Our neighborhood

We live in what is called an HDB flat.  These flats are managed by the government's Housing & Development Board (thus the initials "HDB").  About 85% of the people in Singapore live in HDB flats.  Within a very short distance of each building you can get groceries, go to the doctor, get a haircut, use an ATM machine, eat and eat and eat some more, and do many other things.

The most popular shop for our family is what we just call "the provision shop," although I think all the shops around our flat would be referred to as provision shops.  But the closest one sells milk, juice, and bread, along with other food and household items.  Milk here is sold in very small containers, and our refrigerator is also smaller than the one we used to have, so we are always running out of milk.  No more buying 5 gallons a week at Meijer and being set for the week!  The milk here also tastes different, so some of the family drinks chocolate milk since the chocolate disguises the taste of the milk. :-)  When we're not out of white milk, we're out of chocolate.  Good thing this shop is so close!  Eric, who normally can't stand shopping, LOVES to go down to the provision shop and buy milk or anything else we might need.  It seems like he goes to this shop about once a day.

Next to that shop is a clinic.  My husband has been here twice.  The first week we were here he got very sick and went to this clinic; he was also here with Jason once.  He was very impressed both times.  You take a number and "queue," and when your number comes up you are seen by the doctor.  The pharmacy is right on site, and when he went with Jason he was home with a diagnosis and prescription within about fifteen minutes.  I did miss my Meijer pharmacy when I opened the prescription and saw that it was in powder form and I had to mix it myself!  But they had given my husband directions, so in the end it wasn't so bad. :-)

Between the clinic and the provision shop is the opening to a whole "alley" full of what the people here call "coffee shops."  They are little outdoor eating areas that sell local food meals for cheap prices.  My husband is a recognized person among the coffee shop owners.  Me...not so much. :-)

After walking through the coffee shop area, we come to a little playground.  Next to that playground is a small shop where we can buy office supplies, flip-flops ("slippers"), cards, hair stuff, toys, and other things, and this is also where we can get pictures printed.  

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The following building is kitty-corner from that, across the playground.  Reminds us of my husband's trip to the Philippines, but hopefully he won't get acupuncture here! ;-)

Next to that building is a shop where we can get Kleenex, toilet paper, diapers, and a bunch of other stuff that I don't recognize.  The prices here are actually cheaper than in the grocery stores, plus I don't have to haul it home on the bus!  Some of the things are sold inside the building, and many are placed on the sidewalk outside the building.  This is true of most or all of the provision shops.

When we turn the corner by this shop, we are next to a large market area, including a wet market.  Here we can buy more groceries and a lot of fruits and vegetables, flowers, and meat, as well as clothes, towels, jewelry, etc.  This area is only open in the mornings, or maybe to mid-afternoon.

This is how fish are sold everywhere, even in the grocery stores.  You
 always see whole fish on ice, out in the open, just waiting to be bought.  

Prepare yourselves for the next picture.  You only have it thanks to Eric.  It was way too much for me, and the owner was trying to get me to buy his meat...no way!!  I left, but Eric went back with Emily and Megan and got the picture for me.

Eric said that when the stall owner saw him taking pictures, he moved the pig's head closer to the glass and wiggled its ears and showed the kids its tongue.  Ahhhhh!!!!! :-)

Along these shops and markets, every once in a while--or more often than that--you come to idols set up on the walls, with incense burning in front of them.

And among all the Chinese shops, there is one with a familiar name--well, partly familiar anyway. :-)  But the snacks are not familiar!

Now our tour of the neighborhood is finished, and we head back home. Our elevator is to the left of the awning at the far end of the picture. This picture is taken from "our" provision shop, so this gives you some idea of how close we are to our milk and other basics.  When we get off the elevator on the sixth floor of that building, we are right by our flat.