Hipster Shops, Cafe and A Fabulous Day in Johor Bahru - pockets, Evangelione, The Replacement Lodge And Kitchen

I think yesterday was like the best day ever. You know those days when you just plan to do one thing, and it happens, and then naturally the entire day gets better and better, unexpectedly? ...... Exactly.

So, something is growing at the old Johor Bahru town, specifically at Jalan Tan Hiok Nee and the surrounding roads. It has been my ultimate wish and dream to see many artistic and novelty shops there, like a little hipster town. The nearest to this vision is Melaka's Jonker's Street. So when I found out that a little lifestyle concept shop has been set up there, I knew just what I had to do.

The old town pretty much remained the same... same nostalgic and hippie feeling, which I totally adore. Recently new shops and cafes sprouted around and I am ecstatic to show you around! I blogged about the old town in January 2014 and Earth Heart Cafe before, if you'd like to have a look.

What's new:

pockets

 Lifestyle concept store. Small and cozy. I approached the team and introduced my handmade goods and they were interested! I don't know how this is going to go, but I am elated enough to see such a creative space in JB. The kind I like.

And then my heart stopped! Evangelione is in da house! I cannot express how dizzy I felt. If you don't know who or what this is, it's about time, my friends. I can't describe here because it's going to take me days, so please do check out her links:

Blog 

(the posts stopped coming in 2014, but it's a treasure of pictures there. I love looking at the miniature things she did)

Facebook (36K likes, hello!)

Instagram

So basically, it's a handmade doll shop. The maker, a young Johorean lady has been making them for years (since 2009 according to her Etsy shop). I have not bought any dolls from her yet, just the rabbit photo postcard. I will buy the rabbit if she still makes them! In fact, my aruri logo is very much inspired by her rabbit. Oh, I can't wait...

The shop is 'still under construction' though. I was trying to peek and peer inside through the glass front, I looked like a thief!

I'm mad too... about you!

Evangelione dolls

And do check out her miniature project as well. She is just amazing!

Ok, ok *deep breaths* moving on...

Bev C

Art gallery

We stopped by this cafe, 'table for two', for some light refreshment and coffee. 

Old things! 

This scene reminds me of Bangkok cafes..

The menu.

Back then I saw this, and dreamt of something wonderful to be built.

That dream came true! It's a cafe and hostel now called The Replacement Lodge and Kitchen. I absolutely love their white theme.

Other long standing establishments...

The Roost, juice bar cafe.

The famous bakery, another famour one is Hiap Joo Bakery, extensively blogged by others already. 

IT Roo, popular for its chicken chop.

Jalan Tan Hiok Nee.

The street's landmark, now a coffeeshop.

Chaiwalla tea cafe, one of the first container concept cafe.

Maco Vintage cafe. The crepe cake they serve is awesome.

And then, after passing by the Bukit Serene Palace millions of time, we finally stopped by for a stroll.

Corny...

And then, also having passed this place millions of times, we decided to stop by here too!

Taman Merdeka, just next to Kolam Air.

We bought bubble kits there to play.

This is one of those unexpected 'award winning' photos I took on my iPhone. Champion!

Best. Day. Ever.

Life's Lacklustre

Today, I feel...

... like I'll never amount to anything in my life. I blame the media. Articles like "Most Influential Millionaire Before 40" make it worse. I used to dream big, but it's been too long... nothing is happening, and it is my fault. I have been following several design blogs for a few years now, and I'm seeing how much they have grown and progressed in such a short time. Their blogs have garnered thousands of followers and fans, and then they went on to collaborate with major departmental store brands or they have launched their own brand, wrote a book, went on book tours, had babies, took awesome photos, and living a fabulous life. And these are NORMAL people with good moderate sense, not those ridiculous high achievers with particular psychological traits that enable them to be who they are.

I guess I'm not bold as I should be if I want to achieve bigger things.

********

I wrote the above yesterday. And today I saw this:

Dang, someone beat me to it.  It looks lovely from the photo, something I envision for my own dream shop as well. And it is on Jalan Tan Hiok Nee. Can you hear me scream?

So there, midlife crisis is stabbing me again. Look what people have done to achieve their dreams, they opened a shop! At the most hippy location in JB! Selling lifestyle concept products! That was my dream too!

And here I am... not chasing it as hard as I should. I think this just kicked me in the butt. 

I will be visiting. And maybe I will start doing something to that dream of mine...

New office space

My workplace recently had an office revamp. 

This is was my old workstation. I really cleaned it out.

I thought this was mesmerizing. Everything about computing and electronic mesmerizes me, because I don't know anything about them..heehee. These are the ethernet cables. So BLUEtiful.

My new workstation. It came with the green background board, so I got everything from black and white, to grey, to vintage shades, just to match it. Hiao right. 

Scandinavian theme. I'm so motivated to work now!

Ride With Me, Draw With Me

First of, I seldom blog about my boys anymore. I used to blog frequently about Daniel. About the fun things we do together and his milestones. But internet is a weird place. I have heard about photos being stolen and used for undesirable activities, locations and identities being risked and all, so that scared me a bit. It's being in between "Bah, nobody reads this" to "OMIGOD, someone will come and find us".
Drama hor?

Anyway, my boys are growing up so fast bla bla bla. You know, in some remote province of Jimbulu Des Castello. And their names are George and Charlotte... ahem.

This five-year-old charm just rode the bicycle without the baby wheels, for the first time! I was just as elated as when Daniel first rode the bicycle too. Ah, the milestone, the joy and pride.

And my ten year-old Daniel is becoming a tweenager. Gah! The rebellious streak has started.. the roll-eyes, the silent respond, the grumps, the anti-everything, the Animax channel lover, and MOST of all, the but-Darren-did-this-did-that.

OH, the brotherly fights. I can't stand it!  It breaks my heart when they are in a nasty verbal exchange. I guess I should be lucky that they have never had ANY physical fights... errm, so far. Nope, no punching, no, biting, no pinching till skin breaks, no hair pulling, no kicking, no slapping. And I love them for that.

Deep down I think they love each other, and when they get along once in a while, it warms my heart.

Gosh, I wanted to say that Daniel enjoys drawing these days... the sibling rivalry distracted me. So, he feels good that he draws quite well. The other day, he drew the Hulk and Ironman toy figurine they got from TGV Avengers Combo Set promo, and I thought his drawings were awesome! Well, in an amateur kind of way. (photos another time)

Then a couple of nights ago, as we were all drawing on the dining table, I asked him to sketch my portrait. You know, I was expecting something like a Disney princess...but....

Without further ado.

Now that broke my heart, because I've always thought I was a beautiful woman. At least add some eyelashes la! 

Ha ha. Till the next update...

Mother's Day Paper Flowers Bouquet

I made these for my mummy dearest. Papers, pebbles and a chicken essence jar.

I just love the colours!
Revisit the original paper flower making post here.

Craft Storage Organizer Revamp... Again.

I bought a couple of zakka wooden desktop storage/organizer with vintage drawer knobs. I go crazy for this kind of things. 

One of them came in a rather undesirable reddish yellowish brown hue. 

So I had to do something drastic to it.

First coating was Martha Stewart's Wedding Cake White, while the second coating was Summer Linen White. T'was the perfect opportunity to experiment the different kind of whites. Sorry guys, I know you don't get it.

My snow white.

So happy, I made these. LOVE long weekends!