A tale of these two sculptures outside the temple
This is snake or a tail? It is the tail of the tiger sculptures outside Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple. Located at Race Course Road near Balestier Road, this temple was founded by a Thai monk, Venerable Vuttisara in 1927. In those days, ramshackle zinc, wood shelter and a Buddha statue were the initial form.
After gaining huge popularity and funded by philanthropist Aw Boon How and Aw Boon Par in 1930, the building was transformed into the grand present stage.
The hall of the temple holds the 300 tonnes Buddha statue that was surrounded by hundreds of lights, which is why the temple was named after it (The Temple of 1,000 Lights).
The philanthropist brothers, Aw Boon How and Aw Boon Par is the founders of the Tiger Balm Enterprise. “How” in Chinese dialects represent tiger and “Par” represents leopard. These two animal sculptures and motifs symbolize the spirit of the temple.
The National Heritage Board earmarked the temple as a historic site in year 2000.
No more racing on Race Course Road
Race Course Road was named after the old racecourse at Farrer Park built in 1842. It was the recreation hub for Europeans in the past and it also created jobs opportunity for the early settlers from Java and India.
While some buildings gives ways for the new. The present Race Course Road has many up and coming commercial buildings coming along the way. But some prefer to sit still just like the Leong San See Temple(龙山寺) which was built in 1917. It was popular with many Chinese immigrants who came here to offer their prayers.
Just like the Heng Fo Buddhist Temple (恒佛寺).
This historical building, “Temple of 1000 Lights” was reconstructed in 1930s with a changed of zinc roof to wood shelter.
Public housing serves as changes of an era.
The roof garden at IMM
IMM is one of the biggest shopping mall in Singapore. This mega mall comprises of a unique composition of retail, warehouse and office spaces. One attractive feature is the open sky garden that come complete with playscapes attracting shoppers for leisure entertainments. After some good cuisine from the eateries, you can step out to the roof garden finding joy and fun with your family.
This is a playground for kids and fun seekers. Water games is a wise choice for us living under a 34ºc year round summer.
Kids just can’t wait for their ‘spiritual water’ to arrive.
Free yourselves with your birthday suits in this wonderful mall.
This is a place where families have fun and bonds.
Why not spend some time to smell the flowers and look closer to these gorgeous landscapes?
When sky is blue
When sky is blue, we all gather around kick off the Monday blue.
Look up the sky above.
What the bright sunny day!
What the lovely blue Monday!
What’s the good news coming our way?
Another story about my mom and me
Down on memory lane, I recalled having high fever at the age of nine. Mom tried keeping the temperature down by using a straw fan. That was close to midnight, the lights was off but her hand was still moving. The cool breeze did not stop my heart from moving too. I told mom, “It’s alright, I’m fine, don’t have to worry about me..”
I saw tears welling in her eyes, even though the room was dark, but I could feel her sobbing in the darkness.
Till today, I can recalled the moment we touched each others heart so much. So much so that the offer of her un-returnable warm light keeps beaming. Just like the rising sun, giving us warm without asking for any returns. Treat your mother well; treat mother’s nature well.
Happy Mother’s day!
A road where a $10 memories are left behind – A gift for all mothers
This is an ordinary road behind my old house next to Canossian Eduplex.
I grow up here since I was an infant. When I was young, my family was not so well-off as my dad was the only sole breadwinner of the family. He worked as a carpenter to sustain a family of eight, this is tough with no further explanations.
For this reason, my mom had to do part time jobs to make ends meet. She did this by fetching and sending neighbour’s kids to schools. Getting a side income of $20 per month is better than nothing.
One day, she gave me $10 out of her precious $20. I was told that was my pocket money. Without much words, I saw an angel full of wriggles stand right in front of me!
It has been more than 30 years. Since then, this ordinary road has never been an ordinary road to me. Till to-date, my angel mom still leave me with so many memories that is priceless.
Today, I step on this gentle ground, seeing things remain unchanged. The rows of landed property; the roadside concrete drain that are over flow with wild plants; an authentic sport ground and most importantly and yearns for my beloved mom. For some, hearts and feelings may have changed. To me, my affection for that moment will forever remained.
Mother’s Day is around the corner. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all mothers. You are the greatest person in the world! Thank you for being the angel shading over your loveable kids with infinite love.
Evans Lodge
Evans Lodge is a student hostel that situated at 26 Evans Road. It is eye-catching as the exterior bear English bond brickwork makes the environment even more charming than ever.
The protruding portion of the building stands up to speak up for the architectural perfection.
With the enhancements of the vertical fins, it carries the upward language throughout the whole building without any doubts.
The proportion of brick wall, color of texture is just too perfect matching the eyes of human level.
Plantation of pine trees softens the hardiness of the concrete heart brings us a day of joy visiting this residential estate without the clutters of concrete forest.
Don’t miss out this Indian Prata House next to it. Nice Indian cuisine and it’s open 24/7. The reason why they don’t close for business is because the doors are always open for you and the waiters are always happily waiting to serve you with their nice food!
Rain tree shading you from the rain
Rain tree is one of the common species in Singapore. By tilting your head anytime, any days, you see a giant smiling at you warm-heartedly.
Albizia saman or samanea saman is the scientific name of a rain tree. The name of this tree arises from its behaviors, as the leaves will be closed up in the evening and in rainy weather. Therefore, it also has a Malay name Pukul Lima meaning 5 o’clock tree.
The trees located next to Evans Lodge are magnificently huge and wide with lavishly grown weeds creeping all over its body and branches.
So much so it has became part of the tree’s body; no one can split them up, as they must grow as a whole.
A bird nest fern also belongs to part of the community.
Not one or two, they just live together simply to shade us from rain and sun.
Cherish cherry’s pictures
Spotted a few cherry trees along Evans Road outside Singapore Botanic Gardens. To my surprise, it is beaming with shinning and juicy fruits but with no birds chirping happily with their fine cuisine. For that, I have a strong reason to believe the fruits will not taste as sweet as it looks.
Otherwise, birds would not have enough to share it with the worms and the ants would be happily singing and carrying it all the way home.
If not, these strings of ruby gems wouldn’t be hanging there like dropping musical notes, waiting for an artist to complete the beautiful song.
Or else, all these ripe and unripe cherries will be ferry all the way to the supermarket for sales.
Then, today, I wouldn’t be able to have a chance to share them with you and cherish these cherries’ pictures with all!
How fragile life can be!
Lately, dengue has made its way to our little country. Hence, the authority concerned, National Environment Agency (NEA) launched a “Do the Mozzie Wipeout” campaign to educate the public on dengue at the same time to prevent dengue from spreading.
NEA advised every household to do the following 5-step mozzie wipeout regularly:
1) Change water in vases on alternate days.
2) Remove water from flowerpot plate on alternate days.
3) Turn over all pails and water storage containers.
4) Cover bamboo pole holders when not in use.
5) Clear blockages and put BTI insecticide in roof gutters monthly.
Also, there are 3 color codes symbolizing number of cases happening in each town. Color ranges from the gentle case (green) to (yellow) that represent cases less than 10, until the highest level (red) that is 10 cases and above. The color banners are hanged along the street sides to alert residents to stay vigilant and do the mozzie check regularly.
So far, more than 3,100 persons have been infected. Fortunately, no deaths were reported. But the message still bring across how fragile life can be? We are nothing under the sting of a tiny mosquito. Let’s take heart, our frail body can never hit the high of our ego.
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