May 18, 2026

The tour I set up was Architecture and Food, for our day one in Singapore. After looking at the Architecture our guide brought us to the iconic hawker center Lau Pa Sat in the heart of the Central Business District. We got there around 1:30 pm on Friday afternoon and much of the business crowd had cleared. The atmosphere is vibrant and you can feast relatively inexpensively. The locals asked us all weekend, if we had been there yet, as it is well used by all, with lots of favorite stalls!

The center is one of the oldest in Singapore. Here's half of our group in front of one of the stalls that actually has a Michelin Star for their Laksa plate / dish ( a coconut broth soup with egg, fish cake, cockles and shrimp). Here's what else we tried.

The Satay was my favorite, the peanut sauce was amazing! The mango was delicious and the Singapore toast so unual and tasty I asked the guide to give me information to buy a jar of the cocunut jam Kaya. There are many brands but she told me this one is her favorite and the best!

We actually ended back at Lau Pa Sat after our night tour too! Every day after 4pm they close the street next to center and turn it into tons more seating and 10 additional Satay Stands are added. This place is open 24 hours / 7 days a week and the venders work until they sell out each day!  We had dumplings and Indian food when we came back, as a late dinner around 9:30 pm.

APOPO, SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA

By Pat Patrick • September 29, 2026
Before coming to Cambodia , I sadly have to admit I was unaware of the landmine problems they face. On our first night in Siem Reap, where we hiked up the hill to try and see the sunset views, there was a small band of men playing instruments and our tuk tuk driver explained to me they were victims of landmine explosions who had lost limbs or their sight and were trying to make money via donations to support their families.

Ta Prohm Temple ( AKA Lara Croft: Tomb Raider), CAMBODIA

By Pat Patrick • September 28, 2026
I rallied for our last temple of the morning, because I heard this one was unique and I think it was my favorite. Ta Prohm was built starting in 1186 by King Jayavarman VII as a Buddhist monastery and university dedicated to the king's mother. It was left mostly un-restored so that huge banyan and silk cotton trees grow directly over and through the walls. In 2001, the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider movie was filmed here.

ANGKOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK, CAMBODIA

By Pat Patrick • September 28, 2026
Angkor , a UNESCO World Heritage Centre , is one of the most important archaelogical sites in SE Asia . It extends over 400 square km (250 miles). It contains hundreds of distinct structural remains and major temple sites (with around 72 recognized major structures). Below are a few other temple sites we saw. The first two were from a distance, on our sunset hike, the first night.