Sunday 28 September 2014

Singapore: visit reconnaissance

With visitors arriving next weekend, I drove to the northeast of the island to reconnoitre a few locations on an itinerary for someone whose family was stationed here in the 1970s. It didn't go terribly well.

Jalan Hikayat and Jalan Malu Malu were no problem. While in the area of 'Terror Barracks' (now Sembawang Camp) I tried to find the Navy Museum in the location marked on the Singapore Land Authority's dreary online 'OneMap'. Nothing there. A young chap in fatigues behind a heavily fortified gate carrying an automatic rifle was unable to help me locate the building. That's probably because it's now near Changi airport; I thought it was worth investigating, after all, maps are never wrong.

Semabawang park was full of families setting up camp for the day. There were several groups playing on the beach and one extremely laid-back cat entertained passers-by with views of his belly, which was obligingly scritched. Beaulieu House, another location on the itinerary,  looked splendid in the morning sun, so I rattled off a quick sketch. By the looks of it, I should have have taken a bit more time.

I headed eastwards to 'Bottle Tree' village which is now an aquatic leisure club. There was much activity in the adjacent mosque where large structures were being prepared for next weekend's Hari Raya Haji festivities.

My final destination was a possible addition to the programme for some unusual food.
Andrew Zimmern and Anthony Bourdain's TV series have both featured Tian Jin Hai Seafood in the Marina Country Club in Pungol. My quest for steamed shark's head came to an end when, after several minutes of searching, a waitress informed me that the restaurant had closed 'maybe three years ago?'. Spiff.

I think some modification of the programme might be required.  

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