If you understand me well, then you know that I will never pay big bucks for branded clothing. Nothing against people who do, but I was brought up in a middle income family, and the only time we bought new clothes was for Chinese New Year. If we bought them early, then Mum would insist that we keep it for a special occasion or for Chinese New Year. We shopped mainly at Metro, Isetan or OG because those were the places that had sales. As we grew older, when we could finally afford some disposable income of our own, we adopted this same policy of being frugal. After all, isn't it more important to look good in the clothes rather than blindly following fashion?
Nowadays, I just don't spend as much on clothes as I used to, when I was back in Singapore. I usually shop for clothes now when I return to Singapore, because almost all sizes fit me, and I like to get stuff that no one else will be able to source when I am wearing them in Sydney. So, when my other friend asked me the best places to shop in Singapore, I was a little gobsmacked.
Singapore is a shopper's paradise but how do you recommend your shopping tastes to others? Would they prefer branded goods, which I have faint idea about where to source except the big shopping malls? Or would they be bargain hunters like me, sourcing for cheaper creations of trendy clothing, which a friend once described as "an excuse to get more when that is worn".
Following the trend of this blog, I will seek to introduce some places for good clothing bargains.
There are two South American brands that I like, and thankfully, they are not as pricey as your D&Gs, Armani but more towards the middle income group. They are "Pull and Bear" and "ZARA". The former has nice fabric and good trendy cuts while the latter (especially the womens' wear) takes inspiration from classic French cutting. They are both exquisite and not overpriced, so I was most impressed with it.
There is only one ZARA outlet in Singapore and it is located at Vivo City, which is all the way out from Orchard Road at HarbourFront Shopping Complex. Located in the same shopping mall is "Pull and Bear" but there is another more city friendly store at Wisma Atria.
Shopping on Orchard Road is the best, and you can spend an entire day there walking around CD shops, boutiques, shopping malls, eating places etc.
This is my shopping guide:
(1) Far East Plaza - you can start from here and make your way down Orchard Road to Plaza Singapura and then all the way from there to City Hall and then Suntec City and Marina Square. This used to be playground because you just go crazy with all the eating and shopping. Retail therapy, even if it is just a big dose of window shopping, always helps to brighten up the day.
On the basement to Level 4 of the Far East Plaza which is not very crowded because it is not as fancy as other shopping malls, there are many small boutique stalls of Singaporean independent designers. They are relatively cheap and competitively priced, so it is a great place to shop for stuff that you will never see anyone else wearing in our part of the world because it is not promoted on tourist guides as a shopping destination. I have bought quite a few lovely pieces of clothing there and have gotten quite a few queries about where I sourced them from.
(2) Boutiques that have sizes or cutting that fit me well - the usual U2, G2000, Zara, Pull and Bear (another South American and favourite - though a little more pricey but not too much - nothing over $70 for a shirt for me) etc. You will find all of them at Takashimaya
(3) The shopping malls like Metro (Paragon), Takashimaya, Tangs, Isetan and Robinsons are all good for underwear shopping and they have great deals too specially during the Sale season. You will find them all sprinkled on Orchard Road.
(4) Heeran - where HMV is. There are interesting stores all around for clothes and has Singaporean designer boutiques as well. There is a "New Urban Male" boutique on Level 4, which is very gay. Cute Asian boys there all the time acting metrosexual but we know are gay.
(5) Plaza Singapura - a few good CD stores, food outlets, Singaporean designer boutiques etc on the lower levels. There is also a Japanese $2 shop, which I love, love love! None of that crap that you find here. Really good quality stuff from Japan, because they have a 100 yen store there, which most of these stuff are imported from.
(6) Suntec City, Marina Square - many stores in there like Takashimaya. More for families but the amount of different stores make for good shopping.
(7) Bugis Markets - I covered this before in my previous post. I haven't found anything during my last trip that I fancied, but I did fall in love with my "Superman" belt buckle, which has garnered much praise.
If you are looking for branded goods, then the places to visit will be Takashimaya, Milena Walk and the Western end of Orchard Road nearer towards Tanglin Road.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Flavours of Singapore Part 3 - Glorious Food Revolution
Finally, what most Singaporeans lament they miss most when they travel or live overseas - the food. Singaporeans have been spoilt rotten with the variety of good food and goodies, and I am honestly surprised that we are not amongst the fattest people in the world, thanks to the relatively smaller servings and the size of the Asian stomach.
Since we tend to eat less at every meal (okay most meals), snacks like fishballs, chicken wings, peanuts and all other varieties of Malay and Chinese tidbits help pepper our appetite all throughout the day, and in a most bizarre manner, keep the metabolism up.
So, what are the foods that I miss most, and are must-haves when I go back to Singapore. Having been in Australia for almost ten years (give or take a few days now from my 18th Feb anniversary), I have gotten used to not having them in my life ever since I gave up the idea of replicating them at home, because read this: It is impossible.
In no particular order, these are my loves ...
(1) Hokkien Prawn Mee - the best I have tasted is in the "Food Republic" foodcourt on the 4th Level of a shopping mall called "Wisma Atria", just above Orchard MRT Station. Wrapped in banana leaves and cooked with prok, calamari and prawns, this is a delicious concoction of flavours. The other version, which is the Prawn Noodle Soup is also just as divine! You must not miss this because it is to die for, and one major regret that no one sells it here in Australia or comes close to replicating this heavenly creation.
(2) Fried Carrot Cake - comes in "black" or white versions, with prawns or without. The white version is without the addition of sweet soy sauce, which sweetens the "black" version. Though called carrot, it is actually made of radish and in my opinion, beats the carrot cake any day hands down.
(3) Char (Fried) Kway Teow - basically translates into Fried Soy Sauce Noodles. Similar to the Thai Pad See Yew, but cooked with Chinese sausages , fish cake, beansprouts and cockles instead. Since I am not a big fan of cockles and oysters, I usually make a special request for them to remove it. I like the Pad See Yew better but this is still very nice.
(4) Mince Pork and Fishball Noodles - Cooked with Shitake mushrooms, pork slices and mince, fish cake and fishballs (not testicles of fish - just fish meat rolled up into balls) and a slice of lettuce, this is a very popular breakfast item, along side the plain fried noodles, roti prata and coconut rice. Opt for the "Dried" version which comes with a bowl of soup. I usually ask for them not to include pig's liver, because I hate it, but you may like it.
(5) Roti Prata and Murtabak- mentioned in 1st Post, these are Indian pancakes served with dipping curry sauce. The former is a popular breakfast and supper dish while the murtabak filled with mutton or chicken is a hearty meal in itself. Beware that the murtabak is rather spicy and can sting. ;-)
(6) Nasi Lemak - Coconut rice with a small piece of omelete. fried anchovies or fish, slice of cucumber and its famous chilli. Wrapped traditionally in banana leaves, this is a popular breakfast item. With the passage of time came the "glamorisation" of this simple dish with curries, fried chicken, beef, mutton etc.
(7) Nasi Goreng, Mee Goreng and Nasi Briyani - I am not a big fan of the former two because they are just simple dishes of Malaysian fried rice and noodles, but I love Nasi Briyani, which is yellow ginger rice and its accompanying fried chicken or curries.
(8) Chicken Rice - quite similar to what is served in Chinatown but Singapore is famous for its Hainanese Chicken rice (I believe there is a very good stall at Lucky Plaza Shopping Mall. The chicken is boiled, but it is tender, juicy and flavorsome.
(9) Claypot Chicken Rice - Chicken rice cooked in a claypot with shitake mushrooms, Chinese spinach, chicken and a little garnishing of salted fish adding flavour to the dish. I prefer to this to the former, but it is not as famous.
(10) Fish Soup with Rice or Noodles - Comes in fried or boiled, fish fillets or fish head, it is one of the healthier options. I prefer the noodles but I know it is not for everyone.
(11) Oyster Egg - Cooked with small oysters, eggs have never tasted this good and I dare you to disagree. I'm not a big fan of the oysters, but then again, it has never stopped me from devouring the eggs.
(12) Popiah - The Chinese version of pancakes packed with eggs, peanuts, bean sprouts, Chinese sausages, and turnip wrapped up like a small kebab.
(13) Stingray with chilli - I know this killed Steve Irwin, but if only he knew how good it tastes. One of my absolute favourites.
(14) Famous Singapore Crabs - I know they market it here as Singapore famous chilli crabs, but if you want to try it in Singapore, you must have either the pepper crabs or crabs with salted egg. For someone who is not used to salted egg, the former is a safe choice. The best place to have it is at Jumbo Restaurant at East Coast Seafood Centre
(15) Beef Noodles with thick gravy - Much better than the Vietnamese ones that you find here, if you ask me.
(16) Assorted Chinese, Malay or Indian Rice - pick from an assortment on dishes served on white rice, you get to taste a variety of typical dishes that we have at home
(17) Yong Tau Foo -An assortment of mainly tofu and fish cake combinations served on noodles. Comes with a sweet based sauce or chilli.
(18) Hor Fun - Thick flattened rice noodles cooked with seafood and a delicious gravy. One of my favourite nooodles
(19) Satay - beef, chicken, pork or mutton on stick with a a side of cucumber, raw onion or order of rice cakes with peanut gravy. Divine!!!!
(20) All the other food on sticks - ToriQ (Japanese yakitori - chicken on sticks), Old Change Kee (curry puffs, prawn and fish cakes, cuttlefish balls and squid heads) and the Nonya cakes. Mouth-watering goodness.
(21) Goreng Pisang - Fried Bananas, tapioca, sweet potato. One is enough to last me for weeks.
(22) BBQ Pork - The aroma of the thin pork slices on barbecue are enough to drive me in every single time. I remember it being a luxury item that we could savour only during Chinese New Year when we were young, but it is now everywhere. The famous Bee Kim Heng brand is the best with their crisp and fresh produce.
(23) Desserts - cold or hot. Sorry, no muffins. The cold ones usually go better with foreigners because they are usually made of ice with different sorts of syrups.
There is just too much to eat and if you ever feel like trying, don't let me stop you just because it is not on this list. There is just too much for me to remember. I am attaching the photos below which will correspond to the above order. With all these food, I am sure you will leave Singapore craving for more time to savour all these goodness and more. You will truly understand how lucky Singaporeans are, to be able to have the best of most worlds with this multi-cultural cuisine. If you think I have missed something here that is worth recommending, please feel free to add or review.
Hokkien Prawn Mee
Prawn Noodle Soup
Fried Carrot Cake
Fried Kway Teow
Mince Pork and Fishball Noodles
Murtabak
Nasi Lemak
MeeGoreng
Nasi Briyani
Hainanese Chicken Rice
Claypot Chicken Rice
Fresh Fish Soup
Fried Fish Soup
Oyster Egg
Popiah
Stingray
Pepper Crabs
Salted Egg Yolk Crabs
Beef Noodles
"Assorted" rice
Hor Fun
Yong Tau Foo
Satay
ToriQ
Yakitori
Old Chang Kee
Food on sticks
Goreng Pisang
BBQ Pork
Nonya Kueh
Hot Sweet Potato Soup
Iced Soursop on Jelly
Iced Kachang
Since we tend to eat less at every meal (okay most meals), snacks like fishballs, chicken wings, peanuts and all other varieties of Malay and Chinese tidbits help pepper our appetite all throughout the day, and in a most bizarre manner, keep the metabolism up.
So, what are the foods that I miss most, and are must-haves when I go back to Singapore. Having been in Australia for almost ten years (give or take a few days now from my 18th Feb anniversary), I have gotten used to not having them in my life ever since I gave up the idea of replicating them at home, because read this: It is impossible.
In no particular order, these are my loves ...
(1) Hokkien Prawn Mee - the best I have tasted is in the "Food Republic" foodcourt on the 4th Level of a shopping mall called "Wisma Atria", just above Orchard MRT Station. Wrapped in banana leaves and cooked with prok, calamari and prawns, this is a delicious concoction of flavours. The other version, which is the Prawn Noodle Soup is also just as divine! You must not miss this because it is to die for, and one major regret that no one sells it here in Australia or comes close to replicating this heavenly creation.
(2) Fried Carrot Cake - comes in "black" or white versions, with prawns or without. The white version is without the addition of sweet soy sauce, which sweetens the "black" version. Though called carrot, it is actually made of radish and in my opinion, beats the carrot cake any day hands down.
(3) Char (Fried) Kway Teow - basically translates into Fried Soy Sauce Noodles. Similar to the Thai Pad See Yew, but cooked with Chinese sausages , fish cake, beansprouts and cockles instead. Since I am not a big fan of cockles and oysters, I usually make a special request for them to remove it. I like the Pad See Yew better but this is still very nice.
(4) Mince Pork and Fishball Noodles - Cooked with Shitake mushrooms, pork slices and mince, fish cake and fishballs (not testicles of fish - just fish meat rolled up into balls) and a slice of lettuce, this is a very popular breakfast item, along side the plain fried noodles, roti prata and coconut rice. Opt for the "Dried" version which comes with a bowl of soup. I usually ask for them not to include pig's liver, because I hate it, but you may like it.
(5) Roti Prata and Murtabak- mentioned in 1st Post, these are Indian pancakes served with dipping curry sauce. The former is a popular breakfast and supper dish while the murtabak filled with mutton or chicken is a hearty meal in itself. Beware that the murtabak is rather spicy and can sting. ;-)
(6) Nasi Lemak - Coconut rice with a small piece of omelete. fried anchovies or fish, slice of cucumber and its famous chilli. Wrapped traditionally in banana leaves, this is a popular breakfast item. With the passage of time came the "glamorisation" of this simple dish with curries, fried chicken, beef, mutton etc.
(7) Nasi Goreng, Mee Goreng and Nasi Briyani - I am not a big fan of the former two because they are just simple dishes of Malaysian fried rice and noodles, but I love Nasi Briyani, which is yellow ginger rice and its accompanying fried chicken or curries.
(8) Chicken Rice - quite similar to what is served in Chinatown but Singapore is famous for its Hainanese Chicken rice (I believe there is a very good stall at Lucky Plaza Shopping Mall. The chicken is boiled, but it is tender, juicy and flavorsome.
(9) Claypot Chicken Rice - Chicken rice cooked in a claypot with shitake mushrooms, Chinese spinach, chicken and a little garnishing of salted fish adding flavour to the dish. I prefer to this to the former, but it is not as famous.
(10) Fish Soup with Rice or Noodles - Comes in fried or boiled, fish fillets or fish head, it is one of the healthier options. I prefer the noodles but I know it is not for everyone.
(11) Oyster Egg - Cooked with small oysters, eggs have never tasted this good and I dare you to disagree. I'm not a big fan of the oysters, but then again, it has never stopped me from devouring the eggs.
(12) Popiah - The Chinese version of pancakes packed with eggs, peanuts, bean sprouts, Chinese sausages, and turnip wrapped up like a small kebab.
(13) Stingray with chilli - I know this killed Steve Irwin, but if only he knew how good it tastes. One of my absolute favourites.
(14) Famous Singapore Crabs - I know they market it here as Singapore famous chilli crabs, but if you want to try it in Singapore, you must have either the pepper crabs or crabs with salted egg. For someone who is not used to salted egg, the former is a safe choice. The best place to have it is at Jumbo Restaurant at East Coast Seafood Centre
(15) Beef Noodles with thick gravy - Much better than the Vietnamese ones that you find here, if you ask me.
(16) Assorted Chinese, Malay or Indian Rice - pick from an assortment on dishes served on white rice, you get to taste a variety of typical dishes that we have at home
(17) Yong Tau Foo -An assortment of mainly tofu and fish cake combinations served on noodles. Comes with a sweet based sauce or chilli.
(18) Hor Fun - Thick flattened rice noodles cooked with seafood and a delicious gravy. One of my favourite nooodles
(19) Satay - beef, chicken, pork or mutton on stick with a a side of cucumber, raw onion or order of rice cakes with peanut gravy. Divine!!!!
(20) All the other food on sticks - ToriQ (Japanese yakitori - chicken on sticks), Old Change Kee (curry puffs, prawn and fish cakes, cuttlefish balls and squid heads) and the Nonya cakes. Mouth-watering goodness.
(21) Goreng Pisang - Fried Bananas, tapioca, sweet potato. One is enough to last me for weeks.
(22) BBQ Pork - The aroma of the thin pork slices on barbecue are enough to drive me in every single time. I remember it being a luxury item that we could savour only during Chinese New Year when we were young, but it is now everywhere. The famous Bee Kim Heng brand is the best with their crisp and fresh produce.
(23) Desserts - cold or hot. Sorry, no muffins. The cold ones usually go better with foreigners because they are usually made of ice with different sorts of syrups.
There is just too much to eat and if you ever feel like trying, don't let me stop you just because it is not on this list. There is just too much for me to remember. I am attaching the photos below which will correspond to the above order. With all these food, I am sure you will leave Singapore craving for more time to savour all these goodness and more. You will truly understand how lucky Singaporeans are, to be able to have the best of most worlds with this multi-cultural cuisine. If you think I have missed something here that is worth recommending, please feel free to add or review.
Hokkien Prawn MeePrawn Noodle SoupFried Carrot CakeFried Kway TeowMince Pork and Fishball NoodlesMurtabakNasi LemakMeeGorengNasi BriyaniHainanese Chicken RiceClaypot Chicken RiceFresh Fish SoupFried Fish SoupOyster EggPopiahStingrayPepper CrabsSalted Egg Yolk CrabsBeef Noodles"Assorted" riceHor FunYong Tau FooSatayToriQYakitoriOld Chang KeeFood on sticksGoreng PisangBBQ PorkNonya KuehHot Sweet Potato SoupIced Soursop on JellyIced Kachang
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Flavours of Singapore Part 2
Continuing onto other tourist spots, these are places you shouldn't miss:
Little India
Closest MRT Stations - Little India and Farrer Park, but stick to Little India.
The beauty of Little India is that most of it is still relatively untouched, so you get the vibrancy in full colours. The hustle, bustle and the curries and all flavours and odours that associated with India.
The absolute time to avoid it is on Sunday nights from about 6 pm unless Caucasians want to play "Spot the white guy" game or if you are feeling adventurous. Since there are many Pakistani construction workers who only get a break on Sunday night, this is where they gather, and though they are all very nice and cordial, it might come as a culture shock to those who are uncomfortable with huge crowds and little physical distance between each other. Watch out for your comfort zone to be invaded in the nicest of ways.
Food: You must have the Roti Prata - an Indian pancake which can be eaten any time of the day and I mean it. You will see people eating it for breakfast (most common), lunch (lesser) or dinner (much lesser) or dessert (very common). The three varieties they have are Plain, Egg or Onions Special. You will dip them in the accompanying curry sauce and it is divine.
Their richer cousins, laced with either chicken or mutton (not lamb), is called the Mutarbak (Mu-Ta-Bark). This is the reason why Roti Prata is seldom had for lunch and dinner. This is where these richer fanfare feature more and I recommend the chicken version because it is delicious. You can also have the Nasi Briyani (yellow ginger rice) with Chicken or Mutton, Nasi Goreng (Malay Fried Rice) or Mee Goreng (Fried Noodles). I have to warn that these four varieties are rather spicy, so you may want to tell them to add less chilli if you're not up for the challenge. There are many other types which you may want to try and feel free to buy off the stalls on the street because Singapore has very strict health regulations for all food hawkers.
Bugis
Nearest MRT Station: Bugis and Little India
If you're within the vicinity of Little India, you will be rather close to "Bugis", which was was renowned internationally for its nightly gathering of transsexuals from the 1950s to the 1980s, making it one of Singapore's top tourist destinations during that period. If you are looking for cheap electronic goods, Sim Lim Square (a blue building) is just right around the corner from Bugis and Little India on Bencoolen Street.
There are good deals there and most Singaporeans will venture there to get their stock on new computers, cameras and other electronic gadgets. My advice is to venture upwards to the higher levels before just making your decision on the ground level. Opposite Sim Lim Square and not far away is the most famous Goddess of Mercy Temple in Bugis. Many Chinese flock there during the weekdays and especially so during the weekends, public hoildays, to pay respects, thank the gods or ask for good intervention. If it falls on special occasions like Vesak Day (Buddha's Birthday), then there will be little breathing space, so watch out! It is quite a beautiful temple, and a stone's throw-away, so it is worth venturing and having a look.
Not far away is Bugis Street shopping which is a market of shops resembling Chinatown. They are all situated in the market opposite Bugis Junction, where Bugis MRT Station is, and along the main streetway are many food stalls selling typical Chinese snacks. Don't bother looking for a muffin because you won't find any. You will find really delicious peanut, tapioca or coconut cakes, or a wide assortment of Chinese cakes, which we called "Kueh-kueh" (or Nonya Kueh which is the official term - look at this site for delicious photos and recipes) made mostly of coconut milk, tapioca, pandan leaves, flour and gelatine etc, but very delicious.
If you happen to pass by a food stall decked in white and yellow called "Old Chang Kee'" and mostly see many people queuing up, feel free to have a look at what's on offer. They are unfortunately, or luckily for some, all deep fried goodies on a stick like fishballs, fish cakes, calamari or squid as we call it, prawn cakes, and the devine curry puffs, which is what they originated with. My mouth waters at the thought of all these everyday delicacies of my 26 year stay in Singapore. Certainly beats any world best muffin any day for me.
Note I think I just received a verbal warning for using the word "delicious" too often, but you can't go on a diet when you're in Singapore. The food is an integral part of its culture, so be prepared!
Singapore Raffles Hotel and Swiss Hotel
Nearest MRT Station: Town Hall
From there, you can walk in the direction of the right (south) to the famous Singapore Raffles Hotel, which is old English fashioned beauty (Micheal Jackson stayed there for $10,000 a night during his first concert in Singapore in the 80s) and further south is Swisshotel, which used to be the tallest hotel in the World until the Twin Towers in KL tookover. If you go up to the New Asian Bar on Levels 71 and 72 at the Swisshotel during the night, which is cheaper than having a meal during the day (dress code: smart casual and no sneakers allowed), you will be able treated to a bird's eye view of the Singapore night lights. If you have their trademark Tower or Merlion drink, you will be able to bring a replica of the bottles that you drink out of. Killing two birds for the price of one. Priceless.
At the back of the hotel across from where you will see a great oval (Padang), is the Esplanade, the Performing Arts Centre of Singapore. Structured like two huge durians (thorny fruits which are also named the King of fruits). You can take the scenic walkway across the bridge from the Esplanade to the Merlion Park. You will be treated to a panaromic view of the Singapore Harbour and the CBD skyline. The Merlion is the first animal that the natives of Singapore reportedly saw when they first embarked on the island. The Singapore Harbour is also world famous and usually ranks amongst the top three busiest ports in the world. Singapore is also currently building its first Casino, so you might be able to see some construction works going on on the reclaimed land as well.
Boat Quay and Clarke Quay
Nearest MRT Station: Raffles Place and Clarke Quay
Not far across the Merlion Park is Raffles MRT Station, and if you use the underpass to get to the Station, you will see a stretch of old fashioned two storey townhouse restaurants along the famous Boat Quay, which is very popular with tourists and is very busy during the night. You can take the river taxi and go for a trip along the harbour, or proceed straight ahead further down to where Clarke Quay is. Clarke Quay has been refurbished since I was last there, so I can't tell you too much about it, but it's like an extension of Boat Quay with more restaurants and shops selling souvenirs and antiques, which is its main distinction from Boat Quay (see link above). It also tries to recreate the mood of Singapore in the 60s and 70s, and there are some performances there sometimes, so it should be interesting. It is also very popular with tourists and apparently a nice place to hang out at night where the action begins.
Chinatown
Nearest MRT Station: Chinatown and Outram Park
Not far away, but I may recommend that you take the MRT though it may only be one stop, is Chinatown. As the name suggests, it is where most Chinese congregated in the early days till they expanded to many other parts of the island. Chinese make up about 70% of Singapore's 4 million population, so it was a natural progression towards other parts of the island.
Being a country that many Mainland Chinese immigrated south from China (my paternal grandmother was one lucky girl), it is naturally much bigger than most Chinatowns in Western countries. Here, you will see many older Chinese still taking part in the forgotten trades of yesterday or going on in their idyllic lifestyles after retirement. You will also find plenty to eat and shop around here. Again no muffins or pancakes but almost all Chinese food is delicious. Please refrain from the usual fare that you are used to, and indulge in the exotic food of Singapore. You will also realise that no one, okay, rarely anyone has fried rice in Singapore, unless you are ordering to eat with a big group of people, because there is much else to try.
A plate of food in the less polished and non air conditioned hawker centres usually cost around S$3.50 (around A$2.50 or slightly more) but the serving is not big. The best thing about this is that you get to have two servings. Ha! Ha! The food served in the air conditioned food courts usually located in all shopping malls are more substantial and cost around $4 - $8 or more. I will stay away from anything that has pig intestines in them, but since all or 90% of Singaporeans speak English (or rather Singlish), you will not have any problems asking them what the ingredients are.
All the shopping malls, especially almost every single one along Orchard Road has a food court, and all of them are almost as good as the other. Notable mentions are Food Republic (food court) at Wisma Atria (the Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodles are divine), Indonesian restaurant "Resto Surabya" inside Lucky Plaza, a fantastic food court at Takashimaya on the lower ground level (or the lowest level), interesting food restaurants at Paragon and Plaza Singapura at the end of Orchard Road. If you happen to pass by any hawker centres (none air-conditioned food courts), please do not be put off by the less glamorous outlook and potentially higher temperatures, and have a meal there. More often than not, you will find that the food there equally delicious or more so.
Two of the more glamorous Hawker Centres are:
(a) Lau Pa Sat - translates into Old Market. It is very popular, is inexplicably located in the CBD where it is like a ghost town at night and is rather near Raffles MRT or Tanjong Pagar station.
(b) Newton Circus - very popular and opens till the wee hours of the morning. They used to be really good but I didn't find it too spectacular the last time I was there. I guess it is the reputation it garnered in its early days. Still worth a visit but not really near to many places of interest. Click on the link above for a good review and some sumptuous photos. Nearest MRT Station: Newton
The National Museum is near the YMCA, which is in between Plaza Singapura (at the end of Orchard Road) and the Swisshotel. So, I have brought you technically one full circle.
Finally, two other places that are popular with expats in Singapore are:
(c) Dempsey Road Enclave - a very new collection of exquisite restaurants and cafes. Not very Singaporean in flavour but a good escape for tourists or expats who are feeling a little homesick.
(d) Holland Village, an "older" cousin of Dempsey Road Enclave, but more accessible via public transport (only slightly), but more interesting probably of its nostalgic value to me.
Lastly, the tourist destination that is worth paying a visit is the Night Safari, which is the World' first to feature only nocturnal animals. My cousin's advice then was to go for a walk around the park on designated pathways first, and then take the tram ride at the very end with audio commentary. Great advice indeed!
My friends are only visiting Singapore for three days and I think I have written enough for them to spend a good five days there. I had a lovely time recollecting all these memories and this will help form a template for my other friends who might be interested in visiting Singapore some day. In the final segment, I will cover the true essence of Singapore, and that is food, food food.
Raffles Hotel
Little India
Closest MRT Stations - Little India and Farrer Park, but stick to Little India.
The beauty of Little India is that most of it is still relatively untouched, so you get the vibrancy in full colours. The hustle, bustle and the curries and all flavours and odours that associated with India.
The absolute time to avoid it is on Sunday nights from about 6 pm unless Caucasians want to play "Spot the white guy" game or if you are feeling adventurous. Since there are many Pakistani construction workers who only get a break on Sunday night, this is where they gather, and though they are all very nice and cordial, it might come as a culture shock to those who are uncomfortable with huge crowds and little physical distance between each other. Watch out for your comfort zone to be invaded in the nicest of ways.
Food: You must have the Roti Prata - an Indian pancake which can be eaten any time of the day and I mean it. You will see people eating it for breakfast (most common), lunch (lesser) or dinner (much lesser) or dessert (very common). The three varieties they have are Plain, Egg or Onions Special. You will dip them in the accompanying curry sauce and it is divine.
Their richer cousins, laced with either chicken or mutton (not lamb), is called the Mutarbak (Mu-Ta-Bark). This is the reason why Roti Prata is seldom had for lunch and dinner. This is where these richer fanfare feature more and I recommend the chicken version because it is delicious. You can also have the Nasi Briyani (yellow ginger rice) with Chicken or Mutton, Nasi Goreng (Malay Fried Rice) or Mee Goreng (Fried Noodles). I have to warn that these four varieties are rather spicy, so you may want to tell them to add less chilli if you're not up for the challenge. There are many other types which you may want to try and feel free to buy off the stalls on the street because Singapore has very strict health regulations for all food hawkers.
Bugis
Nearest MRT Station: Bugis and Little India
If you're within the vicinity of Little India, you will be rather close to "Bugis", which was was renowned internationally for its nightly gathering of transsexuals from the 1950s to the 1980s, making it one of Singapore's top tourist destinations during that period. If you are looking for cheap electronic goods, Sim Lim Square (a blue building) is just right around the corner from Bugis and Little India on Bencoolen Street.
There are good deals there and most Singaporeans will venture there to get their stock on new computers, cameras and other electronic gadgets. My advice is to venture upwards to the higher levels before just making your decision on the ground level. Opposite Sim Lim Square and not far away is the most famous Goddess of Mercy Temple in Bugis. Many Chinese flock there during the weekdays and especially so during the weekends, public hoildays, to pay respects, thank the gods or ask for good intervention. If it falls on special occasions like Vesak Day (Buddha's Birthday), then there will be little breathing space, so watch out! It is quite a beautiful temple, and a stone's throw-away, so it is worth venturing and having a look.
Not far away is Bugis Street shopping which is a market of shops resembling Chinatown. They are all situated in the market opposite Bugis Junction, where Bugis MRT Station is, and along the main streetway are many food stalls selling typical Chinese snacks. Don't bother looking for a muffin because you won't find any. You will find really delicious peanut, tapioca or coconut cakes, or a wide assortment of Chinese cakes, which we called "Kueh-kueh" (or Nonya Kueh which is the official term - look at this site for delicious photos and recipes) made mostly of coconut milk, tapioca, pandan leaves, flour and gelatine etc, but very delicious.
If you happen to pass by a food stall decked in white and yellow called "Old Chang Kee'" and mostly see many people queuing up, feel free to have a look at what's on offer. They are unfortunately, or luckily for some, all deep fried goodies on a stick like fishballs, fish cakes, calamari or squid as we call it, prawn cakes, and the devine curry puffs, which is what they originated with. My mouth waters at the thought of all these everyday delicacies of my 26 year stay in Singapore. Certainly beats any world best muffin any day for me.
Note I think I just received a verbal warning for using the word "delicious" too often, but you can't go on a diet when you're in Singapore. The food is an integral part of its culture, so be prepared!
Singapore Raffles Hotel and Swiss Hotel
Nearest MRT Station: Town Hall
From there, you can walk in the direction of the right (south) to the famous Singapore Raffles Hotel, which is old English fashioned beauty (Micheal Jackson stayed there for $10,000 a night during his first concert in Singapore in the 80s) and further south is Swisshotel, which used to be the tallest hotel in the World until the Twin Towers in KL tookover. If you go up to the New Asian Bar on Levels 71 and 72 at the Swisshotel during the night, which is cheaper than having a meal during the day (dress code: smart casual and no sneakers allowed), you will be able treated to a bird's eye view of the Singapore night lights. If you have their trademark Tower or Merlion drink, you will be able to bring a replica of the bottles that you drink out of. Killing two birds for the price of one. Priceless.
At the back of the hotel across from where you will see a great oval (Padang), is the Esplanade, the Performing Arts Centre of Singapore. Structured like two huge durians (thorny fruits which are also named the King of fruits). You can take the scenic walkway across the bridge from the Esplanade to the Merlion Park. You will be treated to a panaromic view of the Singapore Harbour and the CBD skyline. The Merlion is the first animal that the natives of Singapore reportedly saw when they first embarked on the island. The Singapore Harbour is also world famous and usually ranks amongst the top three busiest ports in the world. Singapore is also currently building its first Casino, so you might be able to see some construction works going on on the reclaimed land as well.
Boat Quay and Clarke Quay
Nearest MRT Station: Raffles Place and Clarke Quay
Not far across the Merlion Park is Raffles MRT Station, and if you use the underpass to get to the Station, you will see a stretch of old fashioned two storey townhouse restaurants along the famous Boat Quay, which is very popular with tourists and is very busy during the night. You can take the river taxi and go for a trip along the harbour, or proceed straight ahead further down to where Clarke Quay is. Clarke Quay has been refurbished since I was last there, so I can't tell you too much about it, but it's like an extension of Boat Quay with more restaurants and shops selling souvenirs and antiques, which is its main distinction from Boat Quay (see link above). It also tries to recreate the mood of Singapore in the 60s and 70s, and there are some performances there sometimes, so it should be interesting. It is also very popular with tourists and apparently a nice place to hang out at night where the action begins.
Chinatown
Nearest MRT Station: Chinatown and Outram Park
Not far away, but I may recommend that you take the MRT though it may only be one stop, is Chinatown. As the name suggests, it is where most Chinese congregated in the early days till they expanded to many other parts of the island. Chinese make up about 70% of Singapore's 4 million population, so it was a natural progression towards other parts of the island.
Being a country that many Mainland Chinese immigrated south from China (my paternal grandmother was one lucky girl), it is naturally much bigger than most Chinatowns in Western countries. Here, you will see many older Chinese still taking part in the forgotten trades of yesterday or going on in their idyllic lifestyles after retirement. You will also find plenty to eat and shop around here. Again no muffins or pancakes but almost all Chinese food is delicious. Please refrain from the usual fare that you are used to, and indulge in the exotic food of Singapore. You will also realise that no one, okay, rarely anyone has fried rice in Singapore, unless you are ordering to eat with a big group of people, because there is much else to try.
A plate of food in the less polished and non air conditioned hawker centres usually cost around S$3.50 (around A$2.50 or slightly more) but the serving is not big. The best thing about this is that you get to have two servings. Ha! Ha! The food served in the air conditioned food courts usually located in all shopping malls are more substantial and cost around $4 - $8 or more. I will stay away from anything that has pig intestines in them, but since all or 90% of Singaporeans speak English (or rather Singlish), you will not have any problems asking them what the ingredients are.
All the shopping malls, especially almost every single one along Orchard Road has a food court, and all of them are almost as good as the other. Notable mentions are Food Republic (food court) at Wisma Atria (the Fried Hokkien Prawn Noodles are divine), Indonesian restaurant "Resto Surabya" inside Lucky Plaza, a fantastic food court at Takashimaya on the lower ground level (or the lowest level), interesting food restaurants at Paragon and Plaza Singapura at the end of Orchard Road. If you happen to pass by any hawker centres (none air-conditioned food courts), please do not be put off by the less glamorous outlook and potentially higher temperatures, and have a meal there. More often than not, you will find that the food there equally delicious or more so.
Two of the more glamorous Hawker Centres are:
(a) Lau Pa Sat - translates into Old Market. It is very popular, is inexplicably located in the CBD where it is like a ghost town at night and is rather near Raffles MRT or Tanjong Pagar station.
(b) Newton Circus - very popular and opens till the wee hours of the morning. They used to be really good but I didn't find it too spectacular the last time I was there. I guess it is the reputation it garnered in its early days. Still worth a visit but not really near to many places of interest. Click on the link above for a good review and some sumptuous photos. Nearest MRT Station: Newton
The National Museum is near the YMCA, which is in between Plaza Singapura (at the end of Orchard Road) and the Swisshotel. So, I have brought you technically one full circle.
Finally, two other places that are popular with expats in Singapore are:
(c) Dempsey Road Enclave - a very new collection of exquisite restaurants and cafes. Not very Singaporean in flavour but a good escape for tourists or expats who are feeling a little homesick.
(d) Holland Village, an "older" cousin of Dempsey Road Enclave, but more accessible via public transport (only slightly), but more interesting probably of its nostalgic value to me.
Lastly, the tourist destination that is worth paying a visit is the Night Safari, which is the World' first to feature only nocturnal animals. My cousin's advice then was to go for a walk around the park on designated pathways first, and then take the tram ride at the very end with audio commentary. Great advice indeed!
My friends are only visiting Singapore for three days and I think I have written enough for them to spend a good five days there. I had a lovely time recollecting all these memories and this will help form a template for my other friends who might be interested in visiting Singapore some day. In the final segment, I will cover the true essence of Singapore, and that is food, food food.
Raffles Hotel
SwissHotel - The Stamford Singapore 
Night lights view from the New Asian Bar
CBD Skyline and the Padang
Esplanade
Actual Durians
Fruit inside
Merlion Park
Goddess of Mercy Temple
Chinatown
Flavours of Singapore Part 1
I have never really written about the attractions of my homeland, Singapore, so it came as a pleasant surprise that when I did so for two new friends who are about to pay a visit, I was so overwhelmed with the flavours of Singapore, I could almost taste it in the air.
Food is an integral part of the Singaporean experience and is the main thing that I miss most about it, next to the late night shopping and of course, my family and friends. Hence, all my best plans to "under-eat" when I first arrive in Singapore usually end up in a delicious disaster, because there is just too much temptation and too little time.
I found this site - Uniquely Singapore, which I thought would be a good starting point for them to navigate and find out information about "Calendar Of Events", "Accommodation" and some historical information about Singapore, which like most Australians if they were to take the Citizenship Test, will likely not be able to pin-point the correct information.
Being more interested in places of interest that excluded shopping, it made my work all the more interesting. The only Museum that I know of is the National Museum of Singapore and a small one in the Esplanade - Singapore's Performing Arts Centre.
The National Museum of Singapore has just been revamped and is in the heart of the city, so this is a must see. Like most residents, we have to be educated about visiting our own museums, so Singapore employed one of its most famous comedians on TV to launch an advertising blitz on TV, which apparently worked very well. It is one place that I will have to pay a visit again when I am back because it has been more than 15 years since I last visited it.
The other "museum" that they shouldn't miss is the "Fort Siloso" in Sentosa, the main Singaporean resort island that anyone can spend an entire day on. The "Fort Siloso" attraction chronicles the history of Singapore during the years of Japanese Occupation in World War II, and the wax museum which was my favourite spot to show tourists is now located in the "Images of Singapore". It is a "must-see" because they have recreated various traditions of multicultural Singapore. Tourists will get to see how a traditional Chinese wedding differs from a Muslim wedding as opposed to a Hindu wedding, and also many superstitions, arts and culture of the three main cultural background of Singaporeans. Many of these traditions and superstitions have flown away with the passage of time, so it is always good to show the younger generation what it was like, in the older days when we never had computers, iPods or Play Station.
They are constantly refurbishing and adding new attractions to this resort island and this is where you will find the most scenic beach in Singapore. The three modes of transport to this land are land, sea and air. Land is via transport (air-conditioned buses that they will take after they alight from the Harbourfront MRT Station (MRT = Mass Rapid Transit - like a light rail train, which is the main means of public transport). From the same station, you can also adjourn to the World Trade Centre and either go via ferry or take the cable car (air). You can easily spend a day there though I have to warn in advance that there aren't any food courts to be found on the island the last time I went. However, there are plenty of food courts in the HarbourFront shopping complex "Vivo City", which is a very popular new shopping destination for Singaporeans.
Siloso Beach
Food is an integral part of the Singaporean experience and is the main thing that I miss most about it, next to the late night shopping and of course, my family and friends. Hence, all my best plans to "under-eat" when I first arrive in Singapore usually end up in a delicious disaster, because there is just too much temptation and too little time.
I found this site - Uniquely Singapore, which I thought would be a good starting point for them to navigate and find out information about "Calendar Of Events", "Accommodation" and some historical information about Singapore, which like most Australians if they were to take the Citizenship Test, will likely not be able to pin-point the correct information.
Being more interested in places of interest that excluded shopping, it made my work all the more interesting. The only Museum that I know of is the National Museum of Singapore and a small one in the Esplanade - Singapore's Performing Arts Centre.
The National Museum of Singapore has just been revamped and is in the heart of the city, so this is a must see. Like most residents, we have to be educated about visiting our own museums, so Singapore employed one of its most famous comedians on TV to launch an advertising blitz on TV, which apparently worked very well. It is one place that I will have to pay a visit again when I am back because it has been more than 15 years since I last visited it.
The other "museum" that they shouldn't miss is the "Fort Siloso" in Sentosa, the main Singaporean resort island that anyone can spend an entire day on. The "Fort Siloso" attraction chronicles the history of Singapore during the years of Japanese Occupation in World War II, and the wax museum which was my favourite spot to show tourists is now located in the "Images of Singapore". It is a "must-see" because they have recreated various traditions of multicultural Singapore. Tourists will get to see how a traditional Chinese wedding differs from a Muslim wedding as opposed to a Hindu wedding, and also many superstitions, arts and culture of the three main cultural background of Singaporeans. Many of these traditions and superstitions have flown away with the passage of time, so it is always good to show the younger generation what it was like, in the older days when we never had computers, iPods or Play Station.
They are constantly refurbishing and adding new attractions to this resort island and this is where you will find the most scenic beach in Singapore. The three modes of transport to this land are land, sea and air. Land is via transport (air-conditioned buses that they will take after they alight from the Harbourfront MRT Station (MRT = Mass Rapid Transit - like a light rail train, which is the main means of public transport). From the same station, you can also adjourn to the World Trade Centre and either go via ferry or take the cable car (air). You can easily spend a day there though I have to warn in advance that there aren't any food courts to be found on the island the last time I went. However, there are plenty of food courts in the HarbourFront shopping complex "Vivo City", which is a very popular new shopping destination for Singaporeans.
Siloso Beach
There is a really good food court on the top level of the shopping complex called "Food Republic". Decked out in old fashioned fanfare, it is such a refreshing change from the usual stereotypes, because you will actually feel that you are transported back in time to the 50s where stalls used to run side by side on the street. The decor is also very old fashioned Chinese and the food is delicious. Apparently, they are the new "in-thing", so if you miss it, don't worry too much, because there are a few others around.
There is also a huge Merlion (the head of a lion attached to a mermaid's tail) in Sentosa, where if you go up to the top, you will get a bird eyes view of the entire island. It's not entirely my cup of tea but it may be yours. When I was much younger, my parents used to bring us there for a holiday and as we grew older, we would go there with friends, and this would probably happen once a year. Every time we went, we would either stay for the 8.30 pm or 9.30 pm Musical Fountain, where there will be a fountain display and water dances accompanied by laser lights and music. It is still a sight to see, so you may want to stay for that, if you feel like it.
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