When in Singapore, try the $1 SGD Ice-Cream

There’s nothing better than ice-cream on a hot and humid day in Singapore. And it tastes even better when it costs only $1(SGD). Yes, that’s right, a  $1 ice-cream in the world’s costliest city. How sweet is that?
Walk along Orchard Road in Singapore, especially the area between ION Orchard and Takashimaya store, and you’ll find motorised carts with bright- coloured umbrellas on both sides of the street. Ordering is easy as flavours are mentioned on the laminated cards posted on the cart. Most serve an assortment ranging from Singapore’s traditional flavours such as chocolate, vanilla and yam to exotic flavours such as durian, peppermint, blueberry, raspberry, double choco-chip and mango.

Give uncle (yes, vendors are called uncles here) your order and he’ll go about assembling your choice: first comes the ice-cream, I quickly glance through the menu and settle for Chocolate. (I always play safe with dessert!).
And then he asked in his thick Chinese accent, if I wanted it with wafer or bread. I picked bread. I never knew ice-cream is served with bread!
He dug out a big bar of ice-cream (the size of big blocks of cheese) from the depths of his cart, placed it atop the cutting board and quickly chopped it with his huge machete (a Chinese butcher knife).  The quantity to be cut is already indicated on the package. Well, the multi-coloured bread wrapping the rich and creamy ice cream was soft and sweet; they made a delicious pair!
What a perfect companion to brave the shimmering sun in the city.

(Photographs: Divya Mandloi)