How little I have written about this small place that has welcomed me on so many occasions. It’s time to discover some more of its corners in your company.
I meet Ian at the bus stop on Orchard Street. We’re going on an excursion to the TreeTop Walk, yes, in this heat, it will be worth it, you’ll see. We take bus 132 to Flame Tree Pk (they take cards, tap on), we enter this green and humid park and enjoy walking on its many paths.
What do we see? Monkeys! what a joy, in their midst, free, calm, and so we are going to observe them, without disturbing them. There’s a mommy with a baby and they’re adorable.
We continue hugging trees, “grounding” (you have to take advantage of every opportunity) and we arrive at the suspension bridge.
Heading to the MacRitchie Reservoir, we find again two armadillos (or like) entangled, they have been together for more than an hour, it seems that it is a mating ritual, one bites the other, how curious nature is.
We are hungry after the walk and Lau Pa Sat on Satay street is always a good idea. This large covered market is full of food stalls for all tastes, vegans included.
In the morning I take a walk through ChinaTown, among its temples and murals there are winding streets with cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy a refreshment. Some of his murals have so much detail, depicting everyday scenes, such as a street vendor or a Chinese theater. I invite you to find them because they are beautiful.
Some of its temples are the Buddha Tooth Relic, which is surrounded by a nice market, or the Hindu Sri Mariamman, which has recently been renovated and its bright colors illuminate those who enter. There is also the Taoist Thian Hock Keng temple where they worship the goddess of the China Sea, Mazu.
For someone who doesn’t like shopping, in a city full of shopping malls, shops on more “local” streets like Bugis, finding a bookshop café where I can hide from it all is a pleasure. The Zall bookstore café is close to Orchard Road and its shelves of sinuous curves, elegant cups or outdoor coffee offer me a refuge from the heat among books.
The Yoga Movement offers classes of various levels where I always feel very welcome. A few streets away is the Lee Kong Chian National Library, where I have escaped to read for a while or enjoy the nice views from the top floor on a few occasions.
On the same street is the mythical, white, sophisticated and luxurious Raffles Hotel since 1887, where the afternoon tea is a pleasure to have.
Fort Canning Park is one of the city’s parks, close to the university area and the National Museum, if you get lost in it you will find ancient trees, the Balinese garden Sang Nila Utama where you can sit and read, or as Ana, do yoga, or mysterious fountains with relaxing waters (Pancur Larangan), the famous spiral staircase that we see on Instagram or a spice garden that my mother would love to have.
Just behind the large white building in the park, at Christmas, I discovered Le Jardin, a charming café, the decoration is beautiful, so I go from time to time to enjoy an infusion in one of its beautiful tea cups, and of course, a book.
Leaving the park I find Old Hill Police Station, a historic building from 1934, a former police station, somewhat characteristic for its 900 multicolored blinds.
Next to the Singapore River is Clark Quay, I remember the first times I visited this city, I used to come often, sometimes to have dinner with a friend, another to see the atmosphere, I remember a bar called Hospital (which I think is now a Cuban) that had the furniture, beds and other belongings of an old hospital, what a pity that they closed it. Leaving the bustle zone one night I sat next to Dora on a swing to chat about life and books.
Crossing the white Anderson Bridge we pass through a quieter area with large buildings such as the Victoria Concert Hall, the Singapore Cricket Club, the Arts House at the Old Parliament, the National Gallery or the National Museum of Singapore.
Finishing the post today I have also finished “The Princess of Clèves” by Madame de Lafayette, which I have read following the #Frenchjanuary initiative, created by a bookstagramer I follow on Instagram. A classic published in 1678 that immerses us in the intrigues and love affairs of the French court of Francis I, while giving us the intimate profile of Mrs. Clèves, her feelings, passions and sense of decorum.