If I have to choose a place to chill out and hang out with friends, it has to be Holland Village! Nestled in the middle of a residential estate, Holland V transforms into a bustling enclave at night. It has an array of cafés, bars and ritzy restaurants which are usually filled with the corporate crowd and expatriates in the evenings

On the eve of the public holiday during the week, we managed to stake out a spot at our familiar haunt which serves a potent mix of lips-smacking finger food, house pours and beer. I like this particular café bar very much. It's a great place to hang out with friends without the formality and hassle of an up-market bar. On top of that, they engage rather good live bands to perform every night. If we can, we like to go on Friday nights when the East India Company (EIC) plays. This band really has a knack of getting the crowd in a mass sing-along session.

Instead of my usual mock tail or juice, I decided to have a glass of white wine that night. The gratification that came along with it was most welcoming. Surely, immersing myself in the relaxing ambience with decent wine and great company is one of the many pleasures in life!