Lau Par Sat is a national monument which was
previously called Telok Ayer Market. It is a building that holds much of
Singapore’s history as it is one of the oldest building still standing in the
‘heart of Singapore’, in the downtown core, in midst of all the developments
occurring around it. It officially opened as a food market in 1991, attracting large number
of tourists and office crowd during lunch and dinner hours.
Lau Pa Sat recently underwent 9 months renovation costing a whopping
$4million and finally reopened on 28 July. The new Lau Pa Sat comprises of a
good mix of old and new stalls that would intrigue customers as well as keep
them coming back for more. The number of stalls has also decreased to give the
customers more space as well as better ventilation to savour their food.
My family and I paid a visit to Lau Pa Sat recently and we were
surprised that Lau Pa Sat has changed so drastically. There was newly placed
tiles, bright lights that shone from all angles and the wide array of
delicacies sold there from the East (eg. Korean and Japanese) to the West (eg.
Coasta Rican and Western). We had to wreck our heads hard to choose the best
dish to order, as all of the food being offered
looked so enticing. Lau Pa Sat was as crowded as a pack of sardines,
attracting both excited tourists such as
Japanese and locals, who want to have a first glimpse at the newly renovated
Lau Pa Sat. I can truly say that the 9 months wait was worth every minute, as
the authorities successfully kept the cultural heritage of Singapore and at the
same time made it look more modern to match up to the constant development of
the society.
Indian Food ( Savoury, tender butter chicken
with a tinch of spiciness served alongside the moist Nasi Briyani cooked in
aromatic spices and paired with a vegetable dish which kept sweat dripping down
my forehead as it was so spicy that it kept my throat and tongue burning)
Chicken Taco (The chicken that was cooked in
butter and onions it was so tender and succulent that you can literally see the
juice flowing out of the chicken and it was so well marinated that when I sink
my teeth into the scrumptious chicken taco, it felt like there was a mini
‘explosion’ of flavours in my mouth. The well thought of combination of
ingredients such as chicken, tomato sauce, salsa and lettuce, that gives a
crunchiness for every bite taken, causing one to be ‘addicted’ to it, taking
one bite after another not wanting to put it down.)
It is shocking how a small island like Singapore has come so far solely
due to the hard work put in by the older generations who have built up our
country today. Therefore, it is important that we preserve the historic
buildings that is held dearly to all of us! Why is Lau Pa Sat important to our
society today? In today’s society,
developments are rapid and many old and historic buildings are getting torn
down. Hence by preserving Lau Pa Sat, it retains part of Singapore’s heritage
which is now on the verge of ‘extinction’.
Why am I grateful for this place? As many historic buildings in
Singapore are being demolished, it is heart warming that Lau Pa Sat, a place
that is rich in culture, is still standing in midst of the ever developing
society. It is a place that I would no doubt often visit, to savour
mouth-watering food inside this brilliantly structured building that not only
contain Singapore’s heritage and culture but it also have a modern twist to it.
Where :18 Raffles Quay, 048582
By: Cleo
Category: Hangout
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