Albert Food Centre
Strategically located near places of interests like the famous Guan Yin Temple and Bugis Village, the hawker centre is popular with both locals and tourists alike. A wide array of good local cuisines is served by well-known stalls operating at the hawker centre. The hawker centre is also famous for dried seafood items and textiles, sold at the lock-up stalls within THE MARKET section
The stall in Albert Food Centre were crowded like a packed of sardines. The smell of incense crept into my nose as I stand outside the stalls. I was over the moon as my eye caught the eye of my favourite dish , Nasi Biryani. There was a long queue at one of the stalls which is famous in the past and still is now. Everyone was blissfully sharing their tables with other families so as to occupy the seats. The tables was filled with used plates and glasses that people had to wait for cleaners to clean them up as there weren’t many of them working at the food centre.
Not only the stalls are crowded but the tables are full too that not many people had a place to sit down. The stalls had limited halal food that it was rather hard for me to find.
The above dish is named as Nasi Biryani. “Nasi” mean rice in Malay, Nasi Biryani is the rice that fried gently in ghee or vegetable oil together with some spices and herbs such as cinnamon, pandan leaves, ginger, and garlic. Then steamed the rice in a stock made from chicken or mutton bones, together with portions of chicken or mutton. So it come out fragrant spiced rice with meats. Then serve the rice with curry, rendang and salad.
This dish originally from India, and it has been influenced and adopted by the Malays. Now, it is a traditional main dish for Malay weddings and other auspicious occasions.
The ingredient for this dish that are used is a clove garlic, a little piece of ginger. Some spices that they used are a tablespoon of poppy seed, a teaspoon of curry powder to add in the taste of the chicken and a teaspoon of turmeric powder.
They usually heat the butter and fry cloves and cinnamon until fragrance and mix garlic, ginger, poppy seed, cashew nuts, almonds, and then grind them together. Then they would add in the grinded ingredients and chopped onions and the spices which is curry powder, and turmeric powder. After adding everything they would heat up up to 10 minutes. The finish touch would add either rendang or curry.
When i first tried the Nasi Biryani at Albert Food Centre, i could taste the delicious spicy sauce they made. It was too spicy that i i needed to drink my sugarcane drink that i bought earlier to lessen the spice. The meat was fresh and nice and the place is highly recommended by others.
Waterloo Street
I was impressed to know that Waterloo Street is a two-way street in downtown Singapore stretching from Rochor Road to Bras Basah Road. It passes through the planning areas of Rochor and Museum Planning Area. The umbrellas that they used are usually red and yellow which maybe a sign of good luck for them. They sells flowers and sticks that people used when they pray and those sellers made a lot of money in a day. They would compete each other and make offers so they are able to sell them.
Bencoolen St Indian Temple
Sri Krishnan Hindu Temple starts around 1870s, when quite a large community of Hindus residing in and around Bras Basah Road, Victoria Street, Prinsep Street, Queens Street and Waterloo Street on the ground around the existing banyan tree with the deities of Sri Vigneshwarar and Sri Hanuman at the foot of the banyan tree. It was built in 1959 with Brahmin priests to conduct prayers and ceremonies. It is said that Hinduism is like a giant banyan tree which sets down new roots wherever its branches reach.
The temple is craved by the people in the ancient times and is unbelievable that its able to last long. There were Buddha statues which are known as their god. I could see gold-painted statue of Buddha surrounded by people’s offerings. Outside the temple was 2 statue which could be their gods. I’ve seen people getting their offerings from them as a sign of respect. Eventhough the place was smoky because of the burning of their offerings it was worth to know about it.
The Singapore National Museum
It was build in 1849.
The first impression of the museum was amazing to know that it was one of the oldest museum in Singapore. I realised those tourist who came to Singapore are more interested than the Singaporeans themselves. How funny. It didnt changed much since last time as they only painted it with a brighter colour so as it would look new.
Singapore Stone
This Singapore stone was blown up in 1843. The stone was only left a part of it from a big stone after they blow it up. Neither the singaporeans nor the historians could read what was on the stone.
It was discovered in 1819 and schoars have different views on the date the stone was carved. Its interesting that the stone has writings on it. It proofs that people has been living in the past. Maybe the writings are written on the rocks as in the past they didn’t know how to create paper.
Colonel Singapore
The British East India Company needed a suitable port in the Malacca Straits to circumrent the Dutch trade monopoly in the region. Migants came from Malaya and the Dutch East Indies, as well as China and India.
They couldn’t trust the china when helping building the houses as they would find an escape route unlike Indians, they would stay in the house and help out. Indians are helpful in the past as most of them didn’t had a home so they would be living in a home which were made for them. In order for them to stay they were to be asked to make buildings.
Syonan-To
The Japanese started “Nipponisation”- efforts to make the people of Singapore more Japanese. Many people feared Japanese brutality and suffered from a lack of food and other supplies. Primary school were re-opened soon after the start of Japanese Occupation.
It takes up 50-100 prisoners in the cell. I feel the Japanese are very cruel when it comes to their rights. They would just kill people and not caring how they would feel. They would be released if they were to pay a certain amount or they would face the death situation.
Road 2 Merdeka
The locals had begun to demand for a greater say in they were governed. They had problems of unemployment, poverty, unhealthy living conditions and growing nationalism. Singapore gained independence by joining Federation of Malaysia in 1963.
I felt that Singapore earned its independence as even though they had problems in their country. They are able to work together and make Singapore a better living country. Singapore is also known as the safest country even though its a small.
Independent Singapore
Singapore’s first generation leaders embarked on the nation-building process with gusto and grit. It led to stable jobs, better education and housing and an improved standard of living for Singaporeans. Money isn’t as important as food.
I think Singapore is a better and fair country as they provide students with education. Only selected adults are able to get job even though they are lack of education in the past. I feel proud to be living in Singapore and being a Singaporean.
My Historical Tour 