Little Bali
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Published by eGal | Filed under Food

Address: 9A Lock Road Singapore 108937
Contact No.: +65 6473 6763
Fax. No.: +65 6473 5431
Website: www.littlebali.com
Email: info@villafrangipani.com

WHERE IT IS

Tucked away in the lush greeneries, opposite the PSA building, along Lock Road, is a stretch of undiscovered chill-out venues. The one that deserves our thumbs-up got to be Little Bali. After spending a few hours there, it had left me wanting more…

To get to Little Bali, you will have to cross a very old bridge. What lies beneath it seems to be either a dilapidated railway track or a big drain that is now covered with so much thick grass and creepy crawlies. The thought of walking across this 30m bridge in the dark is kind of creepy but when you lift your head, you will know that the place got to be worth it!

LITTLE BALI’s ENVIRONMENT

From the bridge, Little Bali seems like a very old, dark mansion. What greeted me was a pleasant surprise. The entrance was like the start of a secret cave you discovered in the mountains. It was all stones and bricks with thick flora and greens all around it. The trickling of water at the entrance fountain and the smell of the local frangipani flower was absolutely hypnotising…

If you visit their website, you will realise that Little Bali looks very different in the day. Still good though but the night time Little Bali is definitely most charming! Why Little Bali? Like in the real Bali, these features are prominently spotted: wooden crafted furniture, the natural lush of greeneries, batik cloth drapes, Indonesian fare, the tranquility of the environment, carved display statues….For those who miss Bali or those who would like to get a taste of Bali, this is it.

LITTLE BALI

The whole villa is divided into 2 main areas - air-conditioned and alfresco. The ratio is approximately 1: 6. Their alfresco area is very big with visibly recognisable sectors. When I was there, the air-conditioned area was empty with 0 customers while the alfresco area - dark with dim lightings, cosy with the tea light candles, slightly breezy with the fans and absolutely rustic with all the trees and shrubs, was almost 70% full when it’s not even 9pm on a Saturday!

Another fatal attraction are the stand-alone huts! If you are with a group of friends or just prefer some privacy to do some dark deeds, you got to go for the huts!!! They are like the VIP area that is kind of isolated from the rest of the crowd, has cushions for you to sit on and a low centre table for your food. One important criteria though, you can only sit in these stand-alone huts only if your expenditure per hut exceeds SGD200. Each hut can accomodate, comfortably about 6 person. This is something that I am so in love with…

SOMETHING TO SLURP & DROOL

Food is a variety of Indonesian, Asian and Western fare. In such Balinese setting, one should be tempted to try some of their signature Indonesian dishes like the grilled prawns and satay. Enjoy your happy hour 1-for-1 alcohols if you order before 9pm. My glass of red wine only cost me $4.50!!! Their comprehensive list of alcoholic beverages consist of wines, cocktails, beer, shots, mixers…

THE X-FACTOR(s)

For most F&B joints, the X-factor lies mainly with the ambience, food or the service. The hosts and hostesses are mainly friendly. At the door before you enter the villa, make sure you check-in with the head host so that he could get someone to sit you in. About 3-4 hosts run a sector. Services are pretty prompt but more smiles will definitely be a plus!

Another fatal attraction is the Sheesha! Colourful Sheeshas greet you at the door. At about $30 for an hour, the Sheeshas come in a variety of flavours - apple, orange, vanilla, etc. A smoke, anyone?!

ON THE WHOLE

Accessbility: *** Pretty inaccessible with only a few buses serving the main road
Ambience: ***** Excellent ambience and concept, complete with the music!
F&B: *** Average apart from the signature dishes
Pricing: *** Will be good if it’s priced slightly lower for the food items
Service: *** More smiles will be greatly appreciated!

Photos by Erica and Brennan

My *Present* Indulgence
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Published by eGal | Filed under Abstract

“Present = now, current or something delightful…a surprise or BOTH?!”

It has been quite some time since I had a present. Pretty pathetic actually. I am a surprise-lover - always springing surprises, pleasant ones, of course, on my friends but I don’t seem to be ‘reciprocrated’ in this case. Not that I am expecting it but it would be nice. I will DEFINITELY love it, for sure! No doubt! No queries.

Today, I feel so compelled to write this blog although I will prefer to spend my time on other stuff on my to-do list. I am very delighted. Surprised, actually. Perhaps with a bit of sweetness. I had my ‘1st present’ in a loonnngggg while. And this present is even more delightful because I had been considering to get one such book for a loonnnggg time. Just that I have been on budget and not much mood to go shopping. Also, no one had asked or noticed or perhaps, remembered. Until today.

I was meeting “the-19-year-old” boy whom we all call Brennan. He surprised me with this photography book. It was very thoughtful of him. I know he was on budget. And this photography book couldn’t have been any cheaper than $10 (even if he did get a very good discount). But the price is not the issue here. The point is….he notices my interest and passion for photography and when he came across this book (be it, he just so happen saw it or flip through it when he’s bored or interested in it as well)….he has got that photography book for me! The keyword = present!

Who doesn’t like present? Perhaps, i can make full use of this chance to lament, once again, how i have not been getting presents….for years…of my birthday. Sigh…o well, my mood has definitely been up many levels since the receipt of this book. So for now, i shall not remember the no-present days but indulge myself totally in this *present* moment! This is so cool!!! You will get to enjoy the fruit of this book too when you see better techniques, etc on my photos here…

Thank you, Bren!!!