On my wonderings in Singapore, I passed a monument to those civilians killed during the Japanese invasion of World War II. The large white structure has been compared to four chopsticks, but the four columns represent the four ethnic groups that make up Singapore: Chinese, Malay, Eurasian and Indian. The remains of unidentified war victims are also buried beneath the memorial.

Near the monument you will find the Suntec Center, which contains a regular mall with food court and the world’s largest water fountain, the Fountain of Wealth Yes, the world’s largest. The fountain is surrounded by five high rises, and the idea is the area should resemble a hand with the fountain in the center. This echoes the Chinese idea of an open hand inviting luck. I’ve seen many fountains, but this one in particular was simply mesmerizing to me. The water heights and colors vary regularly, and once a night they do a light show that really mixes everything up.

After watching the light show, I went downstairs and ate some tasty pork and “dry noodles,” meaning they are not in soup. The noodles were not actually dry but covered in some delicious soy-based sauce. And the meal came with sautéed bok choy. It is my humble opinion that bok choy is a criminally underrated vegetable in Western cuisine, so that was a highlight for me.

Title quote: Rex Hudler