Chicken rice.
We were here at Tanjong Katong Road because my friend missed the chicken rice stall of childhood and since being hungry (and in the area) thought, why not, good idea, let's have lunch there.
The corner coffee shop was crowded the same way it always (I heard) had been.
We finished lunch- my friend was happy- and we hopped across the road for the bus to our next destination.
The bus route took us along parts of Tanjong Katong Road where, on the left there was a fruit stall, a shop selling Portuguese egg tarts, and a TCM clinic, and on the right, there was a family clinic, a karaoke lounge, a coffee cafe, and some other shops which I don't particularly remember.
Down the road the bus went, passing by the Shell petrol station that marks Thiam Siew Avenue, then the condominiums of Butterworth Lane and Ipoh Lane.
From here it made a left, passing by the back of City Plaza on the right hand side, before turning out to Guillemard Road.
Guillemard Road is a fairly interesting road.
It's one of those roads that- unless you're really familiar- you usually won't think of, and tend to miss.
Maybe it's just me.
I don't remember much of a landmark on this road except maybe for Kong Hwa School, a Thai food place in one of the shop houses, a building that I think was the former National Badminton Hall, a martial arts school, and a popular 24 hour spa.
Still there is much one can see along this stretch, and the view- on the right side of the bus- reveals row after row of neat shophouses, private apartments and structures that look like they've been built in the 70s (at least).
From here the bus turns out to Sims Way opposite the old Kallang Airport, then makes a left onto Sims Avenue which at one time likely bordered the entrance of Gay World Amusement Park, but is today a big field used for the set of property showflats.
You wouldn't even remember the existence of the amusement park were it not for the Gay World Hotel right across the road.
Frankly it would do good to have a description of this place (and even Gay World Hotel) in the official tourist guides online, offline and print.
Maybe people would be more versed about the sights and surroundings of our island instead of ignorantly laughing at the name of Gay World without knowing the history, significance and memories behind it.
There're a couple of restaurants, a paint shop, a Thai massage place, and some other shops that are open at one time and closed at another.
One of the shop houses I always look out for is the Chinese-style skewers place near to the Geylang Lorong 1 junction. The place doesn't look like much from the outside but the decor is cozy, it's got the rough bumble vibe ubiquitous of casual Chinese restaurants and they do a good grill of skewered vegetables, seafood, sugared bread, and meat.
The other shop house that I look out for also belongs to the Chinese-style kind, but besides BBQ skewers and BBQ food, I think they offer a typical Chinese-style breakfast too.
I've not tried- but I've seen the banner hanging in front of the shop showing a picture of warm soy bean milk and youtiao- and I hope to one day try.
Maybe next time.
Maybe another day.
Today however I was on the bus, and the bus brought me beyond this particular row of shop houses, across Geylang Lorong 1, onto the Merdeka Bridge, then finally the road near Crawford Bridge, before turning right towards the blocks of North Bridge Road.