Although it was about 3pm or so when we touched down in Macau, we decided to go get something to eat before we check in at the Casa Real, our "home" for the duration of our stay in the city.
I'm accompanied on this trip by two friends who've been to Macau before. And it was they who suggested that we make our way to a small coffee-shop like place just around the corner from our hotel. On our way there, we get a nice view of the New Yaohan.
Ahhhhh.... Yaohan.... the sound of that name brings back many memories. I don't know about other people in other countries in Asia but in Singapore, the memories of Yaohan would most certainly would be one of the things that would tie all Singaporeans together. There were several Yaohans in Singapore in the 70s and 80s and almost everyone I know from my generation spent plenty of time in them. I loved the basement where they had counters selling all kinds of food, I love the fried curry buns and I'm sure my fondness for grocery shopping must have been born the moment I stepped into Yaohan's supermarket.
I remember the very long Japanese drama called Oshin which takes is based on the life of the mother of the founder of Yaohan. I know a lot of people who were hooked on this drama and I was one of them. Hey, I even read the abridged for children novels in Chinese no less. =)
These days, there are no more Yaohans in Singapore and I think even the one in LA, USA has shut it's doors. =( I remember being incredibly sad to see Yaohan leave Singapore. The photo above is of the New Yaohan which apparently has no connection with the family which founded Yaohan. Still, seeing that sign (and ignoring the New part of it =) ), I can't help but recall all the fun times I had in Yaohan and I really looked forward to shopping there when we were in Macau. We did go in the end but not to the one in the photo but that's a story for another post. =)
