Tian Kee & Co Coffee Shop

This little coffee shophouse just opened up a short distance from our place along the Kallang River so my friend Bonnie (who sadly is moving back to the US soon) and I met there last week to check it out and enjoy a cup of tea.


One of the unique items on the menu is the Rainbow cheesecake.  Judging by the number of people ordering it at the cafe, it seemed to be quite a popular item. Evidently it is a "healthy" cheesecake that is made with yogurt.  


Bonnie and I were the only Ang Mo's (Caucasians) in the cafe so we were pretty impressed with ourselves for finding one of the new cool hang our spots which only the young and hip Singaporeans know about!  



Expat Forums

I am sharing this post from Kristy Rice's blog - 4 Kids, 20 Suitcases and a Beagle
She basically summarized what goes on in the Facebook expat forums that I have joined since moving to Singapore.  Don't get me wrong these forums, like the Singapore Expat Wives are an incredible resource for newcomers.

Want to know the best place to find the best:
Favorite food item from your home country?
Tailor?
Ladies Night location?

Any and everything can be found on the Expat forum...that being said with members from all over the world with all very different viewpoints there are (often) heated discussions. And when things get heated it seriously brings out the crazy in people. I have to admit watching people from all walks of life ranting about the most random things can be pretty entertaining to observe from a distance.  Kristy's blog perfectly captured the randomness that can occur during Expat Facebook Forum rant below:

The Facebook Group

What the, when the, how the?
Sally: Just wondering if anyone knows where I can find rose scented, gluten free, Japenese taco shells? My two year old son can’t live without them, we were able to get them in London but I can’t find them here?
Xian: Lulu Supermarket – in Saudi
Doug: Look at this adorable picture of a seal swimming in a glass box in the desert. Isn’t it adorable! It did tricks for us for fish.
Jennifer: That’s disgusting. This shouldn’t happen. Fish do not belong in the desert. Fish belong in the sea and on the plates of five star restaurants. You should be ashamed of yourself. I can’t believe your attitude! I’M SO CROSS I’M GOING TO START TALKING IN CAPS LOCK. Here’s my 20 page dissertation on why fish do not belong in the desert.
Raul: Where can I buy tickets to see the fish in the desert?
Jill: I saw someone driving so badly today. It was so bad I took a photo as I was driving to prove it.
Sally: I still can’t find rose scented, gluten free, Japanese taco shells. Does anyone know how to get to Saudi? Can I drive in Saudi? I heard a rumour I can’t drive in Saudi? Is there a Wholefoods in Saudi, obviously not fully stocked but just the gluten free macrobiotic items.
Mo: I would like to adopt a dog
Joe: I rescued this dog yesterday. Have this dog.
Mo: Not that sort of dog. I want a dog with lots of hair that will need to sit on the couch in the air-conditioning throughout the summer eating home made treats.
Joe: My dog is the best dog, why you no want my dog. You very bad person. You don’t deserve dog. I rescued it but I can’t keep it because I’m allergic. I’m holding a fundraising dinner at my house tonight, please bring two bags of dog food and 1000 US dollars.
Adam: Here’s a picture of my dinner tonight. Why do you think the meat is green?
Xian: Did you buy the meat at Lulu?
Saba: I ate green meat once
Shirley: Don’t eat the green meat. You will die. Definitely, no doubt about it. Dead.
Mel: Batter the meat in breadcrumbs.
Ted: When I was young we always ate our meat green, just eat the meat.
Chantel: It’s bad that you eat meat.
Moha: I could never eat meat.
Matt: Did you eat the meat?
Sally: Is the meat gluten free?
Khala: Has anyone heard from Adam?
Deborah: We are moving to Doha and I am looking for school places for my five children. We arrive on Tuesday, which school is the best one?
Mona: I’ve been very very sick lately, someone suggested I see a doctor, where do you find the doctors?
Xian: Lulu supermarket – Saudi
Jill: Seriously, hazard lights, in the fog? I’ve taken another photo while I was driving to show you how bad it was!
Adam: Does anyone know what time I have to be at work tomorrow?
Mo: I want to adopt a cat
Joe: Here’s a cat for adoption, I rescued it yesterday. I would keep it but I’m allergic.
Vladimir: Looking for an arabic teacher, must be young, single, attractive and have own car. Arabic not essential.
Eve: Looking for a daycare centre, must be peanut free, and sensitive to lactose intolerance, any good recommendations?
Roxanne: How old is your child Eve?
Eve: No child yet, planning on getting pregnant in October 2017.
Joan: My husband was offered a job at Shell as the leading ladder holder, how much should he get paid?
Robert: I’m the leading ladder holder at Shell?
Sally: For Sale – Household goods – moving back to London. Items for sale: IKEA bed, IKEA dining room table, IKEA tv cabinet, IKEA shoes, IKEA underwear, IKEA toothbrush, IKEA soap and ten unopened packets of rose scented gluten free Japanese tacos.

First New Years in Singapore

One huge perk of living in Asia is that we have taken advantage of time off work around the holidays to explore some pretty amazing places in the world.  We have spent New Years in New Zealand, India, Vietnam and the Philippines, and these have all been incredibly memorable in very different ways. 

However, we have never spent a New Years right here in Singapore. It was extra special having my parents around to ring in the new year and watch the fireworks with us. We started off the evening going to a lovely Japanese restaurant called Issho Izaka located at the new Kallang Wave mall, which is about a 7 minute walk from our house, where we shared the Japanese hot pot dinner for four. Later we walked down the road to visit our friends who were throwing a big New Years Eve party at their newly renovated condo in Costa Rhu. At midnight we walked a short distance down the road to the Gardens by the Bay East and got a spectacular view of the fireworks.  Kingsley and I love to walk in this park almost every evening after dinner and it is usually very quiet and empty.  

On New Years however the park was bustling with families who came from all over Singapore to view the fireworks. Lucky for us it was a short 5 minute walk back to our condo after the fireworks. Meanwhile we watched hoards of people desperately trying to catch a taxi back to their homes as the public transport in Singapore shuts down after midnight.  I heard rumors of people waiting till 4am to finally catch a taxi to get home.  I cannot think of anything more unappealing!

2015 New Years was a quiet and simple year than previous, which meant we had time to slow down, focus and contemplate on the important things in life like family and friends and all the many many things we have to be thankful for! 

新年好 - kung hei fat choi




2015 Fireworks in Singapore from Lynn Wood on Vimeo.