DAY OUT: WITH FRIENDS FROM HK

A day out with Cindy and Anna who are spending a few days in Singapore.  I accompanied them to the Botanic Gardens.  They especially enjoyed the orchids.  The weather was hot.  Very hot.

For lunch, we went to Tiong Bahru Market.  Anna worked in Singapore years ago and stayed at the Copthorne Hotel.  She would often buy Bak Kut Teh for dinner from a coffee shop near the Market.  Today we went looking for said coffee shop but, as we already expected,  it was no longer there,

Phyllis and Catherine came to join us in th evening.  To satisfy Anna's craving for BKT, we had our dinner in Song Fa @ Chinatown Point.  Cindy originally wanted to eat chilli crab but she willingly went along with BKT.  I think that's real sweet of her.  I could tell that Phyllis was more than a little indignant with skipping the chilli crab altogether.

THIS USED TO BE MY PLAYGROUND

Did you know that I used to live in Jalan Bukit Ho Swee when I was a toddler?  My parents would go to work, leaving me with the granny who lived next door to us.  I've lost count of the times that granny and I have visited Tiong Bahru Market and its vicinity.  We'd have lunch.  We'd pick out a small toy or a cheap snack.  We'd shop for tableware and household knick-knacks.  

I lived in Block Number 32 until I was almost four years old.  The building still stands today.  The old cluttered shops have been replaced by new designer ones.  So amused to find these good old enamel plates on the shelf!