Saturday, January 28, 2012

Last coffee of 2011

While walking around and shooting on 31st Dec, I came across a cafe called Drips at Tiong Bahru. Not what you will expect at the old houses of Tiong Bahru.

The place looked inviting, and I do feel a need to end my year with a cup of coffee.

Greeted by a nice display of pastries.

The front part of the cafe has a retro deco while the seating area behind, near the kitchen, is of a modern minimalist style. Which is more your cup of tea? So apt to find such a combination at this neighbourhood.

I ordered a flat white. I would have preferred it to be stronger.

I didn't want any pastry at first, but when the lovely smell of crossiant kept drifting out from the kitchen, I just couldn't resist and ordered a cinnamon egg tart. (The crossiant with fillings would've been too heavy after a full lunch.) The tart was just of the right sweetness for me, but I think it is best shared with a friend as it is much bigger than your usual tart.

This is where the Drips cafe is. A walk down Tiong Bahru revealed that this old neighbourhood has really changed quite a lot over the recent years.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

"De-railed"- Looking back on 31st December

For many years, 31st December means participating in "Eye the City" (Eye) to me. 2011 is the 10th year of Eye and looking back, I never expected myself to have participated almost every year since 2003, the second year Eye was launched in Singapore.


We all know that Singapore is a fast-paced society, but as I looked at some of my photos, comparing what I shot a few years ago with the recent shots on 31st Dec 2011, I was rather taken aback at how much the landscape has changed.

I certainly would not have expected the rails to disappear from Tanjong Pagar area when I took these shots 5 years ago. Yes, we all know that the railway station moved out from Tanjong Pagar in mid 2011, but isn't this a bit too fast? It was as if the tracks were never here. Even now, I thought I could still hear the trains rumbling by.

Photo on left not taken on 31st Dec but I've decided to include this just for comparison.