the Arriviste

Style: Bali Hiatus

 Rockabilly Bali

Bali Hiatus

An amble around Chinatown and its environs

 
   

Top: Shophouses in Chinatown.  Bottom: Thian Hock Keng Temple.

On my first visit to Singapore, having come from Hong Kong, I skipped Chinatown altogether.  What, I thought, would there be to see in Chinatown that I didn't already know very well from the real China? (Okay, Hong Kong isn't exactly real China, but you get my point).  Well, it turns out that Chinatown is one of the best places to see Singapore's distinctive shophouses.  The colorful low-rise buildings originated in 18th century colonial Singapore and traditionally housed the family business at the front and living quarters at the back. 

Here's a suggested itinerary that will give you your fill of shophouses and includes a food detor at the end (or perhaps the begining if you start hungry), as well as some distinctive shops and sights to pop into. 

The Chinatown MRT station is the closest stop to this itinerary. 

- Walk: Start at the corner of South Bridge Road and Temple Street and wander up and down Temple, Smith, and Sago streets, which are choc-a-bloc with food stalls, cheap market items and lots and lots of shophouses.  

- Shop: Head up Ann Siang Hill and around Club Street for independent boutiques, cafes and restaurants.

- Eat: If you're hungry (and not interested in your reward below), drop into PS Cafe, tucked at the end of Ann Siang Hill, for reliable, if pricey, continental food.  (New Yorkers: One look at the ground floor and you'll swear you stumbled into a Lower East Side bar, reproduction tin roof and all.)

- Walk and shop some more: Take a left out of PS Cafe and head through Ann Siang Park to Amoy St.  Wander up Amoy and over to Telok Ayer for a peep into the beautiful Thian Hock Keng Chinese temple.  Be sure to stop into Hide and Seek and the utterly sublime Doorstep Luxury for beautiful accessories from international designers (more on that to come!). [Update: Hide and Seek is now at 77 Bussorah St in the Arab Quarter.]

- And now your reward: the inimitable Chinese burger at Lau Pa Sat!

Style

 How stunning is this dress?  

 

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Great shades, great belt.

 

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 How awesome are these vintage sunglasses?

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My morning dose of caffeine and cool. Sharp lenses, sharp haircut.

Style

A soft pallete of pink and beige (those shorts--yes, they're shorts!--are so sophisticated), punctuated by a bright pink belt and peep-toes. The epitome of effortless chic. 

Style

Great haircut, breezy neutrals. 

Orchids: So chic, so cheap!

 Orchids at Hawaii Landscape

I suspect that Mr Noto (that tastemaker of my previous post) would agree with me that flowers are a key element in a well-dressed room, and orchids, with their simple elegance, are an unfailingly sophisticated choice.  And because we live in Asia, they're also practically free!  Elegance for free!  Okay, not free, but for $12 a stem at Hawaii Landscape nursery on Thomson Rd (that's right, 12 Singapore dollars!) you have no excuse not have dozens--or at least two--in your home.  As a bonus, they last weeks longer than cut flowers, keeping the gorgeous going and going.  

Hawaii Landscape, 559 Thomson Rd, Tel: 6251 3963

http://hawaiilandscape.com.sg

Mr Noto shows us how its done.  Noto's Paris apartment (photo: Architectural Digest)