Neil was watching an episode of Bargain Hunt on cable TV when he decided to write a farewell tour-type travel guide of Singapore.

A British programme, Bargain Hunt follows the fortunes of middle-aged, middle-class couples in bright sweaters trying to make a profit at various antique fairs. Sometimes, they made 10 whole pounds. Riveting stuff.

After a shitty day fighting office fires from his Toa Payoh flat, he switched on the TV, watched five minutes of Bargain Hunt and said to his wife, “sod it, I’m going to quit my job now, go off on a farewell tour, complete the trilogy and then we’ll give Australia a go.” And he did.

A few weeks later, he’d handed in his resignation, finalised book plans with his publisher and set off with a rucksack and a bottle of water each day to unearth a few rare gems in Singapore.

A little over six months later, Final Notes From A Great Island was the fastest selling book in the country and stayed at No.1 for almost three months. Easily Neil’s favourite book, Final Notes travelled around Asia, Australia and the UK and is a popular choice with Asian literature students at the University of Hong Kong. Neil has never watched Bargain Hunt since.

The back cover:
The country’s best-selling author and popular columnist is back. After a decade in Singapore, Neil Humphreys has decide to move on to the land Down Under because he really wanted to spend time living among the world’s most poisonous snakes and roo poo.

But the British writer didn’t want to leave the island he fell in love with 10 years ago without taking one final, kaypoh look around the place. Embarking on a farewell tour from his Toa Payoh home, Humphreys vowed to explore Singapore as he did when he first arrived, on foot and unaware, taking in his favourite places, the ulu haunts, the green spots, the clean parts and the dirty bits; the nation’s underbelly and its belly dancers.

From Sentosa to Sembawang, Choa Chu Kang to Changi, St John’s Island to Johor (he got a bit carried away), Humphreys treks, cycles and even hitchhikes his way across this great island, encountering murderous dogs, dead cats, wild crocodiles, mad cyclists, terrifying transvestites, persistent prostitutes and half-naked ice cream vendors.

Humphreys’ unique tours take in the glorious countryside of Lim Chu Kang, the serene beaches of Kusu Island, the history of Changi, the pristine public toilets of Raffles Hotel and the mating couples of Mount Faber to prove, once and for all, that there is so much more to Singapore than shopping malls.

Honest, insightful and funny, Final Notes From a Great Island is a warm, uplifting tribute to Singapore and every Singaporean (and tourist, employment pass holder and permanent resident for that matter) should read it.

Book bits

What the media said:
“Neil Humphreys gives readers a wonderful inside look at Singapore from an outsider’s point of view. And it’s all written in an honest and humorous way. As soon as I started reading, it felt like I was in Singapore and actually visiting the places Humphreys talks about. He describes the people, places and the city in such vivid detail.” - Galaxie Magazine (Malaysia)

“Final Notes from a Great Island is a great read because it’s full of little scenarios that we can relate to in our daily lives. Far from trying to tackle the big issues, Humphreys is adept at capturing those tiny idiosyncrasies that make us who we are as people.” - IS Magazine

“Chock full of witty anecdotes, Final Notes from a Great Island should be made a mandatory History text for all Singaporean students. See Singapore through the eyes of a true-blue ang moh as he puts a fresh twist on stuff you thought was boring … like the Merlion.” - Lime Magazine

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