I lurrrrve the kopi here.
I love it so much that I'm going to come to their outlets as often as I can, and hold as many meetings as frequent as I can. It's good money paid out for a good cup of coffee that's ubiquitously local (they understand americano, they'll just give it to you kopi-o), fragrant and large enough for the duration of a single meeting. :)
 |
| they always give me kopi-c |
The price works out to a $1.70 for a kopi-c.
Which is a very good value when you're doing meetings and for work versus $3.70 or more elsewhere.
I love it that their outlets are pretty conducive for meetings or when you need to bang out an email. If you're at the Central Library, you've got it alfresco, complete with wind and natural sunlight and lots of open air swirling about. If you're at Chinatown or at Tanjong Pagar or any other indoor outlet, there're enough people around you having casual chats and meetups that you won't feel awkward or alone.
And if it's a lunch or dinner meeting, or a tea time one, hey, can do, no problem. They've got a pretty extensive menu. I've had their sandwich of egg mayo. I've had their fish and chips, I've had their scrambled eggs with a chunk of spam (that they call ham) and I've had their omelet, which I think is one of the fluffiest, fullest and wobbliest I've had for a price of $10 plus.
 |
| egg mayo toast |
 |
| fish and chips! |
 |
| the omelet |
But what marks Hanis (Hans? Han's? Hanis?) out from other casual cafes is this: Their distinctive customer demographic.
See, if the Millennials have their Starbucks and their indie coffee cafes, the Silver Seniors have their Hanis.
More than once I've seen them, and trust me, it is a very, very charming sight.
Maybe it is the fact that they are Seniors coming together for no other purpose than to preserve the connection forged over years long ago and celebrate the memories that brought them together whilst telling each other about what they do now and what's happening in their day-to-day.
It doesn't matter how they turn up. Some of them come in neatly-ironed shirts and suspenders. Some of them come in polo shirts and cargo bermudas. Some of them arrive walking slowly with walking sticks and some of them come with their caregivers.
What matters is that they're there, they're healthy enough to turn up, they've got their wits together and that this Hanis is one place where they can be youthful again, where they can chill like their children and grandchildren do, where they can be themselves as senior citizens, come together, open up the newspaper, point at articles and discuss and shake their heads wondering what the world's coming to.
What matters is that there is a go-to place like Hanis where they can come when they want to meet up with each other for a cup of kopi or teh and talk and catch up and poke at their mobile phones and swap memories whilst sharing a packet of chocolate coated soft biscuits with marshmallow filling that one of the party bought from the store further down and specially brought for all to share.
Because they are our Pioneers.
What they are or how they are, the fact that does not change is that they've been there before the Formation years, during the Formation years, right through the Merger to the Separation to Independence and to what the country of Singapore is today.
And I hope that Hanis will continue to be their Hangout for many more years to come. That they can continue to come together, all ten of them, dressed for the occasion, pull tables and chairs together, greet representatives from other associations halfway during their meetup, that they continue to speak really loudly to each other, enjoy a cookie together and be just as what they are.
Silver Seniors of the 21st century millennium in Singapore. :)
See, if the Millennials have their Starbucks and their indie coffee cafes, the Silver Seniors have their Hanis.
More than once I've seen them, and trust me, it is a very, very charming sight.
Maybe it is the fact that they are Seniors coming together for no other purpose than to preserve the connection forged over years long ago and celebrate the memories that brought them together whilst telling each other about what they do now and what's happening in their day-to-day.
It doesn't matter how they turn up. Some of them come in neatly-ironed shirts and suspenders. Some of them come in polo shirts and cargo bermudas. Some of them arrive walking slowly with walking sticks and some of them come with their caregivers.
What matters is that they're there, they're healthy enough to turn up, they've got their wits together and that this Hanis is one place where they can be youthful again, where they can chill like their children and grandchildren do, where they can be themselves as senior citizens, come together, open up the newspaper, point at articles and discuss and shake their heads wondering what the world's coming to.
What matters is that there is a go-to place like Hanis where they can come when they want to meet up with each other for a cup of kopi or teh and talk and catch up and poke at their mobile phones and swap memories whilst sharing a packet of chocolate coated soft biscuits with marshmallow filling that one of the party bought from the store further down and specially brought for all to share.
Because they are our Pioneers.
What they are or how they are, the fact that does not change is that they've been there before the Formation years, during the Formation years, right through the Merger to the Separation to Independence and to what the country of Singapore is today.
And I hope that Hanis will continue to be their Hangout for many more years to come. That they can continue to come together, all ten of them, dressed for the occasion, pull tables and chairs together, greet representatives from other associations halfway during their meetup, that they continue to speak really loudly to each other, enjoy a cookie together and be just as what they are.
Silver Seniors of the 21st century millennium in Singapore. :)