What inspired you to start Indiescapes?
Min Seetoh: Having had to opportunity to live in Sweden, the United States and Argentina, I always had the chance to live like a local and have my friends share insights on their countries with me. Heidi too, has lived in Australia, and briefly in Vietnam and Egypt. During her stays and travels, she also had the privilege of experiencing countries from very local perspectives. When we finally returned to Singapore after years of wandering the world independently, many of our friends started asking us for tips on authentic experiences when they travel and we realized that what is easily available on the market is usually the touristy and commercialized stuff. Driven by a common desire to make authentic experiences more prevalent, Heidi and I started Indiescapes.
How much do the experiences cost?
MS: A cooking experience is about US$30 (S$37) for three hours, and a day trip is US$50-70 (S$62-87). Ultimately, it depends on what the experiences involve such as the distance traveled and the comfort level.
What are some of the most interesting experiences available?
MS: Living a day like a Balinese villager. You’ll watch and interact with locals at work in the farms, be told local fables as you explore hidden spots, and dress in traditional clothing for a visit to the local temple. If you’re lucky, the host Wayan will treat you to stories from his childhood. And in Vietnam, Minh will introduce you to his favorite foods and surroundings to get you ordering and eating like a local. In Bangkok, you can get access to unknown gems and mysterious or hard-to-find places only known by local experts, with host Vincent. He’ll get you free-admission into clubs (Bed Supperclub, Q bar and Bash) and access to VIP areas.
What’s one experience you’d love to see offered that you haven’t seen yet?
Heidi Shum: I’d love to float across various skylines and horizons in a hot air balloon, all over one (long) sunrise. We’d have locals in the basket with us who’d share passionately about their country and their lives as we see and feel the enormity of the world. We’d first do Bagan, embracing the serenity of untouched ancient ruins, before switching over to New York City and be wowed by the city that is larger than life. We’ll then head over to Maasai Mara in Kenya where we watch zebras, gazelles and wildebeests travel across the plains. The North Pole is next. We’d indulge in the vast whiteness before our last stop in Melbourne. I always used to love watching hot air balloons float around my Melbourne apartment after I’ve pulled an all-nighter. We’d all get off then for a brunch of French toast with bacon at Mart130. It’s not very realistic…but one day perhaps!
What experience would you host for a visitor to Singapore?
HS: There are so many things we could do! These are some of the things I do with my friends who’ve come to visit. I’d start off with the usual glitz—Orchard Road, MBS or RWS, to show them what they already expect about Singapore. After that, we’d head to the indie neighborhoods—Ann Siang Hill, Haji Lane and Arab Street, plus Tiong Bahru. Visitors need to understand that the glamour and glitz does not represent all Singaporeans. Many people, especially those who have returned from overseas have worked to build up a café culture and independent boutique scene in Singapore. It’s not all about luxury brands, expensive lifestyles and consumerism. It’s still a young movement, but definitely worth checking out. With that, we’d head to the old streets of Singapore—Keong Saik Road, Chinatown and Little India to understand how Singapore started out. We’ll then head to Pinnacle @ Duxton Sky Park for the beautiful sunset. Not MBS! Whilst there, they can learn about the HDB scheme and how it affects lives of Singaporeans. Of course, we can wander off into a conversation of Singapore politics too. We’d end the day with street food tasting through Geylang, Bugis, and neighborhoods like Blk 85 in Bedok North.
Min Seetoh and Heidi Shum run travel service Indiescapes.
