1. Isn't Chinatown a very well-known tourist spot?
Christine: Yes, but there's a lot more to it than the usual shopping and Chinese food.
2. Why did you initially plan to go there?
Christine: We wanted to buy April's Bakery for dessert (my own favorites are Taro & Gingko or the Tokyo Banana but they have tons of other great flavors). And go up one of the rooftops in Chinatown.
3. Which building did you climb up to?
Christine: We tried figuring out how to get to the rooftop of People's Park Centre, but the roof access was locked. It wasn't surprising, the day we reach a rooftop is a lucky day.
4. Was it a waste trying?
Christine: Not at all, we discovered the iconic parking lot, where a lot of popular photoshoots have been held, was actually there.
Yeshi: A bit disappointed when we found out that the roof is not accessible, but it seems to be a common situation in SG. However we also managed to find some nice spots for photography as Christine said.
5. What else is there to see?
Christine: It was interesting exploring the corridors - they seem to be a mix of residential and office spaces. Despite the old-looking facade and the actual age of the building, the interior seemed well-kept.
6. Where did you go after?
Christine: Disappointed with not reaching the rooftop, we decided to go Pearl Bank Apartments which Yeshi suggested. The building was the shape of a horseshoe and we were surprised that it was located within an unexpected and very green city park. We went through the park to get to the building's entrance, but there might be an easier way than climbing that uphill path. Especially if you have a car.
7. Did you get to enter Pearl Bank Apartments?
Christine: There were security guards at the entrance. We tried to sneak in but failed - not good at it.
Yeshi: We need to have some friends living there.
8. What did you do after?
Christine: We went to one of the active corners around the park and tried some of the "equipment" for fun.
9. How did you have the energy to explore the outdoors the whole day?
Christine: That day was quite humid though it was cloudy. Yeshi brought us to a Chinese shop named Hoong Woh Tong to try a "cooling" tea that was supposed to help remove heat from your body. I was taken aback with my first sip because it tasted worse than I expected. I had great difficulty finishing the small cup and Mabel drank faster than me for the first time I believe.
Yeshi: If you are trying Chinese herbal tea for the first time, remember to select the one with the lighter color than the dark dark one! Unless you want to challenge yourself for the very first time.
10. So you think you've explored all of Chinatown at this rate?
Christine: Not at all, I think we've barely scratched the surface. There's a lot of things going on there that only the local Chinese are privy to. If you look past the tourist shops and streets, you can definitely get a glimpse of the real Chinese-Singaporean culture around that area.
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