[Cafe Visit] The Little Prince Cafe, Somme Road, Singapore

Earlier this year, I came across an article about hipster cafes in Singapore, listing these obscure cafes that I'm currently on the lookout for now.

One particular cafe caught my attention: A themed cafe based on the novel, 'The Little Prince' by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. It was one of my favourite books growing up, and my curiosity was stoked -- I knew I had to check it out some day.

The Return to Markets and Burgerlab~!

Almost like we were attempting a sequel or a remake, this Saturday was spent almost exactly like our last Markets-and-myBurgerLab-later outing~ :)

Not that that's a bad idea -- nothing like a day of productive shopping, topped off with an extremely satisfying dinner. I finally got to taste myBurgerLab's Kajuu burger, after months of craving it! And I got some pretty decent loot at the Markets@JayaOne, too~

[Book Review] 'The Ocean at The End of the Lane' by Neil Gaiman

Fine, I admit, it's been ages since I last finished a novel, with real life and social commitments and laziness getting in the way.

My current "reads-in-progress" are Haruki Murakami's "1Q84" (still not coming any closer to finishing, considering it's massive) and the Pacific Rim novelization (just so I can live in the Pacific Rim universe a bit longer and fangirl post-movie), which have been sitting neglected on my new bookshelves, gathering dust.

But it took me only about 2-and-a-half-days to finish Neil Gaiman's newest release, 'The Ocean at the End of the Lane', and would have taken even less time if I had the stamina or insomnia to read through the night. :P

Speaking of my new bookshelves, have you seen them~? *v* Hehe~

[Book Review: Minor spoilers ahead!]

~The KL Depressed Cake Shop 2013~

Sunday, September 15th found us at Madisons Jalan Bangkung, at the invitation of my friend and colleague Alia to support The KL Depressed Cake Shop. :)

The KL Depressed Cake Shop is a 2-day charity bake sale held from Sept 15-16 this year as part of the Malaysiaku50 Festival, to help raise awareness for mental illnesses and depression in Malaysia. All proceeds from the bake sale would be donated to the Malaysian Mental Health Association.

The featured cakes and baked goods fit the theme, with grey icing and morose motifs. It's kind of an avant-garde idea, considering that the traditional image of cakes are almost always cheerful and colourful and meant to celebrate some happy occasion. It's also almost ironic, since dessert is usually the first thing people would go for to cope with not-too-happy feelings ...

This was also the KL chapter of the global Depressed Cake Shop movement, founded in the UK. There are over 30 Depressed Cake Shop chapters around the world, dedicated to the same cause of raising awareness towards mental health issues.

EDIT: I was told that the bake sale managed to raise RM 15,000 for the cause, hurrah~! :D Congrats to the great people and amazing crew behind the effort~!

~The Escape Room KL: Real-Life RPGs~

After an extremely exhausting week, I wanted nothing more than to just 'escape' from it all and do something fun ... so it was probably the best timing for my first 'Escape Room' session! Perfect way to end the work week and blow off some steam. :)

~Trip to Ye Olde Smokehouse Fraser Hill~ "Far Over The Misty Mountain Cold ..."

It all began when Kids and I saw this Groupon for a 2D1N stay at Ye Ole Smokehouse, Fraser Hill:

The minute I saw the deal go up, there was no question that we were going. >< We've been wanting to go to Smokehouse for ages now, and personally experience the quaint, 1900s British surroundings and atmosphere instead of just looking at beautiful photographs online and wishing we were there ... but the expensive prices turned us off. :( Groupon was our only hope!

With almost no hesitation, and with the punching-in of a few credit card details later, we had two coupons for a 2-night stay. We we were on our way for an adventure! :)

~Arts for Grabs March 2013~ "Do You Hear The People Sing?"

A bit of background for those who have just tuned in: Arts for Grabs is an independently-organized arts market, where budding local artists can showcase their arts, do a bit of networking, and maybe even make a buck or two over the weekend.

View of the Annexe Gallery from the top-floor loft ...

I've been to Arts for Grabs before, and while my previous experience with the event was like a charming weekend stroll through crafts markets like Convent Garden or St Kilda Esplanade ... last weekend, for some reason, felt like a post-French Revolutionary Bohemian meet, with politically-charged passions running high, and the stark, smoky smell of art-in-progress in the air. O__O <-- as you can see, I've been very strongly influenced by the art-vibe. Just being there felt like I was being part of some underground anti-government movement -- maybe it's because elections are so near?

~Sights & Sounds of Urbanscapes 2012~

I have a confession: I'm a sucker for all things hipster. I love the vintage retro things and fashions, the pretentiously healthy fusion food, the strange music, the rebellious zeal to protect the environment like it's a life's calling, and all the colourful, artsy things that hipsters love.

So it was no surprise that Alyaa and myself found ourselves making our annual pilgrimage to Urbanscapes, this year at Padang Astaka, to enjoy the shopping, the food, and the music. For the first time, Urbanscapes were featuring an international act, Sigur Ros, and Hijabster Princess Yuna, and tickets were selling out months before the event.

In Which Also Involves Potatoes And Beef

Almost as a continuation of our previous Epic Adventure Mealtime episode (where we boldly attempted croquettes), Kids, Sky and I this time joined forces to cook a dinner that involves potatoes, onions and more potatoes. :D

After many hours of surfing Pinterest, I decided our next culinary experiment would be: Potato Gratin~!

Epic Meal Adventure Time: How to Make Croquette

One of the many merry misadventures Kids and I get ourselves into is completely ignoring the risk of ruined kitchens and ruined appetites, and attempting to cook. Yesterday, we tried to make our mark on the culinary world by making croquettes. :D

~An Ode to Upstairs Cafe~

While the cast of Friends are busy hanging out on their favourite orange couch at the Central Perk, Ted and company are always at MacLaren's on How I Met Your Mother, and if you're a Malaysian from my generation, you'll probably remember Ipoh old-town Kopitiam gang from Kopitiam.

Seriously, does anyone remember this awesome series?

If my friends and I were cool, fascinating and popular enough to have our own TV sitcom, we would have ... Upstairs Cafe. OwO

Hangouts + Shopping + Burgers + Food = Insomnia

In this dead hour of the night when all sane people should be asleep, but mad scientists like me are still awake -- brains too overstimulated by the unsolved mysteries of the universe, the injustices of human society, and the fact that 'The Hobbit' movie will be released later next month -- allow me to introduce you to a burger joint most marvelous.