Chinatown in Singapore
By Jessica Njoo
10 April 2008
During my Easter break I travelled with my family and my best to Singapore for one week. Everyone I met was incredibly kind, I have to say I have never experienced a society where everyone smiles, says hello and is never too busy to help.
We visited many different places around Singapore but I would have to say that Chinatown was my favourite. At night time a night market was held which attracts both tourists and natives alike. It was tucked away and seemed to stretch for miles. It was like walking down a small alley, each wall was lined with red and gold decorations, lanterns hung from the sky and people bustled busily through the street.
Market stalls lined the lane way with each salesperson trying with great effort and a kind smile to get you to buy their 3 for $10 offer. Although there was not much room to move it never seemed like you were being pushed along. Each person made way for one another.
When you had reached the halfway point of the market it opened up with restaurants panning out to the right and left. We sat down at a quaintly decorated restaurant that was already full of hungry and satisfied patrons. Immediately as we sat down we were handed menus and asked if we wanted drinks. We ordered a feast of dishes and chowed down on some of the tastiest food I have ever eaten. Chilli crab, salted pork, bok choy in oyster sauce, drunken chicken, beef in black bean and to clean up our dishes small sweet breads.
Just as we were finishing our meal a procession of manually pushed bikes with passenger carts came hurtling down the pathway. I had to push my chair in so as not to cause a collision. Each cart carried a duo of tourists looking slightly embarrassed but cheerful non the less. Each passer-by who stopped to watch smiled and waved, swaying along with the music that was being played by one of the riders.
It struck 10pm and we decided to head back. As we walked through the remainder of the market stalls, each owner still smiling after a hard nights work, we sifted through the wooden statues, good luck charms and beautiful hand painted scriptures.
It was a bustling, lively experience that we loved so much so that we returned the following evening to enjoy another great meal. Coincidently the restaurant we ate at is apparently Jackie Chan's favourite restaurant in Singapore. It is said to be the Congi King (Congi is rice porridge) of Congi restaurants.
These photos remind me of what a beautiful place Singapore is. It was wonderful to experience another culture and feel so accepted within in.
