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Be sonically immersed in Singapore, and hear the story behind the sounds that are iconic on this city republic. Utilising immersive recording techniques, every episode sounds as if you're right there. This podcast sounds best on headphones, so you can hear... here. Hosted by Kenn Delbridge #singlish #speaksolidsinglish #comedy #culture #binaural #stereo #widestereo #surroundsound #immersive #immersivesound #singapore Visit our website to learn more
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Jurong Bird Park, featured in early episodes early in 2020, shifted in January 2024 to Mandai, to be next to Singapore Zoo, Night Safari & River Wonders. So, it was time to visit my feathered friends in their new digs, and get up close to the American Flamingos. The way the old place was laid out, you couldn't get that close. Now, in the Crimson We…
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Attempted Murder? On Orchard Road?!? Has Hear. Here. Singapore. pivoted to being a True Crime podcast? No - we're still 100% focussed on the sonic delights of Singapore, but with a newly acquired parabolic microphone, I've been recording birds. I started around my condo, then Botanic Gardens, Dempsey Hill and, finally, on to the famous shopping str…
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When you're ill, it's understandable to take a day off work after seeing a doctor who issues the necessary Medical Certificate, aka MC. But when you want a day off but haven't got the necessary annual leave allowance, it's a sly practice to "fake" being ill to get that MC and a free day off work! Shaiful Risan wrote this episode and voiced "Jo" Hea…
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We learn about a unique Singaporean-to-Singaporean term, "Sinkie". It can be an identifier or a horrid insult, and has mysterious origins. Fear not - I have my mate Nasir to help explain this contentious word used To Singaporeans, For Singaporeans, and By Singaporeans Shaiful Risan wrote this episode and voiced "Nasir" Hear.Hear.Singapore Website #…
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Speak Solid English - No.1 Passport In the World
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Founded as a port, Singapore has grown into a leading SE Asian hub for trade and travel and welcomes visitors for both business and pleasure. It's a two-way street, though: Singaporeans also LOVE to travel, and the Singapore Passport was recently ranked no.1 because it grants holders visa-free travel to 196 countries across the world. Shaiful Risan…
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Singaporeans love to abbreviate things, and illegal loansharks have popularised O$P$ - short for Owe Money, Pay Money. With credit companies popping up, getting your hands on quick cash no longer requires you get in bed with gangsters, and the legacy of these dodgy dealers is now stuff of stories kids are told to warn them to be financially prudent…
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Speak Solid Singlish - Last Bus, Last Train!
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In Singapore, getting home at night means a hard stop with the last bus / last train: beyond that, you're paying top dollar to get your butt home. We get the inside dope on how to maximize your nights while minimizing wallet damage for getting back for enough shut-eye for hijinks the next day! Shaiful Risan wrote this episode and voiced "Jo" Hear.H…
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Public Housing in Singapore is awesome and has been a big part of Singapore's journey from kampung villages to First World status. Hang w Fai as he explains the ups and downs as well as recommendations on which HDB estate has the best chow Shaiful Risan wrote this episode, and voiced Fai Hear.Hear.Singapore Website #singapore #singlish #comedy #par…
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Having a good time in Singapore can be tricky - go to the wrong place, and you'll have a nice time, but not a great time. Learn about Siam Diu, the Thai-themed Discotheques, and how to chit-chat with the "servers" Shaiful Risan wrote this episode, and voiced Denboy Hear.Hear.Singapore Website #singapore #singlish #comedy #parody #homage #speaksolid…
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Today, January 23rd 2024, marks a year since I lost my brother, Paul. He & his wife loved to travel, but because of his illness and the pandemic shutting borders, he never got to see Jewel at Changi Airport. So I spent a few hours grabbing sounds he would have heard at T1, T2, T3, and Jewel. The sounds in the episode are (in order) Roadside drop-of…
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Singlish is used everywhere in Singapore, including the work place. Office politics become toxic when someone starts to "wayang" - slang for Theatre or Acting - which means to skive off work! Shaiful Risan wrote this episode, and voiced Ah Lim. Hear.Hear.Singapore Website #singapore #singlish #comedy #parody #homage #speaksolidsinglish #miniseries …
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Don't embarrass yourself screwing up using Singlish words uttered in films and on the streets of the Little Red Dot! To the rescue is stand-up comedian Shaiful Risan takes us on a "transliteration on the go" as he explains the words visitors will hear here, so the meaning isn't... Lost In Translation. Word of warning - we've got some strong languag…
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Learn the secret o how to 'reserve' a seat in a hawker centre, food court, coffee shop with a 10 cent packet of tissues - The Art of the Chope! Zaki was voiced by Shaiful Risan, who also wrote this episode. Hear.Hear.Singapore Website #singapore #singlish #comedy #parody #homage #speaksolidsinglish #miniseries #wahlau #kiasu #chope #reserve #stamp …
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The past meets the future as the Lion City moves towards a ca$hless society - digital payments are taking over, and our friend Roy waxes philosophically on the inevitability of progress against the loss of the chill out 90s vibe of Singapore Roy was voiced by Shaiful Risan, who also wrote this episode. Hear.Hear.Singapore Website #singapore #singli…
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A Fine City sounds like a tourism slogan, but it's got a deadly double meaning: getting fined! Singapore loves its clean, graffiti-free streets, but hear from our new friend Zaki on how he was slapped with a most unfortunate fine for parking his bike on double-yellow lines. Zaki was voiced by Shaiful Risan, who also wrote this episode. Hear.Hear.Si…
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Speak Solid English - Ordering Drinks Part 3 Beer!
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Our 3rd drink ordering episode brings us back to Newton to get BEER!!!! Yes, we can't leave you without explaining the joys of getting a bottle of cold suds at a hawker centre to round off a lovely day. Our Singlish beer buddy was read by Sebastian Sim, and this episode was written by Dia Hakim Hear.Hear.Singapore Website Sebastian Sim Dia Hakim Dr…
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Speak Solid Singlish - Ordering Drinks Part 2 Pasar Malam
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We take our thirsty selves to the Pasar Malam, the Malay Night Market, to teach you how to quench your thirst with drinks more colourful that a rainbow. When our posh Brit realizes he's lost his cheat sheet, how will he survive? Our Singlish bud was read by Sebastian Sim, and this episode was written by Dia Hakim Hear.Hear.Singapore Website Sebasti…
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Speak Solid English - Ordering Drinks Part 1 Hawker Centre
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In this ep, we help you quench your thirst at a local hawker centre, where tea, locally known as teh, can be customized exactly to your taste buds. But will our posh Brit be able to use his drinks cheat sheet to master this simple task? Our Singlish hawker was voiced by Sebastian Sim, and this episode was written by Dia Hakim Hear.Hear.Singapore We…
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Finally, the episode our Singlish expert has been waiting for - swearing! Blue language can be enormously colourful in Singlish, but will our stiff upper lip Brit let our loose-lipped local fire away with unchecked profanities?!? Our potty mouth Singlish friend was read by Sebastian Sim, and this episode was written by no-one who cares to be identi…
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In this episode of Speak Solid Singlish, we explore the mandatory 2-year national service for Singaporean males. Stand up straight, face forward, and let's accomplish the mission! My most excellent Singlish friend is Sebastian Sim, and it was written by Jedidiah Huang. Cepat! Cepat! Hear.Hear.Singapore Website Sebastian Sim Jedidiah Huang #singapor…
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In this ep of Speak Solid Singlish, we delve into how "bo" can be added as a prefix for many other words to create a sorry situation: "bo" means "no", which only leaves everyone even more desperate to have My Singlish friend is Sebastian Sim, and the ep was written by Jedidiah Huang. Bo Knows "No" Hear.Hear.Singapore Website Sebastian Sim Jedidiah …
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In this episode of Speak Solid Singlish, our topic is the no.1 Singaporean pastime - gluttony! Things get spicy before they explode with flavours, among other things... My Singlish friend is Sebastian Sim, and it was written by Jedidiah Huang. Get ready for chow time! Hear.Hear.Singapore Website Sebastian Sim Jedidiah Huang #singapore #singlish #co…
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The Speak Solid Singlish campaign presents the 3rd and final part of how to speak like a local when it comes to dating! Our faux romcom dating scenario reaches its climax, as the r'ship hits "ai stead mai" status! My Singlish guest voice is the multi-talented Petrina Kow; this episode was written by Jedidiah Huang. Hear.Hear.Singapore Website Petri…
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The Speak Solid Singlish campaign presents the 2nd part of how to speak like a local when it comes to dating! Our faux romcom dating scenario with "Su" now takes to the streets, to learn the lingo of love when it comes to getting out on a date in the Lion City. My Singlish guest voice is the always brilliant Petrina Kow; this episode was written by…
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The Speak Solid Singlish campaign continues with a 3-part lesson on Dating! We present a faux romcom dating scenario with "Su", as she teaches the finer points of how the local language of love is spoken. My Singlish guest voice is the always brilliant Petrina Kow; this episode was written by Jedidiah Huang. Hear.Hear.Singapore Website Petrina Kow …
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Our 4-episode mini-series to help you Speak Solid Singlish concludes with "Siao" - the hokkien word for crazy. In Singlish, it's flexible - it can be a good kind of crazy, and it can be out-and-out bonkers mad! My Singlish guest voice is the brilliant voice talent Sebastian Sim, & this episode was written by Jedidiah Huang. We've had a lot of reall…
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Speak Solid Singlish brings home the bacon in this ep by teaching you how to express your shock at things you encounter, via "Wah Lau". We'll also teach you the many variants you can use for different situations. My Singlish guest voice is Sebastian Sim, & this episode was written by Jedidiah Huang. Hear.Hear.Singapore Website Sebastian Sim Jedidia…
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Our 2nd Speak Solid Singlish episode looks at the 3 Kias - Kiasu, Kiasi and Kiabor. Will you speak like a local just from listening to this series? Maybe, maybe not, cos this is part parody, part homage and all tongue-in-cheek. My Singlish guest is Sebastian Sim, one of Singapore's best voice over talents. This episode was written by Jedidiah Huang…
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Kicking off the 3rd season of Hear Here is the first episode of a mini-series featuring the most iconic Singapore sound of all - the English-based creole language known as Singlish. With a special guest, I will teach you a new word or phrase of Singlish, so that you can speak like a true local. It's part parody, part homage and all tongue-in-cheek.…
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What is the sound of nostalgia? In Singapore, a city remarkable for its progress since independence in 1965, you can now visit an exhibition at The National Museum of Singapore and hear one panel of the iconic Solari Board that welcomed visitors to our island at Changi Airport's Terminal 2. The exhibition runs until Nov 19th, 2023. Now Boarding Exh…
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One of the oldest and most beautiful temples in Singapore is Thian Hock Keng temple in Chinatown: it used to face the beach and ocean, and sailers and merchants would come to give thanks or seek blessings from Mazu, Goddess of the Sea. Over the years, with land reclamation, it's now many blocks from the water, but it's still one of the must-visit t…
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The smell has been described as old socks, rotten eggs, and dead grandmothers, but for those who know, it reigns supreme with it's hard as nails spikes on the outside and custardy fleshy seeds inside. We hang out with Ah Seng at Ghim Moh Food Centre and talk Durians Ah Seng Durians Wikipedia Honeycombers 11 Best Durian Stalls Seth Lui 15 Honest Dur…
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Of all the things you hear in Singapore, the one thing that's most likely to catch your ear is the English accent here: hear comparisons to major English accents (US, AU, UK) and dive into the unique qualities that set our English apart, especially in Asia Singapore English Wikipedia Singlish Coxford Dictionary #immersivesound #3Dio #sonyD10 #singa…
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For those thinking of visiting Singapore, our welcome mat is always out! This episode is for those who come to our sunny island, and want to know how to order coffee... like a local! Visit Singapore - Order Kopi Like a Local Seedly - How to Order Coffee Like a Pro Serious Eats - A Guide to Singapore Coffee Expat Living - All you need to know about …
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If you're willing to go west - really, really west - you can get an awesome sunset snap at one of the iconic spots in Singapore. Keeping guard on the breakwater of the Raffles Marina is a lighthouse that keeps maritime traffic safe on the Straits of Johor Raffles Marina Official Website Ostrich Trails - Lighthouse Walk The Smart Local Trip Advisor …
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Singapore's border checkpoints are among the busiest in the world, with a total of 450,000 travelers every day across the 2 land crossings. Join me an hour before dawn at the Tuas Checkpoint in the west as the waves of traffic start streaming to the city. In 12 hours, they'll come back to leave Singapore: who is making these daily commutes, many on…
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The oldest Hindu Temple in Singapore is the Sri Mariamman Temple on South Bridge Road, in the Chinatown district. It's famous for the annual firewalking festival and the daily poojas. More low-key and intimate is the Archanai, a personal pooja performed by priests to bestow the blessings of the goddess, Mariamman, on the devotee. Entry is free, but…
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Listen to the mesmerizing soundtrack of a pooja, as a nadaswaram (long horn) and thavil (double-sided drum) add syncopated beats, drifting tempos and intricate phrases to the ringing bell as devotees seek the blessing of the Goddess Mariamman at the oldest Hindu Temple in Singapore. The Sri Mariamman Temple was completed in 1827, just 4 years shy o…
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In the heart of the downtown core of Singapore is an open field where many historical events took place as Singapore bloomed from British Colony into the vibrant, thriving, independent city-state that it is today. It's big enough to accommodate five football fields, and there's a public path through the middle that's always open. I went to the midd…
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One of my favourite highlights at a Chinese Wedding Reception in Singapore is the Yum Seng, a toast to the newlyweds where going LOUD and LONG is great. If you've never been to a Chinese Wedding Reception, I'll give you a 3-item checklist on what you need to bring. Special thanks to Brendan and Junita for letting me record their Yun Seng, and to Jo…
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Has the search for the perfect sound spa for the ears finally found a winner? I visit Bukit Timah Railway Station, part of the Rail Corridor, and if you walk 500m from the road, you'll find yourself in tropical forest, teeming with activity, yet also soothing and peaceful. NParks - Bukit Timah Railway Station NParks - Rail Corridor URA - Rail Corri…
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I explore a park that's right in the city, with a major expressway running along its western perimeter. It would seem a foregone conclusion that traffic noise bleeds into the park, and while that does happen, you don't notice it as much after a few minutes, because it's an oasis the the middle of downtown busyness. Listen as we wander around Pearl'…
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Singapore has Four National Taps when it comes to water sources, and the cheapest is local catchment water, i.e. natural rainfall. Rain water is carefully diverted into the reservoirs around Singapore, and in the east, the biggest is at Bedok Reservoir. With a maximum depth of 18m and a shoreline of 4.3km, it's capable of holding 12.8 million m³ of…
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Covering 18 hectares in the heart of the downtown core, Fort Canning Park is an unlikely candidate for a quiet spot to relax, but the trees do an admirable job of blocking traffic noise. While wandering in the area behind Fort Canning Centre, I had a fortuitous meeting with a stranger who shared a secret of where to find an oasis in the city. Offic…
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In this ep, I visit a 132 year old cemetery surrounded on all sides by residential housing. The Japanese Cemetery Park in Hougang is a gazetted memorial park and offers a sound spa for your ears, as the houses form a sound barrier around the 30,000 sqm cemetery. It's the biggest Japanese cemetery in SE Asia, open every day from 7am - 7pm. Official …
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Every Chinese New Year, lion dances take place all over the island in the 2 week festive season that starts every CNY. On Day 5, I was in Plaza Singapura on Orchard Road, and one troupe performed for hours as they performed the ceremonial dance to bless various outlets. Listen out for the cries of "Huat Ah!" at the end, which means "Bless Me with P…
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Walla is the buzz of voices created by Hollywood sound designers so a nice sonic atmos can be added to a scene where the extras had to be silent. It got me thinking - how does walla made by Oscar-winning sound designers compared when played back-to-back against actual ambiences recorded in Singapore? hear.hear.singapore #binaural #binauralrecording…
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Asian horror films like Ringgu, The Eye and Shutter revolutionized the genre, with Hollywood studios remaking these classics for English audiences. One common trope is cemeteries, which made me think: what does an actual Asian cemetery sound like? I went over to the cemeteries at Chua Chu Kang at midnight... and managed to come back out with a tale…
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The landmark of the historic Kampong Glam Malay Heritage District is Sultan Mosque that dates back to 1824. It was the first mosque in the world to use a microphone & loudspeaker system to amplify the recital, and because of its historical and cultural importance, the mosque was gazetted as a national monument in 1975. This episode features Fajr, t…
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In 2019, Changi Airport handled over 1,000 flights a day, which meant a take off or landing every 83 seconds. Then the pandemic took a heavy toll on the aviation industry, and Changi was reduced that to just 80 flights a flight, many of those carrying cargo. Air traffic is now back to 2/3 of what it was and climbing, and I head out to record the en…
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