Continuing where I left off from my previous post, me and JL were walking around in Tampines Mall and soon there was nothing much else to do there. We grew bored and I wanted to explore more of the east, so we took a bus to East Coast Park - Bus 10. However, our surroundings started to get a little unfamiliar after a while, even to JL. We were clearly lost and so alighted and changed to bus 31.
We got to East Coast Park around 1330 and then it was my turn to give directions. I wanted to go cycling and so led JL to the bicycle rental shop which I usually go to. It was a really long walk there and I then realised that where we had alighted was very far from where I usually cycle haha... As I walked, I became aware just how hot it was that day. Still, I was very eager to go cycling. It has been quite some time since I last cycled at East Coast Park.
I selected a bike quite quickly and then picked a similar one for JL. Haha, this sure saves time in picking and choosing. We paid the rental fee, $17.00 for two hours, and then headed out to cycle. JL did mention to me some time before that he did not know how to ride a bicycle. As such, I was observing him a little, wondering if he would need help. Surprisingly, he seemed quite all right balancing on the bike and even riding out onto the path. I later realised that he only had difficulty balancing when he needed to turn... haha oh well.
Thus, I cycled in front of him to help ensure the path ahead was clear and also kept turning back once in a while to ensure he was keeping up, We didn't cycle very long nor ride very far given that there was a time limit of two hours. Moreover, it was a Sunday and the whole stretch of East Coast Park was really crowded. We soon started heading back to the rental shop, returned the bicycles and made the payment. Then, we left ECP. It was 1600. First time cycling with JL - checked!
Next up, we were going to head to Parkway Parade. We took bus 43 this time after getting out of ECP, back all the way we had walked earlier on in the day. We got to Parkway Parade at 1630. That was probably the first time I was there, or at least the only time I remember being there and the mall looked huge! Like really huge! There was Isetan, Cold Storage, Giant and Mark's and Spencer all in one mall... Wow! We walked around a little of course, but given the size of the mall, we didn't cover the whole mall. After Parkway Parade, it was Katong 112 next.
We got to Katong 112 by walking through this other mall called Roxy Square. Again, these were malls I had no memory of ever having visited. Orhmagawd... the carpeted flooring of 112 was really interesting haha! I don't think I've been to a mall with carpeted flooring before. Again having not been there, we walked around a little then went up to Food Republic for some light food. Although we only wanted a light snack after all our travelling, we still ate quite a little too much. After our quick meal, we sat there and rested for a while, playing some Sudoku, until it was 1830. Then, we decided to walk around some more and eventually found ourselves at the Aqua Playground, It was once again another place which was quite cool, literally and otherwise, haha! There was water everywhere, only that it wasn't flooded like in a swimming pool.
It was already really cold in the air-conditioned Katong 112 Mall, When we went outside, it was not much better, thanks to the strong winds whipping and howling around us. Brrrr... It was time for dinner by then and since we had already come all the way to this part of the east, Katong Laksa was a must! When we got to our destination, I could see that there were at least three shops selling Katong Laksa around us. I was following behind JL and finally stopped at this shop called 328 Katong Laksa. I decided to just have whatever JL was getting for himself as he knew that place better, and so two medium bowls of Laksa became the first item on our order list. We also ordered lime juice, one for each of us. When I saw that there was Otah on the menu too, there was no need to think twice about adding that to our order as well. I soon realised that almost all the other tables had a plate of Rojak while waiting for our food to arrive. I went and got a plate of that as well, some appetizer to warm our tongues up to taste awesome food.
As we waited for our food, I vaguely recalled having had Katong Laksa before a long long time ago. It might have been here in this shop, or an older shop before this one we were sitting in now. Anyways, I sure remember that the younger me then was still not accustomed to having spicy food and Katong Laksa has since then been edged in my mind as something I did not like. I was going to get a new experience eating Katong Laksa this time though, one which would add Katong Laksa into my list of favourite dishes.
Needless to say, our orders soon came and we gobbled them up. Surprisingly, not only did the Laksa not seem as spicy, I even added more chilli to spice it up! It was truly delicious, a very satisfying meal indeed! The end of our meal meant the end of my trip to the East for now. I will be back!!
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