Monday, May 31, 2010

Day 2 in Singapore: Little India








































































































































Di and I arrived in Little India in time to cruise around KK Market and eat a breakfast of Roti Prata (Zam Zam Muslim Food Stall) and Ginger Tea (from the drinks man right next to our table). They were both on my list of things to eat, and I was very ready to chow down. KK Market is where I used to shop, but it is quite grand now. Please notice the premium goat meat stand among the market stalls. The little Indian man who used to pick his toes, then wrap curry mix "for two chickens" in a banana leaf could not be found. He obviously was not grand enough!
I include pictures of the shops in Little India where we shopped after breakfast. We were picking up lovely Indian tops for US$7. I also picked up a pink sarong that will become pillows when I get home. Note the flowers strung for worship, and hung in the shops for good fortune. They always smell so good, and are so lovely. The temple that is pictured is in the neighborhood. The streets and shops seem incongruous in a high rise city that looks like NYC in all other ways.
I must tell you that Singapore was having a heat wave, believe it or not. They have not had as much rain as usual this season, and the temperature was climbing into the mid-nineties. Talk about working up a sweat with little effort!
The last picture shows Singapore's newest gambling casinos...three hotels with a large ship across the top of all three. It is truly ugly, and I was shocked to see it in the heart of downtown along one of the loveliest shorelines in the world. What must the Merlion think!!!

















We took a shopping break to go to the Asiatic Cultures Museum. They were featuring a multi-million dollar exhibit of Mongol jewelry that was simply one of the most awesome museum shows I have ever seen. All of the jewelry work...cups, archery rings, blade handles and point covers, turban pins, necklaces, head pieces...were owned by a couple from Kuwait. It was extremely impressive, and I began to learn about the Moguls who ruled India.

















Back we went to Little India to drink lots of fresh lime juice eat spinach paneer and a mixed grill...loved the spinach, did not like the mixed grill...although Di and friends eat at "The Banana Leaf Apollo" often. We'll stick with the tried and true next time. We hurried off to Mustafa's to buy lots of curry powder and have a look at their other offerings. Trust me when I say we bought only curry powders and lots of Indian snack foods. Thus ends another day in the Indian neighborhood. We hurried back out to Holland Village to check off the items on Di's errand list and pick up my take-homes. Then it was back home to our nightly wine and chat....






































































































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