Chow time:
Two expats dining alfresco style at a hawkers' centre in Singapore.

Eating out in the Far East is a relaxed, casual affair, and occasionally requires a complete disregard for hygiene. It is not for the squeamish. But only the adventurous travellers get to sample the best of Oriental street fares. And they're much better than hotel dishes.

It is not without its ettiquettes. Lively conversations are characteristic of stall dining. Boisterousness — or drunkenness — is a no-no.