Adore - 老情人, Old Romances

We managed to catch Royston Tan's last documentary screening today! This documentary (Old Romances) brings me on a journey to experience Singapore through recounts of many people. I get to know various old places of Singapore that meant so much to certain group of people and the bond they have with these places are forever. I was truly touched and I teared almost throughout the documentary because I saw that love they have and the memories that come with it.

One of the many reasons that made me teared is that I asked myself, after all these old places and people vanish with time, will our next generation be able to experience such strong bonding with places and things of their childhood? I wondered what is the childhood of our next generation? Will there be anymore sand based playgrounds? Five stones? Running around playing catching? Picnic with family by the beach? Or will all these be replaced by electronics devices? TVs, drama serials, computer games? Shopping malls?

Every single place featured is so filled with love, memories and culture, a Singapore culture. I really hoped it will not be lost.

Like what a guy mentioned in the documentary, he hoped that such buildings can be conserved so that we can be reminded of a world that doesn't exist anymore.

我带着泪看完这个记录片。

每一个老地方都有个故事而每个故事都牵动着我的心弦。很多地方或许我并不知道但通过不同人的叙述让我更了解这个我土生土长的国家是那么富有回忆与感情的。故事的主角都对他们的老地方很有感情，有些边说边流泪我也被影响了。

原来一个地方可以有这么大的影响力。

不仅如此，在看的当而我也问自己，随着岁月流逝当这些事与物不再存在时，我们的下一代拥有的又是怎样的回忆呢？我深深的觉得这些人情事物造就了新加坡人而当这些事物消逝以后我们会不会就失去属于我们新加坡人的回忆？想到这里内心就特别激动。

想想如果我们所剩的回忆只能在书里看到，那么我们该如何更有效的教育下一代新加坡的点点滴滴？我们该如何告诉他们这地方是多么富有人情味的？这让我回想到在慕尼黑(Munich)旅行时导游与我们分享的，她说当第二大战结束后，慕尼黑可以选择建造全新面貌的建筑物或还原在大战之前的面貌而他们选择后者。即使景物会带回战争的回忆，但也代表它将无时无刻提醒每个人战争所带来过的痛苦。

一个地方与景物就是带有这么大的影响力。

几十年以后，我们还会有这么富有回忆与感情的老地方吗？

Purposeful Traveller - 每一个老地方都有一个老情人。

Travel - Melaka Exchange

在马六甲碰到马六甲人，当他们知道我们是新加坡人就开玩笑的说新加坡人比他们更熟悉马六甲。对了，就是每次都去同样的地方，吃同样的食物，做同样的事情让我们有点厌倦了，所以这次我们决定住宿舍和做些不同的事。

我们随性的在街上晃，有什么吸引我们，我们就进去看看。也就是这样我们发现了 Melaka Exchange “物物交换”，与店员聊了起来，然后被这概念深深吸引。原来店员是“打工换宿”的！

在这里我体会到不同的物品对不同的人有不同的价值，不是什么东西都能用金钱来衡量。

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melakaexchange?fref=ts

Purposeful Traveller - 意外的收获。

Travel & Food - Exploring the Cafes in Malacca

I have been to Malacca quite a few times, this time we decided to explore some cafes in Malacca and we chose to stay in guesthouse!

Ever since I tried staying in hostel/guesthouse in Kota Kinabalu, I think this form of accommodation is economical and worth it! Just do some research and I am able to find a decent, clean hostel/guesthouse. =)

This time we chose Roof  Top Guest House. Located along Kampung Pantai, very near Jonker Walk.

I love guesthouse!

The lobby area, like living room

To the shared toilet facilities. Clean!

Roof Terrace and Garden Shower. I did my 3rd "under the open sky" shower here. lol.

Not to mention those yummy snacks that the owner baked everyday!!

The stay costs us RM55/night. We stayed 2 nights. We booked a coach and alighted at Hatten Hotel. The hostel is a 15 minutes walk from Hatten Hotel. In total, I spent about S$84 for coach and 2 nights stay. =D

The first afternoon there, after having Cendol at the Famous Jonker 88, it started pouring! We managed to find Calanthe Art Cafe, there we had coffee, tea and cheesecake. Totally love it, watching the rain, drinking hot drinks and reading a book. =))

Calanthe Art Cafe is located at Jalan Hang Katsuri, basically it is somewhere in Jonker. Closed on Thursday!

Website: http://www.letseat.at/calanthe

Since I have been to Malacca quite a few times, eating local food is not a must anymore. We decided to have breakfast at one of the cafe I wanted to visit - Limau Limau Cafe. I enjoyed the breakfast! =D Both were yummy. They even have Fresh durian milkshake, I dare not try so early in the morning though! lol.

Limau Limau cafe is located at Jalan Hang Lekir, near Jonker too. Closed on Wednesday!

Website/FB: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Limau-limau-cafe/156430097788314

Besides the food and cafe hunting, I was glad that I managed to chance upon something unique and inspiring to me. Shall blog about it again! =))

Purposeful Traveller - Cafes in Malacca explored!

1 more week to Xmas

One more week to Xmas, 3 more weeks to the end of 2012. May this year end gloriously~

Purposeful Traveller - Shine Your Light.

Travel - New Found Love, Skudai.

Skudai, the suburb of Johor Bahru, I have forgotten how I even managed to think of this place, but anyway, I did some googling and realize this area has many cafes, eateries and restaurants and hence decided to check it out. hehe

We did not drive in, we took public transport! Though we did our research but trust me, what the web says differs from reality! LOL!! 

Hence in reality what we did is this - Took a train to Jurong East bus interchange to board CW3 (Cost: S$4) change to ST8 at Malaysia Custom which will then reach Sutera Mall and from there it is about 10 minutes walk to our hotel. 

We stayed in J Hotel, booked a Designer room for RM 128 nett (S$52/night). I will definitely stay there again! It is simple and clean. =))

From the map below, "E" is where Sutera Mall is and we walked to J hotel (circled in red)

From our hotel, there are 2 cafes I wanted to explore! "C" and "H"

"H" - Grazia Cafe. It is just a 5 minutes walk from the hotel. We knew we were going to explore many places for food hence we tried our best to order minimal food in each place. LOL.

Spacious and simple.

Apple Cider (RM15.90) with Salad (RM8.90)

Cappuccino (RM6.90) with Japanese Mango "Swiss Roll"(RM5.00)

Personally I think the prices are considered expensive in their context but I still enjoyed myself! I really cannot wait to bring more people there!!!!

As our hotel location is so central, we kept walking back to our hotel room. HAHAHA. We did shop and snack a little at Sutera mall but shopping mall was never really our thing so we exited pretty quickly. haha.

It was drizzling in the late afternoon and I had craving for noodles! We decided to try Pontian Wanton Mee, I know Singapore has but.... I really think that the Wanton Mee tasted better here. Oh well...

After this meal, we went for a super (painful) shiok foot massage. Then went back to hotel (again) to slack. muahahahaha.. Then at night we explored another cafe.

"C" - Maco Cafe & Bakery

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Photos of their latte art on the wall. Very creative and beautiful!

Choco Banana Millie Crepe (RM8.50) with a Pot of Earl Grey (RM9.00)

Chicken Ham & Mushroom Quiche (RM18)

They sell so many types of millie crepe but I can only manage to try one. T.T I should have brought more people with me!! >.<||| 

On our way back to the hotel, we spotted a stall selling Kway Teow Soup and we had that for supper!! RM 5.80! Cheap cheap good good! =D

For our breakfast next day, we were already eyeing on this coffee shop near our hotel. We went there for breakfast and I knew I must have Tau Sar Pau. YUMMY!

Super thick milo~

This is truly HAND MADE Mee Hoon Kuey. As I am blogging, I am missing the food already. =(

I love travelling! 

Purposeful Traveller - 旅行是一种学习久违的拥抱，拥抱蓝天，拥抱大海，拥抱最初的自己。

Food - Rome Food Tour!

This is definitely a long overdue post on my Food Tour in ROME! Whooops!

I chanced upon this tour when I was researching on the things to do in Rome and they have raving reviews! Hence, I decided to give it try even though it was pretty expensive. It costs me 59 euros then (Now is euro 65)! But trust me, it didn't disappoint.

The location where the tour is conducted - Neighborhood area of Testaccio. Finally, away with the crowds in Rome. =)

A nicely designed "itinerary" with a map of where and what we were going to eat. 

Our lovely guide, Luna. She's an Australian living in Italy, doing a job that she enjoyed!

We were first brought to the Testaccio covered market, stalls here were passed down from generations to generations. At this place, we were going to have our first tasting!

Mozzarella di Bufala which means buffalo milk cheese. (super fresh, from a market, what you expect right!) It was very juicy and flavorful. But, a small piece was just enough for me. hee.

We walked around the market and it was heart warming to see how friendly the locals were. hee. Then we went to a stall and the uncle was selling 40 over types of tomatoes and we were supposed to taste some of them. 

Well, I was never a big fan of tomatoes let alone eating it raw. But, since I have paid I must at least try right??

We tried 5 types of tomatoes and.............. SURPRISE! The tomatoes were FREAKING NICE lor! 

I tried all 5 and my favorite tomato tasted like grape, juicy and sweet oh, and seedless. hahahaha!

Moving out of the market, we went over to a Gourmet Food shop - E. Volpetti. I didn't quite get the idea of "gourmet food" until I saw what the shop sells. Anyway! there we were standing outside the shop, tasting the plate of nicely prepared "gourmet food", there were ham, salami, cow milk cheese and sheep milk cheese.

I love the ham the most, thinly sliced and it melts in my mouth. =D

I really don't know how to appreciate the cheese even though there was one that has truffle in it, the taste was too strong for me. I cannot bring myself to finish the cheese after one small bite.

Then a lady in my tour asked me: You don't want? I said: You want to have it? She took it and pop it into her mouth like some sweets~ -_-||| Solid.

After tasting the food, we went into the shop to take a look! wooooahhhhhh! Eye opener for me. First time seeing meat placed in racks like that and those hanging ones.... lol...

The guy holding a basket of truffle, 290 euros per kg. *gasps*

Seriously, people will buy this whole thing home?

After E. Volpetti, we were going to Barberini which is a legendary pastry shop. We were going to taste cornetti and tiramisu! Super excited! 

Irresistible! 

Cornetti

Tiramisu in a small chocolate cup.

What I liked about this tour was that, besides eating and eating we also had a chance to walk around the neighborhood area. 

Pyramid, the reason why the station we alighted is called Piramide Station. =)

Used to be a slaughter house.

Then we went over to 00100 Pizza to try Rome's famous fried rice croquet! Suppli alla Genovese.

So excited to be able to eat rice! hahahaha.

Freshly fried for us! Yums!

What is coming to Italy without Pasta right?! I must say the 2 pastas I had in this shop were the best I had during my time in Italy! Da Bucatino is the shop name.

There I also learned that the bread is to scoop up the remaining sauce from the pasta! hee.

Finally, our tour ended with what else but GELATO from Giolitti! Each of us chose 2 flavors. A sweet sweet ending to our tour and I love it! I would recommend this tour if you are going Rome! =D

I must say my tour in Rome was made a little unique because of this tour. Besides those magnificent architecture, I get to know a little more about the place through their food culture. =))

http://www.eatingitalyfoodtours.com/tours/romefoodtours/

Purposeful Traveller - Good tours to share!