The Hungry Ghost

#TheHungryGhost Publishes on 24. September. Until publication, I’ll be sharing photos of my inspiration and the Singapore I got to know in the 4 years I lived…
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ONE DAY! Are you ready to explore the rainforest wilderness of this graveyard? ✅ Hiking boots ✅ Swiss army knife ✅ Map & compass ✅ Notebook & pen ✅ Torch & bunch of keys ✅ Snack bar & water bottle #SingaporeNature Map Compass, Day Countdown, Mysterious Girl, Step Brothers, Beckon, Adventure Story, Homesick, Books To Buy, The Real World
1 day countdown to #TheHungryGhost
ONE DAY! Are you ready to explore the rainforest wilderness of this graveyard? ✅ Hiking boots ✅ Swiss army knife ✅ Map & compass ✅ Notebook & pen ✅ Torch & bunch of keys ✅ Snack bar & water bottle #SingaporeNature
TWO DAYS!!! Are you getting ready to land in Singapore? Can you see the super trees? The gigantic tortoise-shape of the sports hub? Containerships like abandoned Lego bricks? Indonesia in the distance? #Singapore Roam, Bricks, Tortoise
2 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
TWO DAYS!!! Are you getting ready to land in Singapore? Can you see the super trees? The gigantic tortoise-shape of the sports hub? Containerships like abandoned Lego bricks? Indonesia in the distance? #Singapore
…And no book is complete without descriptions of food. Here are some of the delicious Singaporean hawker food dishes, mentioned in the book (and some other favourites). Most dishes cost 3-5$ (2-3£) Chicken rice Satay Roti Prata Frog Porridge Carrot Cake Popiah Kueh Pie Tee Dosa Char Kway Teow Sambal BBQ Stingray Wanton Mee Chili crab Lime juice Sugar cane juice Freshly squeezed juice at very low prices #SingaporeCulture Singapore Chicken Rice, Singapore Food, Singapore Travel, Veggie Recipes, Asian Recipes, Chicken Recipes, Asian Foods, Hainanese Chicken, Roast Duck
3 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
…And no book is complete without descriptions of food. Here are some of the delicious Singaporean hawker food dishes, mentioned in the book (and some other favourites). Most dishes cost 3-5$ (2-3£) Chicken rice Satay Roti Prata Frog Porridge Carrot Cake Popiah Kueh Pie Tee Dosa Char Kway Teow Sambal BBQ Stingray Wanton Mee Chili crab Lime juice Sugar cane juice Freshly squeezed juice at very low prices #SingaporeCulture
No trip to Singapore is complete without visits to hawker centres. Here: Adam Road (our local, mainly Malay food), Newton (everything), Tekka market (Indian) and Maxwell (Chinese), which is the one Freja visits. #SingaporeCulture Malay Food, Hawker, Maxwell, Hometown
4 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
No trip to Singapore is complete without visits to hawker centres. Here: Adam Road (our local, mainly Malay food), Newton (everything), Tekka market (Indian) and Maxwell (Chinese), which is the one Freja visits. #SingaporeCulture
Seen through the rear-view mirror, the past is often distorted, as in this photo of new and old. The Empress Place building, known as Government House during the colonial era, is now the Asian Civilisations Museum. #SingaporeCulture The Empress, Rear View
5 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
Seen through the rear-view mirror, the past is often distorted, as in this photo of new and old. The Empress Place building, known as Government House during the colonial era, is now the Asian Civilisations Museum. #SingaporeCulture
One of the places where the contrast between the old and the new Singapore is most visible is on #BoatQuay. Here near the mouth of the Singapore River, skyscrapers loom over the old shophouses. #SingaporeCulture Singapore River, Skyscrapers, Quay
6 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
One of the places where the contrast between the old and the new Singapore is most visible is on #BoatQuay. Here near the mouth of the Singapore River, skyscrapers loom over the old shophouses. #SingaporeCulture
7 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
ONE WEEK TO GO! Are you ready to follow Freja on an adventure in the rainforest wilderness of this graveyard? #BukitBrownCemetery #SingaporeNature
Everywhere—here Chinatown and the Muslim quarter— the old and the new collide. As Freja says: “On the surface, Singapore might look like a modern city, but it’s as if there’s a different world underneath the shiny varnish.” #SingaporeCulture A Different World, Modern City, Chinatown
8 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
Everywhere—here Chinatown and the Muslim quarter— the old and the new collide. As Freja says: “On the surface, Singapore might look like a modern city, but it’s as if there’s a different world underneath the shiny varnish.” #SingaporeCulture
In the book, Freja visits Chinatown with her friends, and they browse around shops like this magical mini emporium. I wonder if these lanterns inspired Anna Morrison when she designed the stunning cover… #SingaporeCulture Singapore, Times Square
9 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
In the book, Freja visits Chinatown with her friends, and they browse around shops like this magical mini emporium. I wonder if these lanterns inspired Anna Morrison when she designed the stunning cover… #SingaporeCulture
The impressive #BuddhaToothTemple in the centre of Chinatown, features a museum, a hidden-gem rooftop garden and one of Buddha’s teeth in a golden room. It is also a setting in the book. #SingaporeCulture Rooftop Garden
10 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
The impressive #BuddhaToothTemple in the centre of Chinatown, features a museum, a hidden-gem rooftop garden and one of Buddha’s teeth in a golden room. It is also a setting in the book. #SingaporeCulture
Most burnt offerings for the hungry ghosts are sheets of joss paper. One type, printed to resemble real money, is called Hell bank notes and features auspicious symbols as well as the emperor of the underworld. 🔥 #SingaporeCulture Burnt Offerings, Underworld
11 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
Most burnt offerings for the hungry ghosts are sheets of joss paper. One type, printed to resemble real money, is called Hell bank notes and features auspicious symbols as well as the emperor of the underworld. 🔥 #SingaporeCulture
The paper effigies can be anything from luxury cars to pets, home electronics, clothing, food and drinks. The brand names all have slight spelling mistakes, like: Caca Cola, Ice Tee, McDnalds, Adidsso and McBooks. 🔥 #SingaporeCulture Ice Tee, Happy Family
12 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
The paper effigies can be anything from luxury cars to pets, home electronics, clothing, food and drinks. The brand names all have slight spelling mistakes, like: Caca Cola, Ice Tee, McDnalds, Adidsso and McBooks. 🔥 #SingaporeCulture
On street corners, food offerings and lit joss sticks surround old oil drums that are ablaze with burning paper effigies. The smoke is nectar for the hungry ghosts and will keep them nourished in the coming year. 🔥 #SingaporeCulture Burnt Paper, Oil Drum, Effigy
13 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
On street corners, food offerings and lit joss sticks surround old oil drums that are ablaze with burning paper effigies. The smoke is nectar for the hungry ghosts and will keep them nourished in the coming year. 🔥 #SingaporeCulture
Getai are live stage performances that take place during the Hungry Ghost Festival to entertain both the living and the dead. The front row might look like it’s empty—it’s reserved for the hungry ghosts. #SingaporeCulture Morrison, New Life, Ghosts, Front Row
14 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
Getai are live stage performances that take place during the Hungry Ghost Festival to entertain both the living and the dead. The front row might look like it’s empty—it’s reserved for the hungry ghosts. #SingaporeCulture
There are many lion statues, guarding the graves in #BukitBrownCemetery. Most male lions have a ball under one paw, representing the world, while females have a lion cub, symbolising their power of life. #SingaporeCulture #FengShui Male Lion, Lion Cub
15 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
There are many lion statues, guarding the graves in #BukitBrownCemetery. Most male lions have a ball under one paw, representing the world, while females have a lion cub, symbolising their power of life. #SingaporeCulture #FengShui
The first white tiger Freja sees is this one in #SingaporeZoo. The second white tiger she encounters is a different creature altogether… 🐯 #SingaporeNature Singapore Zoo, White Tiger
16 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
The first white tiger Freja sees is this one in #SingaporeZoo. The second white tiger she encounters is a different creature altogether… 🐯 #SingaporeNature
There are also many tigers (none of them white) in #HawParVilla, because the park was founded (in 1937) by the brothers who developed Tiger Balm. 🐯 #SingaporeCulture Tiger Balm, The Brethren
17 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
There are also many tigers (none of them white) in #HawParVilla, because the park was founded (in 1937) by the brothers who developed Tiger Balm. 🐯 #SingaporeCulture
#HawParVilla is also home to many Chinese dragons. These auspicious creatures bring luck and prosperity, and they rule the weather. They resemble serpents with camel heads, stag antlers, cow ears, and eagle claws. 

#SingaporeCulture Cow Ears, Stag Antlers, Eagle Claw, Chinese Dragon
18 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
#HawParVilla is also home to many Chinese dragons. These auspicious creatures bring luck and prosperity, and they rule the weather. They resemble serpents with camel heads, stag antlers, cow ears, and eagle claws. #SingaporeCulture
Warning! You have entered the ten courts of Hell in #HawParVilla.
Freja hurries past the glass showcases, depicting small figures being decapitated, thrown into volcanos, or suffering other terrifying punishments.

#SingaporeCulture Decapitate, Glass Showcase, 19 Days
19 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
Warning! You have entered the ten courts of Hell in #HawParVilla. Freja hurries past the glass showcases, depicting small figures being decapitated, thrown into volcanos, or suffering other terrifying punishments. #SingaporeCulture
#HawParVilla is famous for its display of the ten courts of Hell. The entrance is guarded by the Hell guards: Ox-head and Horse-face. They chase spirits into the realm of the dead and ensure they don’t escape.

#SingaporeCulture Horse Face
20 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
#HawParVilla is famous for its display of the ten courts of Hell. The entrance is guarded by the Hell guards: Ox-head and Horse-face. They chase spirits into the realm of the dead and ensure they don’t escape. #SingaporeCulture
#HawParVilla, a setting in the book, is a cultural theme park. It contains over 1000 statue and 150 giant dioramas, depicting scenes from Chinese mythology, folklore and legends. It is a magical place! #SingaporeCulture Chinese Mythology
21 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
#HawParVilla, a setting in the book, is a cultural theme park. It contains over 1000 statue and 150 giant dioramas, depicting scenes from Chinese mythology, folklore and legends. It is a magical place! #SingaporeCulture
Tonight’s the Hungry Ghost Festival—the 15th day of the Chinese 7th month—and it’s midnight in Singapore. The streets are enveloped in smoke from burning effigies and littered with offerings to the hungry ghosts.  #SingaporeCulture 7th Month, Hungry
22 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
Tonight’s the Hungry Ghost Festival—the 15th day of the Chinese 7th month—and it’s midnight in Singapore. The streets are enveloped in smoke from burning effigies and littered with offerings to the hungry ghosts. #SingaporeCulture
From real to legendary monkeys. Monkey God, aka Su Wukong, reigns from the top of the mountain in #HawParVilla. He's incredibly strong and fast & a hero in Journey to the West, an epic 16th century Chinese novel.  🐒 #SingaporeCulture Journey To The West, 16th Century
23 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
From real to legendary monkeys. Monkey God, aka Su Wukong, reigns from the top of the mountain in #HawParVilla. He's incredibly strong and fast & a hero in Journey to the West, an epic 16th century Chinese novel. 🐒 #SingaporeCulture
Monkey Monday!   On her first visit to #BukitBrownCemetery, Freja spots a long-tailed macaque: “A pair of eyes gleam golden under one the bushes, and a monkey scurries up a nearby palm tree.” 🐒 #SingaporeNature Macaque, Gleam
24 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
Monkey Monday! On her first visit to #BukitBrownCemetery, Freja spots a long-tailed macaque: “A pair of eyes gleam golden under one the bushes, and a monkey scurries up a nearby palm tree.” 🐒 #SingaporeNature
One of the amazing volunteer guides at #BukitBrownCemetery has just sent me this photo of a huge banyan tree in the graveyard. 🌳 Would you squeeze through a gap between the roots like Freja does in the story? Photo by: Peter Pak #SingaporeNature Banyan Tree
25 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
One of the amazing volunteer guides at #BukitBrownCemetery has just sent me this photo of a huge banyan tree in the graveyard. 🌳 Would you squeeze through a gap between the roots like Freja does in the story? Photo by: Peter Pak #SingaporeNature
Freja dreams of seeing a pangolin in the wild. This adorable photo was taken near #BukiBrownCemetery, but sadly not by me.  Pangolins are critically endangered in Singapore, and the world’s most trafficked animal.  #SingaporeNature Animals Friends, Baby Animals, Cute Animals, Wild Animals, Pangolin Pictures, Sunda Pangolin, Most Endangered Animals, Baby Boom, Cutest Animals
26 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
Freja dreams of seeing a pangolin in the wild. This adorable photo was taken near #BukiBrownCemetery, but sadly not by me. Pangolins are critically endangered in Singapore, and the world’s most trafficked animal. #SingaporeNature
In the middle of the wilderness that is #BukitBrownCemetery, you might stumble upon one of the caretaker camps. Perhaps, like Freja, you’ll even see something that looks like a fantastical tree that grows wellies.  #SingaporeNature Caretaker, Fire Hydrant
27 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
In the middle of the wilderness that is #BukitBrownCemetery, you might stumble upon one of the caretaker camps. Perhaps, like Freja, you’ll even see something that looks like a fantastical tree that grows wellies. #SingaporeNature
“It’s a banyan tree—I looked it up. It grows downwards, starting from a seed up in another tree, and eventually strangles its host, until no one remembers or cares what kind of tree originally stood in its place.” - Freja in The Hungry Ghost  #SingaporeNature #BukitBrownCemetery Tree Trunk, Ghost, Places, Nature, Garden
28 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
“It’s a banyan tree—I looked it up. It grows downwards, starting from a seed up in another tree, and eventually strangles its host, until no one remembers or cares what kind of tree originally stood in its place.” - Freja in The Hungry Ghost #SingaporeNature #BukitBrownCemetery
“Dead branches snap and brown leaves the size of placemats crackle under my feet. A musty smell of decaying wood rises from the ground. Birds call out over the high-pitched background song of cicadas.”  #SingaporeNature #BukitBrownCemetery Bird Calls
29 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
“Dead branches snap and brown leaves the size of placemats crackle under my feet. A musty smell of decaying wood rises from the ground. Birds call out over the high-pitched background song of cicadas.” #SingaporeNature #BukitBrownCemetery
In the cemetery, Freja ducks under the long oval palm leaves and a cluster of actual, real, mini bananas. She thinks: they don’t look quite ripe, but it’s good to know they’re here if I get hungry on an expedition. 🍌 #SingaporeNature Mini Bananas, Getting Hungry, Palm Leaves
30 days countdown to #TheHungryGhost
In the cemetery, Freja ducks under the long oval palm leaves and a cluster of actual, real, mini bananas. She thinks: they don’t look quite ripe, but it’s good to know they’re here if I get hungry on an expedition. 🍌 #SingaporeNature