The brief: Be the most indispensable and savvy local journalist possible, in proposing fresh and personal Singapore perspectives for discerning world travelers.

I accepted. There’s nothing so marvelous and real like a project re-visiting your hometown in ways both familiar and new, armed with intrepid gusto and bottomless appetite. It was an exhilarating joy ride, in the front seat watching bartenders, creative visionaries and wellness maestras elevate their craft. Throughout six months of reporting, I trend spotted and discovered unique insights, settled onto familiar barstools, explored new labels, soaked in rejuvenation traditional and innovative. I also devised walking tours of Marina Bay Sands and Orchard Road, and unveiled insider tips on super slick moves, like where you should go swimming.

And so I’m here to say: There’s no place like home, and there’s no assignment like home.