The sun shines softly through the lattice window and falls on the book gently.
I slowly caressed the books that sit accordingly on the bookshelf and try to enter the stories.
Few people sit on their seats, reading their books quietly. They seem like immerse themselves into the world of the fairy tales. No one can bother them.
Although this place is so-called a library, but the aroma of coffee is scattered in the air which lets people who are reading feels more energetic.
“Little giraffe library” was established in the year 2011, from a small container all the way to the present – a standard and warm house. It has gone through three different growth background owners, and it is getting better and better.
The third generation of the owner, Lee Soon Yong was studying in architecture who began to combine the coffee house and the library. Lee mentioned that the main reason for doing this is to maintain the livelihood of this library, “because the library is a community place, it cannot earn money, so it is difficult to live without any expenses.”
Other than that, this combination offers customers a variety of options, not only to study in a quiet place but also to dine in the library. It satisfied the needs of humanity – books and foods.
One wooden board merge with another board and become the library that we can see now. When you walk into the library, you will see two large and light red lanterns hanging at the doors, full of human touch.
The library was divided into two parts – the dining area and reading area. The dining area was lined with wooden tables that painted in motley colours, and verdant plants are dotted into a painting.
While the reading area provides some cushions for children who want to spend their storytime there.
From time to time, there are three or more children sitting on the wooden board, and pieces of cushions under their buttocks. They listened attentively to one after another fairy tales told by the storyteller.
Perhaps it is such a dreamy little house that full of imagination located in the city, but isolated from the crowd, so it has a casual name – little giraffe library.
According to Animal Corner (2019), giraffes are the tallest animals around the world. Lee illustrated that this library uses giraffe as their name was because giraffe has a long neck, therefore, it has a wider field of view. They want to let the children who came to their library can receive broad ideas through reading books.
Birds are sitting on the branch when singing, the wind is passing through the branches and leaves, it creates the vibration in the air. These sounds coupled with the voice of storyteller travel to my ears as intertwined but not irritating.
The calm and quiet library is full of its story. The nicks and paints on each piece of wood are the long roads that different owners had travelled, but not everyone can see through it. The library that you can see now is the result of day and night effort after six months.
“Growling…”, the rumbling noise from my tummy let me realized that I am hungry.
At this time, the air is filled with curry flavour, I look around and see the “birthplace”. My footsteps involuntarily walk to that place, but that place is only allowed to be used by the staff. Therefore, I can only see it from far away.
I walk back to the counter and review again their special menu that hanging on the wall. Finally, I found what dish is that – yam meatball Japanese curry rice! I order quickly with the waitress because my stomach cannot wait anymore.
I sit in the dining area next to the windows, listening to the rain taps gently on the windows which leaving a row of water stains. The wind forces them racing against each other.
A black cat sits noiseless with me and we see the rain together. “Ta…ta…”, the walking sound pass to my ears, and the curry flavours have fully covered the taste of air. My picky nose can only smell it.
When the plate is placed on the table, I pick up the spoon immediately. The sunny egg rests on the rice and looks lazy. I poke the egg yolk, let it slowly fuse with the rice and mix some curry with them. A spoon is filled with the egg, rice and curry, the different texture mixes together. Surprisingly, it does not taste weird.
Yam meatball is not only a mixture of yam and meat, but also some carrot slices. So, when you take a bite, you can feel three different flavours inside one bite. If you want to try a richer flavour, you can put your meatball on a fork and dig it into the curry. You will find it different from the original flavour.
Well… I think something is missing.
Oh, yeah! It is a book! It is always difficult to live without books.
Here is not only the paradise for children but also a paradise for adults who want to back to their childhood. Like Stephan King had said that “Books are a uniquely portable magic.” It can bring you into the world of fairy tales no matter how old are you.
video link: https://bonjourjyt.wixsite.com/behindfoods
How to go:
If you want to walk:
From Bandar Tasik Selatan (TBS) LRT station, take the rail to Sentul Timur line and get off at the "Chan Sow Lin" and change to Ampang line. Then get off at "Maluri" and walk to MRT station, take the rail to Kajang line and get off at the "Batu 11 Cheras". Lastly, you just need to walk for 5-10 minutes then you will see the library!
Another way to the library is to take KTM, but it will take a long time unless you meet the KTM as soon as possible. Also from TBS and go to KTM station, take the rail to Gemas line and get off at the "Kajang" and walk to MRT. Same with the LRT road, also get off at the "Batu 11 Cheras".
If you want to drive:
Address: 114, Jalan 15, Batu 11 Cheras, 43200 Cheras, Selangor
or
More information:
Telephone number: 012-632 2955
Opening hours: 7.00pm to 10.00pm (Wed-Fri);
1.00pm to 10.00pm (Sat);
1.00pm to 7.00pm (Sun)
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/littlegiraffebookclub/
Wah this looks like a nice place and especially I also like books haha.. It feels so calm and a good place to relax. And thanks for providing the address too, it's very helpful. But I'm wondering if the books are in Chinese or English? Because I prefer to read in English haha