Whiling away the afternoon..

A cuppa.. And my Lonely Planet. 

As I spent this afternoon holed up in a cafe called Alley No. 5 in Malacca. Malaysia. Random thoughts just flashed past my mind. 

Malacca is a city that I used to be so familiar with that I'll do a yearly 'pilgrimage' up from Singapore. And I always used to stick to the same old Jonker Street and after a while.. Without thinking. I could tell you how to walk and where are some of the places worth stopping by for food. 

But my notion of Malacca being an easy place to walk around vanished 2 years ago when I met Gus. My Airbnb host. He has been based in Malacca since 2010 and there are places where only locals go but he'll show us around too. 

I got to know Malacca better. From a local stand point. And since then.. Malacca has changed. I see how the locals are proud of their culture. Their roots. Of how their daily lives are and their jobs and roles in this little tourist-drawing city. 

This year.. This trip marks my 3rd. My first alone.

The places I went with Gus today were places I never knew.. Never been. Lest the weekly market behind his Airbnb and this cafe I was at this afternoon. 

I enjoy how friendly I've become with the locals. How we became friends and keep track of each other's lives via social media. :) 

Like at Alley No. 5. Oren. The owner/barista. He saw me fishing out a book from my bag and he went like 'Doing your 'homework' for Russia ah?' Or when his older brother Yalu walked past and asked me 'You're back? Alone?' And proceeded to talk to me about Gus other Airbnb like we've known each other for ages (which we ain't.. I only got to know him better this year.) 

And when another of their friend came over for a drink. We were chatting across the different tables and just whiling the afternoon away. 

It's a simple lifestyle. A simple trip up Malacca. But what made it all so special are the friends I've made here that makes me come back so much more often. 

Travelling to familiar places never cease to amaze me each time I go back. And that's probably the magic of travelling. <3

Sipping my tea..

Amidst a busy/packed day. I decided to squeeze in time for a local breakfast (ok ok.. I had cravings for it ok?) 

It's not often that you'll find a coffee shop with alfresco dining by the roadside playing 90s music and with breakfast that cost S$2.50 - a toast. 2 soft boiled eggs and a mug of teh-o. And what's more? It's at the fringe of a party central/business district - Circular Road's BK eating house. 

So I sit facing the road and sipping my tea. Letting the cars zoom past me. I've never been happier. =)

Breakfast truly like a local..

It is a Monday. And to start the busy week off.. I decided to go and hunt down a coffee shop (or in my local terms: kopitiam) for the infamous coffee with butter (kopi guyou). 

I don't really drink coffee at the local kopitiam simply because I don't like the taste of robusta coffee. The aftertaste on the tongue lingers too long for my liking. So what did I order instead? Tea (teh)!

A simple kopitiam under the void deck at 10 North Bridge Road. I walked a whole round before finding it and true to its words. Heap Seng Leong opens from 4am to 8pm daily and serves no fancy fare. Beware: for those like me who are used to our current state of kopitiams. The initial 'smell' of the place may turn you off. But that's what a genuine old place feels and smells like. =)

My teh.. See the amount of condensed milk beneath? =) 

And the only food they serve. Kaya butter toast. 

With the traditional generous slice of butter in between. 

No doubt a simple meal. But when you're surrounded by the usual suspects at a kopitiam (read: uncles) and you're the only female adult and in office wear. It does make you stand out.. No? =P

Here's to an awesome week ahead!

To the diamond of the far east and back..

Although it started out as a work trip to Ho Chi Minh City. I had 3 free days after and decided to visit some of the more famous landmarks and dabble a little in the cafe scene and the local morning scene. =) 

Ho Chi Minh City. Also known as Saigon. Is named after the leader of Vietminh. Ho Chi Minh. What was once a small fishing village grew and became a metropolitan hub. A lot of historical sites are still around with a good mix of cityscapes. (read more at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho_Chi_Minh_City) 

In the 3 free days I had. Besides the daily drinks I had. The cafe hopping I did. 2 things stood out among the rest: catching the AO show in the Saigon Opera House and having breakfast in the park with the locals amidst the chirping and songs of the birds. Photo blog to ensue. =)

First up. Saigon Opera House. 'One of Ho Chi Minh City's most prominent landmarks, the Saigon Opera House was custom built in 1897 by French architect Eugene Ferret. In 1955 it was transformed into South Vietnam's Assembly House and has undergone several refurbishments since. It is only open to the public during events.' (read: http://www.citypassguide.com/en/destination/ho-chi-minh-city/attractions/architecture/the-opera-house)

The only way to see the interior of the House was to go for a show. Which was what I did with 3 other friends! =D

An old school chandelier.

The art student captured this shot of me 'coz I want the chandelier by the pillar..'

And here we are in a row: second row seats for USD$50!

The interior of the hall. I was telling the art friend that it would be simply awesome if it was a Shakespeare play instead. Old Victorian style of building with an old English play.. Le sigh.

Night view of the Opera House.

Before I went on this trip. I was planning to catch the birds in song at the local park: Tao Dan Park. It was something interesting that I picked up as I was reading my Lonely Planet guide. (read: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/vietnam/ho-chi-minh-city/sights/parks-gardens/tao-dan-park). So instead of sleeping in after late night out. I crawled out of bed and met a friend and off we went in search of the birds (and of course breakfast)!

The pushcart for drinks. Limited drinks.

And food. I only saw eggs. Bread. Vege.

This was the scene in the park. Retirees and people on the way to work grabbing a drink.

Actually I wanted hot tea. But it came as tea + ice + sugar + calamasi = iced lemon tea. But my friend got her iced coffee right. =)

A simple breakfast.

And the activities in the park.

A scene where bird owners were 'sunning' their birds in the morning sunshine. Only from 7am to 9am daily. After 9am. Most of the birds are brought away.

Finally my hot tea and friend's iced coffee (again). =)

Sometimes all I want during my travels is to indulge myself in what the locals do. That's how I learn and get to know their culture better. =)

Early morning reflection..

The hawker centre bustles with the vibes of the people even before the city awakes. Such a rare occasion to enjoy.

It's been a long time since I had the luxury to sit at a hawker centre and had a slow and long breakfast. I wish I had more opportunities like this. Sitting here. Drinking my hot soya bean. Watching the world go by and listening to the hubble bubble that's around me. What I lack is juz a newspaper to flip through. =)

The upcoming trips would for once be a change from my usual back to back rushing from place to place. But really a relaxed trip where I spend easily 6 days in the same accomodation. No doubt I have activities planned and lined up. But I'm sure I would have the chance to sit and reflect. 

Caffeine I need you!

Dsiclaimer: I was never a fan of coffee nor a coffee drinker till somewhere early this year. What made me change? Time made me. =) I have a great bunch of coffee lovers around me and we've spent hours travelling around tiny Singapore (and venturing into nearby Johor Bahru and even up to Kuala Lumpur for a 2 days 1 night trip) juz to scout for cafes. 

I always remember that first sip of fragrant piccolo latte from Oriole's (http://oriolecoffee.businesscatalyst.com/locations.htm) with a friend who is now happily married and living in Australia. I didn't like the aftertaste. But I love sniffing at that nutty cup of drink. Whenever I go out with this group of friends. We're bound to order coffee (from iced mohca to iced latte to cafe mocha to latte to affogato) and I will always sip that one sip (and make a face thereafter =P). On a whim earlier this year. I was having lunch alone and decided on having my first cup of piccolo at Kith's Cafe (http://kith.com.sg/) at Park Mall. And the rest as they say.. Is history.. =)

So. Over 2 days of random meetups with this group of friends. I visited 5 cafes. Hahaha. And I'm happy to announce that I still slept like a pig each night (though now that I mention it like that.. My body clock has turned vampir-ish since that 2 days.. Hmmmz.)

Here goes the cafes I went with my kakis over the 2 days.. First up.. Butterscotch Cafe. (http://sg.openrice.com/singapore/restaurant/butterscotch/81559/)

They serve ice cream too. But we didn't order as we wanted mains and other desserts. More importantly. Their coffee! 

They don't serve piccolo latte. So this is latte less milk (but I feel that it's still latte - normal). 

My mum's affogato. Slightly disappointed her as she was expecting the coffee and ice cream to be separated. I think she enjoys pouring the coffee over the ice cream herself. =)

Friend's iced mocha.. Which sadly tasted more like iced latte. =/

But this was awesome! I love their New York Cheesecake! Especially that crumble at the base. *yumz yumz*

Churros.. I can't appreciate it. But my friend was happy munching away (and sprinkling cinnamon sugar all over the table =))

Wendy's meets Ramly burger.. The patty was a tad dry (crumbled at touch) but I like the wedges and the mushroom sauce on it. =)

And souffle!! Not the usual insides. A bit more mushier. Reminds me of chawanmushi. =P

And we ordered buffalo wings for sharing! Obviously we are hungry!! 

And then we went over to Dutch Colony Co (http://www.dutchcolony.sg/) Not a place easy to get to. But I love this place to bits. (Read here: http://foodiegoestravelling.blogspot.sg/2013/11/seafood-of-east-meets-west.html)

And cafe mocha..

And no guesses for this! Piccolo! Love the aroma of the beans to bits.. =)

On the second day I met another good friend for cafe hopping. So the 2 Westerners that we were. Decided to head over to the East at Penny University (http://www.pennyuni.com/).

And this was the beginning of many cups of piccolo to come! XD But! This! This had to be the piccolo latte I've drank thus far! Totally worth that 1.5 hours trip over! =)

We had brunch here. Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon. Generous portion of sauce! 

And we went towards the South to Chye Seng Huat Hardware (in short CSHH - http://www.cshhcoffee.com/) The coffee simply cannot compare to Penny's. But I like ambience here better. Not so cramp. More spacious. =) But I muz say I haven't found a win-win formula yet. Where both coffee and dessert can attract me back together. Except probably Maison Ikkoku (http://www.maison-ikkoku.net/) but that's for another time. =)

Piccolo again..

And with a scone for sharing. =) The brunch at Penny's was really heavy. *grinz*

This is super random. But everytime I see a wash room as such. There's this friend of mine who juz leaps to mind. =P 

And last stop for the day at Strangers' Reunion (http://www.hungrygowhere.com/singapore/Strangers__Reunion/). 

A cheesecake (but Butterscotch still wins - hands down). 

I like the Xmasy feel here though. And it's cozy. Only thing was coz it was on Boxing Day. It was still quite crowded. =/

Last piccolo! =)

A late wish. But nonethless Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! *cheerz to more coffee to come*