We stayed at Clarke Quay during our last trip to Singapore and discovered that Chinatown is just a few minutes away by foot. We happily went there a lot for cheap meals and of course, the "culture". My mom was particularly funny when it came to crossing the wide roads. She's nerbyosa about the countdown signals and seemed to forget we weren't in pasaway Manila anymore.
I think Singapore has one of the prettiest and cleanest Chinatowns around. The one in Bangkok is particularly dirty and I can't even say the same for the ever-so-chaotic Binondo. In Singapore, it's all pastel-colored heritage buildings and temples.
This being Singapore, the Hindus also share the Chinatown with a Hindi temple. As it happens, we were there the week prior to Diwali, or their Festival of Lights. We witnessed a crazy fire-walking ceremony while we were there.
Colorful knick-knacks abound in Chinatown. These chopsticks make for some nice pasalubongs or for someone collecting chopsticks.
Of course, it ain't Chinatown without the food! We ate at Chinatown food street where at night, the whole alley is one big hawker place. There are tables on the street and you can choose from the vendors selling anything from 4-dollar rice meals to the obscenely pricey chili crabs.
We ordered the fried seafood rice big enough for three people for a mere 8 dollars. I also loved the fried oyster omelette! There's so much to eat and try here!
The place is pretty packed every evening so it's a great hang-out spot where you can eat and buy souvenirs. We also had fun with the street signs. We're so pagoda na at Pagoda St., get it?
Best of all, my mom loved it here so much that we ate at Chinatown again on our last evening and chanced upon a free table at a must-try restaurant. Can't wait to write about it on my next post!
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