Honeymooning in Malaysia was very luxurious 

My husband [American managing director Robert Charles Chien] and I got married in 2004, but we didn’t go on honeymoon until several months later. We stayed in Kuala Lumpur for a few days, then made our way to Pangkor Laut Resort, about 250km (155 miles) away, which was owned by a friend of a friend. We checked into a stunning villa and spent our days by the water, having massages and eating. I can vividly recall just how peaceful and relaxing it was. During our stay I fell in love with a Malaysian dish called nasi lemak – coconut milk rice, sambal, fried crispy anchovies, toasted peanuts and cucumber – which I must have ordered at least five times. Looking back, I think we both gained six kilos when we were there because we ate so much food.

It was six months before I could walk again following a skiing accident 

I broke my leg on my first ever ski holiday to Niseko in Japan, in January 2019. I took lessons beforehand and stuck to the bunny slopes while there, but – unluckily for me – it was extremely slippery and I fell. As a result, I was wheelchair bound for three months and it was six months before I could walk unaided. I had to have physical therapy and the whole incident made touring very challenging. I would hobble on stage using crutches and I wasn’t able to move around, so I had to sit and sing. Performing in heels was off limits, so I’d wear a full gown with sneakers underneath. Thankfully, people were understanding and didn’t feel short-changed at my concerts. I don’t intend to ski ever again – I’m not as hardy as I used to be.

The stakes feel higher when I'm touring and there are famous people in the audience

I flew from Singapore to Boston, Massachusetts, to sing for US President Bill Clinton at the Democratic party convention in 1994. I had to say a few words, so I explained how I’d travelled several hours to get there, but it was worth it to sing for Mr Clinton. Much to my delight, he later referenced my speech when he got up on stage to deliver his own. That tickled me pink. My mum was really taken by him too, and she got to shake his hand. I also travelled to London from New York to perform for Queen Elizabeth and the late Prince Philip at the Royal Variety show in 1991. I try to remind myself that they are just human beings like the rest of us, but I get intimidated because I want to give the best performance I can.

Cardiff was so green 

The Welsh capital was one of the early stops on my UK solo tour almost three years ago and it is now my favourite place in Britain. Nothing could have prepared me for how stunning the venue was. Cardiff’s Wales Millennium Centre was truly breathtaking when it was all lit up at night – I stayed in a hotel which was only a 10-minute walk away.

New York has always felt like home 

I’m originally from Manila in the Philippines, but I’ve lived in the Big Apple for many years. I love the energy that rises from the pavement, through my feet and into my body – that’s why it’s my favourite city in the world. I’ve also never felt like a tourist there. I spent a couple of years in my home country because of Covid-19 and what I missed most were my frequent visits to Broadway, which is walking distance from my apartment in Midtown.

The Corinthia hotel in London gives the most incredible massages 

It’s hard for me to pick my favourite hotel, but this one is right up there because of its amazing spa. The treatments are some of the best I’ve ever had and the hotel is in an incredibly convenient location: all I have to do is cross Waterloo Bridge and I’m at the National Theatre, which I love. I once went there to see the musical Here Lies Love and because I had friends starring in it I was able to go backstage to the green room. You can imagine my absolute joy when I walked in to see Tony-winning Broadway star Cynthia Erivo standing there!

Interview by Julie Ann Trainor  

Lea Salonga’s Dream Again UK tour kicks off in June 2022. For tickets and more information, go to cuffeandtaylor.com