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Dinesh's Thoughts

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Q: What place/ activity that you think is fun that travelers know little about?

A: Look out side. Yes. Now. Did you know that the road that is now called Joo Chiat Road was actually a dirt path which had coconut plantations, farms, fishing villages and old country houses around it? This place right outside bursts with a diverse eclectic mix of Art, Architecture, Cuisine,Culture and History.

Lets Take a walk, right outside to experience something that cannot be found in any other part of Singapore.

Culture Shock 101

Lets start with my favourite factor.

FOOD. With our district having the highest concentration of best local dishes do i need say more. Singaporeans live to eat, this is where you start.

CULTURE. The Peranakans, Indians, Chinese, Indians and Malays who used to live here left behind many items worthy of our exploration.

ARCHITECTURE. To simply put it, The Shophouses, Chinese and Indian Temples, Cathedrals and Mosques around our districts boasts beautiful architectural designs with each telling s different and interesting story.

BEACH. Who does not love the longest beach in Singapore thats 25 minutes walk away or 10 minutes bicycle ride away?!

PEOPLE. Dont you want to know how the locals live? Then Lets go out then.

Q: What are the bargain buys in Singapore?

I personally like this place commanly nicked "Thieves Market". Shops. No, not nice ones with stands and colourful lights and annoyingly overhelpful staff.

Visualise mats on the ground and the 'products' of these (sometimes rather dodgy looking) retailers neatly arranged on it or just scattered on the mat. 'Products' can range from phones with no apparent origin (makes you wonder weather its stolen) to used army boots! Why would i like this ghetto styled street market? Well for starters it bursts with character as this was how many people traded 100's of years ago, would'nt you like to be a part of a huge trading market? Secondly, i can find really cool stuff here. I like the many cheap but stunningly beautiful statues made of anything from Plastic to Very Classy looking wood.

The best point? No body knows where this stuff comes from.

Q: What are your memories of Old Katong?

Well i was very much of a 'frog who was happy in his well' kind of person till i got enlightened recently.

All i can remember was that the beach looked cool and that this district offered excellent food. Now, not only do i know that, i ..... (LOOK AT ANSWER FOR MY FIRST QUESTION)

Q: When you are away from Singapore, what do you miss?

For starters i missed the ease of finding yourself in a "i do not know what to get foir dinner as i am spoilt for choice" situation. The diversity and variety of food available in a simple neighbour hood in singapore is impressive.

Next, i missed a community where majority of people speak English. Find a grey and broken old guy in one corner of the street and you'd realise he can argue with you in english. And yes, the signboards are all in english too.

Q: What is the craziest thing you have done in your life?

Craziest thing i have done in my life was to be part of a Section Live Firing during my Army days.

In a nutshell, i had by buddy shoot targets that was behind of me while i retereated towards him.

Yes he fired a real rifle with REAL rounds (5.56mm rounds = menacing exit wound) on the targets. That meant the target was behind me and my buddy was infront firing. I WAS INBETWEEN! Seeing the flashes from his rifle and imagining a sharp pain in my torso made my kness go jello! Well, i guess he hit the targets, not i would not have written this.