Indie Travels: Ann Siang Hill - Singapore - part two

Can you see the skulls (or is 'skullz')  on the wallpaper on the outside of this shop? Unexpectedly powerful.

Classic blend of old and new.

"Cakes and Knick Knacks" is definitely a misleading understatement. It's actually a fancy patisserie and Indie/Vintage shop. I think the shop on the left of the door with the cross is a vintage clothes shop.

Inside the Indie shop. Just to list a few things for sale: Polaroid cameras, Indie Christian cards, small selection of vintage frocks, books that are people's opinions on some global issue, collectibles, vintage coke bottles and this seriously Indie children's magazine. Oh, and the patisserie.

Indie Travels: The Arab Quarter - Singapore - part one

It isn't really called the Arab Quarter. I just gave it that name because its centre is a large mosque. Adding to it's Indieness, it is such an awe-inspiring blend of old and new and different cultures. Old shop houses but with such trendy wares and vibe. It's such a gem.
You can get good Middle Eastern food in the Arab Quarter. And it's much cheaper compared to Australian prices.
I am sorry that the pictures did not load in the order I took them in. But then I didn't think ordering them chronologically would be that important...
Most of the boutiques photographed are on Haji Lane. You can have a great time on Haji Lane shopping for clothes, Ray-Ban collectible sunglasses, stationary, eating ice-cream, buying vintage frocks for a fraction of Australian prices, playing video games and enjoying aircon. (i.e. It's the place to go when you're needing full-on Hipster Cultural Immersion)
Shame I didn't take a picture of a hippy lounge cafe on Haji Lane where people were sitting on the ground smoking pipes and making Japan aid materials.
Mate, Singapore has got a pretty good Indie shopping scene, it's not just the big shopping malls.

Halal Swedish cafe, Arab Street.

Tumbled-down house with jungle growing inside.

Graffiti in Singapore.

The search for perfection always leads us back to minimalism.
(Incase you don't get my comment, those boxes have t-shirts in them and say 'The Pursuit of the Perfect Tee Project".)

LEGO is the best educational toy. Now in love heart brooches.

Can you see the green popular penguins?

Crafty ribbon, a book on impressionism, the essential denim jeans and The Satorialist.

A scarf for every type of indie.

I guess the scarf just got a bit indier.

Sky Room, where I bought a cool dress. Chinese Indie fashion.

I wonder if that tasteful brick wall is functional or decorative. Look, there's retro furniture too. Upstairs was a bar.

Cats are the indiest animal. They roam around the place. There were lots of cats around the neighbourhood, so isn't that kind of grungey?

The bicycle - an indie must-have

Indie Travels: Dinner-Time in Vietnam

I went to this Indie cafe/restraunt in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam in January. As you can see from the placemat below, it was called Ciao Cafe.

cuisine: Western and Asian

vibe/theme: Retro, 70s Ethnic

base colour: orange. which is a) funky, b) warm and friendly

other colours: red, lime, brown, purple, wood

The Downstairs: one word - modular. This man is a hipster for sure. Having dinner in this Scandinavianish study desk bookcase unit while reading the cafe's books. The stripes on the shirt in this picture semi-mirror the stripes of the sofa upholstery upstairs, streamlining the two floors.

Upstairs: kind of a cosy, groovy loft

furniture & fittings: lounges, coffee tables, cushions, chandeliers, shaped lights

magazines: interior design, fashion, luxury

Orangina outside of Europe!

artistic pictures of naked people. You can't really see the handprints on the ceiling...but you can see the repeated faded flowers on the wall.

Okay, so this is SO cool (who even says that word anymore? just me?). The painted air-conditioner. To leave it unpainted would add the Industrial look, which simply would not work in this space. Like, it would not be a “this is such bad taste it’s funny” scenario. Like, that would be the equivalent of plastering up a large picture of a lolcat(z). Verging on offensive.

xo.