RKS 2025 Travel: Destination Southeast Asia (Short Attention Span Version):

Posted byRobert K Stephen (CSW)Posted inFood, TravelTags:, , , ,

Singapore 10October2025: Yet Another Parsimonious “Welcome Reception to Meet Your Fellow Travellers”

Given the hefty sum paid for this tour upon reading in the itinerary “Welcome Reception” one expects somewhat of a full-blown reception with nibbles, cocktails, wine and perhaps a bit of music. But my past experience with our tour company ABC International in Malta this year taught me differently. In Malta the “Welcome Reception” at our hotel consisted of bargain basement Spanish wine and peanuts and chips. Malta, being a producer of wine and the focal point of the tour, should have been at the table, with its wines. In this case in Singapore, it was low quality wines from Southeast Australia, mass produced Singaporean Tiger lager with mixed nuts, supermarket potato chips purchased by the Tour Director, stuffed cherry tomatoes and mini cheesecake bits. Given the superb cuisine at the Singapore Shangri-La what miserable food. At least the nuts were mixed. How much extra did the almonds and cashews cost ABC International? A step up from peanuts in Malta! Extravagance!

Published by Robert K Stephen (CSW)

Robert K Stephen writes about food ,drink, travel, film, and lifestyle issues. He also has published serialized novels "Life at Megacorp", "Virus # 26, "Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog" and "The Penniless Pensioner" Robert was the first associate member of the Wine Writers’ Circle of Canada. He also holds a Mindfulness Certification from the University of Leiden and the University of Toronto. Be it Spanish cured meat, dried fruit, BBQ, or recycled bamboo place mats, Robert endeavours to escape the mundane, which is why he has established this publication. His motto is, "Have Story, Will Write."

Leave a comment