Chinatown Hits
The moment I stepped out of the train station, the explosion of colors and sound came right at me. The usual chaos and bustle of other Chinatowns I have been to was prevalent in Singapore. Many of the houses lining the streets reminded me of the heritage houses in parts of Melaka and Penang in Malaysia.
It's all red!
There was a different feel as I walked along streets, there must have been an upcoming festival because of the vibrant mood and colorful displays all over Chinatown, I wasn't sure though. One of the oldest temples in the country, the Sri Mariamman Temple, is found here. I didn't enter as there was a fee just to get inside, and I've seen plenty of similar temples during my trip to India.
The chaos and bustle happening in Singapore's Chinatown felt different; everything seems so organized and planned. There was nothing wrong with it, but it's just that...different. I could not shake off the feeling as I walked around.
There were plenty of heritage houses and sites all over town. It would not be Chinatown without the kitschy souvenirs, cheap goodies and food, and all sorts of trinkets and clothes sold from both sides of the street.
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
I was impressed with the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple as soon as I saw it from a distance. It had this cool and eye-catching design, I was thinking about ninjas suddenly flying out of the windows, something like that.
The temple, as its name says, houses a tooth relic of the historical Buddha.
Everything inside the temple was shiny and golden. Chinatown is a great place to explore to get to know more about the Chinese heritage of Singapore.