My First Lithuanian Friends

Had a chance to host my first Friends from Lithuania from the 6th to the 8th - Avydas and Jolita - a really great couple that i got to know through the Couch Surfing Project. It's really fun - had a chance to show them around Singapore, many of the places which are not the usual tourist spots. They were happy, i believe, and my family and i had a great time as well. Moreover, through the many conversations that we shared, Arvy got me pretty keen on going to Lithuania... hmmm... going to have to do some research soon. Anyway, check out some of the pics i took while showing them around.

Sultan Mosque by Night

Cool Antique shop

Kampong Glam is absolutely my current favourite place in Singapore. Nice Arabic cafes (love Cafe Samar), great atmosphere, what i think is the most beautiful mosque in Singapore and a really cool little shop at Bussorah street selling antiques and little trinkets from my childhood days. I'll be writing more about this district in my later postings. Keep a lookout!

An Ingenious Reverie: The photography of Yip Cheong Fun

Brought them to see a free photo exhibition at the Nationary Library. It's got lots of pretty photos depicting scenes of Singapore's past, taken by the late Yip Cheong Fun, a Cultural Medallion awardee and probably our most highly acclaimed photographer. The introduction in the library website describes this as "largest retrospective photographic exhibition by a single photographer ever staged in Singapore". Anyway, it's at the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library level 10 and it'll be on till the 15th may, everyday from 10am to 9pm.

View of The Oasis from Cosy Bay

Drove them to the condominiums near Cosy bay coz Jolita commented on how nice oasis looked when we were driving across Nicoll Highway, and yes, i was pleasantly surprised by the view myself too. I think they changed the colours of the lights at the Oasis, used to be more 'biang', i remember. It's a pity though that the spotlights that light up the top of the bridge linking the indoor stadium to cosy bay were not turned on - would have made the whole place more spectacular.

A Great Morning at Bollywood Veges!

A Ribena plant?

We had a really really great morning at Bollywood veges! (100 Neo Tiew Road) Not that i've been to many farms in Singapore, but i think this has got to be the coolest! Lots of different local plants clearly labelled and beautifully organised around the entire compound. Flowers, fruit trees, ponds - the whole works! It's really fun to explore the different sections of the farm, and I must say that a visit to Bollywood veges is a perfect day trip for city dwellers like us; even my new found Lithuanuan friends, who are already so acquainted with farms, seem to be absolutely fascinated by the range of tropical fruits and plants they have, especially the lemon grass, which they so wanted to grow back home in Lithuania to make more fragrant curry, their new-found favourite food. Special mention goes to Mrs Ivy Singh, owner of the farm, who so graciously gave Arvy some lemon grass plants and taught him how to grow them- really nice of her. Oh... and one last thing, i've got to say that Poison Ivy Bistro, the cafe at the farm, serves many delicious (and i presume healthy) and reasonably-priced dishes made with ingredients grown from the farm too.

Jolita & Veria at the Poison Ivy Bistro

Arvydas & Me

It's been Great Hosting you guys- Hope to see you again this summer in Lithuania!