It was a fairly short bus ride I took today.
But I didn't mind.
Seldom it is that at this hour I get to sit this side of the bus, and better yet, happen to have Chonkycam with me on a semi-filled bus where I can comfortably take pictures in.
I got up the bus somewhere around Lavender MRT, right outside V Hotel, and so the first sight that greeted me after the traffic light was the building I call the Tai Pei Buddhist Center. I don't know if that's the right name, or if I'm getting it correct, but an iconic building it is, situated at the junction of Lavender Street, Crawford Street, and Kallang Road, overlooking what on one side the ICA Building and on the other side, the area of Jellicoe Road, Horne Road and King George's Avenue.
From here the bus went on Kallang Road, passing by this edge of the Kallang Industrial Estate that has the PICO Building, the Mitutoya Building, and several others of light industry nature. There's a Storhub here somewhere, and it's somewhat interesting- this side of Kallang- because although one doesn't really think about it much- it really is quite a large area- stretching from this side all the way up towards Bendeemer and Jalan Besar on the other side.
The MRT track running parallel to Kallang Road came right after that, and then it was the scenic wet-weather view of Kallang River with the train track running across the water and the (new) blocks of housing estate Upper Boon Keng right behind.
The sight of Kallang MRT station on Sims Avenue comes up next, followed by the very crowded, often jammed intersection of Sims Avenue, and the KPE.
It looks quiet now, but come evening, after dark, and this junction will see a string of red tail lights as vehicles make their way from Downtown into the KPE out towards Paya Lebar and Tampines beyond.
Into this side of Geylang the bus then trundles, first passing the Yi Xiu Factory Building with her bright, distinctive facade of red paint, then the Shi Cheng Temple, then budget hotel Ibis- with its bright yellow wall- right next door.
A row of shop houses follows immediately after, then there's the Harvest Care Center on Lorong 19.
Special mention must be made of the little house that comes right after that because whilst you might have just passed by a couple of durian spots, there's only one place called the Fujiwara Tofu Shop in Singapore, and it's here, in this little house that has been done up so prettily that close-up might just make you feel like you're somewhere in Japan.
What makes this place interesting isn't just the food but the Initial D theme concept that, I'm sure, has attracted many a fan.
Those who've read the manga, watched the anime and played the game will know the significance of the Tofu Shop in the series.
Those who don't, well, they'll now know.
This shop has become quite a chill spot, not just the ACG community, but also the street style hip hop community whom, if I'm not wrong, on occasion hold special events there.
I don't know anything about the food, but besides tofu, I think they've got yakitori as well.
From here the bus goes down, passing by a building that I thought seemed unique in design and structure.
Okay, maybe an oblong rectangular building painted teal might not be that unusual, but what charmed me was this narrowish zinc roof hanging over what looked like a front porch, and there seemed to be a series of rooms corresponding to the neat windows, all of which had an even cuter awning on top of it.
It was into the area of Aljunied MRT station that the bus went down afterward, first the junction of Aljunied Road, then a car park, then after that, a couple of shop houses, in particular one which used to be a well-known dim sum spot but has since changed hands to become a coffee shop offering a variety of dishes altogether.
Doesn't mean that they've lost customers though- they seem even more crowded- and because the cai fan stall is right along the road, every time the bus passes by I see trays after trays neatly lined up holding mountains of colorful delicious-looking food inside.
The Kim San Leng coffee shop comes up not long after.
It is a landmark I always try hard not to miss.
Especially since my stop comes up not too long after, but before that, there's the Geylang East Central housing estate- behind a row of shop houses that look quiet but do seem occupied- and then there's the condo I think is Sims Ville, a short ride away from PLQ and the Paya Lebar Road side.
