Working Title X Shaniqua Chantelle Fantasia Jr

We broke into October, and despite being fully aware of the fact that we're less than 2 months away from 2015, I still for some reason still feel like we're only halfway past the year. But then again, my concept of time is warped. Simultaneously, the start of a new month would only signify one thing, we're starting the official countdown of the last few days of the holidays.

 Of which honestly, where did all the time go? I remember still having those television moment where you know holidays just started, you throw down all your bags and jump on the bed and everything in the world is good and beautiful. And then BOOM, it's ending already. I am not prepared mentally and physically to go through a hell hole of the second semester - I feel like I have already used up a year's worth of energy on just the FIRST semester. I just pray that god will help me through the second semester. please. 

On to a happier topic, few days back, met ma GURL from the hood Shaniqua Chantelle Fantasia Jr for lunch and just chat and gossip a little bit. It's funny cause we knew each other from this digital marketing class we signed up and we got so close even though the class is just a 5 day thing! Amazing huh, I think friends like this are really hard to come by. (Oscar Speech ends)

Having seen a lot of people, or well, enough people go to this café named 'Working Title', finally jumped onto the bandwagon and got our butts to check out what's the buzz about this café. Trust me, I was on Instagram just browsing through and within a few days I see a number of people tagging Working Title and the food and ambience there looks good! So against my better judgement, I had to check it out myself. 

Met Nadirah at Bugis MRT, and we both were late, me being the later one as usual. But in my defense, my insomnia kicked in and I had only slept at 11am and only for 2 hours.

After trying to figure our way, thinking for damn sure that we were going to get lost, we finally saw a humble shop by a row of many other shops of Arab Street.

Photo Credit : Espressonite

Now don't expect for the workers to come serve you asking how many patrons, like we did standing there awkwardly for a good 3 minutes. Working title features a self-serving policy from the start to the end. So upon that realisation, we went in and grabbed a seat. First thing I observed is that Working Title sports a dark theme, with very little to almost no light overhead - so all the light you'll be getting is the sunlight so it's good if you go there on a brighter day. Sad thing is that the air-con there isn't very strong though, a super weak breeze going on. But what's one to do right?

It's kinda cool that they have a hostel just next door, and they are connected, so I guess if you're staying over at the hostel all you got to do when you're famished is come on down.

One thing I did realise is that the efficiency of the workers there weren't the best, as you can see in the picture above, there's still leftovers of customers who already left, and the table that we sat on had leftovers uncleared as well. But I'll be giving it the benefit of doubt that maybeeeee they have more workers on other days(?)

Looking at the menu, I like the way that it was designed, not having a standard book styled menu, but taking a standard flipchart kind of menu and making it cuter, although somebody ought to tell them it's about time to go for a reprint, the papers were pretty scrunched up. Looking through the menu, Other than the burgers and pizzas, the rest were just like drinks, and light snacks. 

 Got ourselves a round of drinks, and this time the drink is filled to the brim, unlike the one over at Assembly, which can be written here. I got Iced Chocolate, which seems to be a staple quite recently when I go cafes, and as for Nadirah, she got Iced Bandung Latte.

Probably the first time I took a proper photo of food, but here it is. 

Nadirah's got the Finger's O Fish, basically a fish fillet, cheese, tartar sauce, to put it more simply, a more fancy version of the fillet-O-fish you would always order over at McDonalds. Don't know if it was good cause Nad didn't really got to finish it.

 As for me, I got the 'Hawaii Five O', what a name though. Originally wanted the All American Cheeseburger, since it's the only burger with beef and who would say no to beef? But they ran out of it, so I just had to settle with this. So basically it's a piece of chicken ham, cheese, chicken patty, pineapple and veggies which I took out immediately. Probably should have sucked it up and eat it, but whatever. 

The burger overall I would say is a little bit too salty for me, but good thing they had the pineapple there. I don't even like pineapple, but whenever you put it in a savoury burger, Oh my got, it is the tastiest most perfect balance of flavour ever. 

As for the fries, they didn't salt it, or maybe they did, but it was super light. Nadirah was fine with it, but I can't stand it when fries are not salty. So I had to go get salt. And they have the salt grinders, and small plastic disk plates, so I looked like an idiot standing at the counter grinding salt that comes out in meagre amounts, trying to get it over with but at the same time not getting salt all over the place. 

When I came back Nadirah was like laughing cause she was like 'WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST BRING THE THING HERE GRIND IT ONTO THE FRIES AND PUT BACK?'. Well, 2 hours of sleep does that to you. 

As we were eating, we talked about like people in our course and how impression and reality is a big difference. Like most people, when we thought of Nad's class, we think of smart people, hardworking people, peaceful class, bbyboy(She know what I'm talking about). But guess not, truth is, no class will be happy and joyful all the time. And also some other things, and people, and coming to the conclusion and question of WHY CAN'T PEOPLE BE NORMAL. And as of recently, Nad and some of our course mates entered this advertising competition and got silver! So that's good. 

Once we were done eating, judging, laughing, we left for Arab Street's gorgeous graffiti walls and back drops to find ourselves a location to take some photos. And even though the sun has maintained a little bit, it was humid humid humid, I was sweating, and furthermore we WALKED like in and out of the area just to find a good area, felt so bad for Nadirah because she had to deal with the heat as well! 

So finding a back alley, we decided to snap some shots there.

Deciding there were better places somewhere, we left the alley and looked for murals. 

NOT BAD RIGHT?! TELL ME IT DOESNT LOOK GOOD. When I was looking thorugh the photos I was like, ughhh they're sooooo nice. Self praise = No praise. Even though it was super nice, we still walked around to see if there was nicer places to shoot.

And then, one of the best photos of my life were taken. 

 LIKE MODEL OR NOT. I felt so chic and high fashion, and creative, AHAHHAH all that just because I jumped and sat on a bin. Cause we were thinking of like how to make the picture more dynamic, opposed to just standing, I saw the bin, and then I looked over to Nad and I was like, 'Ok, I'm going to sit on it'. So I took out my tissue, undecided to clean it or use it to sit on, I just spread it there and thought for a second my entire ass would fit. AHAHAHAHAH

But I was so scared the think would just CRACK AND BREAK, whihch it didn't thank god. But the bin dented in! BUT THANKFULLY I MANAGED TO PUSH IT BACK. But seriously, love love loved the photos.  

The above 3 are probably my favourite photos, cause they're the only few photos we took together that day. Ahahaha, but seriously, Nad/Shaniqua was so patient with me and took it from so many angles and give like directions. UGHHHHH AMAZING.

Ahaha, see how we're sort of coordinated in our clothes, white top, black jeans, white shoes. Unplanned, but that's the thing about FABULOUSITY, it just happens.

 My face when people walk past in the middle of phototaking. AHAHH

When we were done, we had to quickly cool ourselves down, and luckily for us, Raffles Hospital was a quick walk away. Technically the Starbucks at Raffles Hospital. Now air-con never felt better, and at that point I was like thank goodness we dont have to walk any further more air-con because I would have given up and died.

Needing a little burst of refreshment, Nad got the Raspberry Blackcurrent frappe, and being zen and all, I went for the bottled Tazo Mango Black Tea that I've heard people talk about all the time and raving about how good it tastes. So I figured out, it was probably time I get it.

And it was really good, like I totally thought it was going to be like really sweet, but it was super refreshing, it is mildly sweet, a little tartness, like the drink to pick you up on hot summer days, which is every fucking day in Singapore.

Took the drinks and left for Bugis, and Nad got a pair of shoes that she has been wanting for a while, and since she's working there, STAFF GETS 50% OFF. WOULD BE BETTER IF IT WAS TOPSHOP. Hahah, but what's there to complain when you have a discount right?

Walked around the area and we talked about some other stuff, and she was like

N: 'Eh you want hamsters or not, I'm trying to sell them away' 

Me :*Wanting to Hao Lian(wanting to be cocky)* 'I had NINE hamsters at the same time before'

N: 'I have 85 and counting'

Me : *gurl say what now*

I was like stunned for a minute, like is my brain working right, or did you say 85. But for real though, she has 85 hamsters. Probably should go register for guinness world records, I mean there ought to be a record created for that, I don't think anyone in Singapore has so many hamsters in one household, not 85 that's for sure. 

Had a great great great time meeting up with Nadirah, seriously laughed my way through the day, can't wait for the next one. 

Emotional Baggages?

While walking down a street, it seemed like everyone was carrying, a bag. I may be over thinking, but I just can't shake off the question, wondering how many of them actually don't have anything in their bags, but just carrying it for the sake of it. The pursuit for labels never stopped, Let it be a fine piece of jewellery from Atelier Versace to a pair of four figured leather pump from Manolo Blahniks, welcome to the new world, where if you want it, hard enough, you can have it.

A woman dressed to impress, with a Chanel Bag hanging by her elbow. She had broken up with her boyfriend 3 weeks ago when she found out he was fooling around with her boss. And to show that he made a great loss, she emptied her bank account, for which she intended to use for emergencies, burnt everything she had previously and chunked in all the designer bags and dresses and shoes she can get with the money she had. Now she's left frazzled, having to order lunch off the value menu.

Another man, sitting by the bench of the mall, munching away on his subway sandwhich. He was a manager at a media company and goal is to earn his first million by 27. He's 35. Hearing his phone ring, knowing that it's probably his boss, he panicked with one hand tried to open his River Island satchel that he bought during a blowout sale back in 2005, only to drop everything on the floor, and broke the buckle.

Another group of young teenagers, laughing and screaming so loudly you would wish you were deaf. The all looked hip, with booty shorts, red hair, and torn stockings. Of them the loudest of them all, was actually the most insecure. After being single for all her life, she decided that she was ugly, and saved up everyday hoping to get plastic surgery one day. In her bag, there was nothing, but her foundation, lipstick, blush and all things makeup. Once every 30 minutes, she'll have to check the mirror or go to the toilet, hoping that she would get someone to be interested in her. She still hasn't got it. It's her noise.

Whenever I saw a person walk past, I'd think of why or how they'd do certain things. I was bored, cynical, but nonetheless intrigued. Maybe people store things that they pray would counter their insecurities. And maybe the counter product was the bag itself. The only thing you are familiar with, the last and only thing you coexist with the day you buy it, to the day you toss it.

Are bags nothing but physical baggages people use to comfort their inner fears?

Assembly Coffee

mmmmm, yum-my! So a week or 2 or so, after all the school related shit was over, it was time to unwind a little bit, and chill. 

 Name maintain ah, it's Neon* Haha!

So me and Renae, have been talking about hanging and just talk and do all sorts of nonsense since forever, but since we're from different classes, with different schedules and also the piling amount of schoolwork we had to clear, time just didn't permit us to just chill. 

But finally, when the holidays came, we knew that it was time. Haha! So after deciding, we settled with going to Assembly coffee at Evans Road. So we met at around 3 in the afternoon, and tried to navigate ourselves to Assembly, but we just walked and walked and walked, and the weather that day was humid as fuck, I was sweating and silently bashing myself questioning my life decision on why I decided to not bring that packet of tissue I reminded myself to. 

But after walking along the pavement that has no ending, and also crossing roads seeing nothing but trees, we landed ourselves in the front of NUS, and I felt so bad, because I suggested to go to Assembly. With the shit ass weather and being absolutely lost, we decided to just cab there. 

And after a what seems to be a 10 - 15 minutes(?) ride, but don't trust me, I have a very bad concept of time. And after a little over $6 worth of cab fare, we arrived to Assembly. The thing about Assembly is that it belongs to one of those cafés where you have to really know where you're going or else there's no way in eternity you can get there. Or if you a good sense of direction then that works as well, up to you. 

ASSEMBLY REVIEW

Located directly opposite Evans lodge, Assembly fits snugly in between a row of eateries, one of it being Hatched, some of you may know. Don't observe it carefully and you might miss it! But you have to give points for the nicely designs letter 'A' though. 

Walking along this street, you may not think many people would come to this place, but upon entering Assembly, you can hear the noise of people chatting, laughing and enjoying. The sound of business, the sound of money. But anyway, the atmosphere of it immediately reminded me of Strangers Reunion which I also blogged about here. Not exactly my favourite, the small space it had echoed a lot of the noises and people's loud chatters put me off BIG TIME. 

But since we're there already, what else to do but settle down? 

After looking at the menu, which again coincidentally looked very identical to Strangers' Reunion's, we decided to place orders. 

Before the food came, got myself a iced chocolate drink. Now looking at the picture, you may have thought that I must have took a nice big gulp and forgotten to take a photo of it and only compensated with taking a 3/4 cup of drink right? WRONG. First thing that I was like wtf to me, is that the drink they served wasn't even full. Not even trying to be a nitpick or cheapo. But the glass isn't even that tall. So that was a turn off. Taste wise, not bad, but I wouldn't say it's amazing, in short, I've tasted better ones. 

And also in the picture you can see my ratchet iPhone 4, gonna change it soon, so don't judge me please. My i5 died really badly ok! Which is documented here.

 ^ Renae ordered the Earl Grey Waffles

 While I ordered the Chocolate and strawberry waffle. 

The waffles here in Assembly really don't disappoint. A very light crisp on the outside that doesn't kill your teeth, and when you start chewing, the inside has a nice fluffy, spongy texture. Like it keeps you going for the next bite, really good!

It was pretty good, the waffles were relatively thick, fluffy, which is basically the epitome of what waffles should be. It has a nice texture to it, the more I think about it the more I like crave for it. You know how some waffles are super hard on the inside and out, making it more like a biscuit than a waffle?

So it looks nice and all, and it really is, except if you look at the menu...

NEA ZEALAND NATURAL VANILLA ICE CREAM

FUCKING LIES AND BULLSHIT. Cause while I was ordering, I was just casually looking around and one of the workers there opened the freezer and pulled out a tub or Ice Cream, it was the NESTLE ICE CREAM, the 1.5 litre, blue 8 sided box, the cheapest one you can find at the supermarket. 

Which was a even bigger disappointment, because I really like Vanilla Ice Cream, and I didn't come all the way here, get lost to eat Ice Cream that I also have at home. #NotImpressed. 

But honestly, when you pair waffles and ice cream, it's really important for the ice cream to be good graded, because if not, the Ice cream will not only melt quickly, but the creaminess and depth of the vanilla is just not enough to give you the feels, which totally kills the dish. How disappointing. 

During our time there me and Renae basically gossip-mongered our way through, we talked about how our presentations went and got to know more about each other's class. And I realised that there's no perfect class where everyone's in perfect harmony. There's bound to be something happening, hiccups at least along the way. Even though with that said, my class hasn't seen just hiccups, we were full on puking. 

Service wise, maybe I was being paranoid, but I have this feeling that the staff were sort of chasing us out. Like the moment we put down our utensils, the person would want to come and ask if he could take away the plates and stuff. You can call it efficiency, but I felt like they were indirectly chasing us out. And the moment he cleared our table he said 'is there anything you like to order?'. But from the tone, all I heard is 'If you finished eating and have nothing to order, please gtfo, there are other customers'. 

OVERALL EXPERIENCE

Food                        6/10

Service                    3/10

Price                        6/10

Ambience                2/10

___________________________________

MINUS 1 FOR LYING ABOUT THE ICE CREAM

Final Score: 3.25

Just like Stranger's Reunion, the noise was over-bearing and I can hardly be heard without raising my volume. The food was really just ok. The rest, hmmm mediocre. Would I go back again or recommend people to go? Probably not. No. 

After Assembly was over, and getting a better sense of where we're going, we ventured with the mission to get back to the train station. And surprisingly, the walk back was so so so much shorter, I think we just walked the wrong route in the beginning? 

As we all know, Botanic Gardens MRT or the area around it has really nothing much to explore, unless looking at cars go by is your thing, we trained to a place that I know too well. Holland Village. 

By that time I remember that I was like kind of light headed, because I didn't sleep the previous night, and if you've ever tried not sleeping for a day, you brain's function starts to fuck up. It's like I can hear words but I can't internalise it, does that even make sense? 

Holland V, after going there so often, I'm like no longer feeling it anymore. But since we already ate, we headed for some drinks at everything with fries. Funny huh, going EWF just for drinks. 

I got the lemon soda, and as you can see, it is pretty big in the serving, but for all it should be, because it costs $8. Basically it's just sprite/7-up and a WHOLE LEMON. Actually you know what, no. It is so overpriced. But looking at the menu, this is probably the best thing I could order, in hopes that the sourness can wake me up a little bit. Did it work? Dubious. 

Renae, got some lychee and vodka drink. And over there we just like talked more about blogging stuff, cause she blogs too! 

Once we're done with drinks, we decided to walk around for a little bit. But the alcohol was super strong in Renae's drink so she needed to sit for a while. Turns out that this was Renae's FIRST TIME drinking alcohol outside of her home, and she didn't expect for the alcohol to be so strong. So we basically just sat on the staircase looking like some classy hobos. 

And there we have Renae trying to get herself together. AHAHAH

For the most parts, it was pretty funny, because after a while we tried to move to the bus stop so she can sit better, but after standing up and walking a few steps, she was like 'I think I need to sit down again'. And after a while again, we managed to get ourselves a few flights of stairs up, which is better than nothing. And after a while again, we managed to go all the way to the bus stop, where Renae tried to call the cab, but it was hard since we didn't know the exact location of where we were. 

So after Renae felt better, we painstakingly walked all the way back towards the MRT station, and in the midst of phoning for a cab, luckily enough an empty one came along, so she got back home.

As for me? I had to make a quick walk over to the body shop to get some essentials.s Essentials my ass! Just went over to get some masks that is really amazing, when I first used it I was like in shock. Maybe I'll talk about it in a bit? See how lah hor. 

Took the train home, and shit happens and a headache came along. Had to wash my hair since I styled it up, and it always takes damn long thanks to conditioning. #AsianBlondeProblems. Once I was out of the shower, I CRASHED. CRASHED. But ever since then my sleeping pattern has reverted back to normal. (If you've read my blog or twitter feed, you would have known that prior to this I slept in the morning and get super awake at night.)

Really good time hanging out with Renae, hopefully we'll get to hang soon again. Gonna end of this post with the remaining photos. I know the photos' colours is looking a lil' bit off, but that's cause it was really dark when we took it, so I had to amp up the brightness on photoshop, hence the result. 

And before I end off, you can see more of Renae over at her blog : www.puddingfancy.blogspot.com

The Feeling of Mundanity

Today is one of those days, where I trapped myself in my room, and as the sun rose and set, so did the insecurities. By nature, I try not to be pulled down by the negative voices inside and out. But there are some days, like today, it's hard to not feel so tiny and small.

There's so many things that I'm not exactly pleased with myself, and it's tragic. Because I have everything I ever needed. But then, whatever that I feel I want, I could never get.

I began the holidays wanting to live it meaningfully, so I don't let it go to waste, like it did to the many holidays that happened before. It's just merely the second week, and I start feeling like shit. It's not like I haven't done anything, but yet I feel so unaccomplished.

Scrolling through Instagram, Twitter and even Facebook, you see people you know, doing so many great things, fulfilling so many achievements, and then looking at my own reflection, what am I doing?

I set out to meet missed connections, but until now, it seems like they'll stay missed. It's just the second week, why do I feel so deconstructed already? Seeing your friends with other friends. It's hard to not think, with this state of mind especially, am I the problem? Am I the friend that everyone rather not have, and just like a computer, so they wish I was a document that could be erased and forgotten?

The sad feeling comes about, and what hits even harder is the thought that I am a second choice, or a choice that is far behind second. The question comes 'what is wrong with me? what is it, that people hate about me?'

Insecurities, suddenly, looking at the mirror is a wrenched action. The flaws suddenly seemed so much more obvious. The thing is you see, when you're so far away from perfection, even if it's just a state of mind and it doesn't exist. The further away you are from it, the hungrier you are to attain it. But how can I, how can I do anything to get anywhere.

Zooming out, looking at a greater picture, looking at people around me, they seem to be enjoying life, they have someone who loves them, they have achieved many things, they have things to their names. And what do I have? Nothing.

A laughter, a loud voice, may have been a good side, a great facade, that sometimes I believe I am it. But when you're left alone, you can't help, I can't help but to think, 'have I offended them?', 'What if they don't like me at all?'. Overtime, the questions slowly becomes statements.

Have I become that insecure?

I now have lost the ability to leave the house by lonesome without having the butterflies in my stomach. I am no longer capable of being comfortable in my own skin. Looking in the mirror, there's so many things I wish I could change. Do I just actually want acceptance? Even if I did, who?

I've heard and I've done, the most selfish trait in the nature of human : judge. I know how cruel people can get with their thoughts, because I've had those about other people too.

The bunch of I wish I could have suddenly just becomes a highlight of 'look these are the things you would never have'.

I know that I'm not the only one in the world who goes through down periods, but when it hits you, you never can seem to expect it, and when it occurs, you can't help but to feel like so worst person ever.


p.s I'm feeling a lot better now, and I think writing it all out to some extent help clear the negative thoughts.