Indulge in a Sweet Adventure as Museum of Ice Cream Launches the First Ever Official Guide for Desserts in Singapore

Hi Huneybees,

Yes sweeties, we are spicy most of the time but there's also a sweet side to us. Come experience Singapore with a sugar rush as Sweet Spots highlight the most delectable spots across the island. 

Sweet Spots is an exciting initiative brought about by Museum of Ice Cream (MOIC)'s relentless drive to spread and celebrate the universal and borderless joy of sweet treats, to foster everlasting connections between people, and for everyone to embrace their inner child in the enjoyment of delicious desserts. It is Singapore’s first-ever official guidebook for desserts as part of the Singapore Tourism Board’s SingapoReimagine Marketing Programme (SMP)!

Singapore has so much more to offer and by not only showcasing the very best spots for ice cream, the guidebook will also feature other sweet desserts like Chendol, Orh Nee, and even Ice Kacang! Highlighting the best spots for dessert across the island, Sweet Spots will feature everyone’s favourite traditional hawkers, cafes, patisseries, and even fine dining establishments. 

Upon the launch of the Sweet Spots site, you may nominate your favourite dessert spots for consideration at www.sweetspotsguide.com along with your favourite menu items. Once a comprehensive list has been compiled, a group of esteemed judges, selected from different fields across the culinary world, will then travel upon the rocky road of desserts to sample everyone’s favourite sweet treats. Nominations will begin on April 10 2023, with everyone invited to nominate and vote for desserts close to their heart and will end by May 10 2023.

With evaluations complete, selected establishments will be ranked in 3 tiers to receive the coveted SPOONS award, with 3 SPOONS awards given to 10 establishments, 2 SPOONS awards given to 15 establishments, and 1 SPOON award given to 25 establishments at the Sweet Spots Gala Party and Award Ceremony held in September! Selected establishments that receive the prized SPOONS award will then be invited to take over all of the treat stations at Museum of Ice Cream on October 14th to showcase their delightful delicacies to the public. 

With the mechanics of having crowd-sourced nominations driving the campaign, Sweet Spots will truly reflect the tastes of the local palates, bring attention to the best establishments in the heartlands of Singapore, and allow both tourists and locals alike to experience Singapore through the lens of Singapore’s delectable treats. 

To further incentivize nominations, 50 pairs of tickets to the Museum of Ice Cream will be given to lucky winners to have them join in the festivities and try the scrumptious creations of SPOONS awardees on National Desserts Day!

For more information, please visit https://www.sweetspotsguide.com/. You can also follow Musuem of Ice Cream for more updates museumoficecream.com/singapore, @museumoficecreamsg and #moicsg on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. To sign up for the MOIC newsletter, please visit museumoficecream.com/getthelatestscoop. 

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Check Out My Exclusive Interview With Tan Han Jin 陳奐仁 X #SingaporeInvites

Hi Huneybees,

Just a few more hours to the closing of the Singapore Invites campaign - http://huneyzworld.blogspot.sg/2015/11/bringing-friends-families-together-with.html, where STB will be making 25 wishes come true by flying their loved ones to visit this beautiful garden city! Better get those entries posted!

Weather's looking good for an amazing night stroll in the #GardensbytheBay #Christmas #Wonderland . If you have the time, do take the chance to get this amazing shot up above the #OCBC #Skyway ! Have a great evening! 😘 #ChristmasWonderland #Singapore #ExploreSingapore #sgbloggers #sgblogger #huneyzworld #visitsingapore #SG50

A photo posted by Christina Chung 曾莉雯 (@huney_84) on Nov 28, 2015 at 3:48am PST

This will be the best time to have them over, as Singapore is sprinkled with glitter powder and shimmering lights for the Christmas, just look at this view I got at the Christmas Wonderland @ Gardens by the Bay.

So, whilst waiting for the entries to be uploaded or the results to be announced, why not check out this special interview I had with our homegrown multi talented singer-songwriter - Tan Han Jin (陳奐仁).

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I've been a fan of your music creations and I love your character - Mucci in TVB's "衝綫"! Will we be seeing you more in the acting industry?
If there any suitable characters for me to play and I am available for it, I'm definitely open to the opportunities!

So back to the #SingaporeInvites campaign, what do you miss the most about Singapore when you were in Hong Kong?

Not matter where I am, be it Hong Kong, China, Japan or even Taiwan, I will always be missing home, my friends and family. I'm most worried about my grandmother, though she is pretty healthy, I'm still worried about her health and vice versa, she is always worried about me. That's why I will try to make time to visit her.

Where's that one spot in Singapore that we might likely to "bump" into you?

I'm really a "home boy". To really bump into me, you can only try it at my front door, as I will be having tea with my mum and grandmother.

I don't get out much, so even if you are in Hong Kong, you can only try "bumping" into me at my studio's carpark. But for these 3 months, you can find me at the Guangzhou TV station's entrance as I have to work there almost every week.

But in April 2016, you will be able to find me in China as I will be doing a performance tour then. :)

After setting shop in Hong Kong, will you also be coming back to Singapore to do so?

Oh! I'm not sure about the future plans yet, but actually, I did have a recording studio in Newton Circus, Singapore 10 years ago, but sadly due to lack of manpower it had to be closed. It was a great place to enjoy meals with friends when they dropped by the studio though.

You have worked with several big names like Jacky Cheung, Eason Chan & Sammi Cheng , who would you want to work with next?

Well, in this industry, collaborations come about only when my style of music matches the singers. I won't specifically choose 1 to work with and I'm open all opportunities. For 2015, I'm very happy to have been working pretty closely with singers from China like Li Wei, Li Yu Chun as well as the competitors from "I Am A Singer", etc.

What are your views for the future Singaporean musicians? Should they follow your footsteps and strike a career overseas?

Well, Singapore market is pretty small and dense. I'm very envious of those who can strike a success right here in Singapore without having to leave their family behind, but it's a pity not all can do it, so I guess to succeed, we might have to do it overseas.

For those Singaporeans. like you, who are striving a success overseas, any inspirational words for them to "Jia You"?

It may seem scary and challenging to have a career overseas, but it can be very fun. Singapore has been producing amazing and accomplished singers, musicians and actors, for those who are looking to succeed, you can look up to them for motivation. 

"Jia You" is a must but don't be afraid, believe and stay true to yourself and your work, be good to yourself and others, give your utmost best and it will be all good.

Any upcoming projects that you are currently embarking on?

I'm hoping that in 2016 I will be able to produce lots of multi-genre albums, with touring performances in China and should there be any acting opportunities, I am open to it too! And if there are music, concert and acting opportunities in Singapore, I would definitely love to be back to see my Singaporean fans too!

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

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Bringing Friends & Families Together With "Singapore Invites"

Hi Huneybees,

Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly
Pack up, let's fly away!!

This song sung by Frank Sinatra is simply every wanderlust dreamers' theme song and yes, it is mine too! Singapore Tourism Board - STB will be making this dream come true by flying 25 lucky winners to my home, MY SINGAPORE!!!!

We may have friends, relatives, and loved ones from around the world, and across myriad cultures. Singapore itself often becomes a backdrop to strike bonds with these loved ones over a tapestry of shared Singapore experiences.

To celebrate these wonderfully diverse relationships, “Singapore Invites” is a new initiative launched by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), encouraging people from all over the world to invite their loved ones to experience Singapore together.

Anyone around the world who has a story to share about their relationships or a vivid anecdote about a slice of Singapore they want to relive or experience, can participate and stand a chance to win a trip to Singapore with and for their overseas loved ones (*The invitee must be based outside of Singapore). Participants simply need to share a photo of an experience they would like to share with their intended invitee on Instagram and hashtag it with their country of residence (e.g. #Singapore) and #SingaporeInvites. Alternatively, entries can be submitted via www.yoursingapore.com/singaporeinvites. The contest period runs from 18 October to 6 December 2015.

One Dance to bring friends together

The “Singapore Invites” initiative is inspired by real stories of today’s cosmopolitan relationships. In the lead up to this project, STB unearthed many heart-warming stories, including one featuring Singaporean couple Marcus Tan and Rachel Lee, who are passionate dancers.

The duo had serendipitously met New York based American couple Michael Fields and Kai-Ti Kao last year in the States when they went to further their dance techniques and have kept in touch via social media since.

The chance to connect their New York friends with the Singapore dance community was what motivated Marcus and Rachel to invite their dance counterparts to visit. “When we went to America, he showed us around so we wanted to repay the favour. Dance is a social thing. As long as there is someone who shares the passion, we can immediately click,” said Tan.

For Fields and Kao, their first Singapore experience was a cherished one. While both were glad to see Singapore’s dance culture celebrated and embraced, Fields felt that it was the people that made it unique. “I really enjoyed my whole journey here in Singapore. You can feel that it’s the people who make it so special,” said Fields.

Searching for a long lost friend

While a shared passion for dance was what brought the two couples together, it was the opportunity to reconnect and reminisce that spurred internationally renowned Singapore actress and singer Kit Chan to want to invite a childhood friend back to Singapore.

"She was my childhood best friend, Lina Yap. When she was 15, her entire family migrated to the US. We would write to each other all the time. She would write these very lengthy letters telling me about how she was adjusting to high school life in the US. But at one point, we all got busy with life and we lost touch with each other," Chan recounted. "I’d definitely take her to one of my favourite places in Singapore, which is the Esplanade, and we could watch a show together."

For more details on Singapore Invites, contest mechanisms, and more inspirational stories that celebrate relationships, visit: www.yoursingapore.com/singaporeinvites. Here's more of the contest T&Cs, so get posting and can't wait to see your submitted stories!  :)

ELIGIBILITY
This Contest is open to all legal residents of any country. Participants who are below the age of 18 must have their parent’s or legal guardian’s written permission to participate.

SUBMISSIONS
Participants are required to submit a photo, in jpeg format and no bigger than 500KB in size accompanied by a description of up to 150 words describing:

• Who the participant wishes to invite to Singapore (up to 3);
• Why the participant wants to invite these guests to Singapore; and
• An experience that they would like to share with their guests.

Participants can submit their entries via two methods:

• The Singapore Invites website at www.yoursingapore.com/singaporeinvites
• Participant’s Instagram account with the hashtags #SingaporeInvites followed by a country hashtag based on participants’ country of residence. (For example, a participant from Singapore will use #SingaporeInvites #Singapore.

JUDGING CRITERIA

• Relevance – what is the significance of the reunion, and why?
• Originality and Creativity – why have you chosen this dream experience for your family and friends, and what’s so special about it?
• Popularity – how many “Likes” did your invite receive on our site?
• Aesthetics – is your photo well-taken?

PRIZES
Return Economy Class ticket(s) to Singapore (including travel insurance and visa application fee, if applicable), 3 nights’ accommodation and that dream experience indicated in the participant’s invite submission

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

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What Do You Think About the Service Level In Singapore?

Hi Huneybees,

Customer service in Singapore does not seem to be good enough, according to a new survey. The toughest on lacklustre service quality were local customers with 56 per cent of those interviewed indicating that service staff could ‘go beyond the call of duty’ to make their service experience more memorable.

The survey was carried out by market research group Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) to get a better insight on the service debate in Singapore. With a representative sample size of over 460 participants, the survey was conducted earlier this year over a period of one month. The survey is supported by the Go the Extra Mile for Service (GEMS) Up project, a joint movement involving SPRING Singapore, the Singapore Tourism Board, the Singapore Workforce Development Agency, the Institute of Service Excellence at the Singapore Management University, and the National Trades Union Congress.

About 60 per cent or more of local customers, service staff and managers surveyed considered service in Singapore to be just acceptable, and nothing more. These results could concern those working to position Singapore as one of the world’s leading global cities, where service plays an integral part of the overall experience.

A more positive picture was painted by tourists visiting the Lion City. Some 74 per cent of the tourists interviewed acknowledged that service in Singapore was ‘above average’, with almost half – 49 per cent – going as far as saying the service in Singapore was better than in their home country (in Asia, the UK and the United States).

What is the root cause for the apathetic attitude to one of Singapore’s more important industries?

The managers and service staff attribute this to demanding customers. Some 73 per cent of managers and 64 per cent of service staff said increasingly demanding clientele was the main barrier to delivering good service.
They also believe that the government has a role to play. Some 87 per cent of managers and
91 per cent of the service staff agreed that the government can help drive service quality by promoting service-sector businesses as an employer of choice, attracting more talent into the industry.

Reinforcing this point, 53 per cent of managers said finding the right staff was the main obstacle in providing quality service. As a result, even though almost all agreed that service quality is important to their business profitability and customer loyalty, more than half were reluctant to invest in training their existing talent pool as the return did not merit the extra effort.

The survey brings to light one of the biggest challenges facing the service industry, and highlights the gap in the understanding of the role that everyone (customers, service staff, managers and the public sector) plays in the overall service quality equation.

All in all, the survey suggests the need for an attitudinal change where customers, managers and service staff need to play their part towards understanding and acknowledging the importance of quality service as well as work towards building a culture of compliment.



After travelling to several countries, I would love to say, Singapore is one of the best countries in terms of service level. I'm not being bias 'coz this is my home country, but seriously we do have more pros than cons as far as I have experienced.
Like the video above from Sam Driscoll, Singaporeans would try to go the extra mile to please the customers. I know in certain countries, I would have been shoved out of the restaurant if I had asked for more stuffs or if made the waitress walk a few more steps, I would feel her backstabbing knife!
The service level in Singapore has been improving over the years and I applaud those working the service lines. One such good example happened to me just a couple of weeks back when I visited Kinokuniya at Liang Court. I've been searching for a particular book and all I had was a coverpage image, the staff immediately recognize the book (she definitely know her thing) and checked her inventory telling me that she found 1 in their Ngee Ann City branch and have made a reservation for me. She then went on to recommend more books in the same genre to me and so, I was a happy customer. 
I went back the next week as my friend wanted another copy of the book and the staff greeted me, knowing exactly who I was and which book I was referring to. (Thank you lady!) This is an example of good service where it was not just displayed in the shop, but going the extra mile in after sales service.
Just 1 thing to point out though, maybe it will be nice if the staffs greet us like the Japanese do? A "Good day, welcome to our shop!" would definitely brighten my day more and raise our service level a notch up?

So what do think of Singapore's service level? Any stories to share?

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