Chefprefers BLOG

We arrived at Changi airport at 8 pm. The taxi driver was very enthusiastic, telling us about the attractions along the route to the hotel. Most of what he said I couldn’t comprehend but it was nice for him to provide the tour.

My wife had booked the Village Hotel Bugis which is near the Islamic segment. Singapore has two other segment; Little India and China town. The next morning, we wondered down to the street and found a Turkish street food outlet. Everyone speaks English here although it is a very Asian multicultural city. So the English accent here is Asian English. Like English is their second language. Anyway, the waiter sat us inside and asked us what we wanted, my first response was “Coffee” and then he pointed to the food picture board on the wall. “Yes, I’ll have the Mutton Murtabak.” I said. I can really get into these Roti style breakfasts. $19au for what you see in the photo. Also see the video on how to make.

We organised to see Singapore via the hop on hop off tours (Big bus). One of the stops was at our hotel. We hopped on and went up to the top open deck. We managed to find a seat under the bus canopy seeking shade. I was excited, a mixture of old and new tall buildings clumped together shaping the skyline. There is a lot of money here and the qualities of companies showed it. As the bus raced down the traffic light infested roadways, I was slapped in the face by a cluster of hair from the lady in front. She had her hair out and it was so long that the wind blew it into my face. (Photo) She was oblivious to it, so I lean back to avoid the strands.

After a stop or two, an old geezer stumbles to the top deck and fails to duck under the bus canopy. OMG, with the bus starting to move, the large geezer head butts the cover and falls backwards to the floor. Geez it’s like he was clothes line and he didn’t know it. His wife in front, who had avoided the mishap, turns and barks for him to get up. Some the patrons took pity and helped him up. He smiled, to avoid embarrassment, he started towards the back and hunched down under the canopy until he reached the back seat. For his troubles and as a mark of respect, I reached up and gave him a fist pump as he walked past, saying “Well done!” He took it well.

So much drama!

We got off at the Singapore National Museum. So what I learned about Singapore; it is an island at the end of the Malay peninsula, which was known as Singapura. The area was uninhabited and then the British took over and setup a port in 1818. The Japanese invaded the island in 1941 and occupied it until 1945. British rules again until they unite with Malaysia in 1959. That failed, so they separated in 1965.

It has became a very vibrant country since then.

That night we walked the Singaporean Islamic streets in search for dinner. Some advice from the tour operator mentions “If the restaurant is busy, it has good food. So we avoided all the spruikering and found yet another Turkish place.