SINGAPORE Day 4

We met up with a friend for lunch. He lives in Perth in the warmer months and moves to Singapore when it gets cold. He ordered so much food for the 5 of us that half had to be packed as a take away. The dishes were so tasty but we just couldn't eat anymore. I think it had to do with the fact that we've been eating so much since arriving in Singapore.

After lunch we went to Haji Lane in Kampong Glam, near the Central Mosque. In this area, there aren't the big shopping malls but quaint little shops and eateries selling arts and craft, individual design boutiques and beautiful wall art. Whilst we shopped it suddenly got extremely hot and humid at about 3pm, only for about an hour, then cooled down.

Before dinner, Ruby's nieces were having a crisis over cockroach on their papaya. Luckily we were only 20m away so Warrick and I went over to rid her of the said cockroach. Unfortunately, the caught cockroach escaped from Warrick's grasp and a further search ensued. We weren't allowed to leave until the said cockroach was captured and disposed of. We finally managed to remove offending cockroach down the chute to be absolutely sure it was gone.

Ruby's cousin then took us out for dinner followed with a durian feast. We were enjoying dinner in an alfredco setting at East Coast Lagoon Hawkers Centre. We were so full we could hardly move. Whilst waiting for the cousin to pick us up after dinner at the carpark, it started to drizzle. The drops got bigger and bigger until it was pouring. Warrick and I had been carrying an umbrella all except this time. Our friend Murphy struck again. Both Ruby and I found refuge under the smallest umbrella from an ice cream vendor. Whilst the other 2 stood under a shawl, getting completely soaked. We waited less than 5 mins for the car but were soaked as if we had been in the rain for an hour.

Durian feasting was not deterred by the rain and was quite an experience. The cousin drove us to Dempsey Road, which seemed like we were in the middle of no where. There was a marquee with tables and chairs and bins at every table. We could eat in relative comfort without being beside a storm drain or dingy dark back alleys crouching over low tables as this was how it was before. Even though it was bucketing down, we were comfortable and dry, thoroughly enjoying the durians.

I approached a table when we first got there. The occupants looked like they were finishing and I merely said we'd like their table when they were finished and we were going to stand to the side and not breadth down their necks. The occupant got very offended and told me categorically that the table was not ever for me. He also added that he would leave when he was good and ready. I think he totally misunderstood me. Anyway, his comments did not detract from our enjoyment of durians.

List of food today
Wanton noodles
Manchang Kweh
Roast Duck
Roast pork
BBQ pork
Nasi lemak with beef rendang and fried chicken
Yong Tau Foo soup
Mee Pok
Satay
Rojak
Oyster omelette
DuriansLæs mere