Collaboration with Jaze Production

I am extremely honour to collaborate with Jaze Production for a photoshoot which was held at Chinatown, Singapore.

I got to know Jaze Phua through my secondary school alumni Facebook Page. He was my school junior. We had a awesome time to collaborate together for this photoshoot. He's friendly and a nice guy to work with.

Jaze produced his own YouTube short film and won many awards like The RULE BREAKERS and The Cabbage. 

If you would like to find out more about Jaze, you can visit his official page by clicking here.

The Loft Cafe

In Chinatown, there are many heritage colony buildings which is currently preserved by the government which makes Singapore's Chinatown very unique.

While you sightseeing in Singapore's Chinatown, you are curious and amazed that our Chinatown is slightly different from countries.

In Chinatown, you can find many races Place of Worship. You can find Chinese Temple, Malay Mosque, Indian Temple and Church within the same district which was planned by the British Colony era.

You also can get to taste difference cultural food in our local food centre and get to know the culture here and how we can live racial harmony.

While I sightseeing in Chinatown, I saw a bright Red Building located at Smith Street, which attracts to me. So, I decided to visit to the Red Building and I saw The Loft Cafe, therefore I decided to pay a visit since I am kinda hungry and thirsty.

At the same time, it makes me thought of a similar cafe, 'ROOST JUICE + BAR' which I visited in Johor Bahru, Malaysia which is located in the 1F (You can click here to read Cafe Hopping in West Malaysia).

When I stepped into the Loft Cafe, I was greeted by very retro white door and I need climb the steep staircase as this is a heritage building. Once I reached the 1F, I was greeted by the friendly staff and I decided to sit near to the window as I can see the outside world while relaxing myself.

I simply loved this cafe as it gives me a homely and cosy atmosphere. Just that it can be slightly too warm as they did not fully turn on all their air-conditional, if you sit away from the air-conditional. I guess the management would want to save the environment for not turning on all the air-conditional when there are less crowds.

I was served by special employee who is very patient and friendly to me. After that, he served me a cup of ice water. I also observed that this special employee served each of their customer with pride.

Although they could be slow sometime, but I am delighted that the cafe management hired The Abilities of Special Needs employees and give them a chance to work and gain experience.

Where the management are making a movement towards a more inclusive society in Singapore, opening our eyes to the special needs people around us and also give us a chance to talk to them and improve their confident.

After awhile, this special employee served my food and followed by my drink which I had ordered. I loved their Rosemary chicken and their mashed potato! It was simply awesome! Their Cookie and Cream milkshake so yummy~

After that my dessert was served. The Loft Cafe famous for their delicious and crispy waffler. But on that day, the waffler (Nutty Banana waffler) that I tried are not that crispy and rather it was cold for the moment that I bite.

Perhaps, they should put slightly longer so that the waffler can be more crispy and it will be warm instead of cold waffler. For the fruit, it was fresh and juicy.

For the bread (Shibuya Toast), it tasted good with the raspberry and the ice cream. I loved the sour of the raspberry~ As most Singaporean will used this word, SHOICK!

Overall, The Loft Cafe is a great cafe where you can chill out with your friends and families but at times, it can be slightly expensive if you visit to this cafe often. It will be good if they can create loyalty membership to their regular customer.

This cafe also equip with FREE WIFI where you can surf net or do your business presentation. The cafe also allowed you to book for your event/function in their 2F.

Please call them or email to The Loft Cafe Management in advanced if you are interested to book their function room or host any party.

You will be simply loved their ambience in the heritage colony shophouse! You can find The Loft Cafe at 268A South Bridge Road (off Smith Street) Singapore 058817. It along the Chinatown Food Street. Nearest MRT: NE4/DT19 Chinatown Exit A.

If you would like to make a reservation, you can email to them at info@theloft.com.sg or you may wish to call them at +65 6221 2103 or fax to them at +65 6221 2152.

The Company of Cats

In the bustling city of Singapore, we can still able to find many plenty of activities to do, a place to chill out or sights to see if we do spare sometime to rediscover our own city of Singapore.

In the tourist attraction of Chinatown, there's one very unique cafe which located in the prewar colony shop houses which makes this place more lively.

This unique cafe known as 'The company of Cats'. Yes! Cats! For those cat lovers, you will be thrilled that you have one new favourite hangout to play with cats, relax your hectic life or enjoy a cup of coffee or tea with 8 lovely and lively cats!

The Company of Cats located at 6B Mosque Street (2F shophouse). If you are not familiar with Chinatown district, it may take a while to locate them. If you are taking public transport, alight at Chinatown MRT Station (NE4/DT19) and head to Chinatown Point at Exit E.

After that walk outside the Chinatown Point and cross the road towards to Hotel81 Chinatown. (Please use the traffic light). After that walk towards to 美珍香 Bee Cheng Hiang (Barbecued Meat) you can easily spotted by seeing their shop billboard and turn left.

You will be seeing many eatery area selling Chinese, Japanese and Korean food and hostel around this district. If you walk towards to The POR. CE. LAIN Hotel, The Company of Cats painted in Black with wooden door are just opposite the hotel! You can also easily spotted it by seeing their shop billboard!

Once you reached 6B Mosque Street, push the door and climb up to the narrow steps. Their friendly staff from The Company of Cats will be there to assist you upon your arrival.

If this is your first time to this Cat cafe concept, let me explain how it works.

1) The cover charge will cost at SGD$14.00 for the first hour. After which, it will cost SGD$5.00 per subsequent 1/2 hour. It included complimentary WIFI and drinks of Coco cola or Mineral Water or simply top up the amount for the premium drinks.

If you visit to The Company of Cats between 1200 hours - 1600 hours on weekdays, the cover charge will cost at SGD$10.00 for the first hour, it also included complimentary WIFI and drinks of Coco cola or Mineral Water or simply top up the amount for the premium drinks.

2) Remove your shoes and wash your hand in the toilet before heading to the Cat room. Before going to the Cat room, there are few house rules which you need to be observed set by The Company of Cats.

A) No Rough Handling. Please do not carry the cats. If they get on your lap themselves, that's OK!
B) Do not wake a sleeping cat. Taking photos is OK!
C) No Flash Photography.
D) Please do not feed the cats any human food or drinks.
E) Please do not shout or run around loudly.
F) Children must be at least 7 years old and supervised by an adult at all times.Please do not bring your own pets.
G) The Company of Cats reserve the right to refuse service to anyone who does not follow these rules. Cat abusers will be reported to the police.

You can find the house rules from The Company of Cats website here.

3) Once you agreed, the staff will bring you to the cat room with your tag which you will be going to make a payment later on.

4) If any of the time, you decide to leave, show your tag to the staff and they will calculate the cost that you stay in the Cat room.

After that, the staff will award you with their loyalty card if you are first timer. Every SGD$10.00 that you spend with them, you will be entitled to one stamp. Collect 5 stamps to redeem one free coffee or tea, 10 stamps to redeem one free lava cake and 15 stamps to redeem free entrance for one hour.

The payment will be by CASH or NETS only. The Company of Cats do not have Service Charge and GST. So whatever you are paying for are NETT only.

Alright, it is time for you to relax yourself with the cats~ You can roam freely and enjoy the great company from the 8 cats.

When I visited around 1600 hours, most of the cats are fallen asleep. And the music that the owner of The Company Cats played are extremely smooth and relaxing.  Although the premises are so big but yet very cosy living!

If you visit to Cat room and you feel that the air-con is not cold and kinda humid, that right! As cold weather can be hard on cats. You can click this link here for more information!

Basically all the cats are so lovely and cute! Each of every individually cat has its own personality and characteristic. Even through I do not own a cat of my own, the pose that the cats reflected to me makes me feel so warm and happy! I am sure you will agree with me that cats are so adorable which you could not resistant but to love them!

Especially during their dinner time around 1700 hours, it seem like all the cats are all awake and waiting for the staff to feed them! Some cats are so patiently waiting for their food to be arrived and some cats act so emotional. Which makes me reminded of 'Puss in Boots' in The Shrek Movie.

You should pay a visit to The Company of Cats and experience yourself with cats! If you need to make a reservation, please call them at +6562203835. If you need more information from The Company of Cats, you can visit their official website here.

To view more of The company of Cats photos, visit to my Facebook page here.

Pre-Chinese New Year

Today is the eve of Chinese new year. The Chinese from around the world are looking forward and ushering the year of the Gallop.

Do you know that many Chinese will takes as early as 2 weeks to prepare for Chinese New Year. They will do spring cleaning in their house, decorate the house and prepare for the Chinese new year snacks to usher the new year.

In Singapore, Chinese communities flocked over to Chinatown to have the new year atmosphere and buy the new year stuffstuff. It like a yearly affairs for us to visit to the Chinatown where you can visit to the street bazaar or photo taking of the new year decoration.

When you visit to Chinatown, you should not miss the street bazaar! As you can get many interesting stuff from the bazaar! You can get fried food, snacks, new year decoration and even fashion stuff.

During the night time, you can visit to the centre stage and watch LIVE performance that the organiser had organised. If this not enough for you, you can see the new year street lighting.

You can click the link here to view more of the photos.

Today is the eve of Chinese New Year, you can catch the LIVE telecast of Chinese New Year from Mediacorp.

I hereby to wish everyone Happy Chinese New Year!! Gong Xi Fat Chai! Huat ah!

New Year 2014

Downtown Line Stage 1 Open house 2013

On the 7th December 2013, Singapore's newest fifth train line, Downtown Line 1 hosted the Open house to the members of the public before the official commerce on 22nd December 2013. The new Downtown Line managed by SBS Transit.

For the first time, the Downtown Line trains will carry the Land Transport Authority (LTA) logo as the trains owned by the regulator, LTA.

Downtown line 1 consists of 6 new stations. The 6 new stations are Bugis (Connecting to East-West Line), Promenade (Connecting to Circle Line), Bayfront (Connecting to Circle Line Extension), Downtown, Telok Ayer and Chinatown (Connecting to North-East Line).

I headed down to Downtown Line 1 Bugis station for the open house. Within the far distance, you could able to spot the Rail Transport Logo. Their facade wording are big and clearer signage compared to the existing train station.

There are live performance line-up especially for the members of the public to join in the fun and celebrate the new downtown line.

If you could noticed, Downtown line used the different ticketing gate which is similar like the Korea railway.

When you step into the train platform, you will see many big and clearer signage that indicated your direction especially when you are in the interchange station. It also shown the next station that you are heading to in case you went to the wrong platform.

It also indicated 4 official languages, English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil language for the emergency signage.

When you stepped into the downtown line train, you will the seat are more wider. If you intend to sleep at the RESERVED seating, you have to think twice as the seat are more colourful and the font are huge enough to embarrass yourself if you did not give up your seat!

The train also equips  with the station indicator. This station indicator are slightly better compared to the existing East-West and North-South Line as it indicated which station direction you will be heading to.

This train also equips with LCD TV screen. Most likely for advertise use purposes in the future? If you have any idea, you are welcome to share with the viewers!

The con part for this downtown line will be the LCD screen in the middle of the train. As it blocked by the handle pole. Perhaps the authority could lower down LCD screen so that it could be more visible to the commuters.

To Celebrate Downtown Line 1 opening, commuter can travel for free all-day from 22 December 2013 to 1 January 2014.

For more information on the free ride on Downtown Line 1, you can logon here.