Singapore Sue and Other Odd Items of Interest

Okay so I have watched too many bad old movies about Asia. Imagine my surprise when I got to Changi Airport in Singapore and it wasn't the opening scene of Singapore Sue - silly American!

The opening scene of Singapore Sue

I just returned after spending most of the week in Singapore. It was really quite a surprising trip as all of my notions what Singapore is and is not were completely blasted out of the water.

Singapore is really quite a beautiful, extremely modern (if not a little dull) country. There are amazing people from many cultures and the food is quite delicious. The infrastructure is fabulous and all the food and water can be consumed without the slightest worry that one will get sick. The bummer is that in the quest to be so modern and so amazing – there isn’t anything very exotic left about it. Hate to say it but most of the time I felt like I was in… Florida.

Okay but that is NOT to say there is not always plenty to look at, do and EAT when you go to new place.

First of all I was fortunate to be in Singapore during the festival of Deepavali. It is a very important Hindu festival that is somewhat like Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve rolled in to one. The ethnic quarter known as Little India (and it isn’t that little trust me) is all done up in sparkling lights and is very festive. Lots of amazing markets just chock full of every devotional type trinket you can think of, garlands of flowers, incense, oil, candy etc. I wandered around for a few hours and then tucked into a super delicious Indian meal more food than I could possibly eat for about $9.00- SUPER!

I also experimented with the Singapore street food, which isn’t on the street anymore because the government moved all those little stands indoors, with air conditioning, health inspections and the happy smiling people of Singapore to slather it with Chili sauce for you. If you have ever wanted to try that tempting piece of “street meat” on a stick but didn’t dare because you didn’t want to do the Pepto Bismol dance later… go ahead – you are in Singapore where it’s all safe in the government approved Hawker Center otherwise known as “a food court of the Gods” And speaking of the Gods, I think I found the food of the Gods- curiously called “Street Sausage” (and no I am not talking Castro Street).

Imagine the delight of a corndog with embedded French Fries in the crust and OF COURSE it is deep fried… delightful!

And next week boys and girls we will discuss the less appetizing aspects of Asian dinning like food and beverages that contain bird saliva - Uh, NOT Kidding. Look it up if you are dubious. Sorry but I just didn't want to try this one.

Click here to learn more about birds nest food..ugh