Queuing to Get Into The Trains? - It's Finally Happening (Limited to Certain Places in Singapore)!

When a citizen from the eastern side of USA moves to the western region, he/she would expect a big change in weather, culture, beliefs, food and even accent. 

When a resident from Changi moves to a new house in Jurong, which is only a mere 40 over kilometers away, it's hard to expect any change from the east side of Singapore he/she originally comes from. 

That's what we have always assumed to be true. 

Until i started transiting at Bishan MRT station last year and realised a strange phenomenon that seems to be unique to a town that used to be a huge cemetery. 

Most of the times (at Bishan), you would see commuters shunning the immediate area right outside the station's train doors! 

This is like a dream come true for many of us who could not exit the train in time due to excessive crowding and have to endure the subsequent pushing by inconsiderate assholes!

Furthermore, people are actually queuing to get into the train! As the basic efficiency theory tells us - let the people inside the train get out first before you go in!

Change is inevitable and i guess it is only a matter of time before residents in other areas get the theory right (just like the "keep to the left when you take the escalators"; which has been quite successful). 

There is a slight problem though; older stations at North-South and East-West lines don't really have the space to allow people to queue. Maybe that's why they have installed those big-ass fans to cool down those frustrated commuters. 

Like myself. 

Ah Long Pancake [亚龍面煎粿] - Corn, Peanut and Egg @ Lavender Food Square (劳明达美食广场) aka New Century Food Paradise (新世纪美食坊)

Ah Long - two words that strike fear in the mind of many Singaporeans! However, the Ah Long today is not the infamous loan sharks but a "dragon" who sells local pancakes.

This stall was one of the pioneers for offering a new twist to the local, vegetarian pancakes we are aware of from our childhood that have traditional fillings like peanut, coconut and red bean paste.

It sells pancake with an egg on top! There are other WEIRD mixes including sausage, ham, chicken floss, tuna (this is weird), sambal chilli (my god, i cannot imagine the taste of this), chai po and many Singaporeans' favourite fruit; durian! 

I had the popular corn+peanut+egg version and it came piping hot on a styrofoam plate! Unlike traditional pancake that would be folded, this was served mini pizza-style. 

The taste was very strange (imagine feeling the juiciness of pulpy corn cobs, sweetness of sugar, bitterness of peanuts and egg flavor all at one go) although i can't say i dislike it. Since those aforementioned ingredients are easy to source and can be used easily in any pancake stall, i have to say i am more impressed with the pancake dough; dense, not too thick, not too thin and came with crisps at the edges! 

For comparison purpose, i asked for a serving of the normal peanut (bits, not powder) pancake as well. This was despite having a whole bowl of fish ball noodles, two big Otahs in a span of 30 minutes and a big plate of Kay Lee Char Siew rice not more than three hours ago!

Nonetheless, the verdict is clear; i still prefer the traditional yet uncomplicated local pancake over those new variants! 

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Location

380 Jalan Besar, Lavender Food Square

[behind the drink stall]

Price

Corn+Peanut+Egg - S$1.70

Peanut - S$0.90

Additional Information

Expect a queue although it is definitely not on the same scale as Kok Kee Wanton Noodles in the vicinity. 

Lost & Found - Whitley Road Fish Ball Noodles (天桥下鱼圆面) @ Lavender Food Square (劳明达美食广场)

Mention Whitley Road to the older generation and many of them could probably remember the bustling hawker center that used to occupy the space right beneath the PIE flyover! 

I had the fortune of visiting it once with my uncle when i was around 6-7 years old and although i could not recall much detail, i did remember eating a lot of barbecued chicken wings! 

Whitley Road Fish Ball Noodles is supposedly one stall that used to operate from under the flyover. A notice from a television variety show "Our Makan Places - Lost and Found" was pasted at the side of the signboard; further confirming its origins. 

Strategy played an important role for me to forsake my usual albert street prawn noodles for a bowl of fish ball noodles instead! Alex was ordering the prawn noodles and knowing him, i have my ways to steal a few bites and maybe even a prawn or two from him! 

Honestly, as far as fish balls were concerned, they were nothing to scream about and should not be the main reason for a queue during mealtimes. Furthermore, the soup was way too bland and oily (that layer of oil was so obvious).

The mee pok (flat noodles) made for a better story, thankfully. Once they were mixed thoroughly, the taste was actually one of the better one i had; well cooked noodles covered with a concoction of usual ingredients including chilli, tomato, shallots, spring onions and bits of pork lard. 

Most importantly, i had a satisfying time slurping them down my throat! 

*p.s. that would mean a substantial amount of oil*

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Location

380 Jalan Besar, #01-12,

Lavender Food Square

Price

S$3.30 a bowl

Ying Fo Fui Kun (应和会馆双龙山) Cemetery at Holland Village [Near Commonwealth MRT Station)

When i was studying in Singapore Polytechnic more than a decade ago, there was a rumor about a cemetery surrounded by blocks of public housing in Commonwealth; i was keen to visit (i was already a paranormal freak then) but laziness prevailed!

By now, i have already worked in NUS for five years and enough is enough! There shall be no more procrastination and with this absolute conviction, i searched and finally found the place one fine Saturday afternoon.

For those who are unaware, this piece of land belonged to Ying Fo Fui Kun (应和会馆) which was established in 1822; making it one of the oldest Chinese clan association in Singapore. It is a clan that falls under the dialect of Hakka and was created then for the benefit of immigrants who hailed from Jiaying prefecture in Canton, China.

Covering 90 acres at a point, the cemetery has since been reduced (drastically) to 4.67 acres! The answer for such massive reduction is simple - the newly created Singapore government (back then in year 1968) needed the land for housing purpose.

The cemetery was known by its auspicious name of Shuang Long Shan (双龙山 aka Double Dragon Hill) and was the little brother of the two found in that area (the other one, known as Yue Shan Ting, measured over 143 acres according to the book "Contesting Space in Colonial Singapore").

On many of these big-sized plaques lining the front of the cemetery, i can find this words Jia Ying Wu Shu (嘉应五属) - Jia Ying is the prefecture i mentioned earlier but i was a bit confused about Wu Shu since it could mean five branches (classifications) or five families under the Hakka dialect.

Unlike the elaborate designs and carvings found on many Chinese tombs, the visually simplistic box-like tombs can only be described as unconventional, however practical it may be.

The one place i can think of when i am standing in this cemetery - Kranji War Memorial where everything is neat and tidy. To a certain extent, i do mean unexciting (at least for the daytime).

A more commonly found Chinese tomb was located at the side but from the Chinese inscriptions, it was meant to be an offering altar for the Earth deity! 

Many train commuters might have noticed this cemetery in their journey between the stations of Buona Vista and Commonwealth. Some of my friends did and i have heard from at least two who thought it was a Muslim burial ground due to its layout.

Besides the cemetery, there were also an ancestral temple and a memorial hall (the building with the blue roof) located within the compound.

Only clan members and family members of those buried here are allowed to burn incense and paper money. It was mentioned on the notice that others found in violation of the rule shall be dealt with according to the law - a pretty hazy rule if you ask me.

Stone lion with red eyes and thick, red lips would have invoked loads of stories at night; especially during the seventh ghost month! Given that the cemetery is so near to housing blocks (and that many residents actually took the short cut across the cemetery to get to the Commonwealth MRT station), i am surprised that there aren't many ghost stories found on the web related to it.

The narrow space between each tombstone made me wonder; was there a real corpse buried behind each tombstone? I am doubtful on that!

It was indicated on each tombstone that the remains were moved to the current site (most of them in 1969) and from this website; i found information to confirm that the remains were cremated and it was the ashes that were buried underneath each gravestone.

After enduring the sun, the rain and the weather for over 40 years, some of the headstones were showing signs of deterioration. A few pushes and i bet i would be able to see the urn.

I am not sure of the significance of stones on top of the tombstone; i shall presume they were likely there for a rational reason. As a paperweight for paper money.

This seriously needs a paint job!

The history of this place was still very much a mystery to me and i guess another trip is necessary to unearth more information from the caretakers of the compound.

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Location

9, Commonwealth Lane

Map

As above

Chilli & Black Pepper Crabs [珍宝辣椒与胡椒螃蟹] @ Jumbo Seafood Waterfront (Singapore Indoor Stadium)

A big decision is looming on my radar and money has to be saved in order to prepare for the rainy days that would come shortly after the decision-making.

In this case, you might ask why am i eating crabs at Jumbo, one of the seafood restaurants popular with tourists and many assume that prices are usually higher than average.

Answer: a S$50 voucher that can be used for a minimum spending of S$100! It should not take you long to realise that this is a direct 50% discount! And i had two such vouchers! 

Herbal Drunken Prawns

Two pre-requisites to enjoy these drunk prawns; cooler weather (would love to put cold but we all know it is close to impossible in Singapore) and live, kicking prawns! 

Shiok! The liquor could only be described as subtle (personally, i like it this way) while the herbal-ness of the soup coupled with the sweetness of Chinese wolf berries literally warmed the heart. A tad too sweet though, if i may add.

Homemade Beancurd (Tofu)

Our original choice was a recommended deep fried special tofu, which was unfortunately out of stock at an early 1pm! So we had to make do with the above dish that looked more appetizing on the menu.

The green stuff topping the beancurd was some sort of vegetable mix but it provided a unique twist to the silky soft tofu that made it really delicious! The first thing that came to mind as i slowly chewed to savour the flavour; strong tasting beancurd skin!

Supreme Fried Rice with Seafood

Both mom and i thought this was pretty well done with ingredients (i counted prawns, scallops etc) that you know were caught fresh from the tank!

However, Alex had a different opinion (Remember? He is a fried rice specialist; not that we are convinced he is one) which we finally agreed on; it was nice but not as flavourful (note: salty is the right word)! 

Chilli Crab

I had said how much i love the chilli crab from Jumbo (East Coast branch). The same could not be said of the chilli crabs here; i could not help but feel that something was lacking! It's like a nagging thought that remains irritating and disappointing to this day!

Black Pepper Crab

Eng Seng black pepper crabs are unforgettably good even though some diners have complained the gooey thick black pepper sauce covering the crabs was way too sweet. 

In this case, consider the black pepper crabs in Jumbo that are as true as their name goes; hot, spicy, peppery. Not my cup of tea frankly.

Yam Paste with Gingko Nuts

Do you like your or-nee with a heavy mixture of pumpkin, corn bits and gingko nuts? If you do, sit beside me and enjoy this bowl of yam paste in Jumbo.

If you do not, please order another dessert!  

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Location

2 Stadium Walk,

#01-05 Kallang Indoor Stadium

Map

As above

Opening Hours

Lunch: 12noon - 3pm (last order at 2.15pm)

Dinner: 6pm - 12am (last order at 11.15pm)

Reservation

Call 64403435

Price

Herbal Drunken Prawns - S$26.00 (by grams)

Homemade Beancurd (Tofu) - S$14.00

Supreme Fried Rice with Seafood - S$18.00 

Chilli Crab - S$49.40 (S$52 per kilo)

Black Pepper Crab - S$52.00 (S$52 per kilo)

Yam Paste with Gingko Nuts - S$4.50 per bowl

[Subject to GST and Service Charge]