Singapore stores featured on US site

While searching for the address of a furniture store online, I happened to stumble upon a feature of it on Apartment Therapy, a popular US home furnishing and interiors site.

Foundry

I like the clean cut lines of their collections, which are often featured in Home & Decor, a Singapore interior magazine. Unfortunately, a visit to their store at Seah Street proved to be disappointing. They seemed to have filled the store with too many items within a limited space, which doesn't really do justice to the designs. Or is it a realistic reflection of things will look in a cluttered house?

Here's another of our local store, One Thousand Tales (at Haji Lane), featured on Apartment Therapy.

Comparatively, the atmosphere is much better and homely at One Thousand Tales. Oh, and I love those chairs and sofas, except that I can't really afford them...

photos from Apartment Therapy and Soon Lee.
 

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.

"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.

2012 calendars

So many lovely calendars that I can't quite decide which is the one I like most.

classic looking Paris calendar from Little Brown Pen

cheerful breakfast images from Simply breakfast

whimsical look from Shanna Murray

Inspired by Shanna Murray, here's mine.

Get the Lake print from my Online Store: Wallphotos

Tokyo Deli Cafe

Its been some time since I last visited Tokyo Deli Cafe (at Raffles City).

I like the bright interiors and its usually not crowded even on weekends.

A delightful way to cool down in the hot Summer weather.

The dark chocolate is too sweet and cheese cake too rich.
Tea would have been a better choice.

Some Japanese magazines for browsing while you sip your drink.

More than Coffee

Whether its the name or exterior, Coffee Stars by Dao looks like a coffee and cakes place.

Some weeks ago, I popped in for a cup of coffee and sandwich.

a very strong cup of coffee

It was a pleasant surprise to discover that they have one full page of vegetarian menu. I made a mental note to come back again for their Thai food.

It was yesterday that I finally met up with a friend there for dinner, a friend that I haven't met up for years!

vegetarian tom yum soup

I find it hard to find clear tom yum soup in Singapore, more so the vegetarian version. It is a must order item when I see it on the menu. And it turned out great, loaded with different kinds of mushrooms. Certainly much better than the red-tom yum, which I always find too oily.

Wanton Pra Thai

I actually ordered this by mistake, thinking that it is wanton skin with the pra thai noodles, so I was a bit disappointed when it came only with the wanton skin. Tasty but its better shared with 3-4 persons as the taste does get monotonous after some time.

A nice pot of lemongrass to round up the dinner

Unfortunately, we were too full for cakes at the end of the meal. So that will be for the next trip.

Don't Give Up

Julian Bialowas' 365q via seesaw

Inspiring.