Recently my parents moved to Singapore, having spent the majority of their lives in South Jersey. Needless to say, they went through a major culture shock. It effected my mom more so than my dad (being distracted by work).
They were there for about a month and a half before I visited. The majority of their time was spent between the "American Club" and the normal tourist attractions.
My mother is not really the adventurous type, but I would consider myself as such. So when I decided to visit, I went with the understanding that I was to plan our time together. Having never been there, and being a huge fan of your show, I based part of my time around visiting the restaurants and eateries you attended.
It was one of the most amazing vacations and experiences of my life! As you say, there is no better way to understand a culture than through their food. The experience also helped my mom step outside her bubble and see parts of the city I'm sure she would never venture to alone. Now, I know Singapore feels more like home to her. So thanks!
Sincerely,
~Peggy
ps. if I were you and I was being paid to go anywhere in the world, I would go to:
Tibet
Belgium
Fiji
Croatia
Morocco
Peru
just to start...

Ah, Singapore. Eat there quick. Best places to eat are the sanitary markets, but the gov't is tearing them down. Best and most varied street/market food in Asia. The only affordable thing in Singapore is the street food.