Singapore : Around The World In 80 Days – Days 0 – 5

Day 0 – Wednesday, March 20

The intention was to circumnavigate the planet back in 2021 in the aftermath of Marg’s retirement. Today marks four years since Boris declared all schools should close, it is also the Equinox.

Why – Day Zero? Those of us who spent hours letting trolleys pull ticker tape along a bench in the Physics lab know – you count the gaps, not the dots, so tomorrow is in effect – Day 1.

The 15.30 BA flight from Glasgow arrived at Heathrow on time having treated us to views of central London on the approach. The transfer to Terminal 3 by bus was much easier than the shuttle alternative. Terminal 3 has improved greatly since 2016 when last here. Then the facilities, even the seating areas were overrun, a well known coffee chain offered refuge until the 19.50 Qantas flight to Singapore, the time passed quickly.

An Airbus 380 holds potentially 520 souls. Seated in row 67, we were among the last to board, a benefit in some ways. Thirteen hours fifty minutes was the scheduled flight time, from the off the Captain said we would arrive early. It pays to fly eastwards, the same direction as the Earth rotates.

The seats in economy are remarkably comfortable and have decent legroom. Still, a potential fourteen hours sitting there was a vision of hell. The drinks service was minimal, one Bloody Mary and it was awful – too much ice, not enough tomato juice. The appropriately chilled red wine – Rob Dylan – which accompanied a fine roast beef dinner was better than most in-flight meals. But then how often does one actually get served a meal on a flight?

The selection of current movies was not wonderful. Killers of the Flower Moon did pass the first hours followed by the much better The Holdovers. This prompted me to watch the first two episodes of the final season of Billions on my netbook…the connection being the wonderful Paul Giamatti. Flower Moon – Moonflower, in the small hours I put on Carlos, a documentary about Santana passed a drowsy hour. This was as close as the Hector would get to sleep, Marg was out for a couple of hours.

Why did two stewards appear to go into the toilet at the same time? When a third joined them followed by a fourth, I realised this was a stair down to the bowels of the ‘plane. A dozen or so staff went down to sleep. Breakfast was served in what was now mid afternoon local time. The array of fresh fruit and yoghurt was just what the body needed.

We were arriving an hour early, no more entertainment was required. Touchdown.

Day 1 – Thursday, March 21

Entry to Singapore was the easiest at any post Brexit international arrivals. The passport scanner worked, our previously completed on-line entry forms were recognised, a thumbprint later and we were in. The luggage did take a while to arrive on the belt. Meanwhile, our pre-booked taxi driver had been in touch using WhatsApp, a saviour when one dare not turn on the home SIM card. Having no local currency, a tip was offered by card, but honourably declined. A taxi driver refusing a tip?

Checking in to the Ibis Styles Albert was straightforward, hopefully a complimentary two hour extension to our stay has been granted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The swimming pool is on the fourth floor, and so are we, a matter of metres away, but on the opposite side. A great location.

From the pool, the Sim Lim Square shopping mall was visible a block away. Two SIM cards were soon installed courtesy of Vision 11.

Back to the hotel to get rid of our passports and out again, food required, after-all it was only fruit for breakfast.

Outside the Sim Lim mall is a parade of eateries each selling their take on Asian, non-Indian food. First we needed cash, just in case, S$100 (£60.00) was withdrawn, we can spend it on the last day if we still have it. How could the Hector resist – Wing Seong Fatty’s Restaurant? Marg ordered Sweet & Sour Pork, standard, the Hector Duck with noodles, medium. Oh, and a big bottle of Tiger Lager.

Tiger Beer Original (Singapore) at 5.0% was suitably cold, yellow and fizzy.

Tiger is part of Heineken (Nederland).

The food turned out to be substantial and tasted pretty much like any Chinese back home. They all source the same bottled sauces, and vinegars. With big blobs of onion and capsicum, an anathema in Hector’s favoured cuisine, fine here. The little bowls of Chilli sauce and sliced Pickled Chillies added more bite.

One decent Bier before collapsing time. Alchemy Bistro was around the corner. Four taps, the more interesting ones – were aff. S$18.00 for a 330ml bottle of Swedish Bier? Needs must.

Nordic India Pale Ale (Nordic Vibes, Kiruna, Sverige) at 4.5% claimed to be – Hoppy Citrus – and a NEIPA. It was neither. Mosaic hops featured but as this was clearly a West Coast IPA in both colour and bitter taste, I would love to establish the IBU to prove my point.

It has been a long day, or had it? We had lost eight hours, but without a night’s sleep both were ready to crash. Why can I not watch Sky News in Singapore on any device? It was still 27ºC at midnight.

Bars and restaurants visited today:

Alchemy Bistro – 128 Prinsep St, #01-01 Singapore 188655

Wing Seong Fatty’s Restaurant – 175 Bencoolen St, Singapore 189649

---

Day 2 – Friday, March 22

Air-con, it’s noisy, but necessary. Awake at 05.00, it was time to seize the day. In reality it was still three hours before UK bedtime. An opperchancity to get writing. Bier-Traveller is never as up to date as Curry-Heute, or anywhere near as comprehensive. With many hours to be spent on ‘planes, I may actually post in batches, time will tell. If I post daily it all goes backwards anyway.

Julia was awake at 06.00, an early class. She confirmed that we did not need to purchase an EZ Link card for the MRT (Metro), tapping on/off would suffice. Marg surfaced and went for a swim, Hector was well gone.

Eventually our acts coincided, time to brave the elements, 33ºC+, Hector finds this a comfortable temperature to walk in having worked in hotter conditions in Emek Hayarden.

Crossing over Bukit Timah Road took us to Little India. There were signs at the start of Serangoon Road giving the history of the area. Walking along the main road felt a bit naff, we headed east into the backstreets. After only a couple of blocks, Clive Street proved to be the south-eastern periphery already.

Having checked out the other side of the main road it was time for Curry. Khansama @Little India – was one of a handful of venues which featured on Google Maps, there were many which didn’t. Clearly there are more venues which could have been considered. We were not the only tourists at Khansama.

After a bizarre eating experience we walked back to Rochor MRT station. The blue – Downtown – line took us, well – Downtown. What a line, it runs from Expo, the airport to the centre of the city and loops back on itself. Each station on each MRT line has a name and a number, this facilitates counting the stops and must help those who have limited ability in reading of our script.

No eating, drinking, smoking, don’t set yourself alight, and no – durian!

No messing in Singapore, nobody chews gum in line.

We soon found ourselves at the waterfront. Walking around the bay/marina seemed logical. Gardens by the Bay – was the only Singapore sight known to Hector prior to arrival, this became the intended destination.

The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands – were en route, this was on Marg’s sister’s list of recommended places to visit. Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beers – was unavoidable. A large soft drink and a small Bier could be what the body would tolerate. Bier before 16.00 in a hot climate does not bode well for Hector.

Only pints were served, shit happens.

Birdseye Hazy IPA (Parrotdog,Wellington, New Zealand) at 5.9% claimed to be a NEIPA. The dark haze was not too welcoming, the taste was bitter, far too bitter.

Not doing well on the Bier front so far, Hector.

Marina Bay Sands Hotel dominates the Singapore skyline. As with the Empire State Building, what’s the point of paying to go up it when you cannot see it from the top. Hector had a cunning plan for later.

Gardens by the Bay is stunning, the aerial walkway was dismissed. Ahead lay Cloud Forest and Flower Dome, two indoor attractions. S$24.00 for each or S$32.00 for both? A no brainer.

Having passed the indoor waterfall, an elevator takes you to the top, from there one winds ones way back down along – aerial walkways – at times a bit hairy. A Botanists delight, otherwise just a spectacle and wonder of engineering. An Equatorial Forest indoors. So why was it so cool? In the UK we go in to hothouses to see tropical plants, Cloud Forest was decidedly – temperate.

Photo opperchancities were aplenty, so little jostling for the best positions, everyone was more polite than everyone else. Twenty four hours in Singapore and already one gets the feeling that the powers that be have created a paradise.

Chewing gum – I did see the telltale black stains on one flight of steps in the garden area. Otherwise, every pavement, floor, is spotless.

As it was approaching 18.00 and sunset was at 19.15, we considered leaving Flower Dome until tomorrow.

No way, Pedro – we were politely informed. Our ticket was valid for today only.

Flower Dome was very much the lesser of the two. Pretty flowers, but there was an area devoted to – baobab – the bottle tree, one of the few tropical trees Hector recognises having taught its characteristics.

Emerging into the heat was testing. There was a pit stop, cold drinks required. Having walked miles, the body was protesting. The base of the back, the legs, the feet in sandals for the first time in a month. Here is where the heat definitely helps, having resumed the walk the body thawed out.

All was well.

*

LeVel33 – is the highest urban microbrewery in the World. Could we locate it? Tower 1 – we found ourselves at the controlled entry to Tower 2 and Tower 3, we asked and were duly directed. LeVel33 is pukka, bookings recommended, would all of Singapore be up there for sunset?

The receptionist at the foot of the elevator showed us the dress-code. Shorts and sandals does not comply. I had long trousers in by backpack, the sandals I could do nothing about. Tomorrow is another day.

Julia was joining us after work, I redirected her to Welcome Ren Min where a choice of NEIPA was reported. One stop to Telok Ayer on the Downtown line would get us nearly there. Meanwhile the facilities at Downtown MRT were visited, may as well get the longs on just in case.

We passed the Tiger Taproom en route up the hill. Smoke-room – had me worried. I popped my head in, no ashtrays, smoking has long gone in Singapore.

The blue dot ended up at Maxwell Food Center, a – Hawker centre – as such venues are called. The place was stowed, cheaper eats presumably, and getting three seats would be a challenge.

Welcome Ren Min – was at the entrance, behold the Bier list, behold the Bier. Marg was not impressed. This was not what Marg considers to be – ambience. She had to find a soft drink stall and actually spent cash.

The chap serving was informative, talking me through the list. Once NEIPA was mentioned the starting Bier became obvious, but a small size was taken just in case, and especially at these prices. Bier in Singapore is reassuringly expensive.

Bubbleicious Burst (Ren Min, Singapore) at 6.4% was the real deal. With the full haze and a big hop hit, a joyful experience. HBC 586 and Superdilic hops were possibly not encountered previously, a definite – wow!

*

*

*

Julia arrived – hugs – and she bought something else. There were seats along the outside wall of the market, here we sat and caught up. I last saw Julia when we flew to Berlin, Julia was off to meet friends, Howard and Hector were following Riverside around Polska.

For the next round we both went large and – Bubbleicious!

We could have stayed here much longer but eventually the facilities would have to be faced. Given the state of the dining tables inside, already a worry. Julia spotted cans of One Drop (Sydney, Australia) run by a friend, this she purchased. Hector had worked out an eleven minute route to the next venue. Meanwhile Marg had realised that – Maxwell Market – was on Sister’s List, suddenly this locus was acceptable. I tore myself away knowing that this NEIPA would be hard to beat. Julia had already declared that she would be back.

Heart of Darkness is an outlet for Bier of the eponymous Vietnamese brewery. A Singapore brewery tap in other words. A very young crowd, and by now I was formulating an empirical theory: there are no fat Singapore females. We acquired a favourable table in the far corner. The waitress said – just wave – when we needed her. That worked.

 

Loose Rivet (Heart of Darkness, Saigon, Vietnam) at 7.5% was second on the board, it had to be. Suitably hazy, I could not believe the abv, this was dangerous. However, it was a bit thin and lacked the necessaries, maybe tropical in flavour but lacked the hop blast. I could not source the hops.

I studied the Bier menu on the table, there was another NEIPA on offer:

Dream Sensation (Heart of Darkness, Saigon, Vietnam) at a mere 5.7% proved to be a winner. This was full on Mosaic and became the Bier for the rest of the night.

Julia and Marg ordered food. Marg had a Fish Taco, small but tasty, the Hector took one bite only. From what I have established, all venues which serve Bier also have an extensive food menu.

Approaching midnight, or 16.00 back home, Julia arranged a taxi, I found a bus for us which avoided the walk to an MRT. Goodnight hugs.

On the walk to the bus stop I deduced that it was then only a matter of minutes to Chinatown MRT, also on the Downtown line. QED.

Brewery taps and restaurant visited today:

Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beers : 10 Bayfront Ave #L1-80, Bay Level, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018972

Welcome Ren Min : 1 Kadayanullar St., Unit No. 01-33 Maxwell Food Centre, Singapore 069184

Heart of Darkness Singapore : 1 Keong Saik Rd., Singapore 089109

Khansama @Little India : 166 Serangoon Road Junction of, Norris Rd, 218050

---

Day 3 – Saturday, March 23

Wide awake at 05.00, I switched on the netbook. In the blink of an eye, Scotland lost another goal to Nederland. 4 v 0 ! Three subs, three goals lost in quick succession. John Souttar did not cover himself in glory. Meanwhile, Yilmaz limped off in the first half playing for Türkiye.

Once again, Hector took the writing route back to sleep at 07.00. Marg went for her morning jog then swim.

Today’s Curry was at Kebabchi Charcoal BBQ, a much better outcome. However, finding the venue was challenging. Two stops on the Downtown line took us to Promenade. From here the Suntec City mall revealed itself.

Google Maps does not work in 3D. I took from the blue dot that Kebabchi was inside, but how high up? We searched two floors up, inside and out. It would have been easier finding Anne Franke. At a Japanese restaurant cluster a young chap said – go to the basement!

As we finished lunch, so Marg identified the Helix Bridge and the Merlion as sight to see. Chinatown can wait until tomorrow.

The approach to Helix Bridge was complicated by ongoing construction for the – Youth Olympics. Photos secured, there was little point actually crossing the bridge, Merlion was on our side. Blue sky today, time for the hat. As we took in the same views as yesterday, but with better conditions, so a young chap offered to take our photos. Marg handed over her phone and my camera.

You’ll run away – she said, in jest.

Anywhere else, probably, not in Singapore.

The Merlion was mobbed with ever so polite people waiting in turn to have their photos taken at – the spot. Marg’s position meant she was cooled by the spray, the Hector was cooking. Bunkers, a pit stop, S$5.00 Colas.

Sunset was looming, back to Downtown MRT to change, and no sandals today, we approached LeVel33. Doris at the desk recognised us, even in our comparative finery. Only outside tables were available. A name was asked for, up we went in the dedicated elevator.

The brew-plant was there, the World’s highest urban microbrewery. Where was the telltale smell of yeast? Everything was pristine, if they do brew here it must be when nobody is around.

Thankfully our table was away from the edge. I already knew the Bier was not going to be wonderful, the menu did not state the abv, the waiter was able to supply – the information.

*

*

House Porter (LeVel33, Singapore) at 4.8% had a decent level of chocolate through the malt. Importantly the Bier was not sweet. It was well worth the 33 floor climb for the view, the Bier was palatable.

Marg had sorbet, we also both shared Sparkling Water. Liquid required.

The tropical phenomenon of instant darkness meant we saw the night skyline without having to wait for twilight to dissipate. That was a view!

Julia was in touch, Mihajlo arrived today. They would come out to meet us. American Taproom, Waterloo St. was suggested, reportedly serving a choice of NEIPA. Julia trusted my judgement, she too has the Untappd app. The Downtown line from Downtown to Bencoolen, why are we always travelling in the one direction, got us near enough. From there, we could walk home.

The Downtown line crosses itself at depth, just how deep was the Expo bound line?

American Taproom is situated in a lane off Waterloo Street. Julia led Mihajlo to another branch. This multi-tap bar did not only feature Bier from the USA, it also had Verdant (Falmouth England) and Cloudwater (Manchester, England) were also available.

A pity the Verdant was in the wrong style. However, four names caught the eye, could I get through them?

Hop Around The World (Young Master, Hong Kong, China) at 6.0% was the obvious starter. A NEIPA featuring Yakima Chief, Nelson Sauvin, Motueka and Superdilic hops had the required hop hit. What a combination. This was a beautiful Bier but did feel a bit thin at the end. On another day I could have stuck with this, but with more to choose from…

Julia and Mihajlo arrived. Hugs and an introduction. A Serb who has done eleven parachute jumps to Hector’s ten. He declared first. We have a lot in common, European cinema in particular. Mihajlo likes – Sours, you can’t win them all. However, he offered Augustiner (München) as his favourite Deutsche Bier. We settled down for what would be a long and expensive night. I have never seen a bar bill for two that much, Marg was on toffee flavoured Cider. Should I worry?

Pixelated Stargazer (Revision Brewing Company, Sparks, Nevada, USA) is another NEIPA at 6.7%. Suitably hazy, this was on the sharp side of smooth. With Motueka, Mosaic and Citra hops, this Bier was more tropical tasting than juicy.

Fresh Haze (Deschutes Brewery, Portland, Oregon USA) is a Hazy IPA at 6.5%. With a reasonable haze, smooth tasting hops, this was easy drinking. I may have mentioned more than once that I have been to the Brewery Tap in Portland.

Cloudwater, the brewery that stood out during Lockdown but has declined rapidly since. Track, across the street are doing so much better. Cloudwater in Singapore? It had to be.

DIPA v14 (Cloudwater, Manchester, England) at 8.0% was a good-night Bier and ridiculous expensive. This Double Hazy IPA had the full on milkshake haze. This Bier was so smooth, totally dangerous, and worthy of a repeat. I was quickly advised that back home that v17 is available.

Eight hours ahead, we were calling it a night as peeps back home were going out to play. The walk back to Ibis Styles Albert took no time at all. Marg claims to know these streets from her morning runs and has photos to prove it.

You think a night is over and then it’s not. There were lights still on in Albert Street, people were sitting outside a venue having Bier.

This was Hospoda, a Czech-style microbrewery in the literal sense, almost a cupboard in the hotel adjacent to the Ibis. There was time for a nightcap. Marg had more Cider, I really should worry. The choice of Pivo was Pilsner or Dark, I chose the former.

Pilsner (Hospoda, Singapore) at 4.5% was unfiltered, slightly acidic but acceptable. This would cleanse the palate ready for more – milkshakes – tomorrow, hopefully.

I have never had such a short walk home after visiting a brewery.

Breweries, Bars and Restaurants visited:

LeVel33 : 8 Marina Blvd, #33 – 01 Tower 1, Singapore 018981

American Taproom, Waterloo St. : 261 Waterloo St, #01-23 Waterloo Centre, Singapore 180261

Hospoda Microbrewery : 180 Albert St, #01-19, Singapore 189971

Kebabchi Charcoal BBQ : 3 Temasek Blvd, #B1-146, Singapore 038983

---

Day 4 – Sunday, March 24

The last full day in Singapore, Chinatown was the objective yesterday but the Helix Bridge and Merlion interrupted. Today definitely, maybe, we’ll meet Julia and Mihajlo for lunch too. The sleep pattern remains the same. Marg, who could sleep through a hurricane, was up and out, the keep fit regime must be maintained. For Hector, well this nonsense doesn’t write itself. After a two hour stint it was back to sleep around 07.00. Deep sleep, gosh it’s almost noon. Except of course it isn’t, it’s 04.00 GMT. Time travel.

Grasshopper, Julia confirmed she and Mihajlo would meet at the restaurant of my choosing. Julia may work in Singapore, it’s the Hector who has been leading her to venues never visited previously, and she has liked them all. The wise one knows that if one is having food from that most populous nation then Hunan is what you want. Tracey sent Dr. Stan and Hector to Brandy Ho’s – Hunan Food (San Francisco) back in 2018, there’s no going back to Sichuan etc. after Hunan.

Marg and Hector emerged from the Chinatown MRT stop on the Downtown line, other Singapore MRT lines are available, just after 14.00.

As with Little India, Chinatown in Singapore is compact. We walked the peripheral streets last night, distances are now being understood, Downtown Singapore is manageable on foot, but who wants to arrive anywhere – a sweaty blob?

The Bombay-Mexican food outlet stood out from the mass of eateries. Why come here for either? I have seen so ,any photos of Chinese/Thai/Japanese/Malay cuisine that I believe I have seen every Dish possible. Trotters are on many a menu, but – pig. Our Pakistani restaurants back home don’t have this. Paya!

A shop selling who knows what played – The Yellow Rose of Texas – on an endless loop, sung in Cantonese, of course. I could tell it was Cantonese. Marg bought some postcards, a different Tracy insists. A fridge magnet too, our only souvenir of Singapore? When one of our bags is lost in transit, we can buy loads.

It didn’t take long to cover the area, the indoor market too. The covered Smith Street, formerly – Brothel Street – Marg has been reading up.

It was time to rendezvous at Xiang Xiang Hunan Cuisine @Chinatown. The blue dot took us to the correct locus, but which shop exactly was it? With unforgiving signage what’s what? I had to ask in one restaurant where possibly their more famous competition was. We were directed across the street.

Table 26, not the window table the waitress directed us to. QR code ordering, what is this, Covid is no more. For reasons unknown, my Oppo wouldn’t pick up the QR code, Marg’s identical machine did. Two sweaty blobs ordered two colas, duly delivered. We had a menu, lots of delightful photos with English written also, yay. Marg was heading for her customary Pork: Bamboo shoot with stir-fried pork, but was then caught by the big photo of Xiang Xiang’s signature Dish: Hunan style stir-fried pork. Still Pork then. For Hector, it would normally be Duck, but the word – cumin – took me to the Beef dish.

Julia and Mihajlo arrived and made their choices. Marg’s choice was replicated but they ticked the – not-spicy – box. Hunan cuisine is Spicy, that’s the point. Tofu and a Cucumber creation were added also. More cola, the waitress was becoming confused, her English was poor, our Cantonese is non-existent, she was working in Chinatown, we were at her mercy.

One-more – did she mean two, or was that simply her – one?

Receipts, in a Chinese script only, were collected and placed in a drawer under the table. No prices, just the Dish and quantity. I suppose Marg did have a record on her phone of what we had ordered.

The table was soon laden with food. This sharing lark, no way with Curry, here it made sense. The lack of complexity in each dish makes one want variety. The Cumin Beef had lots of sliced Chillies and no Onion or Capsicum, Marg’s Pork had some Onion and loads of Capsicum.

The Rice seemed stingy but this is as much a bib as an accompaniment. Sticky Rice, far from the cultured Basmati the Hector is used to. Imagine trying to pick up individual grains of Basmati with chop sticks. My fellow diners used the traditional weapons, I used what I have come to know as the ceramic soup spoon. It took us a while to wade through this lot, Mihajlo ordered more Tofu, he likes Tofu. Another chit in the drawer.

It came time to pay, which chit was which? Out came the trusty Oppo, Google Translate recognised – Simple Chinese – and is if by magic, all was revealed. I took our chit to the counter, but we still owed for the first colas.

A collective Bill for Table 26 was printed out, in both English and Cantonese. The lesser Doris said there was no way we could split the Bill, it had to be paid in one. Major Doris was summoned, same story. They hadn’t met The Hector.

A pen was produced and a calculator, the Bill was duly split.

The Bier of the trip, to date, has been Bubblelicious Burst (Ren Min, Singapore), given the proximity of the Maxwell Food Centre to Chinatown, planting the seed for a return for Bier at – Welcome Ren Min –was always going to pay dividends.

It was written.

There was a different chap serving today, he soon got to know the Order, though Mihajlo was reticent about engaging with NEIPA. Mihajlo bought cans of – Sour. A young chap was sitting alone at the table in front of the Bier taps, we joined him.

Calum, a colleague of Julia’s joined us. His origins are Scottish.

The conversation continued until it was that time when the facilities may have to be employed. Time to move on.

SG Taps, another multi-tap Singapore bar was eleven minutes away up Duxton Hill, which I’m told was quote pukka.

Hoppy Cow (Siberia, Czechia) at 5.4%, a Milkshake IPA, is what I had my hopes on. The anticipated – haze – was present, but it tasted strange. Helles with something added – was noted. Later I added the dreaded – Brett. This Bier was not for Hector.

Let It Be – Xenia (Pink Blossoms, Singapore) a 6.8% NEIPA came to the rescue. Dry tasting, the full milkshake haze, it took a while for any sense of hops to register, a consequence of its predecessor. There was more.

Mihajlo ordered something that was a funny colour., a taste was duly declined.

We spent a couple of hours at SG Taps, Marg thought it fit that we leave – the youngsters – and so we took our leave, farewell – hugs. In a repeat of two nights ago, the MRT from Chinatown took us back to Rocher.

Hospoda’s Tmavé was calling.

The serving chap remembered us as one might expect in such a small operation.

The Dark was described as being between four and five percent. It depends on the batch. Surprisingly smooth, this Bier was not over-malted, had no acidity and after the Pilsner last night, this was definitely the better of the two.

It was not a long walk home after my final Bier in Singapore.

Brewery Tap, Bar and restaurant visited today:

Welcome Ren Min : 1 Kadayanullar St., Unit No. 01-33 Maxwell Food Centre, Singapore 069184

SG Taps ; 13 Duxton Hill, #01-01, Singapore 089597

Hospoda Microbrewery : 180 Albert St, #01-19, Singapore 189971

Xiang Xiang Hunan Cuisine @Chinatown : 8 Mosque St., #08/09/10, Singapore 059488

---

Day 5 – Monday, March 25

Time to leave Singapore and continue on the next leg eastwards, always eastwards is stated in the One World Alliance rules whose – Around the World Ticket – we have purchased.

Our Qantas flight to Brisbane departed at 19.20, there was time to fill before then. The Ibis Styles Albert permitted a 14.00 check-out, this gave time for lunch.

A Monday lunchtime, surprisingly most of the cafes on Bencoolen Street, opposite Sim Lim Square were closed. This left the Hawker Market in the basement of Sim Lim as the obvious nearby place to eat.

We had cash to get rid of, having only spent cents of the S$100.00 taken out on Day 1. Some units were selling substantial Dishes up to S$20.00, we knew what a feast these could be. Wok Of Wonders had prices suggesting more modest portions. Marg had Sweet & Sour Pork, for a change, the Hector – Chai Poh Fried Fish Rice. The whole fried egg was a feature of both Dishes and the sliced Red Chillies a feature of of mine. Marg had the big onions.

Our Ibis complimentary coffee was had in the lobby bar/restaurant, except that at Ibis Styles Albert, this looks like a separate entity. This place closes at 21.00 so there is nowhere to sit at this hotel if one takes a late night notion.

Our extra punctual taxi took us to Changi Airport at 14.15 for our evening flight to Brisbane. The driver insisted we visit – Jewel – directly opposite Terminal 1, and so we did. BER – this is not. As this chapter draws to a close and the story – so far – has been told, hopefully those who wish to see even more photos of our memorable days in Singapore will click on the appropriate links.

Singapore, you were a blast, and a big thanks to Julia who played her part in making it so. Although Julia will not appear in person again in this trip, her name is scheduled to crop up soon. Who’s next?

Restaurant visited today:

Wok of Wonders : Sim Lim Square, 1 Rochor Canal Rd, Singapore 188504

Comments

comments