Tuesday, April 18, 2006
4/18/2006 04:07:00 PM

Creative Coffee Shops Tables

posted by Francis Ho

Yesterday morning an old friend of mine from Brunei, Paul Yong, called me from out of the blue and would like to catch up with me before he flies off to China on a 2 weeks tour with some church group in Kuching, early next morning. So we met up in a typical old Kuching coffee shop where Paul, a retired businessman, is having breakfast with some of the Chinese Catholic Church members.

Paul has always had a keen eye and when we sat down he commented that Kuching people are creative and resourceful; pointing at the legs of the coffee tables. I then noticed that the base was made from an ordinary old-fashion metal wash basin while the leg was made from a metal pipe! For stability and sturdiness, the bowl was filled up with cement and two cross angles are welded to the top of pipe for the marble top to sit (glued) on. A cheap, simple, effective and durable coffee table with character! See; coffee shop owners can also be creative!

Bet you don't see original and creative stuff like this at your local Coffee Bean or Starbucks outlets!

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  At Tuesday, 18 April, 2006 Blogger Robin CHAN said:

hmm.. I dun understand, won't the cement comes out since the basin is inverted.. and the cement may scratch the floor..

Starbuck table is dirt cheaper

  At Tuesday, 18 April, 2006 Blogger Francis Ho said:

robin - hello? cement/concrete sets and hardens permanently lah my friend!
the base with cement inside is quite heavy and the tables are not meant to be moved around. I didnt see any scratches on the tiled floor as well.

Starbucks - expensive coffee n cheap tables?

  At Tuesday, 18 April, 2006 Blogger YD said:

interesting tables! and the traditional marble top too! Hm... should I try out with the one at home?

  At Tuesday, 18 April, 2006 Blogger Wuching said:

but the tables r too heavy to move for cleaning liao!

  At Tuesday, 18 April, 2006 Blogger The Moody Minstrel said:

Bet you don't see original and creative stuff like this at your local Coffee Bean or Starbucks outlets!

Originality and creativity are for humans (ecch). We should be thankful that our corporate masters are helping bring convenient, mindless order into our lives. After all, people are only truly happy if they don't have to make any decisions.

(The scariest thing is that there are people that actually believe that.)

Brunei - I didn't even know that country existed until I went to the 87 World Expo in Vancouver, B.C. (Canada). My friends and I saw a beautiful and exotic-looking pavilion entitled "Brunei Darussalam" We said, "Where the **** is THAT?" and went in. We were surprised at how beautiful and unique it was, especially considering how small the country is.

Face it: Americans stink at geography.

  At Tuesday, 18 April, 2006 Blogger Francis Ho said:

moody - your comments are at the same time biting commentary, provocative and interesting ... as always!

How do u do that? Or is it an 'american thingy'? More like a moody exclusive now that panda has apparently taken a hiatus here! heehee ;)

  At Wednesday, 19 April, 2006 Blogger Francis Ho said:

flaneur - no apologies are necessary as I welcomed your comments!

hmmmm ... now I sit back and see what moody has to say about what you said! ;)
(i love this!)

  At Wednesday, 19 April, 2006 Blogger Robin CHAN said:

I am waiting too..

  At Wednesday, 19 April, 2006 Blogger The Moody Minstrel said:

Oh, no!
I've been given a spotlight, and here I am, caught with my pants down! My brains are too splattered right now to be of much use! So much for being the champion of American dignity here...

Actually, Flaneur, I think you hit the nail right on the head. People will tend to follow the path of least resistance, i.e. the "safe" route. That's why chain stores like Starbucks and McDoorknobs...er...McDonalds are taking over the world. If you go to a global chain just about anywhere in the world, you know exactly what you're getting. On the other hand, go to that old and dingy-looking grease trap across the street from your hotel and you might just get a beautiful case of heartburn as a souvenir...and get acquainted with some very interesting cockroaches.

German students couldn't find France on a map of Europe? No surprise there. The Germans have been overlooking France for centuries. "What? Does that country even still exist? Haven't they surrendered to anyone recently?"

(Smile on...tongue in cheek here. I have some French ancestry in my family tree on my father's side.)


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