Sightseeing in Singapore

Hit the ground running on our first day in Singapore and met Jason and HuaQi for a packed day of food and culture. Still running on Brisbane time so languid, equatorial morning pace took some getting used to, as we quickly discovered that most shops and stalls were still closed at 9:30 in the morning. Lazy bums. Still managed to find a cute little shop to have some bean curd and fried bread for breakfast which was super yum.

Our first cultural experience was to check out the national museum to learn a little more about the lion city. I think the huge chamber with an enveloping audio-visual onslaught of Singaporean life (accompanied by an orchestral soundtrack) was a little freaky, but the other exhibits were fascinating. I especially liked the room of paper bags from years gone by. Alison and I already have a paper bag from a restaurant framed at home so maybe we should extend the collection.



Next on the list was a bus ride to Qun Zhong Eating House, reported to have the best dumplings in Singapore. I'm inclined to agree, the Xiao Long Bao was probably the best I've ever had. The skin was so soft that it took a bit of practice to just pick them up without spilling the warm soup inside. Top it off with some vinegar and sliced ginger and it's just an explosion of flavour in your mouth. Could eat these forever.



Combining a food and cultural experience (the best kind), we were whisked down the road to the Tea Chapter, a tea house that can claim to have served Queen Elizabeth the Second. In fact, they charged a premium to sit at her very table (how could you refuse?). To keep with the theme we ordered the same tea she was served, a blend labelled Imperial Golden Cassia.



We were fascinated by the process of serving, smelling and drinking tea. After brewing the tea is poured into the white jug looking thing called a "fairness cup", to ensure that everyone has a properly mixed cup of tea. Then this is poured into the long thin cup which is the "scenting cup". This is smelled to appreciate the first of three scents, the "hot scent", before pouring the tea into the drinking cup. The now empty scenting cup is then rolled between the hands until warm, and smelled again to experience the "warm scent", which in this case seemed sweeter. The tea can now be drunk, in exactly three sips; the first to cleanse the mouth, the second to clear the throat and the third to enjoy the flavour. After drinking the tea, the scenting cup can be smelled once more for the "cool scent".



It took a while to go through the process but it was thoroughly enjoyable. Very nice tea too, full of flavour and depth. We all got a chance to serve tea at the table and I documented Alison's go. After saying bye to Jason and HuaQi we decided to check out a fish foot spa to treat our tired feet.



I've got terribly ticklish feet so I never expected to last through the 30 minutes of fish nibbling away dead skin. It took a while and some mental conditioning but I managed to stay the course. It felt a little like a jet stream from of a jacuzzi with the smaller fish. The larger ones were rather disturbing but I think I'd gotten used to it by then. Not sure if the treatment was especially effective but we both agreed that our feet felt a little softer afterwards.



Our short stay in Singapore is now over and we flew in to KL last night at 10. We actually feel like we've already had a holiday, which is exciting as it's just beginning. I believe WonTon noodles are on the menu for lunch and there's a long list of restaurants that Mum and Uncle Wing have lined up for us to try. Expect more photos of food to come.