Post National Day Farm Outing With The Health Minister

The weekend after our nation's 51st birthday, the folks and I went on a half-day farm tour organized by the community club. We gathered at the pickup point where two chartered buses were already waiting to pick us up. 

It wasn't until that morning itself that we realize our MP, Health Minister Gan would also be joining us on this half-day tour. However, I did not see him until very much later when we are back at the community club after the tour (I will come to that at the end of this post). 

After doing a head count, we finally set off for the farms.

Hui Ji Fishball Noodles & Yong Tau Fu 輝記魚圓面﹒釀豆腐 @ Tiong Bahru Market & Food Centre

I got to know about Hui Ji Fishball Noodles & Yong Tau Fu while researching the must-eats at Tiong Bahru. Apart from the Shui Kueh and Lor Mee, this is yet another recommended stall that turned up in the search results.

I have not heard of this stall before but I decided to give it a try nonetheless. I was there during the late morning and expecting a long queue as mentioned by the many reviews online however, it must be my lucky day for there were only three customers in front of me.

The one before me ordered two bowls but had so many special requests that he confused the auntie and had to repeat his order several times.

When it was my turn, I ordered a $3 bowl of Fishball Mee Pok with extra chili.

Jian Bo Shui Kueh 楗柏水粿 @ Tiong Bahru Market & Food Centre

Jian Bo Shui Kueh 5 pieces for $2

Mention Tiong Bahru and Jian Bo Shui Kueh surely come to mind. I remember I began eating Jian Bo Shui Kueh when it was still at the old market before the big renovation.

Shui Kueh (or Chwee Kueh) is simply steamed rice cake and topped with preserved radish (chye poh). It is a humble dish usually eaten as breakfast. Up till this day, I still think Jian Bo Shui Kueh makes the best shui kueh around although they used to be better.

Sing Singapore: 那些年，我们唱的歌!

Still remember Sing Singapore?

I unearthed from the storeroom this Sing Singapore songbook which I received from my primary school about 28 years ago. It comprises of patriotic songs which we sing during national day and school events. I still remember singing these songs in the school hall with my classmates!

We do still hear some of these songs being sung during national day but there are others which we have not heard in ages! Since NDP2016 and SG51 is round the corner, let us reminisce the songs that we sang those years ago!

At The Singapore River Safari With GoPro Hero 4 Silver

The Singapore River Safari has been opened for quite some time now but my folks have yet to visit so I took the opportunity to bring them there when the park have a promotion for seniors above 60 years young. The tickets were only $8 (usual $14) per senior for the month of July.

Unfortunately, I only got to know about this during the last week of July. Otherwise, I would have brought them to a different park (Singapore Zoo and Jurong Bird Park) each weekend.

I, on the other hand, got 30% off due to being a SAF personnel.

This trip could not have come at a more appropriate time for me to test out my new GoPro Hero 4 Silver which I have bought just a day before this trip.

Yip Yew Chong's Mural Hunting At Tiong Bahru

After visiting the goats at Tiong Bahru Market, I went in search of some other wall murals around the vicinity by another talented artist Yip Yew Chong.

The murals done by him were scenes from the old Tiong Bahru which really brings back fond memories for me as my grandparents used to stay at the already demolished Blk 30 Jalan Membina - the biggest HDB in Singapore at that time (the current site of that four storeys building opposite Tiong Bahru Plaza now).

As a small boy, the old Tiong Bahru Market and the bird singing corner were places where I frequent when we visit my grandparents every weekend.

Goat Xi Fa Cai @ Tiong Bahru

Tiong Bahru Market

2016 is the year of the monkey and more than half a year has passed so why am I still in the year of the goat? That is because, the following murals of goats were intended for the year 2015. My last visit to Tiong Bahru was two years ago, seemingly  after some chicken murals installed by the same artist Ernest Goh.  

A total of three goats can be found in and around the marketplace.