Two weeks ago we headed off the Singapore. Randy and I went for two nights while Grandma watched Adam and then Randy flew back and Grandma came to Singapore. I got the best end of this deal because I got to spend five days in Singapore. I basically chose the best of what we had seen and eaten the first two days and do it again with my mom.
I missed seeing this face for five days but I do think it’s nice every once in a while to travel without Adam. It’s a different experience and it was great for Randy and me to have a couple days alone and for my mom and me to have a couple days alone.
Grandma loved her time alone with Adam. Randy was looking forward to his days alone with Adam too but unfortunately Adam got sick and there was a typhoon in Manila. So…Randy was stuck in the house for three days with a very cranky little boy. Is it wrong to say I was a little bit happy to miss the typhoon and a sick and cranky, albeit cute, little boy?
Back to Singapore, Randy and I left early Saturday morning and we got to our hotel around noon. In typical Ali fashion we decided to get right to some sightseeing, as we were in Singapore this meant right to some eating. We headed over to the Hawker stands in Maxwell right near China town.
This is basically Randy’s dream. Stalls and stalls of food in Singapore, where food is amazing. Tons of stuff to try and everything is super inexpensive! All the stalls have to meet strict Singapore food standards and are even rated. This made me feel better since my stomach is nowhere near as strong as Randy’s when it comes to street food.
We were about three feet into the Hawker stalls when Randy saw this ridiculous line. Keep in mind NO OTHER stall had a line. So of course Randy decides this must be the best stall and we need to wait on this line.
Luckily we had some snacks on the way. Like this fried oyster cake. This was in Randy’s top three things he ate in Singapore.
Hey if it’s good enough for Bourdain (although I’m pretty sure he didn’t have to wait on two long lines – one to order your food and one to wait for them to cook it…actually, maybe there wasn’t a long line before Bourdain reviewed this stand??) it’s good enough for the Alis. This stall is the most famous chicken and rice stall in Maxwell and it was delicious.
They have a whole bunch of shared tables in the middle of all the stalls to sit and eat at. This older couple came and sat down with us and we started talking to them. It was great because they told us all about the stalls and even got some yummy seafood noodles for us to try. They also explained how the famous chicken in chicken and rice is made. It’s boiled first, then dunked in cold water, then back in hot water to reheat. It keeps the chicken super moist and soft. This was in Randy’s top three favourite foods he ate in Singapore.
After all that food we decided to walk around China Town which was right across the street, but it started to rain so we took it as a sign to head back to the hotel and rest up before dinner.
We decided for dinner to go to Ku De Ta. We had gone to this restaurant in Bali and the one in Singapore has an amazing view of the whole city. We were still pretty full from our huge lunch (hey if dishes are only three bucks we may as well have 5…right?) so we just ordered a couple of appetizers. The food was good but definitely not as good as Bali and not as good as the Hawker stands. But the view made it all worth it.
After our three hour nap, we still had energy after dinner so we headed over to Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel. This hotel opened in 1887 and was where the Singapore Sling started. Also our friend Erika recommended it so we have to go where she sends us as she likes good food and drinks even more than us (and anyone who knows us knows we like those things a lot). The hotel was stunning. Also it’s just amazing to think that Rudyard Kipling, Ernest Hemingway and Alfred Hitchcock all stayed there and wrote about this hotel.
The bar was definitely not at all like I pictured it. It sort of reminded me of a Binghamton Bar (in the best possible way) although this could be due to the fact that the band was playing mostly Bruce Springstein. There were peanuts galore to eat and everyone had a pink Singapore Sling in hand. (Side note- this bar is NOT cheap, but we were paying for the experience and since our lunch was so cheap we felt ok paying that much for a drink).
After our full and fun day we headed home and passed out. The next morning we were up and out at a decent hour and started a full day of sightseeing and shopping. We started off in Burgis, a big shopping center full of stalls. We did manage to snag Adam a spiderman watch for a dollar but besides that there wasn’t much to buy. So we walked over to the Arab quarter. Randy had read about Haji Lane which was the cutest little block I’ve seen since my London days probable. I should have know a lane is always going to be cuter than a street, block or avenue. Maybe not a mews, but just about everything else. Most of the stores were closed but it was nice just to look in the windows.
There was even an adorable coffee shop where we stopped to have some coffee and a snack.
I can’t decide which of these pictures are cuter so I’m posting all four.
Then we walked over to Arab street which was full of textile stores. If I only had more knowledge about having clothes made I would have bought tons of material but I’m still scared of this unknown. I need to learn because it’s so cheap and worthwhile, especially in Asia. In Manila, you can have someone sew anything for you for a great price but the fabrics aren’t always the best. Maybe next time Singapore.
In the center of the Arab quarter was a beautiful mosque and even a wedding!
After all that walking we were hungry so we headed over to the Gardens by the Bay to have some lunch and see the Gardens. I had heard so much about the Botanical Gardens before I went to Manila but I hadn’t heard much about the Gardens By the Bay which were new. We grabbed lunch there and it was definitely our least favourite meal in Singapore but it was the only thing nearby.
Then we headed to the gardens. This place was definitely different. There were all these tall ‘trees’ full of plants. You could take an elevator to the tallest one and walk across a bridge that connects them all. It was a nice view but I have to say I liked the Botanical Gardens (more on that later) much, much better.
But the Gardens by the Bay were definitely interesting and did have some pretty views.
For dinner that night we headed to Newton, another group of famous Hawker stands.
I liked Newton better than Maxwell, but I think this can be summed up in two words- Chili Crab. I AM ADDICTED. This was by far my first, second and third favourite thing I ate the whole time I was in Singapore. It was also on Randy’s top three list. It’s a whole crab cooked in this delicious spicy tomato sauce. It’s the messiest thing in the world to eat and I could care less. I ate every since bite of that crab!
We also got some carrot cake….but I think I was expecting something sweet so when this egg, potato dish came out I was a bit disappointed. It was delicious but I also think I was craving more chili crab.
The next day we only had a couple hours before Randy’s flight so we walked around the Botanical Gardens and then headed to the yummy lunch!
We found this amazing soup dumpling place a couple blocks away from our hotel in the Ion Center. It’s called Paradise Destiny and never has a name been so fitting. Paradise indeed! These soup dumplings were amazing. The chili crab stole my heart but I will crave these soup dumplings for the rest of my life. They came out piping hot and were served with a vinegar soy sauce and man, were they delicious. And, only a couple dollars for a half dozen.
You know you’re in for a treat when you can see them making their own noodles and dumplings.
Soup dumplings in the back, garlic cukes on the left and yummy dumpling soup front and center. All delicious. The original soup dumplings (not pictured, like the pink ones below but white) were in Randy’s top three..this makes four but who’s counting right?
Poor Randy didn’t want to leave after all of this but alas his time was up. He was supposed to go back to work on Tues, but the office ended up being closed Monday and Tuesday due to the typhoon, so he could have stayed. But someone needed to go home and take care of our baby so Grandma could come!
Singapore, we will definitely be back. Keep some chili crab and soup dumplings on the back burner please 🙂
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