More than a week ago, we decided to venture to Little India for the evening. This started out as a task, something we needed to do but one that would have the minor perk of awesome Indian food attached; it ended up being one of my three favorite nights here in Singapore (the others include the Night Safari and our anniversary night). I wanted to get a bunch of spices and other ingredients to try my hand at Indian cooking and we knew this area would have what we needed. There is block after block of family-run shops selling clothing, fabrics, jewelry, spices, all kinds of food and produce, housewares, etc. This is what the section looks like once you alight from the MRT station.
Ted took these photos while I visited the shops along Buffalo Road picking up what we needed. By the way, my first Indian food attempt was a massive failure. A lot of money, a lot of time, and all for bland massala sauce (but with brilliantly flavored chicken) and inedible pakoras. The failure is mostly due to my fear that I would start a grease fire and was too scared to turn the flame up high enough without Ted home to get the oil as hot as it needed to be. New stovetop to me, new pots and pans, too scared. I might try it again, but more likely I will just leave it to the experts. Oh, and half the spices I bought ended up full of bugs. Lovely.
The kids played at this cool little playground across the street.
See? Every once in a while I have my picture taken to prove that I really was there. Usually I like to take the pictures because that job is easier than being the one to carry Wyatt on my shoulders. When you have 3 kids, it's important to divide up these jobs. But because I was carrying the stuff we bought, Ted carried both Wyatt and the camera. That means we didn't get many pictures, but we had so much fun that we have decided Little India will be a frequent Saturday night spot for us. We'll be better about pictures next time, I promise.
We stopped at Tekka Market for some amazing food. So spicy! The kids ate a ton of roti prata, which is little like naan but with egg, and drank up their iced milos--sort of like chocolate milk but more watery because of the crushed ice. Ted and I shared some tandoori chicken and our fingers were stained bright orange for the rest of the night. Delish. And we each had a Tiger beer too!
After leaving the food centre, we headed up Serangoon Road visiting more little shops. The girls each picked out some fabulous "golden" bracelets and rings and some silky fabric scraps that they wrap around themselves like saris. We had hoped to buy them some fancy little outfits but most of them were in the S$70-120 range so not on this trip, ladies. Wyatt picked out a watch for himself.
We were making our way to the big shopping haven, Mustafa Centre that is open 24-hours a day. It started out in the 70s as a normal 900-sq ft shop that the owner has over the years turned into a massive 150,000 shopping centre that is all one store. It has four floors and is massive. Before you enter if you are carrying bags from other shops or even a simple purse, people direct you to a counter where workers wait to take your items and wrap them in an appropriately sized plastic Mustafa Centre bag with one of those plastic cords that locks tightly. That way no one will walk off with stuff for free I guess. We had our other bags wrapped up, then went inside. Insanity. Everything from food, batteries, fancy jewelry, costume jewelry, clothing, pots and pans, bedding, furniture, umbrellas, my goodness, everything! All in one store. This is not a mall, folks, just one giant store, but with slightly more character than a giant Wal Mart I guess. Or maybe that's because it was novel to me and if I lived here I would think of it as Wal Mart. Who knows?
We bought some cute small-size easily transportable umbrellas for the kids and a wok for cooking stir fry. And then we got out of there. It was pretty packed. And getting dark.
Our bags were heavy so the plan was simply to head back to a different MRT station and get home. It was around 8 anyway and Ted and I couldn't find a place on this warm night offering both a cold beer for us and sweet desserts for the kids. Then we heard some music and saw a big crowd so we decided to check that out before heading underground. This is what we saw:
Singapore Line Dance:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTxq0iu4968
Minds blown! Singaporeans line dancing to country music on a Saturday night in a giant public forum. Normally, I would not stop to watch a line dance, but this I had to see. And the atmosphere was so festive. People were everywhere just walking around and smiling. No food, no drinks, just enjoying the warm (but not hot) night and letting kids play at this cool playground, bigger than the earlier one.
The plaza where all this is going on is atop the Farrer Park MRT station and in front of the City Square Mall. Public bathrooms are right inside. You laugh, but parents know how important this is!
As you can see, the kids made some friends that night. Ted and I, beerless but content, were able to sit and watch them running around. And listen to the line dancing music and all the people talking all around us.
Here is what it felt like:
Kids Playing in Little India http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_tAakCcWb4
And here are Zoe and Wyatt getting into the dancing spirit and making a friend:
Little India Kids Dancing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWXkjpFFj7g
Here is the last video. It's Ella on the tire swing with a bunch of kids.
Little India Tire Swing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jweZO-RHdh4
Eventually, we were able to drag the kids--and ourselves--out of there, but we will be back!
Next in the queue: the zoo, a mostly pictures post.
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