Life / 生活
14) Where is your Tunnel of Memories?
If you asked around the locals about this pedestrian tunnel, they will concur with a smile of contentment. This is a well-known pedestrian tunnel connecting Queen Elizabeth Walk (Esplanade Park) to Empress Place. Apart from crossing over on the Fullerton Road that leads to Anderson Bridge, this is a leisure way to enjoy the beauty of the Singapore River. In the past, it’s a park where families spent their weekend on. Couples holding hands, dress up like super stars in their bell-bottom pants meet up in the park. Gone were those days, where happy couples, groups of youngsters, families with kids gathered around on weekend in this memorable park of pride. It leaves good memories in most children in the 60s/70s.
On top of the tunnel is Anderson Bridge, a famous local landmark visited by countless.
The concrete parapet wall remains the same standing under the rain and sun unlike the landscape of Esplanade Park that has changed tremendously.
It is quite amazing to see those trees still standing green and lavish while those who once saw them were long gone…
This is my tunnel of memories, where is yours?
13) The 3 special features on a Signalized Pedestrian Crossing
Green Man+ is specially addressed to the needs to elderly and Pedestrians With Disabilities (PWD) as this group of pedestrians need more time to cross the road. This is done by tapping the CEPAS-compliant senior citizen concession card or Green Man+ card on the reader (mounted on the traffic light pole). Once the reader verifies the valid card, the system will extend ‘Green Man’ time from 3-12sec depending on the size of the crossing and volume of traffic.
This gratifying thoughts designed by LTA (Land Transport Authority) enable the needy pedestrians enough time to finish the crossing at a gentle pace.
The beeping sound pedestrians hear at pedestrian crossing also known as Pedestrian Audio Signal is to ease the visually disabled cross the road. The volume of the audio signals is adjusted automatically based on the noise level of the surrounding environment.
The Green-Man Countdown Timers indicate the amount of time left in the crossing phase. As balancing the safety of pedestrians is as important as keeping the road smooth-flowing, the timers are usually not standardized. It counts on the length of crossing, the volume of pedestrians and the density of the traffic flow.
Thus, it is good to understand the operation needs, so you wouldn’t be standing under the hot sun waiting and start punching the pole.
12) An Extraordinary Doctor
In National Cancer Center, Singapore, if you chanced into seeing a doctor moving around with a wheelchair, he is Dr William Tan, a medical doctor and a neuroscientist. To many, he is not only a diligent doctor but also one of Singapore Heroes.
Dr William Tan contracted polio at the age of 2 and was paralyzed from the waist down. Life was not easy for him, as his father was the only breadwinner in the family. Despite the odds, Dr William works all way out towards his dreams and challenges.
He is a wheelchair athlete and was the first person in the world to finish a wheelchair push in the Antarctica in April 2007. Same year on 19 December, Dr. William achieved another world record by becoming the fastest person in the world to complete 7 marathons across 7 continents in 27 days. This amazing race took him across countries like Antarctica, Chile, Egypt, Thailand, Japan, Kenya, Italy, England, New Zealand, and USA. Apart from all these achievements, Dr William has raise millions of funds for charity locally and internationally.
Dr William has been diagnosed with end-stage leukaemia in 2009. But with his passion in life, the bone marrow transplant operation is already a success in his mind. The disease is just another mountain to climb and conquer.
Being a sportsman, a medical doctor, a scientist and an inspirer, Dr William Tan has turned adversity to advantage. He said, “I don’t have the use of my legs but I shall make the best of my brain and my arms that are not paralyzed.” By reading so much good Dr William has done, I salute him and say “We can’t hold a candle to you, Dr William, thanks for all you have done for the community!”
11) What is the difference between these 2 Sepak Takraw?
The one on the left is meant for wheelchair user and made of rubber material. The one on the right is a traditional Sepak Takraw ball that is made of rattan, thus it’s lighter and more bouncy. Unlike the traditional Sepak Takraw, the rubberized one is less springy and it requires a bit more patience and determination to master the game.
Auti Angel is the “Dancebassador” of the Abilities Expo. She is a wheelchair Hip-hop dancer and also the founder of Colours~N~Motion. Participants from all ages and genders learn the dancing skill from her.
Physical disabilities don’t set a boundary within. With the strength and determination to go beyond, dancing with free wings are the real heroes!
What sort of satisfaction and joy does one gain from sport? A medal? An accomplishment? Or just a simple game just for a simply joy?
Do you want to compete cycling with me?
Or barely go under the sky for an ocean of freedom?
10) Breakfast at our Tiffany
Bread and Butter
My daily breakfast consists of bread and peanut butter, If I look for changes, it’ll be peanut butter and bread, or oak with banana, else will be banana with oak!
Bread and butter are also one of the basic nutritional meal for kids growing up.
Toast Bread with Half Boiled Eggs
It is common to get them in our local coffee shop. It’s grassroots breakfast indeed. A piece or two toasted bread come with one or two half boiled eggs.
The eggs taste superb with soy sauce and pepper, it’s provide you with the energy charge you need for the day! And of course, you have to monitor your own cholesterol level.
Roti Prata
A traditional Indian meal, an ideal breakfast. It is a pan-fried pancake made from flour dough and it is commonly served with curry gravy or sugar. This is famously one of the most reasonable priced meals among the local.
Porridge with ‘You Tiao’
A typical Chinese authentic meal, a popular meal well-liked here. ‘You Tiao’ (known as ‘Oil Stick’) is a long, golden-brown, deep fried strip of dough that taste slightly salty. Dipping ‘You Tiao’ in a bowl of hot porridge is one of the original way to enjoy the meal!
Nasi Lemak
Commonly a Malay breakfast dish, though it is possible for the dish to be eaten all day as it is sold in most eateries here. Nasi Lemak is a fragrant rice dish cooked in coconut milk and ‘pandan’ leaf, comes with small fried anchovies, fried peanuts, scrambled or hard boiled egg, cucumber slices, wrapped with banana leaf. Last but not least, is the remarkable hot spicy sauce (sambal) with a sweet under taste that spice up the whole dish and make you wanting to go back for more!
Macdonald’s Breakfast
And finally, this world famous meal may end up in front of me, once in a ‘purple’ moon.
I would love to share so much more Breakfast at Tiffany with you….Hey, what about you? Shall I see you at Tiffany?
9) Story about HWA (Handicaps Welfare Association)
A stroll to Handicaps Welfare Association (HWA), located in Whampoa, Singapore is my weekly visit to my volunteer work with the association. HWA was founded in 1969, with a group of 23 philanthropists. An organization run by people with disabilities and for people with disabilities. An organization aims to promote self-help and mutual support to themselves and others.
After 43 years, HWA has 42 full time staff and they extend their contributions in rehabilitation, educational classes, welfare assistance, driving lesson for the disabled.
A wall painted art piece delighting the entrance of this caring ground.
Staffs helping member repositioning to the ground.
This picture shows a corner of the Rehabilitation Center, where some members are doing the therapy.
Today, a group of toddlers from a nearby kindergarten paid a visit to HWA center, an officer-in-charge explaining how the center operates and works and what we can do to help and contribute to the members of the center.
Architectural room providing Architectural drafting training assisting members to pick up extra skill and integration to community.
In this Art Room, you’ll discover they are more able than anyone else.
Drop of rain, bring about a life with countless crack of dawn, can be found here.
8) “Dragon” playground
Following 3 decades, this “Dragon” design playground was born during the 70s to 90s and is still playing on his own, in this little heartland. Together with those newbies that came along with plastic finishes and rubber floor mats, I supposed he is the oldie in the group, looking untouched throughout the traces of the years standing on his sand-based ground.
Paying respect not only to his age, but also to what he has made it to a list of “15 Amazing Playgrounds From All Over The World” which was compiled by magazine website Flavorwire.
With the remaining of the other three “Dragon” design playground, he is the only one left with sand based.
I am not sure how he feels to stand-alone here, but I am very sure he has many followers and passer-by to pay him a visit and a warm Hi! Reminiscing what a great childhood we had with this guy!
This little cute “sea horse” design resembles a little bone’s shaker, smiling at all ages.
7) “Rainbow” HDB Flats
The “Rainbow” art painted public flat constructed by the Housing Development Board (HDB), I believe there are not many left in this century, where all new overruns the old.
Besides complimenting the art piece, my little mind makes me wonder how the gigantic arc was painted on this big piece of concrete canvas? And how brilliant the designer was indeed. We hardly look up to see a beautiful rainbow, why not stay a bit longer before we turn to the next page of the History.
A semi-circular open protruding staircase, hardly come across them apart from some HDB flats belonging to the same era.
6) Life – The Last Kampong
Recently visited Singapore’s last Kampong – The Surau Kampong. The Kampong is located in Buangkok, nearby the old Woodbridge Hospital which is now known as Institute of Mental Health.
“Kampong” in Malay literally means village. In olden days, Kampong is the main building form before the reinforcement of concrete technology is established.
The common scene in Kampongs during rainy seasons is fun and memorable. Villagers chasing after ducks and chickens, hastening to bring in clothes from their clothes lines to keep away from flood and rain, whilst barefooted kids and dogs hastily fleeing to find their own shelters. Sadly, this amusing scene is a memory of the past in Singapore with the exception for this little last Kampong.
Kampong houses are usually constructed with zinc roofs and timber walls with windows and doors. Floors are usually laid with cement screed and it feels chilling whenever you step on the floor day or night. Leaving each other’s door open is a common sight in a Kampong. That was the trust and camaraderie the villagers had for each other.
Wind charms, tree houses, birds, chicken, ducks, dogs, cats, fruit trees, flowers, make-shift fencing, stand alone post box, shabby toilets, raw and unpolished nature 
landscapes are the elements of Kampongs.
Smells of chicken poo floating in the air; gecko’s calling; mosquitoes whizzing in your ears; lizards clicking on the wall; cricket’s chirping with their dance; dogs bucking in the night; frogs singing with their 
orchestra are just part of the calling soul of a Kampong.
The Surau Kampong currently houses 28 families – 10 Malays and 18 Chinese. In time to come, it may not be able to protect its own boundary. As life is impermanent, more than ever in this fast changing Lion City. Before Singapore gobbles up its last village, let’s step in more often to this carefree and slower pace of life as compared to the urban contemporaries.
5) Life – Kachang Puteh Man
I met a Kachang Puteh man outside Peace Centre along the main street. “Kachang” in Malay means Bean and “Puteh” denotes color White, on the whole it means White Beans.
Kachang Puteh man was an immigrant who came from India during the 50s and 60s. They are popular among the kids, cinema or amusement park patrons.
Life is a start from scratch. They are self-reliance and sell beans for a living. Besides selling beans and nuts, tidbits like prawn crackers, sweet candies are what they can offer too.
The beans varieties were mostly roasted, though some were steamed (like the chicks beans). All beans in containers are neatly laid on the Kachang Puteh cart. The kachang are wrapped with thin paper folded in a cone-up shape. In those days, it cost $0.05cents per cone but now I have to pay $1.00 for a cone!
Personally, I have a penchant for the roasted variety which comes coated with a layer of sugar, though too much of it may cost the Tooth Fairy some works!
Kachang Puteh man usually lodged their carts outside cinemas or amusement parks. In those days, cinemas and amusement parks are standalone buildings and it is easy to push the cart around and start a business. Unlike now, cinemas are mostly “built-Ins” and run by building’s management. Renting a ‘peanut’ corner in a building will be costly and affects the Kachang Puteh Man’s income. Moreover, no outside foods are allowed in the cinemas other than those bought from the cinema’s vendors.
However, Kachang Puteh man are vanishing soon, we don’t see them around more than often, even in our country’s Little India these days. If you happened to see one, do stop by and patronize, as they may fad off soon. Now you see it, now you don’t…. In times to come, it does not only leave behind a taste of nostalgia but also the shadow behind our Mr Kachang Puteh man.
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