Return to a Sexy Island

by Neil Humphreys

Singapore got sexy and the country’s best-selling author got jealous. After five years chasing echidnas and platypuses in Australia, Neil Humphreys returns to Singapore to see if the rumours are true. Like an old girlfriend getting a lusty makeover, the island transformed while Humphreys was away. Singapore is not just a sexier island, it’s a different world.So Humphreys embarked upon a nationwide tour to test that theory. He went in search of new Singapore, visiting only locations that either did not exist five years ago or had been extensively rebuilt, renovated or revamped in his absence. From the cloud-topped heights of Marina Bay Sands and Pinnacle@Duxton to making ill-advised bomb jokes at the subterranean tunnels of Labrador Park, Humphreys walks, cycles, kayaks and swims across a rapidly evolving country, meeting Guinness-swigging aunties in Resorts World Sentosa, eccentric toy museum owners in Bugis, political activists in Aljunied and a security guard at Marina Barrage ready to ‘tekan’ anyone who crosses his path. In new Singapore, Humphreys discovers a country still grappling between the economic rewards of progress at Biopolis and Fusionopolis and the historical cost at Bukit Brown Cemetery.With Humphreys’ characteristic honesty and wit, Return to a Sexy Island provides an insightful account of new Singapore; its best bits, it ugly bits and, most importantly of all, what it’s really like to pee in the world’s best toilet. Every Singapore resident and visitor should read this book.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel

280 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2012

About the author

Neil Humphreys is a British humour columnist and author of three best-selling books about Singapore - Notes From an Even Smaller Island (2001), Scribbles from the Same Island (2003) and Final Notes from a Great Island (2006). The last of these was on Singapore's bestsellers list for several consecutive weeks, proving the popularity of his writings among Singaporeans. His latest book in this series - Return to a Sexy Island - was released in June 2012.

Brought up in Dagenham, London, England, Humphreys arrived in Singapore in 1996 and had initially planned on staying in Singapore for only 3 months. However, he instantly fell in love with the island-state and decided to settle there. Humphreys has always lived in Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats in Toa Payoh, a public housing estate in central Singapore, despite moving twice. Although he is a foreigner, he has chosen to assimilate himself into the Singapore culture through living in HDB flats, eating at local kopitiams and trying out many things that the locals do. He often pokes fun at Western expatriates working in Singapore by comparing their living habits with his own, criticising them for their aloofness from the local society and their extravagant lifestyles.

Reviews

[Xin Ru Toh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a memoir about Neil Humphrey's return to 'new' Singapore with buildings such as Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa. He made witty observations about the expense at which such revamps were made. In particular, he pointed out the widening wealth disparity between the different social classes - foreign expats, Singaporeans in white-collar jobs, Singaporeans in blue-collar jobs, and migrant workers. This memoir was published in 2012, and it felt a little dated reading this in 2020 - proving the author's point about Singapore's constant pursuit for expensive new makeovers. While this memoir wasn't as funny as some of his past works, it was still an interesting read for me as a Singaporean.

[Priya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this a few days into my fortnight long stay in Singapore. I enjoyed it tremendously. I am so glad I visited the MINT toy museum after reading the chapter on it. I can't wait to read more of Neil Humphreys' island series, although this title is one that is closest to what SG looks like right now. I am going to be visiting all the places captured in this book with each visit to the Red Dot. I simply love his sense of humor and I found myself giggling out loud in the MRT! (Not like anyone cared). I think this book in rather instrumental in making me fall hard for Singapore! (And that my boyfriend now lives there. Hehehe).

[Kim Tong Lim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neil Humphreys returned to Singapore in 2011 after five years away in Australia. He came back to a transformed landscape that is Singapore today. He called it sexy island with new attractions and developments both in physical form and people behaviour. He explored new places which even as a Singaporean I have not been to. Neil became tourist and recorded in his travel journal the fun and quirky aspects of places he visited. He researched and brought out facts and some history of each place. A good record on paperback (and no need to “Google” for such information).

I can see Singapore changed rapidly in five years through his narration. If you have read his other books on Singapore, he did not stop using some swear words and somewhat obscene tone to express himself. But this is part of his style and it should not prevent someone from enjoying his books. Maybe PG rating is advised for young and impressionable readers reading them.

Neil Humphreys dabbled in some political issues in some chapters, notably the government losing a GRC in 2011 GE, Mas Selamat embarrassing escape from prison, Bukit Brown cemetery clearance for a highway to be developed.

This is a book that is readable and can let us see how a foreigner views Singapore with strings of rapid developments that is Singapore’s trademark.

[Jason Lundberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrifically funny and insightful, and at times a scathing indictment of progress-obsessed culture, RETURN is an excellent guide to constantly-changing Singapore in 2012. This is the actually the first of Humphreys' "Island" books that I've encountered (although I've read some of his other books), and it was a delight to learn things about my adopted home of the last five years that I've never known, like, for example, how a Hollywood movie named Saint Jack (based on the Paul Theroux novel) was filmed here in the 1970s (and it had to be done in secret). I'm quite keen to find Humphreys' earlier books on Singapore now.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great book! Really interesting reading about places that I am coming to know for myself. Laugh-out-loud funny on every page. Serious reflection as well, regarding the meaning of Singapore's progress, and who benefits from it, and where it might be leading. The book confirms and deepens how impressed I already am by the amazing achievements of this young nation. And it leaves me exercised, still, by my questions about its use of foreign labour, and the inequalities in which I am conscious of participating, however unintentionally. I want to go and find Neil Humphreys' previous books now.

[Jen Tyrese · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of Neil's popular book, shared with us his life and experience back into the small island, Singapore revealed in Return to A Sexy Island: Notes From A New Singapore. Check it out

[SC · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hilarious, and I mean snort-out-loud funny. I book-darted some of the places to earmark for future visits to the little red dot. I know the demographic of his books are mostly Singaporean and might know what he's talking about, but I kinda wish that he included pictures of some of places he's been - it doesn't have to be a picture book, but just so that I don't have to keep going to Google Images or take him at his word.

[Lynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neil Humphries' take on Singapore is always a laugh -- it's nice to have him in the same Singapore as I've been living in now that he is back from Australia. His last book on Singapore before he left was written in 2006, so it was quite a bit different when I arrived in 2010, even though he was my first introduction to Singapore on pages.

[Hon Kar Yee · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting book about Singapore's recent achievements and developments. It is not boring at all; in fact, it is quite humourous! I enjoyed reading about the author's accounts and learning about different sides of Singapore. Try reading it ~~

[Didi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious read, especially those ugly bits. It's good to read someone taking a piss at the old girl ;)

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

lots of inside jokes about singapore. singaporeans should read!

[Belebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious! I noted down some places my family and I have not visited even though the little red dot is our home country!

[Shu Yi · Rating 3 out of 5]

"if comfort only comes from what's reassuringly familiar, why not cut the middleman out and spend a two-week holiday in the living room?" this was my favourite quote from the book