It has always been a struggle to find food that agrees with the rest of the crowd while not breaking the wallet, especially when one is in town over the weekends. I’m happy to announce that with the recent addition of Yomenya Goemon in town, it could really be a good option to dine at. After all, how many people can say no to both Western and Japanese food?

While a relative newcomer to the Singaporean culinary scene, Goemon is a long established restaurant in Japan. Consider them as the Pastamania of Japan. You can find them in just about area in Tokyo and major cities in Japan. With their success, they’ve managed to break into the China market in Shanghai and more recently, Singapore.

Yomeonya Goemon, 313 Somerset branch.

Before you make any wild guesses, Goemon serves up Italian spaghetti, with a Japanese touch. Well you could consider it Japanese-Western fusion food. But if it’s delicious, no one would be complaining anyway. With 34 years of experience under their belt, there should be no way that they would mess up by serving highly experimental pasta dishes that will shock the diners.

Cook on order spaghetti is the way to go.

While still on the variety topic, diners will definitely be overwhelmed by the sheer variety of flavors offered at Goemon. Aside from the usual 3 styles of tomato, cream and olive oil & garlic, there’s also the more experimental Asian and Japanese styles like butter & soy sauce and cod roe flavors. For those opting for even more unusual stuff, there are a few soup and cold pastas offerings.

Spoiled for choice.

It is also good to know that instead of serving par-cooked pastas, Goemon only start cooking individual servings after the order is place. It ensures that el dente pastas are served every time to the diners’ delight.

Another twist that goes on when dining at Goemon is that everyone is given chopsticks instead of the usual fork and spoons to eat their pastas with. A funky Japanese gimmick to remind one that they are eating fusion pasta? Maybe.

Fork and spoons can still be requested from the staff if diners find it a hassle to eat their pasta with chopsticks. But I’d stick with the interesting chopsticks way of eating.

Tomato based seafood pasta. Regular set meal.

Pastas in Goemon come in 2 sizes, regular and “oomori” size which is an extra 250g serving on top of the regular size. Unless you are really very hungry, I would recommend against ordering the larger size since most would have trouble finishing it.

I once had a few friends with me who all ordered an oomori size each, but only one managed to finish his plate. Yomenya’s regular servings are already ample and are served with a plentiful amount of sauce, filling one’s stomach quite easily.

Cream based four cheese smoked chicken pasta. Alar carte.

For those who want to try more varieties of their pasta at one go, Goemon serves up a half-half set meal, which consist of two half portions of different pasta styles of your choice. There’s also the option of a regular set meal and the oomori set meal to choose from if you desire to have your salad, drink, pasta and dessert all in one sitting.

Or plain fried with olive oil and garlic, with a Japanese twist.

Being spoiled for choice is one sin that we humans desire for, and Goemon serves that up in abundance. So if you’re up for either some great made to order pasta or trying out experimental flavors, Goemon will be the place to hit up in town. Either way, Goemon serves up affordability, fullness and variety in one good package. Just try to perfect your chopstick holding skills before visiting.

Another bubble tea post again? I have no excuse for delivering yet another drink post. But this time it’s a standalone shop located in Tanjong Pagar, yet another local entrepreneur setting up to join in the fierce bubble tea competition currently ongoing in Singapore.

Like Artease Cafe, Woobbee is another homegrown bubble tea shop that is attempting to conquer the taste buds of the working crowd here in our CBD area. What’s more, the two are located in very close vicinity of each other.

Artease, being a fierce competitor who can serve up an excellent cup of bubble tea could reasonably be called the crowd’s favorite spot. And yet, if Woobbee manages to stand firmly on its own and attract a good amount of followers that would mean that they do serve a comparable drink.

Office workers getting their daily dose of drinks.

Like my ramen adventures, sometimes I happen to pass by a new shop that I have never seen before and impulsively go ahead to try it out. Woobbee was another such find, when I was in town trying to locate Artease instead. A score for them, too bad for Artease. Lets just say that I’m sometimes still torn between which of the two shops to patronize when I’m in the vicinity.

If there's a waiting line for your drinks, you will be given this instead.

When it comes to its drinks, Woobbee will not disappoint. Since they boast of using natural raw sugar for their drinks, it’s definitely a boost for the health conscious who also can’t get enough of their bubble tea fix. Rest assured that they do use premium Taiwan tea leaves and creamer for their bubble teas too.

While their bubble teas are definitely on top of the game, what gives them the edge over the competition would be their fruity teas. Not many places serve up a lychee fruit tea now and their fruity yogurt spins are definitely the drink of choice on a sweltering hot afternoon.

Also their pudding would sure to be a bestseller if they were to start selling them by the box instead of just offering it with their bubble teas. Although I’ve tried it and it has a more chewy jelly0like texture than how I would like my pudding, they are still pretty decent.

Drink comes either in a 500cc regular or 700cc large.

Dedicated? Might have just the thing for you.

To give it a try against Artease? Please do. Both are excellent homegrown bubble tea shops that deserve your support. Woobee even has an excellent website to wow online viewers before deciding. My good friend will always say that all the new bubble tea shops are about branding and making a visual impact to attract customers, but if they can do both while still holding up a good job in making their bubble teas, I’m not one to complain.

Woobbee
1 Tanjong Pagar Plaza
#01-18
Singapore 082001

Tel: 62208220
Open Monday to Saturday, 10.30 AM – 7.30 PM (Closed Sundays)

Composed with her thoughts of the Great Tohoku earthquake in mind, Green a.Live is YUI’s 20th single that was released earlier this month. It’s no surprise that a lot of music artists will use the quake as an inspiration for their songs this year and it’s YUI’s turn for her take. No complains if its good no? And with this being YUI, it’s definitely it is going to be a great song.

This time round it felt that the single took a seemingly longer time to release, which was when I heard of that YUI had been traveling around to hold live concerts in elementary and high schools in disaster stricken areas. That was where all the extra time taken went to. With this song, YUI hopes to help assist in bringing everyone forward to continue living happy lives.

Gratefully, Green a.Live managed to secure a number one spot on the Oricon charts after previous attempts had failed. Perhaps recent competition had been fierce with idols groups dominating the charts. But this time I would like to believe that more fans were touched by the song when whey listened to the preview and hence the boost in sales.

Green a.Live:

Green a.Live limited edition version.

Green a.Live normal edition version.

And here are the lyrics for Green a.Live. As always, enjoy.

愛、無力のまま噛み締めた
白く無情に嘆くより働いた

深夜のバーガーショップ
朝を待つ少女がひとり・・・
アタシが無くしたものは何?

愛しても引き裂かれるほど
oh your love
あなたの温もりを想い出すoh tell me

正義って何だろう?
憎しみは何処へゆくの? oh baby
ねぇ神様は誰の味方をするんだろう?
Come a.live

dance踊るみたいに笑ったら
ひらりスカートの裾
邪魔になった

都会をさまよって
奇麗なものに触れるたび
変われない自分に気づいてる

悲しみはいずれ優しさになる
oh get back
優しさは人を守るチカラに but for me

精一杯だよ
今を生き抜くために oh baby
ねぇ神様は誰を守ろうとしているの?

いつだって未来を信じているから
同じ時代に生まれて来た
あなたと一緒に

確かな手応えが欲しくて
No No No
Love…your love
苦しくもなるんだ

なのに正義って何だろう?
憎しみは何処へゆくの? oh baby
でも生きてゆかなくちゃ
・・・Tomorrow’s way

愛しても引き裂かれるほど
no crime 罪もなき
現実を受け止めるNo No No

十年先、灯す明かりのために oh baby
いま明日へとむかうの
あなたにも来て欲しい
Come a.live

Increasingly, many are seeking healthier food options when dining out. Cedele Cafe comes to mind when looking outside for what I consider organic, nutritious and delicious food, without having to pay an arm or an leg.

I’m pretty sure with it being in business for more than a decade in Singapore, people should be slightly familiar with the Cedele name even if you had not tried their stuff before. With a combination of several cafe, dine in restaurant and bakeries littered mainly around the town and east side area, Cedele is a mainstay homegrown brand that serves up healthy organic food.

This time round I’ll be focusing on just Cedele Cafe, to give everyone a introduction to what their cafes can offer.

Cedele Cafe, most of the information you need is well labeled on the boards.

If anything, Cedele Cafe is rather well known for their soups. The reason is clear. I know people to regularly drop by Celede Cafe and order nothing but a large bowl of their soup offering for the day. Coupled with the free flow of their tasty bread (now it cost a dollar for free blow breads) it pretty much makes for a healthy and satisfying full meal without breaking much of the wallet.

Soups, free flow of bread with a token sum.

But of course, if one has some cash to spare then their sandwiches are definitely recommended. When it comes to variety and the quality of the sandwiches,  Cedele is one tough opponent to beat. Not many places do manage to serve such a wide range of toppings from meat/seafood/vegetarian and still do it properly.

With your choice of bread, desired toppings, condiment pairings and a generous helping of lettuce and sliced tomatoes, Cedele’s sandwiches make for a really simple yet satisfying meal that you can enjoy everyday without getting sick of it. In fact, they have so many toppings to choose from that one will be able to eat a different kind for every meal in a week.

Well made sandwiches.

One has to try out to believe.

Alternatively, getting their soup & sandwich combo will be the best option since it gives you the best of both worlds of what Cedele cafe can offer. For a lighter option, they also offer a soup & salad combo for those who might find sandwiches a little heavy.

Soup & sandwich set or soup & salad set.

If a full meal is not what you’re looking for, Cedele Cafe also has a wide array of desserts to choose from. Like all their other offerings, their cakes are made to be healthy, yet do not lose any richness and flavor associated with desserts. It’s a mystery to me how the cakes be healthy and tasty at the same time.

And also, like all their other shops, one can buy their artisan breads to go instead of opting to dine in.

Desserts for the sweet tooth.

Cedele Cafe serves as an inexpensive option for a meal when one is around town, since unlike their all day dining restaurant counterparts the cafe does not have any extra taxes and surcharges to worry about. Coupled with their belief in serving great tasting, healthy food, it’s a no brainer why Cedele Cafe has been well received with the working crowds.

If you’ve had reservations about trying them out, think no further. You’d be pleased by the quality of the food served in Cedele Cafe. As quoted by the people at Cedele – Our philosophy is to eat good, live well. Healthy food that tastes great. You will be surprised!

Before you wonder why there’s another bubble tea post, it’s good to know that just like 10 odd years ago, bubble tea is all the rage in Singapore again. Bubble tea shops are sprouting like crazy in every corner of this little red dot and if you ever wandered around town, chances are you’d find a bubble tea shop every hundred steps or so. This time I’m going to introduce one of our homegrown shops, Artease Cafe.

For readers who had not realized yet, Artease Cafe is one of those bubble shops that is entirely managed by one of our own local bloods. Despite operations running shy of a year, they have been enjoying tremendous success and now have a couple branches around town.

Ice cream milk tea (large cup).

Grapefruit green tea (regular cup).

To some, Artease might just be another convenient bubble tea shop to get their fix of drinks. But on second look, their drinks are a notch pricier than those offered by other shops. So what gives them the edge over the rest of the shops?

I’d definitely say it’s the drinks themselves. Having tried out most of their offerings, I can also say that their drinks are also a small notch tastier than what the rest offers. Versus the stiff competition from popular franchises from Taiwan like Gong Cha and KOI Cafe, Artease definitely stands up on its own ground without any difficulty.

It also helps that Artease offers not only customizable drinks (like varying sugar levels and ice), even their pearls are offered in both large and small versions (hence the reason why I do see a lot of people insist to have their pearls small now). Their well trained and attractive staff likely have a impact in drawing lines to their shops too.

Who doesn’t appreciate someone who can prepare your drink on the spot skillfully and also some eye candy on the side?
But just maybe, some will just support them because it’s right to support homegrown brands? I’m leaning towards that direction.

One can rest their legs inside the cafe and enjoy a nice bubble tea and some snacks at the same time.

Fish mayo burger.

Unlike other shops that offer strictly drinks only, Artease itself is also a small cafe that offers set meals and small bites to accompany their beverages if desired. It might not be big enough to house a party, but it definitely is small and cozy enough to house a few groups of four comfortably.

I gave their burgers a try and was quite surprised that it was pretty well done and tasty. Pity that I didn’t have the chance to try out more of their snacks but I know I’ll be back for more another day. Not many places in town does offer above average food without all the prevailing taxes and surcharges now so it’s definitely a draw point.

Life without some tea, is just arse.

So why love Artease? I’ll just quote from the shop themselves. “We also think that life without tea is just plain arse… You’re a smart fella, you can figure the rest out.” Give them a try, and you might find yourself supporting this homegrown bubble tea shop too.

With the newly opened esplanade branch, Artease Cafe now has a grand total of 3 stores littered around town awaiting to be savored. For those who are interested, one can find their webpage over here.

Artease Cafe Tanjong Pagar
1 Tanjong Pagar Plaza
#01-35 Singapore 082001

Artease Cafe Cineleisure
8 Grange Rd
#01-03 Singapore 239695

Artease Cafe Esplanade
8 Raffles Avenue
#01-13C Singapore 039802

The chances are that once you hang out on a place long enough, you’ll start finding more chill out options at the vicinity. Summer Frost is one such find, after numerous occasions of visiting *SCAPE for that reason. Frozen dessert, reasonably priced and a great place to hang out. What’s there not to like about having an addition spot to chill?

Signature flavors.

Other options available.

As their shop name suggests, their signature frost items are the stuff that shouldn’t be missed. In case anyone can’t really catch the idea from the pictures, the frozen desserts are basically flavored shaved ice/sorbets. If frost desserts are not to your liking, they also have a range of hot and cold beverages and small bites for order.

Playing mix and match, one can choose any single type of ice flavor and add any toppings that they fancy from the list. Thus creating their own personal flavor. But if you belong to the more laid back kind, they also offer combo frost sets with frost and toppings pre-selected. Trust me, nothing can go wrong with their suggested sets since the combinations are usually very safe options.

Grape rape. Fresh grapes, grape frost and more grape sauce.

Red velvet. Milk and strawberry is an unbeatable combo.

Red bean matcha. As the red bean toppings are unavailable, the staff gave us nata de coco instead.

Granted, I went safe mode and ordered a couple frost combo sets to try out. As most of the pairings suggests, they matched their flavors perfectly. But if in any case where the combo sets toppings are not available, the staff at summer frost are still happy to mix in other available toppings to cover up. In this case the red bean matcha combo set, the red beans that are not available was substituted with the nata de coco topping instead.

Happy customers of summer frost.

Despite changing their place of operation from the NTU campus to the current *SCAPE outlet, Summer Frost’s target audience has hardly changed. Now providing the same delectable frost desserts for the teens hanging out at SCAPE. Still finding that elusive place to chill out in town? Maybe you can give Summer Frost a try for their decent location and soothing frost desserts.

After having introduced the general concept of Ramen Champion Singapore in the previous post, I’ll slowly be covering the six different stalls one by one. Out of all 6 stalls, one particular stall stands out for being very unique among the other more commonly seen Ramen styles that have been brought over to Singapore and that is Bario Ramen.

For those who are not familiar with what kind of Ramen Bario serves, Jiro-style noodles is the only choice here. Essentially that is, a bowl of porky shoyu soup, paired with extremely thick noodles, topped with bean sprouts and chunky char siew. For added flavor, there is also one inch of suspended fats covering the whole bowl. Sounds rather overpowering? That’s because this style of Ramen is meant to be like this.

Bario Ramen, Jiro-style Ramen.

As mentioned before, the bowl Bario serves is Jiro-style noodles. This is derived from the immensely popular Jiro Ramen back in Japan. Jiro Ramen, which once was a cult phenomenon capturing the hearts and bellies of its loyal supporters had managed to catch on with the general public. From then on this style of Ramen boomed, and a numbers of imitators started appearing, each doing their best to copy Jiro’s massive bowl of goodness.

Among all of the other imitators, Bario had become rather successful in creating the Jiro-style noodles. In a few short years, they managed to open 3 chain shops to their name, spreading the love of Jiro-style noodles in Tokyo itself. Singapore is their first overseas venture.

Interestingly, the name “Bario” seems to be a word play of sorts. But one thing is certain, バリ男 with the Kanji word “men” written on is definitely warning that anyone attempting their bowl of noodles should be manly enough. Even to be as manly as the Bario staff themselves, who don on a Bario version of the superman T-shirt. Wished that I could buy one of those tees.

Expect to see the Bario beeper every time due to the large crowds trying out of curiosity.

To be frank, out of the six Ramen stalls, Bario is considered my favorite of the lot. Yet I usually don’t recommend it to due to the fact that those with a weaker stomach will suffer from its after effects the day after. The thick cut bread flour noodles can easily cause indigestion and the huge amounts of pork fats only contributes to an upset stomach. Not good.

Also, the sheer volume from a bowl of their Ramen is enough for the average person to be full for 1 or 2 meals. It is a tough bowl to tackle. In fact, some pride themselves in being able to handle this kind of Ramen with ease.

Regular sized Bario Ramen, a is Small size available.

So what constitutes a bowl of Bario Ramen?

A familiar tonkotsu based soup is used, but since there’s also huge amount of pork parts used aside from the usual bones, I’ll just call it the porkiest soup ever. See the deep brown soup with the suspended white pork fats? A specially chosen shoyu (soy sauce) gives the soup its characteristically overpowering flavor. Definitely not your usual store bought shoyu.

The noodles are made with bread flour, and sculpted into an udon sized thickness. Considering that a regular bowl of their noodles should consist of around 350g of noodles, that equates to enjoying a whole baguette in compressed noodle form. Even for those who opt for a smaller bowl of Bario Ramen, know that there should be at least 200g of noodles in there too.

To top it off, large amounts of boiled veggies (usually bean sprouts and cabbage) are piled on top of the almost overflowing bowl of Ramen and paired with some chunky Japanese char siew. I’d try not to give the veggies a miss, since they are the only stuff in the bowl that cleanses your palette while tackling this bowl of noodles.

Some say that among everything that is within the Bario bowl, the hardest thing to tackle would be the char siew itself. True? You’ll have to be the judge.

If you look closely, the thick layer of suspended pork fats should be pretty evident from the photos itself. It acts as added flavor for the already very sinful bowl of noodles and also helps keep the bowl of Ramen hot while eating. Be careful not to get scorched by the soup.

Bario Ramen 2nd attempt, with max garlic and chilies.

As recommended by boss himself, a bowl of his Bario Ramen is best enjoyed with some raw minced garlic, chilies optional.

Like the idea of fighting poison with poison, one can add copious amounts of garlic to their bowl to make the usually porky soup slightly less overpowering. Dried chili flakes are of course provided, knowing that the Singaporeans must have their fix of spiciness in everything they consume.

Interestingly, there is a scale written for the different amount of garlic and chilies added to one’s bowl. Probably a way to taunt diners to eat the way the boss feels that his noodles should meant to be eaten. To become the most manly as you can be, 3 large spoonfuls of mince garlic is required. 1 or 2 spoonful of garlic respectively dictates that one is manly or slightly manly (but all are still respected for simply attempting this feat).

In English, "For being a man, thank you".

Bario is now the hottest bowl of Ramen to be savored by diners visiting the Ramen Champion, as it seems to draw the longest queues in each of the several times that I have visited. This is of course fueled by its novelty among of the other bowls of Ramen served, this is the most unique of the lot. Will it really win over the taste buds and stomachs of the Ramen loving Singaporean community? Only time will tell.

During each of my visits, there was no lack of brave friends trying out Bario Ramen. This allowed me a chance to gauge the consistency of the bowls they served. And to be frank, little details start to get missed out once the crowds gets insane.

One evident difference was that for the bean sprouts during my first visit, the head and the tails were picked out but that wasn’t the case in subsequent visits. Yes, the taste and other stuff mainly stays consistent but those who like to nick-pick will be able to draw out these small details without any difficulty.

For now Bario Ramen remains the top bowl to try, if only because of its sheer uniqueness and novelty. For those looking for a challenge in a bowl of Ramen, this is it. For the rest who don’t adore queue times or simply want a more familiar fix of Ramen, I’ll also be covering the other 5 stores at Ramen Champion once I have the chance, so stay tuned.

PS: For people who are manly enough to finish the bowl till the last drop (no cheating), there’s a little added surprise written on the bottom of the bowl.

Ramen lovers rejoice! Since the start of this month, Illuma Bugis has become the battlefield to the start of the Ramen Champion Singapore 2011. As far as I know, these kind of events are held regularly in Tokyo. But for the first time in Singapore, they have decided to test out if the concept works out for Singaporeans too. Looks like Singapore’s Ramen boom is not going to die down anytime soon.

Battle Royale.

So, what are the choices? Six great bowls of Ramen from various award winning and insanely famous shops in Japan. To keep the introduction simple: Jiro-style Ramen from Bario. Tonkotsu Ramen from Ikkousha. Shoyu Ramen from Menya Iroha. Miso Ramen from Gantetsu. Two different styles of Tsukemen from TETSU and Taishoken.

For one year starting this July, these 6 different Ramen names will each have a stall where they will exhibit and sell their signature Ramens among other Japanese specialties. All diners will cast their votes to determine a winner, which is based on sales takings, vote counts via SMS, Facebook and onsite voting.

Pictures says a thousand words, so I’ll just let the pictures give a more convincing overview.

From top Bario, Gantetsu, Ikkousha.

From top, Menya Iroha, Taishoken, TETSU.

Before you wonder. Yes, all the stalls are opened by the original owners from Japan who have specially flown over to oversee the first few weeks of operation. In fact, almost all the staff working on the food are Japanese, probably the disciples of the Ramen chef. So taste wise, it is a guaranteed 100% authentic Japanese Ramen flavor.

For some it might take a little effort to get accustomed to, but I rather not have it the other way. That is to have the shops alter their recipes to cater to our taste buds.

Ramen Champion Singapore 2011 is housed in the old compound of the now defunct Ebisuboshi-Shotengai restaurant. The place is rather spacious and could accommodate hundreds of people dining at the same time. A great spot for large groups to simply chill and enjoy Ramen. Like Marche, one gets a card when entering the Ramen Champion compound that will be used for ordering any food and drinks inside.

Similar to Marche, a card is used for ordering your food.

Proceed to your favorite store to make orders.

All the staff are Japanese, but there's no problem communicating in ramen-speak.

Beepers are given if there's a waiting time for your ramen.

Collect your ramen, and enjoy your food at either the counter tables or one of the numerous tables.

Having visited the place numerous times and even on the opening day itself. I could see that business is now slowly and steadily increasing. But still, I want to do my part to spread the Ramen love.

This marks the end of a simple introduction to the basis of Ramen Champion 2011. There will be upcoming follow up posts to introduce each different stall with finer details, so stay tuned!

As of June 30th 2011, Tanjong Pagar Railway Station will be closing down for good. Since announcements were made to cease all operations last year, people have been flocking to the railway station to witness this piece of history. Like many other curious Singaporeans, I went down to the station to take a look on the very last day itself.

Being the one and only actual railway transport system in the whole of Singapore, Tanjong Pagar Railway Station was seen as both a means to travel to our neighboring country, Malaysia and a reminder of the heritage that our fast progressing country is lacking in. This was my last chance to see this living piece of history, before the hustle and bustle was to disappeared forever.

Not my first time visiting, but definitely the final time visiting it as an operational railway station.

There were two other groups of people flocking to Tanjong Pagar Railway Station on its final day. Many were ticket holders who would be sitting on the trains this final day. While, the other group consisted of those hoping to get hold of some tickets for the final journey.

But news reports had indicated that all tickets for the past few days had been a huge sellout, so any effort to get last minute tickets were in vain. I didn’t see anyone trying to sell 2nd hand tickets for a higher price in the vicinity.

Ticket counter.

All sold out.

Undeterred aunties trying their luck.

There were of course lots of visitors who were armed with cameras, video cameras and a plethora of every other imaginable image capturing equipment. These people actually constituted an even larger portion of the crowd visiting the railway station this last day, myself included.

With the railway station shutting down, many Singaporean were looking to keep the memories alive in their hearts and minds. So, in such occasions it’s not a rare sight to see everyone armed with cameras to keep a fragment of memory for safekeeping.

Visiting the railway platform proper.

Horde of people waiting for that elusive train to appear.

But most of the people there were shutterbugs, myself included.

Spotted a couple Leica's and Tlr's.

Even a folding camera. God knows how old that camera might be..

Families and couples were more contented with creating memory of the railway station.

Apa ini?

Oh. Sads.

I am guessing that this would be the kind of picture everyone was able to take with that rule enforced.

With all the image capturing done, I just had a couple more touristy stuff to do before leaving the place for good. No doubt sensing the great money earning opportunity, the KTM staff had actually brought out a ton of souvenirs to sell to the masses. It might just had been some simple postcards, pins, tags, t-shirts and other generic stuff, but the people there still grabbed them up with enthusiasm knowing that this would be the last day they could do this.

Just remember to get your items signed by the station master before leaving the premises.

Can't just leave the railway station without some form of souvenirs no?

From postcards to photos to fans and shirts, there's something for everyone to grab.

Sizing up.

Once done with your purchase, allow the final duty station master to sign on your stuff.

Probably the only time in his life he got to sign so much stuff.

Gets.

Thank you station master and station mistress.

This sums up about the very short trip I made down to Tanjong Pagar Railway station. To witness it finally go down as another page in Singapore history, definitely stirs up some emotion and nostalgia. As of July 1st 2011, the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station and all the KTM railway land will belong to Singapore.

Even though the government had agreed to keep the old station building preserved via the National Heritage Board’s decisions, what plans they have in mind still remains a mystery. Almost everyone suspects that the building premises will be refurbished into a museum but there are also rumors that Singapore might want to convert the railway to a local owned railway service.

No matter the decision, most Singaporeans will be happy that this historical monument will not be destroyed in the name of Singapore’s progress and development.

Farewell, you will be dearly missed.

More informed YUI fans would have already known that her newest single would be another movie tie-in. But just for the rest who might want a little more information, I’ll cover here YUI’s newly released 19th single “HELLO ~Paradise Kiss~”.

It’s not the first time where YUI has specially written a song for a movie or drama, but this time YUI was given the chance to write both the theme and ending song for the upcoming movie “Paradise Kiss”. “HELLO ~Paradise Kiss~” is the main theme, while the B-side “YOU” is the ending song for the movie. Since she is a huge fan of the mangaka Yazawa Ai’s works (original author of the live action movie), she probably wrote it with much ease, fun and joy.

For those who have noticed the CD covers or have had the chance to watch the PV, “fashion” is the main theme here. In order to follow through, YUI dons a series of fashionable clothing for the PV which is very much unlike her usual style. Fret not, fans who are still looking for the usual YUI quality music should be relieved that, as far as music style goes, she still remains in her own game.

HELLO ~Paradise Kiss~:

HELLO ~Paradise Kiss~, limited edition cover.

HELLO ~Paradise Kiss~, normal edition cover.

Just a little side note about the live action move, Paradise Kiss. It’s based on the original manga story written by Yazawa Ai, with the live action movie and starring Kitagawa Keiko and Mukai Osamu. It tells the story of how a young schoolgirl stumbles into the world of fashion modelling and in the end took up the interest to pursue a path together with a bunch of student fashion designers.

It’s probably worth a watch in the movies if you are a vivid Yazawa Ai fan or Kitagawa Keiko .

Kitagawa Keiko and Mukai Osamu.

Here are the wallpapers for Summer Song in 3 different sizes, conveniently provided for the benefit of readers.

• 800×600 – Limited / Normal
• 1024×768 – Limited / Normal
• 1280×1024 – Limited / Normal

And here are the lyrics for HELLO ~Paradise Kiss~. As always, enjoy.

HELLO ~Paradise Kiss~ by YUI:

Hello〜

How many　恋してるの
I can see　すぐにわかるわ

真っ赤な
Jealousy　抱えて

違う自分に気づいている
危険な夢　触れたくなる
どうかしてる?

あの楽園の先に憧れている
でも　ねぇ　ちょっと　飛び込めないわ

こんなアタシの事
アナタ　きっと笑うでしょ?

惑わせる
優しい悪魔

Hello〜

Don’t stop　気のないフリして
Any time　待ちこがれる

情熱　それは手強い

瞳の奥　映る影に
かなわない気がするから
忘れたいわ

でも楽園の先に憧れている
寄り添えば　目を閉じるだけ

そんなアタシだったら
アナタ　きっと嫌うでしょ?

惑わせる
冷たい悪魔

いっそ出逢わなかったら
良かったのに…
Say Hello, Say Goodbye

始まりの予感
止められない
悔しいけど
好きになる

その後ろ姿に泣けてくるから
たぶん　そう　きっと
戻れないね

いつかアタシだって
アナタ　夢中にさせる

微笑むの
かわいい悪魔

Hello〜

During the Supermerlion gang’s trip to Japan a couple months ago, I had this very rare opportunity to actually visit and watch NMB48′s first stage show at their Osaka based Namba theater. Now, after months of hold ups and dragging, I’ve finally gotten around to writing on the great experience that I had from watching the NMB48 girls perform live.

Disclaimers and preparation for the show

As much as I wanted to provide a detailed walk-though of how to catch a NMB48 stage live in Osaka, my limited knowledge of Japanese and understanding of protocols just couldn’t have allowed it. So, what you will be reading here will be a gaijin’s silly attempt to watch the show.

As we all know, the hardest part of catching any AKB, SKE or NMB shows is actually winning a ballot for tickets. Before leaving for Japan, I managed to win an enpou ticket after just 3 attempts. For comparison’s sake, Sho didn’t manage to win a single ballot even after about 15 attempts for enpou and normal tickets.

Locating the theater and purchasing the ticket

If you have the time, do take a look at this writeup on the day of the show itself. It covers our daunting task of searching for almost 2 hours for the theater-in-a-basement that is the NMB48 theater. Truthfully to speak, I panicked a little as the cutoff time for the purchasing of tickets drew near, knowing that if I were to miss this opportunity, not only will I not be able to have my chance at the show, I would also be back-listed for not turning up.

Fortunately, we eventually did manage to find the NMB48 Theater with a little time to spare. So off I went to get my tickets.

Its almost impossible to peer from a side street to find that red patch which states, NMB theater.

Unlike the usual Japanese way of showing the winning ballot on their phone, I actually printed out my ballot on a piece of paper prior to my trip to Japan. I’m pretty sure that the NMB48 staff that was guarding the entrance was rather surprised by the fact that some gaijin would actually go this far to watch a show. I speak almost zero Japanese, so Sho had to help me do some translating before the staff finally allowed me to go down to purchase my tickets, alone.

After several hand gestures and simple English-Japanese communication, I showed them my passport and handled over the 1000 yen. That was when they finally give me my much cherished enpou ticket for that night’s show. Just don’t forget to ask them to put on your gigaband too.

NMB ticket, enpou 06.

Things to do while waiting for the show

With more than an hour to spare, I was free to do other miscellaneous stuff while eagerly waiting for the show to start. Here I returned to the basement theater to take some pictures of the staff and the NMB48 girls’ portraits. The perk of being a gaijin was that the NMB48 staff were more forgiving to silly mistakes and restrictions that were normally enforced to the local Japanese people.

Usually photography is not allowed of theater staff, but this silly gaijin was given an exception.

After getting some directions from the staff, we spent the remaining time visiting the official NMB48 shop that is located just a corner away from the theater itself. With most of the popular items sold out, we settled for the photo sets that they were selling.

After the purchase, Sho and Wilson went on their own ways since there is no reason that they should waste any time waiting for me, the only solo ticket holder. So I went back to the NMB48 theater area alone and stood around waiting for the show to start.

NMB48 official shop.

The horrors of waiting for my show

With about half hour left before the show, the NMB48 staff started shouting out what I assumed to be instructions for the ticket holders. But of course with my almost zero Japanese, I had no idea what was going on. On a second thought, I had hoped that Sho was around to aid me with the translations. My only hope was that they were doing something similar to the AKB48 ticketing system so I could anticipate some of the things that were happening.

With about 10mins left before the show, an orderly line of people suddenly sprung out from a hidden door and that line was slowly guided down to the NMB48 theater basement. By this time I was already dumbfounded and confused on how a line could just appear without me noticing. The only thing left for me to do is to just consult the NMB48 staff for help.

Show them this, and they will help you.

Fortunately, I learned that enpou tickets are kind of like a golden ticket. I was quickly bumped to the front of the queue where all the other enpou ticket holders were similarly being held. After a simple check of my gigaband and tickets, I was quickly taken inside the theater itself together with the other enpou ticket holders.

The most amusing event of that night was that they actually had to allocate a personal staff member to take care of me till I was properly seated inside the theater. But I guess that is what I was getting for showing a clueless face and making a small ruckus to the staff. I could even hear several chuckles from the NMB48 staff talking at the back, with words like “Singapore” and “gaijin” mentioned. Ah the sadness.

This gigaband will be the most important item for spending your night with the NMB girls.

Moments before the show

To give everyone a general idea, Enpou ticket holders are given seats on the 7th row. Those who had the impression that enpou tickets holders were the first to be ushered in to get front row seats will be sorely disappointed. After enpou ticket holders, family/females/children were then subsequently shown to their respective 4th/5th/6th rows before all the normal ticket holders finally got to snatch for the best seats.

In comparison, NMB48′s theater is a much bigger than AKB48′s. It doesn’t have any standing room though, just a total of 233 seats so that all the audience can comfortably enjoy the next 2 hours seated. Seats are positioned inclined, meaning that the priviledge of eye contact and direct interaction with the performing girls is only limited to maybe the first 3 rows of fans. This wasn’t much of a hindrance to me, since I preferred to enjoy their performance from a much wider perspective. Even seated at the 7th row, I was still only about 10 meters away from the stage.

Also, when compared to the AKB48 theater’s performing stage, the NMB48 theater had a much bigger stage, so the girls could have ample space to do their dance moves.

NMB48 board. Will be seeing them in the flesh very soon.

The show proper

Just in case anyone might not know, NMB48′s Team N was performing their first stage, Dareka no Tame ni, which also happened to be AKB48′s Team A third stage setlist.

Prior to winning the ballot for the NMB48 stage show, my knowledge of the song list and the NMB48 girls themselves were very limited. I will not claim that I was able to identify all the different members that were performing on that day.

I did know that the two main stars to watch out for would be Yamamoto Sayaka and Watanabe Miyuki. Personally, I had also taken a liking for both Ogasawara Mayu and Yoshida Akari while researching on the NMB48 girls, while Sho had specifically asked me to keep a lookout for Yamada Nana. Those were the 5 girls to watch out for in the show that is.

Watchlist No.1, Yamamoto Sayaka.

As the overture started, all the hardcore fans immediately brandished their NMB48 lightsticks, including this duo of young girls whom were wearing a similar costume of leopard stripped dresses and beige uniforms worn by the members themselves. But they only accounted for about 50% of the crowd, as I believe there were also a large bunch of people who came to watch the show out of curiosity (or perhaps were dragged by their grandsons/granddaughters). I wasn’t able to get hold of any NMB lightsticks and came ill prepared without any other glowsticks either, so the best I could do that night was to just clap as loud as I could.

Like a ritual, able bodied fans started off the night enthusiastically chanting the “MIX” towards the overture. From that point on, I could clearly see that the hardcore fans were split into 2 groups seated at two distinct places. One large group positioned themselves right at the last 3 rows, while the other group was clustered at the 3rd, 4th, 5th rows. Probably a mutual agreement to gather the hardcore fans in one area to have more focused, organized cheers.

Like all theater performances in Japan, everyone at the NMB48 theater cheer and shouts while seated, a rule that is enforced throughout all 48 theaters. But the rule allows everyone to have a crystal clear view of the NMB48 girls performing, even if other fans are waving lightsticks wildly.

Sho mentioned to me prior to the show, that A3 stage was a very good show to test out the mettle of the NM48B girls. Since there’s a couple of songs that require a good amount of coordination and skill to pull through. It will justify if the girls have poured in all their blood, sweat and tears into making this performance a success.

Watchlist No.2, Watanabe Miyuki.

Finally, the girls appeared and started performing their first song, “Tsukimisou (月見草)”. From that point onwards, the roars of Yamamoto Sayaka overwhelmed the whole theater. I almost believed myself to I have joined a stage show that exclusively consisted of Sayaka fans.

00. Overture
01. Tsukimisou
02. Warning
03. Tanjoubi no Yoru
MC

And I was totally blown away by just their first song. From watching online videos of the original AKB A3 stage, Tsukimisou requires very precise movements and vibe into the song to make it look fantastic. If first impressions would be an indication of how well the girls were to fare that night, the first song had already scored 100 points from me. I was awestruck.

After the first song, I took the liberty to pick out the girls 1 by 1, to see if I would really be able to differentiate them. After all, I had spent the night before reading up on all the NMB48 girls. But don’t get me wrong, the girls did a great job in performing the next 2 songs before the MC. I was just having more fun in trying to recognizing their faces before they do their official introductions during the MCs.

As typical for the first MC, each of the girls split into a row and took turns introducing themselves before running off backstage. If you’ve been watching some of the short NMB48 clips available online, you’ll know that most of the girls have thought up some rather interesting/funny introduction lines. This is especially true for Yamamoto Sayaka’s tongue twister introduction.

The introduction MC also serves as an indication of which of the girls were well most received by the hardcore fans. Without a doubt, the roars and cheers for Yamamoto Sayaka during her introduction were overwhelming. This quickly made it known to even non-fans and first timers that her number one place in NMB48 was firmly secured.

Watchlist No.3, Yamada Nana.

Even so, that didn’t mean that the rest of the girls were totally overshadowed by the blinding cheers for Yamamoto Sayaka. Each of them did have tons of cheers given during their introduction lines, just not as loud as Sayaka.

It gave me a way to see which of the girls were most popular. Judging from the cheers, Watanabe Miyuki, Yamada Nana, Ogasawara Mayu and Yoshida Akari had some of the loudest cheers besides Yamamoto Sayaka. The same 5 girls I had picked out to be on the watch for that night. Coincidence? Maybe.

04. Bird
05. Nage Kissu de Ichi Otose!
06. Shinkirou
07. Rider
08. Seifuku ga Jama wo Suru
MC

Ah, unit songs. The only time where the girls are not performing in their 16 girls formation and also the time for the featured girl to shine in their individually assigned songs. Obvious indication? Yamamoto Sayaka taking the center role for the song “Bird”, which is usually a role reserved for the strongest vocals in the group. This holds true even during the times during AKB48 team A’s A3 performance, where Takahashi Minami was the center role for the same song.

The unit songs were nice in their own right but I’d give special attention to the last song “Seifuku ga Jama wo Suru”. Not exactly a unit song but rather a controversial single that was also part of the A3 era. If there was just one song I would like to hear for the night, this was it.

Unlike the other unit songs, Seifuku ga Jama wo Suru featured 8 members performing, which I believe were chosen for this song as potential “push” girls. This of course includes Yamamoto Sayka, Watanabe Miyuki, Yamada Nana, Yoshida Akari, Ogasawara Mayu and Rina Kondo, Kishino Rika. Just a pity that I never really caught hold of the last girl…

Watchlist No.4, Ogasawara Mayu.

09. Natsu ga Icchatta
10. Koike
11. Tsuki no Katachi
MC

Continuing with their 16 girls formation after the unit songs and MCs. Among the next trio of songs it was “Koike” that would leave me the most impression. Originally lead by Shinoda Mariko for the main spoken parts and covered by Masuda Yuka during AKB48′s shuffle performance, Yamada Nana was chosen to take over their spoken parts in the NMB48 version.

As the song Koike reflected upon the feelings of a young adult, Yamada Nana would have been the most fitting choice for the role since she’s one of the oldest members in the NMB48 group and also the most mature looking out of the rest. Just like why Shinoda Mariko was chosen for the role during her time.

While it would haven been thought that NMB48′s rendition would be similar to the kansai-ben version did by Masuda Yuka, it actually wasn’t. Rather, Nana did a more Osakan variant of the song, without much of the slang that is usually associated with Osaka/Kansai-ben.

11. Dareka no Tame ni ~What can I do for someone?~
MC

I’m pretty sure anyone who is even the slightest fan of AKB48 will now know about “Dareka no Tame ni ~What can I do for someone?~”, as it was the featured song for the charity campaign to help the victims when Japan’s greatest earthquake had struck during March. But this was already top material even before being featured as the song for the earthquake charity campaign. Reason? Out of all the songs I’ve listened to that night, there were only 3 songs that gave me goosebumps that night. Seifuku ga Jama wo Suru and Dareka no Tame ni being the first two. The third? Just continue reading.

Watchlist No.5, Yoshida Akari.

As usual, after performing their “final song”, the girls bowed and waved goodbye to the spectators. Seasoned players, will just patiently wait for the start of the encore cheer. Interestingly, there were also some clueless uncles and aunties who promptly stood up and prepared to go off, before getting pulled back to their seats by their younger, more experienced companions.

ENCORE
12. Medley
13. Sakura no Ki ni Narou
14. NMB48

In their alternate NMB48 uniforms, the girls returned to the stage to perform the “medley”. This time they performed a combination of current popular singles, which included songs like Beginner, Chance no Juban, Ponytail to Shushu and Heavy Rotation. Truly a great combination of the singles that even newer fans of the AKB/SKE/NMB48 would appreciate.

Also, as a staple of all stage shows, the girls performed their most recent single release. But as NMB48 does not have any singles to call their own for now, they performed the newest AKB48 single “Sakura no Ki ni Narou“. Personally I’m not the biggest fan of this kind of slow songs, but it helped raise the anticipation for the next upcoming song, which was “NMB48″.

Before Aitakatta, this was the theme song for AKB48. SKE48 also had their own version, so naturally, NMB48 does have their own derivation of the song named “NMB48″. This song drew the loudest cheers from the crowd, most probably because it was the most energetic song out of the whole show, but also the one song which fans could have the most interaction with.

Watchlist No.6, Kondo Rina.

ENCORE 2
15. Namida uri no Shoujo

After a very brief MC and a couple minutes for the girls to get dressed, the girls came back to the stage to perform the final encore song for the night, “Namida uri no Shoujo”. As mentioned, there were 3 songs that gave me goosebumps for that night and this last song was the 3rd. I’m pretty sure that those who have listened to Namida uri no Shoujo would have the same sentimental feelings as me. Pretty much the same effects as Dareka no Tame ni, just in a slightly different, chilling manner.

After the song, the girls did their final wave bow, and I slowly realized that my happiest 2 hours of the day was drawing to a close. The girls waved and bid us goodbye before disappearing into the backstage and I, waved back sadly.

Watchlist no.7, Shinohara Kanna.

After The show

Some of the uncles and aunties tried to leave their seats again, knowing that they ought to had seen the final performance for the night. They were promptly stopped by the NMB48 staff this time. Amused by their actions, they were probably not informed that the next part of the show will be the hi-touch session with all the NMB48 girls. To the hardcore fans, this was probably the main highlight event of the night. Knowing that you can meet the girls face to face, clap their hands and briefly talk to them will probably bring some fans to cloud nine.

Same as how we were ushered in first, the enpou group got to leave first to start the hi-touch session going.

I was dizzy from the thought of meeting face to face with the girls who were giving such a spectacular performance for the past 2 but I did tried hard to keep a clear mind and say thanks to each and everyone of them. Cheekily, I said “Thank You” instead of the usual “Arigatou” which rewarded me with some stunned looking faces from the girls.

When it was my turn to clap hands with Ogasawara Mayu, the theater staff shouted something and I was promptly turned around by Mayu and rewarded with a comforting shoulder massage. So much for trying to be the one to be giving surprises. NMB48 eventually gave me the biggest surprise of the day. I guess that the lucky fan who got to be massaged by Sayaka might had been sent to nirvana that night.

As for me? My two favorite girls in NMB48 so far were exactly Ogasawara Mayu and Yoshida Akari, so being massaged by one of them promptly brought me to cloud nine.

Still all good things has to come to an end. After ending the hi-touch event, I promptly went to retrieve my deposited bag and headed up the staircase of reality where Sho and Wilson were patiently waiting for me.

Back to the streets of Osaka, but my heart and soul is still somewhere inside NMB theater.

Conclusion

Will I ever tell anyone to give NMB48 theater performance a miss? Never. While many still consider that they are riding on the popularity of AKB48, the Namba girls have given their all in training and have worked hard in their performances. They had been performing this same song list for a daily basis since their theater performance began at the start of this year, yet I could still feel their passion, vigor and eagerness in performing their best throughout the show. The only problem? Trying your best to secure a ticket for the show.

It’s always exciting to see YUI’s songs being heavily featured in campaigns, commercials and whatever other places that seems appropriate. To start out 2011 with a bang, YUI has prepared for us another double A-side single, It’s My Life / Your Heaven. With both songs featuring in advertisement campaigns way before the combined single was released, is YUI getting a wider exposure for her music? This is the way to go.

Your Heaven was made part of the ‘Play You‘ Sony Walkman campaign, which is a set of portable music player commercials that YUI had starred in before. The main theme of this double A-side single is features YUI and her experiences in Sweden, where she was sent to in order to find inspiration for a song based around the themes, ‘place’ and ’sound’.

It’s My Life is the featured theme song in a series of ads starring Shibasaki Kou, Mukai Osamu and Kimura Tae, called “U-Can”. Which has already started airing since January 1st this year. More interestingly, the PV of It’s My Life had the ska group ORESKABAND assist YUI in making a unique video.

It’s My Life / Your Heaven:

It's My Life / Your Heaven, limited edition cover.

It's My Life / Your Heaven, normal edition cover.

YUI in Sweden.

And here are the lyrics for It’s My Life / Your Heaven. As always, enjoy.

It’s My Life by YUI:

It’s My Life
きっと大丈夫
マジメにやってきたじゃない

情熱なくさないように
ススメ　Rock’ n roll Life

何事もトライ？
それじゃ疲れちゃうわ
迷ってなんかないのよ
I am all right

偽りに言葉で
明日はすれ違う

人ごみ交差点
ぶつかりあって　Excuse me

It’s My Life
きっと大丈夫
胸の奥で唱えるの

Always a star
遠慮してたら　No No No

都会に吹き抜ける　blue wind
生ぬるくなってきてイヤだわ

愛情なくさないように
ススメ　Rock’ n roll Life

Oh Friends
覚えてますか？
犠牲になって消えてった感情？love？

無くしたものばかり
悔やむ事はない
ずっと繰り返している
わりと人生は長い

It’s My Life
きっと大丈夫
マジメにやってゆけたら

Always a star
つよがりは続いてゆく

都会に吹き抜ける　blue wind
砂ぼこりに目を細めている

泣きたくはないんだ
まだ歩かなきゃ

誤解されることだってある
少し強くならなくちゃ
進めない

It’s My Life
きっと大丈夫
胸の奥で唱えるの

Always a star
遠慮してたら　No No No

言い訳なんて
聞いてくれないし

歩いた分だけの
My Story

情熱なくさないように
ゆこう　Rock’ n roll Life

Your Heaven by YUI:

遠い昔
写真で見た
赤い屋根の続く街で
la la la la
出逢う気がしていた

それはきっと
偶然よりも
もっと強い運命よ
笑っていた
空の色彩もどうしてかな？
初めてなのに
不思議
懐かしいの

あなたの声
聴いていたわ

辛い夜を越えてゆけば
いっかわかる
そう歌っていた

だからアタシ
信じていたの

la la la la
la la la …

どれも本当
目の前の景色だって
忘れない
憧れてた

笑顔の先
どうしてだろう？
泣けてしまうのは…
ずっと
待っていたの

遠い埸所で
触れた奇跡
赤い屋根の続く街は
海のそばで
子供達の
夢にあふれ
輝いていた

アタシの声
風になれ
もう言葉ならいらないから
lalalala
聴こえてくるでしょ？

あなたの歌
思い出せば

辛い夜も越えてゆける
同じ今を生きた事を

忘れないわ
来てよかった

la la la la
la la la…

um
さよなら
Thank you for power of love.
Your Heaven

Even though this album has been released for a couple months already, I felt the need to introduce what I think was the most worthwhile album purchase of 2010: Ikimono Bakari ~Members Best Selection~.

After a very successful year with their previous 2 albums snagging the #1 spot on the charts, Ikimono Gakari has come up with this “best of” album before announcing a hiatus of about six months or more. Due to their busy and fully booked schedules in the past years, the members are now in need of some rest.

Check out the song list for this 2 CD album that includes a selection of songs that were put together by the group themselves. It includes fan favorites like Sakura and Yell, some lesser-known songs and two rearranged tracks. I’m guessing that the group chose most of their songs by their own personal preference.

CD 1
M1: SAKURA
M2: Uruwashiki Hito (うるわしきひと; The Lovely One)
M3: Seishun Line (青春ライン; Youth Line)
M4: Akaneiro no Yakusoku (茜色の約束; Madder-Colored Promise)
M5: KIRA★KIRA★TRAIN
M6: Nostalgia (ノスタルジア)
M7: Mirai Wakusei (未来惑星; Future Planet)
M8: Natsu・Koi -2010 version- (夏・コイ-2010 version-; Summer Love)
M9: Tayumu Koto na Kinagare no Naka de (タユムコトナキナガレノナカデ; Relaxing in a Ceaseless Flow)
M10: Ima Hashiridaseba (今走り出せば; If You Start Running Now)
M11: Hana wa Sakura Kimi wa Utsukushi (花は桜 君は美し; Flowers are Cherry Blossoms; You’re Beautiful)
M12: Soprano (ソプラノ)
M13: Tsuki to Atashi to Reizouko (月とあたしと冷蔵庫; The Moon, Myself, and a Refrigerator)
M14: Hot Milk (ホットミルク)
M15: Koisuru Otome (コイスルオトメ; Loved Maiden)

CD 2
M1: Kimagure Romantic (気まぐれロマンティック; Capricious Romantic)
M2: Blue Bird (ブルーバード)
M3: Joyful (じょいふる)
M4: Kokoro no Hana wo Sakaseyou (心の花を咲かせよう; Let’s Make the Flowers of Our Hearts Bloom)
M5: YELL
M6: Kimi ga Iru (キミがいる; You’re Here)
M7: Chikokushichau yo (ちこくしちゃうよ; I’ll Be Late)
M8: Happy Smile Again
M9: Arigatou (ありがとう; Thank You)
M10: Yuki Yamanu Yoru Futari -2010 version- (雪やまぬ夜二人-2010 version-; Two in the Night With Endless Snow)
M11: Kuchizuke (くちづけ; Kiss)
M12: Spirits (スピリッツ)
M13: Kaze to Mirai (風と未来; The Wind and The Future)
M14: Nokori Kaze (残り風; Remnant Wind)
M15: Nakumonka (なくもんか; No More Cry)
M16: Kaeritakunatta yo (帰りたくなったよ; I Wanted to Go Home)

Ikimono Bakari - Members Best Selection, CD+DVD Limited edition.

Ikimono Bakari - Members Best Selection, Normal edition.

The limited edition album comes housed in a special box with a ton of other goodies other than the extra DVD and an application card to enter a lottery for Ikimono Gakari goods, while the first press of the regular edition comes with Ikimono-card 021. There was also a limited run winter sleeve version of the normal album which went on sale between Dec 2010 to Jan 2011.

Extra goodies and card inclusion has been plentiful throughout history. But are at an all round high since (perhaps) AKB48 made it popular in recent years.

Ikimono Bakari - Members Best Selection, winter sleeve edition.

The album also had the honor of being certified by the Recording Industry Association of Japan for reaching 1 million copies (shipped).  Which was only the second certified million album of 2010, after Arashi’s “Boku no Miteiru Fuukei.”

If it’s your first time hearing this popular J-pop group, I’d recommend that you try out their best selection album to get a feel of Ikimono Gakari’s unique sound. You won’t be disappointed.

Normally I’m not too keen on featuring something that is not available anymore, yet Keisuke’s ramen is worth investing some amount of time and effort to be introduced to readers who may have missed it or who simply want to savor the memories of the prawn ramen that they used to feature in their menu.

In a nutshell, Singapore has in recent years caught up with the ramen culture concept from Japan and new ramen shops have been popping up at an insane rate since last year. The good thing is many of the famous ramen names in Japan have decided that Singapore is a good place to start their first overseas outlet so fortunately for us, we get the chance to try out these popular shops without having to pay for the air ticket. Keisuke Ramen is one such place.

Takeda Keisuke（竹田敬介) , the owner and chef of Keisuke Ramen is famous in Japan ramen scene in his own right. Each of Keisuke’s Ramen shops offers a different style of ramen from one other, a rather innovative idea. The original Keisuke no. 1 shop does the black fish miso, Keisuke no. 2 has prawn ramen, Keisuke no.3 offers Chinese-style red oil ramen and Keisuke no. 4 does a spiny lobster tsukemen. Perhaps with the impression of how Singaporeans love their seafood or prawn noodles, Keisuke decided to bring over his no. 2 specialty shop ramen into Singapore.

Ebi Ramen Keisuke Tokyo.

Ebi ramen and Ebi miso ramen.

Spicy ebi miso ramen and tokyo ramen.

Singapore’s Keisuke Tokyo Ramen offers their signature Ebi Ramen, with the addition of a miso version and a spicy miso version as well. A simple chicken stock tokyo ramen was offered as well for I guess diners who might be allergic to prawns. As most can already guess, the majority of their side dishes feature prawns as the main ingredient, for example prawn wontons and gyozas.

If I were the judge, Keisuke’s ebi ramen would certainly receive full marks for presentation. They serve the ramen in a tilted bowl which looks like a wine goblet. The unique design is chosen so as to trap the fragrance of the prawn broth but diners will have to be extra careful while slurping, as any carelessness will easily result in a mess.

Ebi Ramen.

Ebi Miso Ramen.

Extra ramen toppings.

Comic behind the concept of ebi ramen, featuring chef Keisuke Takeda.

Taste wise, Keisuke’s ebi ramen is a totally different genre from the usual tonkotsu, shoyu, shio and miso ramen that I have tasted during my adventures around Singapore sampling all the available ramen shops. As a testament to Keisuke’s training in French cuisine, the ebi ramen soup comes across like a prawn consomme, which includes a complexity of flavors not found in our usual prawn noodles. Certainly worth a try for everyone at least.

Sadly, the ebi ramen was not as well received as Keisuke could have hoped for and I would see only a small handful of people dining inside each time I were to pass by. As opposed to the long queues for the adjacent Nantsuttei for their tonkotsu style ramen.

Sadly, after a couple months of operation, Keisuke Ramen decided to cease serving their signature ebi ramen, likely due to poor sales. When a ramen shop stops serving their signature ramen, things are bound to head towards hell. Yet Keisuke have decided not to give up on their first venture overseas and have decided to try another approach, aka serve-what-Singaporeans-like-their-ramen-to-be-like. I’ll give a more detailed introduction to their new menus on my follow-up post.

One last look at the shopfront.

Ebi ramen will be dearly missed.

Fortunately, Keisuke Tokyo Ramen is still alive and well. But for those looking to try their signature ebi ramen will be in for a disappointment. As skimmed upon mentioned, Keisuke have done a total revamp to their shop and menu (even the shop’s name was slightly changed and all traces of prawns have been removed from the shop). Now they are serve the 4 mainstream flavours (tonkotsu, shoyu, shio and miso) ramen instead. While I welcome the changes to their menu, Keisuke’s ebi ramen will be dearly missed.

Most likely I’ll have to make a trip to Japan someday just to savor the taste of the ebi ramen.

KEISUKE TOKYO RAMEN
9 Raffles Boulevard
#P03-02, Parco Marina Bay
Millenia Walk
Singapore 039596

Somehow I’ve always been able to pick up random unusual snacks whenever I step foot in my usual Japanese grocery shop. This time, I’ve managed to dig a whole series of chocolates produced from Hakodate, Hokkaido. Whats the big deal with these chocolates? Well aside from the lure of the packaging, these chocolates are infused with local produce that are as famous as Hokkaido dairy products itself. So once again, I end up forking out the cash to see if they were worth the trouble.

One can tell that while these chocolates hail from Hokkaido too, they are a whole different genre from the likes of Shiroi Koibito. Not that I have anything to complain about, as these chocolates cost only a small fraction of the expensive Shiroi Koibito/Royce chocolates. With the added benefits of a much longer shelf life.

Hokkaido Chocolate series.

Specialty of Japan: individually wrapped treats.

Azuki bean chocolate series. It would be crazy for them to pack each single bean into different wrappers.

Corn chocolate series. The rest for the packaging are much more sane though.

Pumpkin chocolate series. Makes a great Halloween treat.

Each of the individual packs are made out of their distinct produce. Corn, pumpkin or azuki bean powder is mixed into the supposedly white chocolate to produce the different flavors. There are also corn puffs and freeze dried azuki beans contained inside the chocolate itself, instead of just giving you a whole chunk of chocolate to munch on. After a round of tasting, I could say that the taste is genuinely not bad but those with a low tolerance towards vegetables might want to stay clear from these chocolates.

For those who are interested to see the whole selection of candies produced by this brand, look no further than here.

Mainly intended as a pre-Christmas present for all YUI fans, YUI’s 17th single, Rain was already in stores since November 24th last year. Sadly, only after my CD’s shipment finally arrived did I realize that I was a little late for this post. But nevertheless I’ll still do a writeup to cover YUI’s new single.

Fans were given a treat of a rock A-side song and a slow pop B-side song for this single. It feels somewhat of a mix of melodies from her previous rock songs (in a good way), Rain will not disappoint fans that have supported YUI for her rock songs. The B-side, “a room” is a well polished tune too.

I wasn’t very confident of the single prior to its release. The new single coincided with the end of her concert tour, which was performed back to back with the release of her 4th album, Holidays in the Sun. But it seems that YUI has outdone herself again without any issues and is on the right track for her next flurry of singles this year. Kudos!

Rain:

Rain, limited edition cover.

Rain, normal edition cover.

PS: Someone actually managed to upload a video of Rain in YouTube, so I’ll tag it around for everyone’s enjoyment.

It’s also not too late to grab the single as CDJapan still have some stock left.

With the release of a each new single or album, you can find a jackpot machine on YUI’s website that links you wallpapers every time you win the game. A nifty feature but a lot of luck and work is needed to get all the different wallpapers. For the benefit of readers, I’ll link the wallpapers below.

• 800×600 – Limited / Normal
• 1024×768 – Limited / Normal
• 1280×1024 – Limited / Normal

And here are the lyrics for Rain. As always, enjoy.

Rain by YUI:

待ち合わせの夜
気がついていた
鏡の自分に
問いかける

白いコート
さえない顔
ほんとは期待してる
タクシーが捕まらないまま
国道沿いを急いだ

傘がないなんてよくあること
ずぶ濡れになって歩いたXmas Eve
誰のせいにもできないじゃない？

自分勝手に描いたストーリー
ほんの少しの幸せだけでいいの
アナタハコナイ…
わかってる Silent Night

時計を気にする
人は苦手よ
失い続けた
記憶がよぎる

どうしたって
過去はなくせない
いつまでも嘆かないで

特別じゃないわ
何度繰り返しても
同じ場所で
迷うから

嘘はないさって嘘はやめて
真相なんてわからないエピソード
傷付くことにも慣れている
矛盾だって全部受け止めた
すべてを壊す勇気なんてなかった
アナタハコナイ
ひとりきり Silent Night

Show Window
並んだ未来に夢見ていた
あの頃ように
ぼんやりと映ったキャンドルに憧れた
さよならだね

この雨がいつか粉雪になって
悲しみをそっと包み込むとき
新しい希望に出会うの

いつだってﾎｰﾘｰﾅｲﾄ
楽しめた
大人ってちょっと
さみしがりだから
泣いたっていいんだ
始まりのSilent Night

Many will be undoubtedly familiar with the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station being the final bastion of old fashioned train transport in Singapore. But there exists another railway station hidden out of sight, tucked away in a corner of Bukit Timah Road waiting to be discovered by history seekers those looking to see the less urbanized side of Singapore. With a few curious friends, I made a trip down to the railway station to discover what was left of this treasure for us to embrace.

In case if you’re wondering, the Bukit Timah Railway Station is still a functioning station, with Malaysian staff performing their daily routines on the station premises. It’s well known to Singaporeans (but perhaps not to the rest of the world) that the Bukit Timah Railway Station is not owned by the Singapore government but instead byKeretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM), the main railway operator in Malaysia. The premises and the railway tracks are considered Malaysian property.

History Lesson: Bukit Timah Railway Station was built in 1932 as part of a realignment of the original railway line which ran from Woodlands down to its terminal at Tank Road via Newton Circus. The change also allowed for the construction of a brand new and much grander terminal at Tanjong Pagar. The main railway station that we’ve come to know of.

On another interesting note, Bukit Timah Railway Station used to serve as the point of transport for racehorses between the racing circuits on the peninsula and the island, being just a stone’s throw awat from the old Turf Club at Bukit Timah.

Just find the sign leading down the small road to the station.

Visiting Bukit Timah Railway Station

The station is located not to far down the main road from King Albert Park’s MacDonald’s. There you’ll be able to find the sign leading down the small road to the station. For an even clearer landmark, look for the steel truss bridge that is frankly quite unmissable while traveling on the road. From there its a small uphill hike into the railway station compound itself.

Getting There

Depending on where you live, visiting Bukit Timah Railway station would be quite a simple task or a very difficult endeavor. If you could afford a cab ride or have the availability of a car, I will recommend the usage.

The easiest landmark that you could refer to is the King Albert Park’s MacDonald’s. Most cab drivers will most likely know the location. For those traveling by car, the King Albert Park is also a convenient place to park your car while scouting for the Railway Station.

If a car/cab ride is not an option, the next best way to visit the Railway Station is via MRT subway with a transit by bus. Currently, there is no direct MRT subway line to the area but the Singapore government are building one right now. Unfortunately, it will not be completed in time before the Railway Station shuts down for good.

By Bus
Bus numbers 66, 67, 74, 77, 151, 154, 157, 170, 171, 174, 852, 961, 970 will be able to drop you on the opposite of the King Albert Park’s MacDonald’s (or right before the building depending on which direction you took the bus from), giving you the easiest access to Bukit Timah Railway Station. I recommend taking the MRT to Bukit Batok Station (NS2) and transit to buses 77 and 852. The bus ride itself will take approximately half an hour to reach the designated bus stop.

Unmissable steel truss bridge.

Hike up.

Familiar rail tracks will start to appear, along with the sign board.

Its really not too far a hike from the main road, just very well hidden.

At Bukit Timah Railway Station

Word of Caution: Did I mention that there are actually warning signs prohibiting photography or video taking? After all, this is still considered Malaysian property and it seems they don’t want anyone to disclose whatever secrets they might have hidden in these premises. Yet, this doesn’t deter the hordes of curious photographers trying to sneak in a few shots of the place without getting caught.

And yes, there are signs to warn people not to take photographs and stuff.

Actual Truth: “Seek, and one shall find. Ask, and one shall be given.” So please brace up your courage and speak to the railway conductor directly to ask for permission to do whatever you seek around the premises of the railway station. Usually there is no reason for them to reject your request (if you ask nicely), as a curious visitor who just wants to embrace the atmosphere.

On behalf of all my photographer friends who wanted to snap pictures of the monument, I picked up my courage and tried my luck in convincing/persuading the railway conductor for permission. It turned out that the duty railway conductor on that day was a very friendly person and I even managed to strike up a small conversation with him where I managed to ask some questions. And of course, also to take a picture of him.

The solution? Ask permission from the railway conductor, makes everything possible.

The railway conductor even jokingly said “Luckily you came to me and ask for permission first. If I had to go over to you guys, I would make you all leave the premises”. But the fact is that unless there is an oncoming train that the railway conductor has to handle, he usually allows for people to do their own stuff at their leisure.

I was even more thrilled that he even showed me around the premises (save for his own personal office that is strictly out of bounds) and opened up a lock gate leading to all the different levers that controls the tracks around the railway station premises to allow us to snap more pictures.

prohibited unless permission is granted.

The main job of the railway conductor over at Bukit Timah Railway Station is to conduct the daily routines of the exchanges of key tokens, that serve as proof of authority for the train to proceed further from Bukit Timah tracks.

Between Tanjong Pagar Railway Station and Woodlands Train Checkpoint, Bukit Timah Railway Station functions as a loop station and signaling control house for the rails between Tanjong Pagar and Woodlands, and the main shack that was opened to us showed all the stuff required to be monitored and controlled. Frankly speaking, those levers did leave a wow impression on me.

Which lies the important signals levers.

I wonder how tough is to manage these guys..

Closeup.

Enjoying Photography: Part of the fun of visiting this kind of place, other than embracing the history of Malaysia and Singapore is to snap pictures at leisure. The Railway Station will definitely go down the trails as one of Singapore’s history in a few months time. Who knows, the pictures that are taken might become a document of Singapore’s rich past. Even if photography is not your thing, basking in the historic atmosphere of the Railway station and relaxing on the premises definitely makes traveling down a worthwhile once in a lifetime experience. It’s good to know that even nearby residents from time to time do make their way to this place to relax, finding themselves a quiet spot to study.

The railway station makes a serene and scenic spot to allow visitors to bask in the atmosphere/zen/relax.

Tracks.

Stop for the lights please.

I know its something important, but I have no idea what is it.

Steel Truss Bridge: Perhaps more famous than the Railway Station itself, there exists these 2 steel truss bridge that gives Bukit Timah its nostalgia and character among other places in Singapore. One of of them is conveniently located right in front of the Bukit Timah Railway Station, and the other is located right beside Rail Mall. Of course I didn’t miss the chance to actually walk along the truss bridge to get a feel of it.

It is not entirely danger-free to roam about on the truss bridges, at least without knowing the timings that the trains will come at. Lets just say that on a event that there is someone on the truss bridge and a train approaches, there is no way both parties can do anything to avoid each other. So, do exercise some caution when trying to take pictures.

Signature steel truss bridge.

Beautiful.

"Ready for this?"

"Yeah, no fear for death for good photographs."

"If a train comes right from the corner now, we are dead."

By around June 2011, the Bukit Timah Railway Station is definitely going down the trail of Singapore and Malaysian history, since both governments have decided that train services between Woodlands Railway Station and Tanjong Pagar Railway Station are to cease and instead a more efficient new station will be located at Woodlands to allow for better efficiency. This is yet another living piece of the past you can savor, before Singapore decides to dismantle everything and urbanize this area too.

Laksa is what I consider a true-blue fusion of culture in-a-bowl. The dish has its roots as a merger of Chinese and Malay elements and is credited to the Peranakan people that have managed to flourish particularly well in Singapore and Malaysia. As one of the most iconic Peranakan dishes available, laksa is a well loved comfort food, even to those who do not have any Perankan blood running through their veins.

The true origin of the dish is unclear but internet sources point out that laksa means “10 thousand” in Indonesia (perhaps due to the many strands of vermicelli noodles in the dish). The name for laksa also is believed to be of Sanskrit origin from lakshas, meaning “one hundred thousand”.

Regardless of origins, laksa can be broadly based into 2 categories. The coconut-based laksa lemak which is very popular in Singapore and the tamarind-based assam laksa which is considered to be the iconic dish in Penang, Malaysia. Without a doubt, my guide today here will be focused on laksa lemak, which can be identified clearly by the coconut based gravy/broth shown in the pictures below.

A bowl of laksa with additional cockles.

The soul of a bowl of laksa lies in its deep flavorsome broth. It is generally made from a chicken/fish stock mixed with with ground up dried shrimp, spices and thickened with coconut milk to give its characteristic orange-white color. As a result, unsuspecting first timers may notice a sandy or gritty texture to the laksa gravy, which in my opinion is not a bad thing at all.

The other key ingredient giving laksa its unique flavor is the laksa leaf, also known as the daun kesom in Malay. The leaves are usually sliced thinly and sprinkled on the top of a finished bowl of laksa to produce its signature aroma.

Lastly, know that even though most generic stalls will cater to any type of noodles customers request, anyone who is looking for the real authentic laksa experience ought to know that only thin, white vermicelli or rice noodles will do.

The toppings that grace a bowl of laksa are rather simple seafood ingredients like cockles, prawns and fish cake. Cubes of tofu puff are also added in so that these tofu cubes soak up the delicious gravy like a baguette. Most stalls have the option of omitting or adding more blood cockles into the bowl of laksa according to preference.

Those who choose the former often belong to the health conscious bunch or are simply afraid of the bloody taste and smell of cockles. I admit that I belong to the latter group who must absolutely have cockles in my bowl of laksa. I think the taste of cockles itself is an essential part of the whole laksa experience.

The soul lies in the soup.

Ever since laksa captured the hearts and stomachs of many Singaporeans, it is now rather easy to find a laksa stall in most hawker centers and food courts. Yet, if you ask any Singaporean where the most authentic place to get a fix is, all bets would be on “Katong laksa” being the most common answer.

This is only because it is well known that laksa stalls around the junction of Ceylon and East Coast Road (near Katong) are the best places to go for Singaporeans looking to get their fix of laksa.

Each stall here claims to be the true original stall from legend, with each its own fierce horde of loyal supporters due to their slightly varied tastes. Katong is so synonymous with laksa that most laksa stalls in Singapore will brand themselves as Katong laksa.

A brief history lesson. The real founder of laksa lemak was a legend by the name of Janggut, who used to peddle his laksa at the Marine Parade Jetty in the 1950′s. Janggut learned how to cook his laksa from Peranakan cooks and since then laksa has become the stuff of legends in the history of Singaporean food culture.

Authentic laksa use only white vermicelli noodles.

While laksa looks and seems to be a rich and complex bowl of soup noodles (it is actually), the prices are actually very affordable. A bowl of laksa goes for $2 onwards. And yet, I lament that it is rather hard to find a decent place to eat laksa casually besides all the famous stalls located at the other end of Singapore. Granted, I mentioned before that most hawker centers and food courts do serve laksa but they differ to greatly from the authentic taste.

What constitutes a true serving of history and culture?

For starters, laksa served in old school porcelain bowls are kind of a must for me, since that was how they were originally served when it was still being sold from carts pushed along the road.

Nowadays, it’s rare to see the traditional aluminum pot of the laksa stew resting on top of a charcoal fire and even harder to see laksa served in porcelain bowls without visiting a famous traditional stall. So there is no need to hesitate whenever you come across a stall in Singapore that resembles the picture below.

Old school.

Just in case the pictures of laksa here have tantalized your desire to taste the exact same store that I frequent for my laksa fix, I will be happy to include the address for this particular stall below. Happy eating!

Sungei Road Laksa
Blk 27 Jalan Berseh,
#01-100 Jin Shui Kopitiam
9am – 6pm
(Closed: First Wedneday of each month)

Being among the very first wave of Ramen shops to bring forth a huge boon to the Japanese Ramen culture in Singapore, Marutama Ramen brings yet a very debatable experience to all who’ve managed to dine there. Most impressions fall into 2 distinct categories. They either love the Marutama Ramen experience, or they hate it. But why such a huge difference in opinion against this ramen shop, when most other ramen shops have successfully conquered Singaporean tastebuds easily?

No doubt, Marutama Ramen is another ramen store that originates from Japan. In this case, it hails from Saitama prefecture (which slightly north of Tokyo). Getting the facts down, Marutama serves serves a shio (salt) based chicken stock ramen, in which the soup is boiled for long hours in order to extract the essence and collagen that is paired with the thin noodles. While most people will be more familiar with the usual shoyu, miso and tonkotsu broth ramens, Marutama offered a chicken-based one that admittedly most Singaporeans weren’t huge fans of.

Marutama Ramen.

To give a nice and clear example, one of Singapore’s most popular food bloggers, ieatishootipost gave a not so positive feedback on his views on Marutama’s ramen. However the claims are backed by sound reasoning and his personal philosophy of enjoying food.

Nothing wrong about that. While ieatishootipost belongs to the “hate it” side, I clearly belong to the “love it” supporters of Marutama Ramen. But I’m not going to go through the facts and start a debate or promote people into pledging their allegiance in support of Marutama Ramen, it is up to the diners to decide for themselves.

Philosophy behind the master's vision on making the chicken noodle ramen.

Classic counter seats to enjoy the real Japan ramen experience.

The menu is rather simple. The basic Marutama Ramen is thin noodles served in a savory chicken soup, paired with a single piece of char siew, some nori and scallions. Patrons also have the options to choose between having it normal or spicy.

There’s also the aka ramen, which rich broth is apparently different from the usual broth. It’s supposedly brewed from seven different kinds of nuts and paired with different condiments from the usual Marutama Ramen.

Besides that, there’s also an array of side dishes ranging to order from extra char siew for your ramen, gyoza or even lemon wedges to tang up your soup. Do yourself a favor and make sure that you order an aji-tamago while you are enjoying your experience.

The concept of kaedama is also available here (or in any ramen shops worth their salt), which basically is a means for you to order a refill of noodles for just $1++. The condition is that you must have some broth remaining in your bowl, as the noodles come simply boiled and are thrown into your bowl.

Marutama Ramen with an additional order of an egg.

Since their humble openings at The Central@Clarke Quay years ago, Martutama Ramen has been mostly successful in their conquest of conquering the taste buds here. If not, they wouldn’t be able to open another 2 stores in such a short time frame. So it seems that while there are still people who find it too normal, there’s still a sizable population who like what Marutama Ramen has to offer.

Marutama Ramen offers an authentic Japanese ramen experience which one can savor in Singapore, regardless of their preference in the dish itself. If anything, I’ll recommend trying out what they have to offer before making a conclusion on whether you like it.

Marutama Ramen
6 Eu Tong Sen Street
#03-90/91 The Central@Clarke Quay

177 River Valley Road
#02-01/02 Liang Court Shopping Centre Singapore

101 Thomson Road
#B1-07/08 United Square Singapore

When you see a snaking queue for food in Singapore, chances are it has either to be really good or very well worth its price. Since this year’s national day, Ikea Singapore has been offering a promotion on their bistro. Does a price reduction on their all-time favorite meatballs every Tuesday sound attractive enough? Because it has to be, otherwise we wouldn’t be facing the queue in this picture.

Unfortunately for me, I was itching for some meatballs on a Tuesday and the only solution was to make a visit to Ikea for some. Being very uninformed, I got a shock when I saw the half hour queue in front of me. But regardless, I shall have my Swedish food and meatball fix.

One will probably start off here.

And join in the snaking queue.

Endure..

Finally my turn to get the meatballs.

The end of the agonizing queue.

And the food that I am rewarded with.

If you think that is the end of the road, there are actually more problems the unprepared would have to meet with to get their meatball fix. The next primary concern would be to find a seat to actually start enjoy your food. Usually, it is not a problem if there is a friend to guard seats but when soloing, one doesn’t have much of a choice.

Uh, this side of the bistro is full.

This side is full too..

Could someone spare me a seat?

Maybe I could ask them to improve by adding more seats to the bistro.

Regardless of all the technical issues and frustrations, all it takes to enjoy a plate of meatballs is to clear away the foul tasting mood. Because if anything, Ikea bistro’s meatballs are a comfort food for lots of people. (Sure the meatballs are of Swedish origin, but since Ikea opened its doors in Singapore 25 years ago, these meatballs have rooted itself as a comfort food for many).

Meatballs!

There you have it. Ikea bistro can be a no frills diner to enjoy Swedish food, or hell depending on how you look at it. If you are dying for the 10pcs meatballs set offered by Ikea, you can visit Ikea bistro on Tuesday to enjoy discounted prices. For those who just want to enjoy their meatballs without the hassle, please refrain from visiting Ikea bistro on Tuesdays and the usual weekends.

Ikea Bistro
IKEA Tampines Singapore
60 Tampines North Drive 2

IKEA Alexandra Singapore
317 Alexandra Road