Meng's Travels: Roti Prata at Tiong Bahru Hawker Center

Around the area where the Furama is located are several hotels. This is called the Havelock Road area, within walking distance from Great World, a big shopping center. My high-school was about a mile away but has since been torn down to make way for beautiful private condominiums. The Singapore River flows through this area. In the last couple of decades the Singapore government has made the banks of the river into a touristy area, with pubs, restaurants, souvenir shops, etc. In the early days warehouses dominated the banks of the river. It was an important part of Singapore as an Entrepôt.

Singapore River, with Marina Bay Sands Hotel in the distance

Skyscraper Office Buildings

The old General Post Office, now the Fullerton Hotel

Hotels and Condos, with sidewalk

Cynthia and Steven went for an early morning run along the river, towards the city.

Cynthia and Steven, with MBS and Singapore Eye in the background

We started the day again at the TB hawker center. Ella, who had not felt well on the first day, joined us. We now have a full house.

Roti Prata

Roti Prata is a popular breakfast dish in Singapore's hawker centers. In Malaysia it's called Roti Canai (pronounced Chanai). It was brought to Southeast Asia by South Indian immigrants. It is made from fluor and water with a lot of fat, usually ghee. It is cooked on a flat griddle and served usually with some kind of curry. It can also be made into a sweet dish, using condensed milk or sugar.

Sharing local breakfast with grandchildren

Kids enjoy the drinks

Delivering Kopi

Eddy and Mai-lon, smiling after a delicious breakfast

Shawn and Ezra eating noodles

Taylor eating porridge

Following breakfast we took the MRT to Chinatown. I wanted to give everyone a flavor of what it looks like. Years ago it was an enclave for new immigrants from China, especially those from Guangdong (Canton) Province. Sadly, most of those old buildings have been demolished to make way for shops catering to tourists. There are still areas that cater to locals, like the People's Park Complex.

The People's Park Complex has more of a local flavor to it. Over the years many Chinese from northern part of China set up shops here selling northern Chinese cuisine. Examples are the mala hot-pot, all kinds of bread and meat, etc. There are also many money-changers. This is where we change from US dollars to Taiwanese currency, the New Taiwan dollar (NT). The money changers are mostly Indians. There are also a few remittance centers because Singapore has many foreign workers who send money back home.

Esme with fresh coconut

At the MRT station. Notice the cleanliness

Overhead Bridge at Pagoda Street in Chinatown

Durians Anyone?

Drinking fresh-squeezed Juice

Taylor enjoying a watermelon

Having a little fun

The kids were tired after touring Chinatown so they the MRT back to the hotel to swim and rest. Some of the adults continued to the Maxwell Road Food Center. This hawker center is made popular by many Instagram posts by travelers from all over the world. One stall stands out - Tian Tian Chicken Rice, a Michelin-star restaurant. However, there are many other excellent food stalls here too.

That evening I hosted a family dinner, inviting close family members and friends. There were about 60 of us at the Swallow City Restaurant. It was an opportunity for the Tay family to meet our extended family and close friends. It was sort of a reunion without having to meet each and everyone individually.