Book City

There is a building in Bras Basah Road next to the National Library, known as Book City to the generations of Singaporean school children. Amongst the many book stores in that building, there is a cool book store called "Basheer Graphic Books" and they specialise in books on architecture, design (interior, landscape, fashion, product etc), art and craft and photography. They carry a very comprehensive range of such books and magazines and one can just spend hours browsing and getting lost in the dazzling array of design books in there.

There's also some cool products like lomo cameras, origami-making sets and a humorous set of real plywood stickers which you would stick on convenient locations like your mobile phone in case one needs to "touch wood" for superstitious reasons and one can't find wood conveniently! Next time you are in the area, remember to drop in to check out all the cool stuff in the book store.

Vintage Online Shop

Vintage lovers in Singapore are simply growing. Many young people who are setting up their first home are turning to vintage furniture and housewares such as clocks, drinking glasses, candy trays to make a statement. Retro designs are classic and the quality of those products which have lasted the last 30, 40, 50 years are proof that they are well-made and have stood the test of time.
Ipreloved Reloved is a cool online vintage shop that my partner-in-grime, K and I have set up together since mid March this year. We also have a Facebook page where we aim to have a gathering of the like-minded especially in Singapore. We stock vintage wares that are in good condition, sometimes even mint condition as we get new old stock and items which have probably been sitting proudly in a display cabinet and never been used by the owners because they "couldn't bear" to use them like this half dozen 1950s drinking glasses with gold/gilt rim and printed purple and black floral design from Sydney.

Another popular vintage category of beauties we offer is retro handbags. Why pay $80 or more for a vinyl handbag which is available at all the departmental stores? Why not spend the same amount (or less) on a well-made and uniquely designed bag which will definitely get you compliments and a demand to know where you got it. If you are selfless and kind, you will tell them you got it at Ipreloved Reloved, a cool virtual shop in Singapore!

Ice-Cream Sandwich, Singapore-Style

This is probably an institution which is very Asia. This is the Singapore version of a Mr Whippy ice-cream truck. It is usually an elderly man on a scooter-powered ice-cream "vehicle". I say vehicle because it is a little side cart contraption joined to a scooter with a big umbrella over the top.

The other thing which apparently is unique to Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia as far as I know, is our "ice-cream sandwich". Singaporeans are very pragmatic people. We call a spade a spade, ice-cream sandwiched in a slice of bread an ice-cream sandwich. Not so for people in other parts of the world apparently. To them, an ice-cream sandwich does not have bread at all. It is ice-cream sandwiched between 2 wafers.

So the next time you see one of these ice-cream carts (which is common in Orchard Road and some also make daily calls into housing estates and near schools just like Mr Whippy), please stop and for $1, enjoy an ice-cream sandwich, Singapore-style.

Hunt For A Good Cuppa

Coffee connoisseurs especially those who love Aussie and Kiwi coffees often lament the lack of a good cuppa in Singapore. Starbucks should be left to Americans who don't know any better and only want to seek out a familiar place and taste when they are travelling. We pity them, but should not join them in their folly.

I have done much research on the search of a good coffee in Singapore and am hereby declaring Forty Hands, a quirky cafe run by 2 Australian brothers in the gentrified area of Tiong Bahru which is now becoming hipper by the passing day (rents are shooting up there now), nestled amongst these Art Deco old Singapore Improvement Trust (predecessor of the current Housing Development Board) flats - to be the best Australian-style coffee in Singapore. I have an acute palate and have particularly high standards when it comes to things like food and coffee - and that's why you should believe me when I declare this tops in Singapore in the Australian-style coffee category.

Please also note that the prices are Australian as well, it costs $6 for a soy flat white ($1 extra for the soy milk) and $3.50 for a cookie to go with your cuppa.

Helix Bridge

The Helix Bridge which links the Marina Square/ Esplanade area to the Marina Bay Sands is one cool structure, mostly stainless steel and glass. Designed by a team of Australian and Singaporean architects, the Bridge affords you a great view of both sides of the water - the old CBD side with the familiar skyline, helmed by the Fullerton Hotel (old General Post Office), and the new side with the distinctive design of the Marina Bay Sands casino and hotel. The Bridge lights up at night with the contribution of the lights of the Singapore Flyer in the background.

Furniture With Character

Folks who are setting up home in Singapore and looking for cool furniture, read on.

For people who:-

1. do not want a whole house decked out in Ikea or Courts

2. have a love for nostalgia

3. are looking for furniture pieces with a bit of character

4. do not have a huge budget to blow

5. want friendly service and a free beer when furniture shopping

you need to check out Likethatone. You will probably need a map or a GPS to get there as it is tucked in the boonies amongst HDB (housing development board) flats and in a light flatted factory area, but it is not difficult to get there on the PIE (I think) and parking is plentiful and free on the weekend.

The stuff is way cool, with mostly Mid-century local pieces, some of which have had a creative twist added to them by the proprietors. There are so many pieces that are just calling out to me to give them a place in my home but unfortunately, there is the real life issue of space constraints (and of course budget). The folks at Likethatone have a great eye for fabrics and the new upholstery on the armchairs, wing chairs, sofas and stools are often enough of a motivation to want to make those pieces a part of your home.

They have also inspired me to get a move on to restore my own 2 1960s teak armchairs. My family couldn't quite believe how these babies now look as compared to the last thirty plus years we remember them in their old and horrid state sitting forlornly at my mum's house.

A little inspiration, a little imagination, research and effort will get you far. Check out this shop and be prepared to want to bring a lot of gorgeous furniture home.