BBQ by the Pool in Singapore: Food, Rain and New Friends

In Singapore, condos have very neat public area. Just look at this pool, who wouldn't like to use it every day?

A BBQ by the pool in Singapore gave us good food, new friends and a much longer list of things to eat in Malaysia. We had been spending time with our friend Goga, who lived there with her husband and knew the city well. She was our guide, excellent company and, conveniently for us, just as interested in food. Between exploring the city and catching up, we also found ourselves invited to a private poolside party.

The Merlion, a familiar face from our time in Singapore.

A BBQ by the Pool in Singapore, with an Unexpected Shower

Luka, a Slovenian living in Singapore with his German girlfriend, hosted the barbecue for around 20–25 people. The weather behaved until about 6 PM, when a sudden downpour sent us all looking for cover. We gathered beneath two small roofs, and the conversation quickly picked up. Being pushed a little closer together turned out to be quite a good introduction.

Our poolside barbecue, with plenty of food and people to meet.

New Friends, Diving Plans and Malaysian Food Advice

The guests gave us plenty to talk about, from scuba diving to our next meals in Malaysia. We met Daan, who was Dutch, and Lala, who was Russian and had grown up in eastern Germany. Both were experienced travelers and enthusiastic divers. Before long, we were making plans to learn scuba diving with them. Apparently, traveling across the surface of the planet was no longer going to be enough for us.

A couple from London supplied another set of plans. He was of Malay heritage and became particularly enthusiastic when he heard that Malaysia was next on our route. Our notepad quickly filled with food recommendations. He gave me a much stronger appetite for the trip and a growing interest in dishes I had never tried.

Satay at the barbecue, while the conversation gave us more ideas for what to eat next.

There was also a Bosnian woman who had moved to the United States and was working at the US embassy in Singapore. She was there with an American man, and we talked about our travels in Bosnia and the food we had eaten there. A French-Slovenian couple and several other guests added their own stories. With so many different lives and journeys around us, our own travels began to sound fairly ordinary.

One exchange with Siddhartha, an Indian guest who was there with his German partner, stayed with me. I mentioned being stopped for a random security check on the subway and joked that my beard might have had something to do with it. Sidd looked at me and said, “Welcome to my world, friend.” He explained that these checks, including extra checks at borders, were a regular part of his travels. It was funny and sad at the same time. What I had treated as an unusual inconvenience was something he had come to expect.

Prison

What Was on the Grill

Luka had arranged catering, and the spread included pork in a sweet and spicy marinade, chicken wings, beef, delicious ribs, shrimp and mushrooms. There was also otak-otak, fish wrapped in banana leaf, alongside salads, rice and very good bread. Between the food in front of us and all those recommendations for Malaysia, we had plenty to keep our appetites occupied.

The drinks covered much the same range: ice-cold beer, cider, red and white wines from different parts of the world, and Veuve Clicquot Champagne. The party continued into the early hours. We were loud enough to keep security busy, which probably says more about our enthusiasm than our consideration for anyone trying to sleep.

A generous evening, thanks to Luka and everyone at the party.

Thank you, Luka, for bringing everyone together, and to all the people who made room for two more travelers at the party. We left with new friendships, diving plans and food recommendations we were eager to follow. Evenings like this are one of the reasons we travel: a few hours of conversation can give a place a much more personal meaning.