A Glimpse of the Real Singapore

Not all of Singapore is swanky and pristine. There’s also gritty, grimy and authentic in every way. One of the oldest estates is Toa Payoh which is right in the middle of the island. This is one area in Toa Payoh that won’t be featured in the tourist sales pitch. But maybe this is the Singapore you are seeking. Something alien from what you are used to. Something totally out of your comfort zone.

You can get clothing for as little as one Singapore dollar here at a store run by women from China. The little shops sell household items that have been used since the 60’s and most of them are hot and stuffy with no air-conditioning and poor ventilation. Fruit sellers call out to you with their bargain prices.

photo by bookjunkie


photo by bookjunkie


photo by bookjunkie


photo by bookjunkie

About bookjunkie

Blogging about life in Singapore & recently cancer too.
This entry was posted in Singapore Living and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

7 Responses to A Glimpse of the Real Singapore

  1. lynnette-net says:

    Sometimes, these are the places where you can find the stuff you want… like cloth of a particular colour etc…

  2. 365days2play says:

    Cool, I love those stairs! I’m always a little skeptical over those cheap toiletries. You can find super cheap ones at People’s Park too. But the qn is, is it made to the same standards as the ones sold at Guardian and supermarkets.

  3. btlau says:

    very interesting, wanna visit next time

  4. These are exactly the kind of stores I seek out when I travel! Love it!
    I found a great “sausage pig” at one of these places. It is a ceramic pig (very ugly) that has holes in the top that you place pieces of sausage on toothpicks for a party.
    It’s my favorite thing because it’s so unusual and it cost me $4!

Leave a Reply to btlau Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.