Feeling rejuvenated after a relaxing 5 days in Bintan Indonesia, FF and I headed to another unfamiliar ground. We went to Singapore! We arrived at the Ferry Terminal at 11 in the morning. Gained an hour back since Indonesia is one hour ahead of Singapore.It's like turning back time. Yay! Since we don't know the ways of public transportation yet, FF and I decided to take a taxi to the city. Travel was a brisk and we were delivered fast at our hotel's doorstep 30 mins later and 40 bucks poorer. It's quite expensive since we discovered later how cheap public transportation in Singapore is.
We stayed at Pan Pacific Hotel . Like most hotels in Singapore, it is modern, contemporary and impeccably clean. People at the hotel are polite and efficient but impersonal. We somehow missed the engaging smiles and familiar warmth of the people in Bintan. We have to constantly remind ourselves that we are now in a city with city folks. That tropical island suddenly feels so near yet so far. After a quick refreshing shower, we slip into our most comfortable clothes and with water bottle at the left hand and a map on the other,(we could not get more touristy than that!) we headed out to discover the place.
The good thing about Pan Pacific is, it is connected to different malls , the Marina Square and Suntec City and to three other hotels. It is a labyrinth of aircontioned marbled path with shops and restaurants for a wall. It was heaven! No wonder Singaporeans have beautiful clear skins. They don't have to cross the streets to go somewhere! I bet that even the Cullen family could float their way around at broad daylight without fear of sun exposure. Ok I'm drifting off.
We were famished so we simply stopped at the first Thai restaurant we saw . We had lemon chicken and beef strips in pepper sauce with rice and soda. Lunch was good and cheap.God I love Singapore! After lunch, we simply explored the place and found a MRT station located just 15 minutes walk from our hotel. We stopped for a couple of minutes at the counter to observe what the locals do . Few mintues later, FF and I had an EZ- link card which could be used on trains and buses. Ok we had a little help from a kind Singaporean lady who perhaps took pity on our bewildered and looking-a-little-lost-facial-expressions. After a brief instructions with a lot of hand signals, we were ready to go. And so away we went. First stop- Little India.
After stepping into the streets of little India, I felt like I am transcended into a totally different world. The district is filled with lanes and lanes of colorful shophouses painted in deep color, each wall contrasting yet complimenting the next. With Hindu music echoing loudly in every corner and Indian men and women dressed in their traditional garbs pouring the streets, I felt like I am in a Bollywood film . If somebody in the crowd would suddenly start dancing and tilt their heads from side to side like in the movies, I would gladly join them! Anyway, tourist and locals are up and about doing some sightseeing and shopping. Golds and jewelries, silk and traditional sari, flowers and garlands are a common sight. Sacks and open containers of curry and other colourful and aromatic spices well as smell of the tobacco lingered in the air. If not for the high-rise building that dominates the background which constantly reminds us that we are in a growing metropolis, it is easy to get swifted by the charm of the place .
We went to Little India with only one goal. Well, originally two. The first was, to eat the famous fish head curry which is quite renowned in this district. Unfortunately, FF could not bare to eat anything with eyes looking back at him so we skipped that. So we then fullfill the other goal:To see the famous Hindu Temples. And so we've braved the scorching heat in search for the temples. With their intricate details, they are a sight to behold.
The Veeramakaliamman Temple, one of the oldest Hindu temple in Little India.
The Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple
Singapore is a multi-ethnic society . Although the majority of the populace has Chinese roots, the land is shared by Malay and Indian race as well as other smaller group of immigrants. Each major race group is well represented in terms of infrastructure, religion, tradition and feast as well as gourments. Despite of the cultural differences, I sense no barrier among the group. Torelance and respect for each culture is evident. Each of these major ethic group has an acknowledged contribution to Singapore's rich and diversed culture. Here is a proof to that.
Two temples of different beliefs and background coexisting harmoniously side by side. The only barrier is a thin wall that devides yet connects them.
We gave the temples a last lingering look. Still amazed by its beauty, we manage to get inside to some of them. Since few believers are actually inside doing their prayers and rituals, we payed our respect by not taking any pictures of the interiors. I'm not too keen to get reprimaded by Hindu gurus or Chinese monks anyway. Note: Few of these temples require visitors to have their shoes taken off.
After few hours on the street under the scorching Sun, we called it a day. The heat is getting too uncomfortable for our liking and even FF's limbs are turning lobster red. Before developing some serious sunburn, we headed back to the comfort of our artificially ventilated yet cool hotel room.
The Spoon and the Fork came to Singapore in search of good food and we did not come unprepared. Between the pages of that tourist guide book we carry around is a piece of paper, a list and a long one at that. On it, are gourments and dishes that made Singapore famous. Most of these are dishes are available at different hawker centers. Fortunately, we could have all these deliciuos food under one roof and enjoy it within a comfortable setting. After watching Anthony Bordain's: No Reservation Singapore, I noticed how much he raved and praised the restaurant, Straits Kitchen, marveling at its comprehensive offer of Singapore's finiest foods. He was pretty convicing so I worked my charm ( uhurm!) and tried to convice FF. He is not a big fan of buffet after all. I know he doesn't like rubbing elbows with strangers and looking at somebody's plates while searching for food BUT he hates to hear me breath under his neck until I get the answer I want more. Two hours of constant babbling, rants and raves and he gave in. Damn! I'm almost as convincing as good ol' Tony! And so, on our first night in Singapore we headed to this renowned restaurant for dinner. Armed with loose clothes and empty stomachs we march into the wide opened door with great expectation.
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| Salivating on this picture so I have to hide the face! |
It was exactly as I imagined. Huge and spacious open-kitchen restuarant with few stations featuring Singapore's three major ethnic groups. The Malay , Indian and of course Chinese . Each gourmet group has a live station with their own local chefs representing thier race's food fare with undeniable pride. It's like having the entire Singapore under one roof! Aside from that, there's also an extra dessert station ( hurrah!) featuring local sweets and delicacies as well as another station that prepares local appetizer and drinks. All you have to do is go around with a tray and fill small plates and containers of the dishes that caught your fancy you. Ok, enough babbling, let's see some food shall we?!
photos courtery of thesimplestaphrodisiac.blogspot.com
Just a tiny peek of the Chinese Cuisine Station with chinese barbecued meats and Hiananese chicken.
Just few samples of Chinese Cuisine fare:
top left: Roasted chicken and duck, top right:Laksa and chicken soup,
below left: steamed fish, below right: chili crab
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A peek of the Malay cuisine station.
Malay Station and their spread.
Top left: Satay of chicken,beef and mutton with peanut sauce and condiments,
top right: Ayam Percik, below left: Sambal Prawn, below right: Sambal fish .
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A part of Indian cuisine station.
Top left: Curry fish head minus eyeball , top right: Na'an bread,
below left: Tandoori chicken, below right: Tandoori prawn.
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Some of the desserts Strait Kitchen offered. Plates filled with Kuehs ( reminds me Filipino's kakanin) and sweets
It was a very satisfying meal .The food spread is very extensive its almost overwhelming. I tried give some unfamilair dishes a bite or two but there's simply too much food!The spoon met her match and she surrendered,gladly. The place is halal .Despite of the Ramadan season ( the place is packed!) the service crew was able to attend to their guests' need with astonishing efficiency. Most of the guest that night were Malays who have their first meal of the day later that evening. We had a good time despite of the heavy crowd. Even FF didn't mind rubbing shoulders and elbows with the crowd for once. The only regret I had was...
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not being able to convince this guy to visit Germany! I would loooove to see him or at least his satays on our Weihnachtsmarkt ! |
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