My OperaPartaking the Coffeehouse Culture
Friday, September 10, 2010 2:17:51 PM
I'm a coffeehouse soft of person - as in, I love hanging around in cafés and coffeehouses, sipping tea (I dislike coffee) and while away reading books, surfing the Internet, listening to music or playing computer games. In fact, I'm writing this blog entry at a Starbucks outlets sipping my favorite jasmine orange green tea. In fast-paced Singapore, I can find no better way to unwind my body and rejuvenate my mind at my convenience for cheap.
Currently, there are two major coffeehouse chains in Singapore - Starbucks and Coffee Bean. I usually prefer Starbucks, as I feel that the Starbucks ambience is cheerier, the staff are friendlier, the drinks and desserts taste better, and it's quite a bit cheaper as well. Sadly, Starbucks also appear to be more popular amongst the locals, perhaps for the same reasons. So getting a seat, especially one with a power point for my laptop, is usually quite hard.
However, regardless of how good the local coffeehouses are, what I'd like to do is to visit a large foreign city and spend time at the coffeehouses there. I've always liked those open air coffeehouses where patrons can sit at the sides of walkways, sip their drinks, chat with friends, and watch the people go by. Some of my best inspirations and insights come to me when I was contemplating over a drink at a café, and I think I could do better in one of these places.
After my New Zealand trip at the end of this year, I'll save up money to visit one of those cities with rich history and cultural heritage, and enjoy an idyllic afternoon or two at a decent coffeehouse there.
Currently, there are two major coffeehouse chains in Singapore - Starbucks and Coffee Bean. I usually prefer Starbucks, as I feel that the Starbucks ambience is cheerier, the staff are friendlier, the drinks and desserts taste better, and it's quite a bit cheaper as well. Sadly, Starbucks also appear to be more popular amongst the locals, perhaps for the same reasons. So getting a seat, especially one with a power point for my laptop, is usually quite hard.
However, regardless of how good the local coffeehouses are, what I'd like to do is to visit a large foreign city and spend time at the coffeehouses there. I've always liked those open air coffeehouses where patrons can sit at the sides of walkways, sip their drinks, chat with friends, and watch the people go by. Some of my best inspirations and insights come to me when I was contemplating over a drink at a café, and I think I could do better in one of these places.
After my New Zealand trip at the end of this year, I'll save up money to visit one of those cities with rich history and cultural heritage, and enjoy an idyllic afternoon or two at a decent coffeehouse there.
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