15 minutes in Singapore

I have now learned that when asked how long will it take to get from point A to point B in Singapore, the answer is 15 minutes. ;-)

January 31st - I started using the subway called the MRT which stands for Mass Rapid Transport and it's really easy, cheap, and super clean. No surprise there. It reminds me of the DC metro in many ways.

I met Olive at the Chinatown Heritage Museum which showed the immigration experience, the cubicles where 6-8 people lived, and traditional life in a shophouse. This is Olive's favorite museum.

Afterwards we stopped by a Hindu temple and went to lunch at the hawker center where Olive treated me to a 3 course lunch with drink pairing.

bee hoon (noodles with fried vegetables and spam);
drink: chyrsantheum tea

carrot cake (basically a turnip omelet);
drink: iced milo (cold hot chocolate)

curry noodle;
drink: grass jelly (kind of tasted like licorice)

Then we walked around the town, lit incense and prayed at a Chinese temple, and even stopped for an afternoon snack of kaya toast and tea.

While in search of an HSBC bank for Olive (she needed money for new year red packets) we stumbled upon the Marsh & McLennan center. I yelled "oh my god" and a man who was crossing the street toward me got really excited because he thought I recognized him and therefore he knew me. I think he was ready to hug me because he got so excited. Very funny!

Olive then treated me again to a manicure and pedicure which took over an hour and then we went to meet her family for dinner. We had to go to 3 restaurants before we could find one that was open because of the new year holiday.

We ended up eating at their favorite local restaurant called Curry Wok. Olive's parents were sweet and her father hugged me and said "you look the same!"

February 1st - I met Olive on Arab Street where we ate murtabarek - which is kind of like chicken wrapped in egg with pulled tea and did a little shopping. I bought padang bags (type of leaf), spring baskets, batik handkerchiefs and baby dresses for my goddaughters.

While Olive went to meet old friends, I met Joe for lunch and we ate prawn noodle soup with barley tea. We ate sweet desserts made of padang and cocconut rice.

In the afternoon due to rain and since my guidebook said if I should go to only 1 museum I should go to the Asian Civilization museum, this is where I went. This museum was incredibly well curated and had great "explorasian" exhibits for children which I thoroughly enjoyed. I also took advantage of the reading corners which had big cushions on the floor. The guard smiled when he saw me and must have known how tired I was because he told me to "take it easy". I enjoyed the story of mapatofu and Indian version of dance dance revolution.

Then walked over to CHIJMES also known as the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus. Think the limelight church but instead an old convent filled with bars, restaurants, and shops with names like "insomnia" and "hog's breath cafe." Wonder what the nuns would think. It was a bit empty as they were getting ready for the Happy Hour crowd.

I then went off to Raffles City Tower - one of many malls to buy mandarin oranges for Olive's friend, Michelle's parents. Michelle and I have hung out many times in NY and you are suppose to bring 2 mandarin oranges for Chinese New Year celebration. Michelle and her girlfriend are back for new years too.

Olive met us at Joe's and took us to her and Erik's old food haunts. We ate Laksa - a creamy noodle soup, fish cake, and 3 meats rice. The 3 meats had pork, pork belly, and duck. They were perfectly tender and crispy at the same time.

Then we went to Michelle's parents' house that was renovated and rebuilt several years ago. Art work everywhere and each bedroom was at least 2x the size of my apt. There was a pool and traditional Japanese sitting room.

We had Yu Sheng which is traditional Chinese new year salad which you toss and the higher you toss, the more prosperity you'll receive.

THEN Olive told them we were going to try Durian because of me. Michelle's parents decided to leave and go to the best Durian market and bought 6 or so. I was so embarrassed and so was Olive. They were so generous. The smell wasn't that bad and the fruit was creamy. BUT definitely something I couldn't stomach everyday.