5 best libraries in Singapore

With libraries all over Singapore, some of which have specialised areas of interest, it should never be too hard to locate the information you’re after. Here’s our list of the city’s best, including state-of-the-art facilities.

National Library of Singapore

The National Library of Singapore on Victoria Street can trace its history back nearly a century when the Hullett Memorial Library became Singapore’s first public library. Today, seven of the National Library’s sixteen storeys are occupied by the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library (LKCRL) named for the Lee Foundation’s S$60 million donation that contributed to the current library, as well as the previous building on Stamford Road. The LKCRL has a collection of over 600,000 reference items making it Singapore’s premier knowledge institution. The National Library also has a public lending library, performance space and runs exhibitions teaching Singapore’s history through a variety of mediums.

Central Public Library

Part of the Singapore National Library, My Tree House at the Central Public Library focuses kids and environmentalism above all else at the World’s First Green Library. One of the library’s most impressive features is the treehouse canopy made from recycled bottles. Another feature that kids will love are The Knowledge Trees, an interactive and kinetic learning portal where kids answer questions about environmental issues and it either grows or withers in response.

library@orchard

The library@orchard was recently renovated and reopened in 2014. Located in Orchard Gateway, this library caters to adults and youngsters with texts covering topics including arts, technology and travel. The library has large open reading spaces where you’ll find design students pouring over textbooks or collaborating on projects. One of the library@orchard’s unique features is The Book Trees, multi-platform displays that are tied to the space, product and visual design collections in the library. Another useful feature is the self-service collection lockers where users can quickly retrieve reserved titles.

library@esplanade

Another library popular with young Singaporeans is the library@esplanade, Singapore’s only library dedicated to the arts and offering breathtaking vistas of Singapore’s iconic Marina Bay Sands from its location atop the Esplanade Theatres on the Bay. Besides an extensive resource collection focused on the arts, the library features four areas dedicated to music, dance, theatre and film respectively as well as several performance spaces where users can screen films, practice piano and even hold silent jam sessions.

Bishan Public Library

Bishan Public Library gained immediate popularity soon after opening in 2006 thanks to its trademark colourful cantilevered reading pods. The library caters to the needs of the surrounding community with a collection of fiction and nonfiction titles with an emphasis on recreation, health and family related topics, spread over five storeys. In addition, the library runs monthly storytelling programs and hobbyist meetups.

See more: Best new Singapore attractions in 2019

Source: Internet

7 traditional foods to try in Oman

One of the wonders of the unique Omani culture is the exceptional mouthwatering traditional cuisine. From dates and coffee, to rice and grilled meat, here are the top Omani dishes that every visitor must try during their visit to the country.

Shuwa

Shuwa is a celebratory Omani dish that is only prepared on special occasions like Eid. During the festival, many families in Oman begin cooking their Shuwa on the first day and consume the dish on the second day.

The making of the dish is a very long and elaborate process. On the first day of Eid, the meat, which is typically lamb, goat or camel, is marinated with all kinds of spices. Each household has their own blend of ingredients that they use, including spices like coriander, nutmeg and cumin. Then the meat is wrapped in banana leaves and thrown into an underground sand oven. It is cooked underground for a day or two and then hoisted up from the ground ready to be eaten. Once the meat is taken out of the ground, it is tender with a layer of crispy spices around it. It is served with rice and tomato sauce.

Dates

Palm trees are the most frequently seen plantations around Oman. They produce mouth-watering dates. Differing in size, color, and tenderness, these dates are one of the essential meal items that are presented to every guest as part of the wonderful Omani hospitality. Sometimes, Omanis mix dried dates with sesame paste and sesame or ground coconut. They also use them in preparing different types of desserts and Omani sweets.

Harees

Harees is a porridge-like dish made from wheat and ghee, mixed in with some type of meat (often chicken). The word Harees comes from the Arabic harasaor even older, the Akkadian ‘harasu,’ which refers to the mashing of meat with barley or shelled whole grains of wheat. The bone-in meat is often first cooked separately before combining with the starch, de-boned and then rhythmically pounded into a smooth paste. It is undoubtedly one of the most ancient and popular iftar dishes across the Gulf countries during Ramadan.

Halwa

Halwa means dessert in Arabic. However, Halwa is also the name given to the most famous Omani sweets. It has a strong texture that is thicker than custard. Although Halwa is brown-colored, there is no chocolate used in its preparation. Omani Halwa consists of sugar, honey, rose water, eggs, several Omani spices and nuts. It is usually served with kahwa and dates. Omanis present it on one big plate with several spoons so that guests and visitors can share in the deliciousness.

Mushaltat

A well-known delicacy in Oman is Mushaltat, which is soft flatbread stuffed with honey, meat, spinach or cheese.  The bread is made out of refined wheat flour and kneaded into thin cakes, stuffed with ingredients and baked for about 5 minutes.

Mashuai

Mashuai is a tasty Omani fish dish. It consists of grilled kingfish with a special savory lemon sauce. With the traditional Omani spices, this dishes is uniquely mouthwatering and should not be missed on a visit to the country.

Bablou Soup

Omani paplou soup is a fish or seafood soup. It is often made with tuna and tuna roe, however shellfish and other types of fish can also be used. This dish is loved in the coastal regions of Oman. It has a wonderful citrus flavor that counterbalances the heat along with a wonderful paste made from garlic, ginger and cilantro. The soup is served over a heap of basmati rice and garnished with cilantro and lime wedges.

See more: Top places to visit Oman

Source Internet

The best milk tea shops in Taiwan

Milk tea, or what is more commonly called bubble tea, has become Taiwan’s most popular drink with anyone and everyone drinking a cup or two on a weekly basis. So it shouldn’t be surprising that when it comes to buying bubble tea, there are many options, especially in Taipei. Here are some of the best.

Chun Shui Tang

The original Chun Shui Tang store in Taichung is said to be the birthplace of pearl milk tea back in the early 80s, so it’s understandable that its brand has grown in popularity in the years since. There are many locations throughout Taipei where customers can sample the original pearl milk tea of old or opt for one of the many variations on the extensive menu.

50嵐 (50 Lan)

50 Lan is a chain of tea stores where customers can buy hot and cold drinks to go. This brand is a little more modern in its approach to this classic drink, and the menu and décor reflect this. Fruit teas are popular at 50 Lan, and every drink on the menu has the option of being served with tapioca balls. Affordable, cheerful, and a little different, 50 Lan is a nice alternative to traditional shops.

Ten Ren's Tea

Ten Ren’s Tea is one of the most popular tea shop chains in Taiwan. Its locations have a more traditional feel to them as they primarily sell boxes of tea. However, since the company has branched out into serving hot and cold drinks, it has become one of the most popular places for fans of traditional variations of pearl milk tea. You won’t find any strawberry milk latte bubble tea concoctions here, but the simple and straightforward teas that are served are very well made.

Kenting Dan Dan Milk Tea

A store that breaks from the norm, Kenting Dan Dan Milk Tea has an interesting menu with some great options that you will not find anywhere else. Here the focus is more on the things added to the tea, such as toppings and flavored tapioca balls rather than the tea itself. Again, like 50 Lan, it’s a nice alternative to the original flavors of other popular tea shops.

Yi Fang Fruit Tea

Now, while pearl milk tea is often the most popular option, there’s no reason why it has to contain milk, especially during the hot summer months. Yi Fang Fruit Tea specializes in milkless fruit teas, which are incredibly tasty and refreshing. What could be better than a mango iced tea with pearls on a hot and humid day? We can’t think of much. For those who aren’t fans of milky drinks or strong tea flavors, this place is the best!

Chen San Ding

Chen San Ding is a tea store located in the lively Gongguan neighborhood. Here students from the local university will queue up to get their hands on any drink from this shop. Like Kenting Dan Dan, this place has a few nice non-traditional options that include sweet pearls and less tea. In fact, you can even buy pure milk drinks with pearls.

See more: 7 Michelin starred restaurants in Taiwan

Source: Internet