Anyway, I went to Joo Chiat today on a self-motivated field trip, so I thought I'll share my day.
I was in camp early in the day, there was a briefing. I dug out my uniform, late as usual, but it turned out that, so was everyone else. My camp mate and me spend about an hour talking cock and we're done.
I took a bus to the SingPost building and was geared to start my stroll to Joo Chiat. Before that, I figured I needed some cash, so to my trusted POSB I went. And saw this:
"due to lease expired" surely that can't be right?And "with passbook update feature" seems to be straining the English language.
Now, I'll be first to admit that my language skill sucks. So I could be wrong and that 2 lines make perfect sense. I don't know.
Hari Raya is around the corner, fasting month has began, the lights are up, and where better to experience it than Geylang Serai?
There is a giant pasa malam going on at the Malay village. Everything from food, clothing, textile, more food, mic staff that you find at pasa malam. It's huge. I finished 2 can of drinks just to walk through part of it.
These voodoo dolls seems to be getting hot.
Tangjong katong complex is also making an effect. Come to think of it, I used to freelance for a training company in this building. Wonder if it is still around. That experience installed in me a fear of public speaking and children ever since.
And my steps take me to Darul Arqam Singapore. I remembered going to a inter-faith dialog here a few years ago. They fed me well. And the people are nice.
I went on to Joo Chiat Complex where I spoke to a nice malay grandma whom I don't understand.
The chinese community are also setting up stores. Selling plastics flowers that will bloom for the years to come and handphones and what's not.
The wild preparation for Hari Raya can be felt even on a sunny weekday afternoon. People rolling carpets, frying food, washing...stuff, sorting out miles of fabric, basically just been busy.
Going down Joo Chiat road, let's play a game and count the numbers of different budget hotel we can find.
The Masjid Khalid, Khalid mosuqe.
I saw this really, really old fashion tailor shop. 'Yik Seng'. All the ah gong and ah ma there (3) are using those immemorial manual sawing machines covered with a layer of rust. They toil away with a sort of determine grit, that is strangely unsettling. The yellowed showcase contains relics of ancient fashion. It felt as if time is been looped in the shop.
Walking past those beautiful architecure that sparks of peranakan culture, I stopped for lunch.
There seems to be a number of acupuncture and TCM shops around. And you can't miss the South East Asian/Asia influence in the food establishments.
Joo Chait is filled with good food. From Indonianes to Vieminates cuisine, to Indian curry puffs to Haka dishes, and of course Malay Chendol and nonya dumpling. Not forgetting our beloved durian puffs. The pictures of all this food is too much to post so you'll just have to go down and experience them yourself.
Nice huh.
There's the Guan Im Tng. Or Kuan Yin, Godness of Mercy. Very popular bodhisattva.
Game number 2: Figure this out.
I passed by this ahmm..adult novelty & accessories shop call Black Rose. Not a name I would chose but hey, i'm just a guy.
The first thing I saw when I went in are 2 life size blow-up dolls, not for the faint-hearted, and the next things I saw are some very kinky costumes. Nice.
The shop's small and the very nice sale girl told me they just opened not long ago. The target are probably the budget hotels and she told me the ladies are the one buying, guess men are shy.
Well, and then it's time for the introduction to the merchandises. I wouldn't go into details here but at one point she told me to : "here try it... i mean, poke your finger in and feel it",... right. That I did.
Anyway, I am a poor student and any contribution towards the purchase of above merchandise is strongly welcomed. I promised her I'll be back.
Joo Chiat Road, the iconic picture.
I stop by to find out how this come about, turns out it's a branch, main restaurant in KL. Look japanese huh.
Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple.
And how can I go without trying the famous Kim Choo damplings. By the way, I'm too full to try the katong laksa, and who can blame me, die die must try next time.
Lastly, tell you people a cool place to hang out. Settlers cafe is where young and smart people go to talk and play board games. All sort of board games are available.
P/S: This just in, a friend told me the 'Red House' at katong is going to be tear down. It's already boarded up when I was there. So much for been "a valuable part of katong heritage".
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