Singa-p.u.r.a.

I underestimated mother nature yesterday by mentioning it was merely raining, in actual fact it was a freaking thunderstorm. It was so heavy and violent that, if happened in KL, multitude of trees would have fallen and roads would have been flooded badly. My hunger was was fast becoming starvation. I suddenly recalled Mariah Carey's "Through the Rain"... and as I looked out the window, I immediately abandoned my thought making it through the rain :: as spiderwebs of lightning flashes in my sight...

It was much later in the evening that I finally get to headout (@ current time, my stomach was filled with biscuits), pondered for a while and decided to head to Merlion Park since I have not been there anyway. Its always fun taking pictures with the water squirting half-lion, half-fish creature (horrendous?). A piece of information from the not so informative moi :: StreetDirectory.com rulezzz!!!

Part of the route taken by me everyday, heading towards Outram Park MRT... Opposite the road will the Singapore General Hospital while further ahead will be Cantontment Police Complex (which is cun!)

Armed with my T5 and Neeon, I headed to Raffles Place (EW Line) and from there, supposed to be a short walk to Merlion Park. Let the statue be my guide... Headed out to Battery Road, and after a distance, I reach Cavenagh Bridge, and according to my trusted map, is still the correct path.

Cavenagh bridge :: The only suspension bridge in Singapore, named after Major General Orfeur Cavenagh (Governor of the Straits Settlement, 1859-1867)

Front view of the bridge :: When travelling through, can feel a very low level, low frequence vibration... takut...

Along the way, it gives a very strong feeling of fusion, where the new meets the old. You have all these century old architectures, existing amongst skyscappers.

Modernization in Singapore, the concrete forests

Along the way, there were some children playing along the river. As a matter of fact, they were stripping and jumping into the river! In broad daylight! The boys were quite daring I should say, not because of the public nudity (come on, children will be children) but because the river were just too "unhygenic" (Imagine the Klang River). I manage to capture a photo of them in action...

"Statues" of children playing by the river... :P

After quite a lot of walking, I was outside of Victoria Theatre instead of Merlion Park, and the squirting statue was no where to be seen. And the durian structure was getting nearer and nearer, I begin having doubt about my "acute" sense of direction...

Forgotten to take a look @ who the statue represents, Sir Stamford Raffles perhaps?

The durian structure getting nearer and nearer in sight...

And congratulations, I reach the Esplanade instead of Merlion park. It was quite a structure, giving a very modern feel to it with some 'protective' aspect. Imagine a parachuter veering off course... OUCH!

Magnificently painful...

Look out for the "Hand of Jed"... Presenting to you, "May-Banged" (OK, OK, I know its kinda lame...)

Esplanade Drive, from down under... Looks too cool for a bridge

So, in the end I found my way back to Merlion Park, thanks to the Tourism Board of Singapore for placing locality maps around the Esplanade. Be proud that the effort has paid off to this lost tourist. Seems like I overshot the park, hence headed back there. When I finally made it there, the reason the main attraction was nowhere to be seen was because...

In case you can't read that, it says :: Excuse me while I take a shower. And to think that my day was already bad enough..... Of all the time, why now?!?!?! When I finally made an effort to come here... *sobz*sobz*

Bah! Anyway, since I was travelling alone (eh, please lar... not that kesian also what...), no choice but to self service... therefore, this is me in Singapore!!!

Not bad mah? Quite leng jai also what...

Next stop, to have a meal of Kuching's Kolo Mee... in Singapore! I had this idea after going through Kenny Sia's entry and his praises for the mee intrigues me (more like sends my hunger pangs running wild). So, there are actually a few Jia Xiangs in Singapore, I know the HQ is in Chinatown and there are branches near Somerset and somewhere else.

I went for the one in Somerset because it was on the NS Line, saving me the trouble of having to change trains. And also, I was hoping I might bump into Mia Tan (Nope, I don't know her, hence the word 'bump') since accorting to him, she lives near there ... hahaha!!! (Eh, I ain't no stalker, ok?) Was quite easy to find, exiting Somerset @ Exit A, turn left. Upon reaching the first traffic lights + pedestrian crossing (The law, I obey), turn left and head straight. The shop will be on your left.

Jia Xiang Sarawak Kuching Kolo Mee... what a name! Shop bananer also like not enough space. Imagine a conversation between A and B...
A: Ei, u try before the Jia Xiang Sarawak Kuching Kolo Mee ah?
B: Hah? Lu Kong Ha Mi?

Ambience was good, the design portrays traditional settings vs some modern elements. Wooden tables (which was kinda low for me) and chairs, with unglossed parquet finishing.

Interior

Looking out :: Look @ the chopstick holder, old-school man!

Upon reaching the counter, I was recommended with the Prawn + Abalone soup mee... But of course, I was here for the original thing; therefore, I ordered the default one.

My kolo mee, the first thing that hit my mind was "eh, so small portion one ah?". BTW, can 'supersize' it one, add money lar.

Since I'm no food critic nor do I specialize in this industry, here's my humble, humble opinion (in comparison to nothing):
The minced meat :: Moist and texturized, but was a bit too 'halus'. It should have a bit fat in it to give a spongy feeling when biting. Taste was ok.
The Char Siew :: I'll give the taste above average, it has great flavouring on the outside while maintaning the pork taste inside. A bit dry though, makes it easily stuck to teeth.
The vege :: Not too soft, not too hard. Just crunchy, nice!
The mee :: No complains here, the mee was soft and spongy... certainly the best portion of the meal! Ah, definitely left me craving for more, just plain kolo me without filling also can.

Emptied bowl (look, chicken spoon... eh, why no chicken chopsticks one???)

And chicken bowl, ironic how a shop that does not sell any food related to chicken using chiky bowls and spoons...

Left the shop a satisfied customer; however, they might consider lowering the price of default kolo mee to somewhere around $3 because $3.90 is indeed a little costly. I guess before heading back to KL, I might conside coming here again for a meal (and hopefully will bump into that 'someone' next time...hahaha!)

Cheers!