Singapore is gearing up for Chinese New Year so I thought I would take a walk around Chinatown as everyone is preparing for the big event.
Note to travellers - don't come to Singapore during Chinese New Year because everything is closed and it's shit. Everyone spends the days visiting relatives bringing gifts of oranges and other goodies and then trying to make them poorer by beating them at mahjong or blackjack.
The couple of weeks prior to New Year is the time everyone goes shopping at Chinatown for these goodies. Normally the streets of Chinatown are fairly quiet on a Sunday the rest of the year and it was quite a surprise to me to see how busy it was.
So anyway I got the train to Tanjong Pagar and walked along Maxwell Road to where the new Buddha tooth museum is. Unfortunately the weather was not on my side so everything looks a bit grey.
I have been inside the building before (it is free after all ) and I suppose its a fairly interesting place. They don't allow photography though so I didnt bother going in today.
Supposedly it houses the remains of one of Lord Buddha's teeth, and theres lots of other Buddhist relics to enjoy if that's your kind of thing. Uniquely Singapore - Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
^ At the side of the tooth temple leading to Sago Lane, where the street markets start. Trishaws parked ready for another busload of tourists.
Sago Lane has a macabre past as it was once home to rows of death houses where people were brought to die. Well read about it for yourself below.
Sago Street (just around the corner) used to be a much better place as it was full of brothels. Sadly they are no more. If you want brothels today then best go to Geylang!
Chinese New Year is an especially good time of year if you are in the orange business.
but seems all fruits are pretty popular.....