Before you go...

Akili shares a few of his favourite things

MOST MEMORABLE TRIP

I went to Bhutan maybe 15 years ago with my brother. We trekked more than 12 hours a day and set up camp every night. We were amazed by the idea of a whole country creating a concept of “gross national happiness”. And you see it in the people. Each day, they see how they can get the most happiness out of their life. From the city to remote villages, everyone embodied that philosophy. That really inspired me.

A HIDDEN GEM

I love exploring local neighbourhoods. That’s how I found a charming Italian restaurant in Singapore called La Braceria. It has some of the best service I’ve experienced and the food is great. I’m a sucker for Italian food.

I NEVER TRAVEL WITHOUT …

Books. I just reread Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda; I’m always impressed when I read that. Another book that is always inspiring is In Praise of Shadows by Jun’ichirō Tanizaki, about the Japanese philosophy of design and architecture.