The Dewi

The other day, I went to Bugis to meet my friend. Bugis is a gem for halal eateries, but it's so far from where I live, which is in Jurong. (First of all, the definition of 'far' for people who live in Singapore is a bit different from normal version of 'far'). But some places are definitely worth the trip, like this bakery on Jalan Pisang. Initially, we went to Jalan Pisang to have lunch at this halal cafe (hopefully, I can tell you all about it soon). But we were there at almost 12 pm and the place was still closed. The sign says it opens 12 pm. Meanwhile, across the street a small line was starting to form in front of this charming chic little bakery. You can see the people inside bustling about, getting ready. I was beginning to get curious, then I saw this sign up front. Then I started to think that, 'Hey, maybe joining this line is not a bad idea, number 2 and 5 seem great!' And so I did. Look at the 'Closed' sign on the window. They...

Since I moved to Singapore in 2008, there has been a lot of adjusting to do, even until today. The difference in culture, habits, the way people talk, the way they walk, the way they eat, make friends, even the values that we hold, are different, even only slightly. But one thing that was and still is quite the big adjustment for me and my family is the fact that we, who come from Indonesia, where Muslims are the majority, have found ourselves becoming the minority in Singapore. This means, that when we go out to eat, there's a lot less options for us to choose from. A simple thing like one of my favorite snacks in Indonesia: Shihlin Taiwan fried chicken, does not have halal certification here. 'Errr, does that matter? It's still chicken.' Well yeah, but the chicken has to be halal (processed according to Islamic Law), then we can eat it :). Anyways, so this means every time I see a halal eating establishment, I get all excited. Especially, when they really know w...