Singapore colonial past and Indian present

A wander to the colonial district where the work of prisoners from India created some architectural wonders under variable styles should be in the visit list

. What is saved today is some times drowned by the skyscrapers around. The Raffles hotel was apparently a much more modest affair before it was bought and evolved to the grandiose building you see only to end being part of an international chain.

The Singapore sling is not for us so we walk towards St Andrews a protestant church of 1900s.

The grandiose National Gallery is occupying the place of the old city Hall and forms the entire one side of the Penang where two old cricket clubs compete for attention.

The Fullerton Hotel guides the way to the Esplanade

where thy symbol of the city resides: Merlin the lion fish, with crowds competing to create the illusion in the photographs that they drink or catch the water from its mouth. One lady asked Ann to get out of the way so she can get her Instagram picture. Hmmmm.

In Singapore transport is never far away so a quick ride got us to the Old Airport Road Hawker centre (well respected by locals) for some unique food stalls. The rib and prawn noodles of Albert Street stall attracted a crowd but was average in taste.

A small portion of braised duck was not an improvement but who knows other stalls might have been better. A sewage lorry brought the only bad smell of Singapore so far and sped up our departure for a late afternoon nap.

I the evening we headed to the little India an area with jewelry and gold shops, small restaurants and the Tekka market whose name has passed various reincarnation, including buffalo cart market, another name who anybody non Chinese could not pronounce and finally Tekka market. The meat stalls were closed, some of the fresh fish Places still open but many of the food stalls at the back of the market at full swing. Mainly India punjabee food. The butter chicken and the mutton keema we got were very nice with freshly made nans at the side. And a Saporro from a different stall for S5.

A stop for a drink at the simple Alchemy craft beer concluded the evening. Students having a drink and playing cards were the background along with a bit hit and repetitive music