I grew up in the east, and for the longest time I only came to Joo Chiat/Katong for the “usual” stuff—Katong laksa, old school bakeries, and then I’d leave. But the area has changed so much over the years: new cafes, quiet little shops, and tiny details that honestly make you want to slow down and actually notice where you are. So in this video, I take myself on a solo date in Joo Chiat with no real plan—just my film camera, some coffee, and time to see the neighbourhood through a slower lens. I start by wandering the streets (because I literally can’t not stop for photos), shooting on my Asahi Pentax Spotmatic with an extremely expired Fujifilm Superia Xtra 400 roll I bought in Japan back in 2019. I grab coffee at Bee Hoe Coffee—my peanut butter latte genuinely surprised me with how well it worked—and later I treat myself to a macadamia tart at 174Bingo. I also share a few food recs (there’s this shop selling crackers and fried bee hoon that’s so flavourful), and I end the day digging through jazz at Cherry Lane Records. Shooting film really forces me to be intentional, so the whole day becomes this little reminder to slow down, roam more, and enjoy my own company.