat rides, a visit to a market, and a meal at Gaggan restaurant, followed by a reading of Tom Sawyer in English and German.