Ann Siang Hill

Today I left my comfort zone having explored every single shopping mall in Orchard and decided to visit a different area. I had read that there was a modern furniture shop in China Town and since I will be moving soon to my new home and I am missing a sofa and a dining table I decided to check it out.

So off I went to Ann Siang Hill which is behind the hustle and bustle of China town. To get there you need to climb behind the hawker centre until you reach a junction. At the far end of the junction there is a little park. This area used to be a nutmeg and cloves plantation. It was owned by a Captain Scott who evidently did not know much about plantations and maybe knew more about sailing because not much grew there due to lack of a good water source and the presence of parasites. At the end of the 1800's he sold the land to the Ann Siang estate who immediately saw this as an opportunity to build shop houses. These are still existing today but instead of having being turned into homes they are still shops and quirky restaurants. One row of these peranakan shops is all painted black and looks really sleek. Another one has been painted white and looks fresh and bright. Others are decorated with bright ceramic tiles and they all have a little porch on the front. For unknown reasons the are quite elevated above the road and with 2 giant and steep steps connecting to it so it is a hike but it's good for the butt. The only strange thing is that the windows are either made of frosted glass or are dark so it is not possible to see what the shop is selling. The little tables set up for 4 outside under the the porch are a dead give away but in any other case it is not always easy to see what is being sold and if it is interesting so in the end you just don't go in. I suppose you need to know where you are going so window shoppers and time wasters are discouraged.