Issue 16

Gawk: Singapore Post Centre (10 Eunos Rd 8), the 14-storey behemoth that serves as SingPost HQ, is at the heart of this MRT station. When the sun glints off the building’s sleek metallic exterior, you might think you’re in some tidy, ultramodern city. (Oh wait, you are.) Although with all of the construction taking place in the area for the new Circle Line, you might temporarily forget.
Run errands: The SingPost Centre is built for getting things done. Of course, there are the usual tasks you can knock off your list at the post office, such as paying that overdue utility bill, but you can also duck into FairPrice, Watsons and Unity NTUC to pick up your dumplings and drugs before heading home. Get your errand-running energy from Coffee & Toast, Coffee Club, Délifrance or the Fren3 Café.


Eat: Beyond the usual chains at the SingPost Centre, the true food finds in this neighbourhood are at the temporary home of the Geylang Serai Market & Food Centre (between Sims Ave and Eunos Rd 5). Before it moves a few blocks over to its new home on Changi Road in early 2009, this Malay-oriented hawker centre is still home to many stalls, including the must-visit Sinar Pagi Nasi Padang (Stall #01-353). Pick out your favourite dishes from the display window (the beef rendang is outstanding), and decide if you want to adjust the heat level from ‘yawn’ to ‘yikes!’. If you’d prefer dim sum, head over to the Lion City Hotel (15 Tanjong Katong Rd) where the Happy Restaurant serves it up daily for lunch.
Shop: In addition to great hawker food, the bargain-filled Geylang Serai Market also offers fruit and vegetable stands, Malay and Indian clothes, and a wet market that predominantly sells fish. You can get wholesale prices if you buy in bulk from the clothing, jewellery and shoe vendors at City Plaza (810 Geylang Rd). Speaking of buying in bulk, check out the Sheng Siong Supermarket (57 Tanjong Katong Rd) where you can make like a hawker and stock up on veritable vats of cooking oil, 3kg bags of chilli paste and bricks of rice vermicelli. Back at the SingPost Centre, if you’re ready to move beyond Ikea and furnish your house like an adult, get your fill of dark woods, leather and glass at the circular Barang Barang (www.barang2world.com) furniture store on the third floor.
Gawk again: The Malay Village (15 Geylang Serai), just across the street from the market, looks quite tired by day, but on Saturday nights at 8.30pm the place comes alive with the weekly performance of the traditional kuda kepang, where performers ride wooden hobby horses and fall into a trance where they’ve been known to do such things as eat glass. Maybe someone should tell them about the nasi padang across the street. Admission is free.
Stroll: If there’s a break in the heat, a break in the rain or you just need a break from it all, wander a bit farther from the MRT towards the pre-war shophouses on Joo Chiat Road. Be sure to stop at Nam Sam (267 Joo Chiat Rd) where they make killer otah by hand from fresh mackerel, and then stock up on some durian puffs to restore your energy at Puteri Mas (475 Joo Chiat Rd).