We headed out to what felt like a suburban part of Singapore for supposedly the “best chicken rice,” according to Google. Ming Ji Chicken Rice & Porridge was in the Kim San Leng Food Centre, a self serve food court with trays and delicious Singaporean Chinese food. We got chicken rice, beans sprouts, vegetables w oyster sauce and a Tiger beer. Then we took the MRT to the Botanic Gardens, strolling through steamy tropical plants and waterfalls.
We had heard we were supposed to go have tea or a drink at the Raffles Hotel, so that was our next stop. But when we got there “high tea” was about to start and there were two dozen red-faced British people already frantically getting in line at the Tiffin Room for a S$62/person tea and we were like no thanks. And the Long Bar upstairs where Singapore’s signature “Singapore Sling” cocktail was born just looked like a trying-to-look-old-school tourist trap so we also said no thanks. Though the hotel is striking, we left to let the British people relive their colonial days.
We went to the mall instead, since practically every metro stop is attached to a huge mall with food court, and got beer and Vietnamese snacks before heading home to play more–guess–Monopoly Deal cards.
Then Minh and PA took us to Ya Hua Bak Kut Teh to try another traditional Singaporean Chinese food of beef bones in broth you eat with fried bread you dip in beef broth, assorted salted vegetables, and boiled peanuts (yum!!). A delicious day of Singaporean food.