Adventures of a Corporate Lacky

Tour de Singapore

My parents was here for a visit for the past few days and I brought them around and had them tastes the best of everyday Singapore food at an authentic local experience of eating in hawker centres. I believe I already mentioned that it's very busy time at work and it still is so I think for the next couple of weeks.

I'm feeling happy and well due to a couple of really good reasons and news. First, my parents came for a visit, second, Brazil won on their first World Cup game against North Korea, third, I was able to procure at a very good and bargain price a good laptop during the PC show last weekend, and fourth, Apple has released the iPhone 4 and the other day the new mac mini(although a bit pricier).

While bringing around my parents, I was able to come up with a good walking tour full packed and meaningfull for first time visitors. All are walking or distance from each other or at the very least lest than 2km in radius so a cab would cost no more than 5 bucks and a bus no more 69 cents.

Old and New Experience

The first walking tour would start from the Tanjong Pagar MRT station, take the exit towards Amoy Street or Telok Ayer Park and walk a couple of meters towards the Amoy Food Centre. I recommend my favorite Beef Hor Fun from the Good Day shop or the Thai foods from the shop just across the Good Day shop. Grab a Kopi-C, Teh-C, Teh Halia or sugar cane juice from the shop beside Good Day to wash the food down and that should be a good fill for your tour. Getting a seat at between 12 to 1 could be a challenge and sharing tables is common. Be mindfull of reserved seats or tables which you can usually identify if it has a news paper or commonly tissue pack, although an umbrella, bag or any other personall items are sometimes used.

On the side of the Food Centre is Ann Sian Hill which would lead to Club Street and on the other side towards the MRT station is Maxwell Road, this will be next direction. head down towards the MND building, stay on the opposite side of the Road from the Red Dot Museum. I haven't been inside that Museum but if you feel like it, you can cross the street at the front of MND building. After that, or if  your skipping it, go to the URA building just beside MND. Inside on the first 2 or 3 floors is a city exhibit of planned developments for Singapore, full with multimedia presentations and scall models of the City. Really good to start your Singapore tour from here as you get to see the whole islands, it's current and future developments which you can identifiy with later on in your tour. As it's really hot and humid in Singapore, this visit will also give you time to relax and cool off.

After that, take the Kadayanallur Street exit and just across is the Maxwell Food Centre. If you still have food space to spare, grab a chicken rice from the famous Tian Tian shop inside. Lines still form even at 2 to 3pm due to it's popularity. Anthony Bordaine himself recommends this shop.

After that, go towards the front of the Food Centre and you are now on South Bridge Road, just across will be the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, inside is a museum on one of the top floors. You are now on one of the corners of Chinatown. After your visit, exit at the back of the temple and turn right, towards the Sago Street which is a walkers street full of shops on either side, turn left and follow the street, towards Smith Street, which is the Night Market and food street! Watchout for the Erich's Wuerstelstand, an attraction on it's own, which is a Sausage stall with authentic German/Austrian foods served by the Erich the owner! imagine eating sausages and schnitzels in the middle of Chinatown, only in Singapore! 

Move towards Temple street for more shopping, on temple street, to the right would be the Sri Mariamman Temple, Singapore's oldest Hindu Temple, amazing as it is again in the middle of Chinatown. To the left would be the chinatown MRT Station. from here, you can take the MRT towards Clarke Quay or Vivo City/Harbourfront to cap of the day. On 
Clarke Quay, the reverse bungy attaction as well as numerous clubs, bars and restos to suite your taste. After Clarke Quay, if you still have energy, follow the river down towards Boat Quay. If your heading towards  Vivo City, you can either grab a Carl's Jr. or head up to Food Republic and grab either Ban Mian noodles or one of the Indian foods. After eating your fill, relax outside Food republic with a view of Sentosa, Resorts World and Universal studios, while dipping your tired feet on the ankle high water ponds.

An MRT station and Bus interchange just below and across the street and cab lines gives you numerous options to return home and hit the sack.