Chinatown V 2.0

Jon and I had visited Chinatown on one other occasion shortly after we arrived in Singapore, but were quickly (and ironically) scared off by the hoards of tourists lining the streets. This time, with some hide outs in mind and pre-planned snack breaks, we set out in a much more determined frame of mind. Goal one was to visit The Noodle Man...a locally (internationally?) famous man who makes the best noodles in all of Singapore. And with all the 'food worship' going on here, that is really saying something. We stepped off the bus and marched towards the very heart of it all - Smith Street. Sounds safe enough? Think again. The 'dining' section of Chinatown, it is full of grumpy, tired and hungry tourists all vying for the same thing. A chance to see Him...to taste His creations. A chance to visit The Noodle Man. We elbowed our way through, and managed to get the last seat in the house - or rather, out of the house on the front stoop.


Hot and sweaty we were ready for some magic to happen. And happen it did. You see, The Noodle Man makes his noodles fresh every day, and puts what I am sure is all his love into them. My Chicken Chop Noodle - a testament to this love - was fantastic, and Jon's Dumpling Noodle was absolutely phenomenal. A side of Hot and Sour Soup and Pan-Fried Dumpling completed the meal (along with a dish of pickle which they put down on our table at the beginning of the meal and then proceeded to charge us S$2 for) and we waddled away, very much contented.

After lunch, we walked though the hoards once more (again, for not more than a few minutes) and made our way to the Sri Mariamman Temple. Simply built in the early 1800's, and then all decked out in the 1860's, the temple is beautiful. The woodwork is intricate, and the colors magnificent. Unfortunately, a good portion of the temple was roped off for people actually going to pray (who would have thunk it?) but we took a couple of good shots to demonstrate the grandeur of the building.

Our last stop was made at the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum. Built very recently (they broke ground 2005 according to the plans they have on display) it is an amazing, ornate structure. Four floors, including a roof-top orchid garden, it really was a wonder. There are all sorts of statues and religious relics that you would, of course, expect in a religious museum, but the museum is set up in such a way that it is easy to see where in the story of the Buddha's life the carvings and statues come from.

We have been getting all sorts of requests to post more pictures, so here you have it! It was a great day, and hopefully you all can enjoy through us some more of the very neat sights Singapore has to offer.

As per usual, much love! Can't wait to hear more about your goings on in Calgary!