In Our Backyard - Filming of 180 episodes Local Series

899 Kopitiam as a venue for local filming

Chuck and me walked to the Indian-muslim 24 hour offeeshop (Fayidha Restaurant) for our usual supper and checked out the filming process that was taking place next door.  (Apologies for the above tiny picture because the filming is actually taking place deep inside the coffeeshop)

A few months ago, this space was renovated and we thought "oh great, we have a new foodie place to explore" but as we noticed,  it looks too weird to look like a real coffeeshop. Firstly it looks really squeezy and small to house 1 zi char stall as its anchor tenant and 3 other smaller stalls. Not to mention there is also a main drinks stall. Secondly, it always looks very bright on certain nights. That's how we got to know this place is actually used for local filming.

MediaCorp Forum reveals this is a HDB-style kinda series - 180 episodes long! If you like 2003's Holland V 《荷兰村》 or the recent , be prepared for the debut of 《想握你的手》Your Hand on Mine, on Nov 11 2009 7pm.

Picture Credit: Linxiangping.com

Celebrities spotted:

(1) Chen Liping 陈莉萍 - in a bright fushcia top with loads of jewellery dangling from her neck and ears. Trendy pair of shades spotted on her.
(2) Huang Wen Yong 黄文永 - The lead actor playing Chen Liping's husband.
(3) Joanne Peh 白薇秀 - Pretty pretty! My favourite actress now!
(4) Belinda Lee 李心钰 - Pretty pretty!
(5) Yvonne Lim 林湘萍 - Pretty Pretty!
(6) Pei Xuan 蔡佩璇
(7) Patricia Mok 莫小玲 - Quite Auntie looking with bundled hair - same image as her role in 一房半厅一水缸.
(8) Yao Wenlong 姚玟隆 - we kept thinking so hard about his real name because at that certain point of time we could only associate him with 刘一刀 - the fierce (but funny) butcher in Little Nonya :) He looks like he's playing the chef here, with his high chef hat.
(9) Calvin Soh 苏智诚

If you are a big local celebrities fan, come here for your murtabak supper and watch the celebrities in action!
 

Fire at Ava Tower Balestier Road

Nothing was unusual during our drive home except when a Civil Defence vehicle suddenly cut into our lane and gestured for us to give way.



.. till it turned off into Ava Road along Balestier Road. Guess what we saw?

Toa Payoh Hiang Ji Roasted Meat and Noodle House

Tucked away in a little corner opposite the Toa Payoh hub, we decided to try out this stall while we were there to run an errand. The roasted meat looks bright and fresh from the glass panels.


Overall, I like the char siew meat because they are just burnt

Finding our Roots at Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall

One of Balestier's tourist attraction - Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall.


Located at Tai Gin Road.


It is a villa where Sun Yat Sen used to live and house his revolutionary activities.


You'll see this stone carving that says: One Man Changed China. Dr Sun Yat Sen.
And his statue against a block of modernized condominium.


An old picture - with the same block of condominium.


Along the sides of the park, we saw chinese wall carvings that presumably will be lit up during dark.

Inside the Memorial Hall, there are a few chambers / sections of the villa with exhibits.


A good idea of who Sun Yat Sen was.


It just re-opened recently on 15th Nov!


Left: Canvas painting of women binding a weeping toddler's feet. Right: Deformed feet.


An old map of Singapore and 3 historical spots in Balestier.


3 spots identified.




The round broad stairway up.


The 18 stars on this flag have a story behind it, but *oops* I didn't bother to find out much.


This is an interesting exhibit with life size wax models.


Audio visuals of the exhibit can be done in both English and Mandarin. How interesting!


This is Chuck's alma mata!

The 1911 Revolution heralded the advent of a new era for the local Chinese. Besides Science, English, Mathematics and other subjects, Mandarin replaced dialects in the language of instruction in Chinese schools. The picture shoes The Chinese High School. Founded in 1919, it became the first secondary school to use Mandarin as the language of instruction.

In the Nanyang Gallery, there is a huge canvas painting! Sun Yat Sen talking to a group of people... in Malaya. You can spot him in a pearl white traditional costume.


A nice picture of a "Teksi" cap I found in the Nanyang Hall.


There are similar canvas painting around the Memorial Hall! Sun Yat Sen, again in white, and surrounded by many people.


Some framed photos and one of the uniform exhibits.


Left: Hand made bombs.
Right: Chinese sabre.


News of Sun Yat Sen being kidnapped in London. There, his British mentor, helped him out of it. *This is like a history test. Thing is I remember no details.*


Some comrades being tortured and beheaded.

Interested to know more? Entrance fee is $4 per adult. Visit their website for more information.

Flawless Nails at Kim Keat Road

One morning as my cab drove past the shophouses along Kim Keat Road, I saw a flash - of a new Nail Shop! I must have been very blind not to notice this new & huge retail shop because they have been opened since November!


Babes of Jalan Bahagia / Ma'mor / Balestier Road - we now have somewhere to go to do up our nails! This is a picture of the shopfront :) with a big banner you would never miss.

I have been looking for somewhere convenient in the neighbourhood to do my nails. I've been trawling the Whampoa neighbourhood for a place - I mean a proper place - to do my nails.

There is one shabby-looking saloon at Blk 86 which offers manicure and pedicure services at really low rates but I didn't give in to the cajoling of the auntie who went on and on about her pedicure promotion that comes with a paraffin. Her shop didn't look comfortable as there wasn't a single soul when I peeped in on a Saturday morning. In the end I walked off in the pretext that I need to attend to my groceries first.

Ok anyway, back to Flawless. The interior of the shop is really spacious. They have a large reception counter in that huge space, and it looks empty for the moment. Fully carpeted and shoes are to be taken off.

As you walk in further, you'll see the nails area. And a long corridor that leads into the spa rooms (I suppose).



The pedicure area has 4 stations and are kept very neat and clean.


I did mine and the retail price for it is $35. Shopping malls pricing eh? Was contemplating about getting the package at 10 sessions at 10% off but I would rather share the package with someone or pay an extra $3.50 every month for the next 10 months. Anyone interested to share the package with me?

The friendly ladies at Flawless also introduced a facial promotion they have - 5 sessions (with ear candling, with some eye thing, with some neck thing) for $165. This, I'm definitely more interested! And it's going to end this month - so I'm going back again for facial soon!

The only complaint issue I have - is with the seats at the pedicure area. I thought the sofas are a little bit stiff and I can't slump back into dreamland while someone is painting my toenails. They only have a little pillow for me to hug and their magazines are either nail catalogues or boring lifestyle magazines in Mandarin.

The rest are fine and I'm happy with my newly painted toenails :)



Oh yes, the shop assistant told me the best time to go without a crowd is - weekday nights. They are open till 10pm.

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Updates on 1 May 09

This is my 4th facial for their $165 5-in-1 package and I enjoy all my visits! Particularly because I love fingers nibbling at my face and the feel-good factor that I will walk out of the shop looking fairer!

Most of the time, they come up with very good promotions like these. 5 facial sessions + 5 manicures + 5 pedicures at $300. Budgetnistas, this is value for money! This is a good time to stretch your dollar!


The promotion end date is stated 30 March. When I was there end April, they told me they have extended it!

While waiting for my masseuse to get ready, I sat at the couch area with nicely served ginger tea.


Just for your information, please take off your shoes and leave your umbrella at the door area (see yellow arrow)


Facial anyone?

Shanghai-like Spa in Balestier

There is a Qian Zu Ge Spa located on the 4th storey of Rocca Balestier and we decided to check it out. Very nice and cosy indeed, as if we're in China, just that the price you will pay here is more than double of that in China.





I'm very impressed with their full range of services (from Thai Massage to Nail Spa) and facilities (from Sauna to Internet services). However, there weren't a lot of customers on a Sunday afternoon going by the look of it. Only 2 uncles were around *raise one brow*


I did a foot reflexology at $58 for 1 hour. This is including a herbal foot bath, back/shoulder/head massage.

Full Pedicure cost $30. Might give it a try the next time.

Chakey's Salt Baked Chicken

We never knew the name of this Upper Serangoon Road coffeeshop but we know we love the salt baked chicken there. Hence, 1 packet of Chakey's Baked chicken $16.50 + white fluffy home-cooked rice got us a meal.

 


They look like packets of burgers! Actual size is much bigger.

Salt Baked Chicken drenched in dark sauces after it's unwrapped from its parchment paper. Tip: Always dip your chicken pieces into the flavourful oil/sauce!


1383 Serangoon Road Coffeeshop