hawker center

Hawker center...glutton square...these are eating places that Singaporeans frequent at all times of the day. Some of these glutton squares are housed in air-conditioned shopping centers or malls.

It's open concept of food stall where a vendor specialised in one particular food. Take for instance, the stall closest is a 'goreng pisang' -- Malay words for banana fritters. In this stall you'll find fritters of sweet potato, green-bean paste and others.

Next to the fritter stall is the local salad stall 'rojak' -- pity I don't have a photo. It's a combination of pineapple, cucumber, turnip, and others mixed with a prawn sauce and a dab of chilli. An acquired taste.

Following that is the chicken and duck rice stall...drinks stall...and others.

The elderly lady with an apron goes around clearing the tables. Occasionally you do meet one who is not very nice...like this one. She chooses table to clear. I saw someone from one table waving for her attention and she would deliberately look away! The elderly men are better workers. This is one job that an elderly person can pass one's time and yet earn some pocket money. In some centers, you find foreign workers clearing these tables.

You can order from whichever stall you like and be seated wherever you want. Nowadays, you have to collect your own food when you make your order -- self-service!

Each hawker center houses at least 20-25 stalls, and more. You have a choice of Chinese, Malay, Indian, and even Western food.