Arts
A Bucida tree will never turn you down
I got to know Bucida molineti tree since the day I shifted here some 12 years ago. At that time, it was a man with the height of his childhood. But then, he’s as tall as a four storey apartment now, and I’m sure he is holding an important role in decorates our neighborhood landscapes.
Attracted by this lovely tree, right from the sleek silhouette to the elegant exterior it portrays. The tiny arms and the leafy evergreens express himself in a refine and delicate manner.
Leafs are gently small compared to the size of the body. By saying that, he seems like standing on a moderate path, offering the blue sky to us and at the same time shading us from the cheerful bright sun.
I like walking on pavements shaded with these trees, under their widely open arms. Sometimes, the dropping leaves may accidentally got stuck on my glasses, but the kiss of it is so light and soft that I felt like it’s the teardrops of the tree.
Taking a second look at it, does it strike a chord on you? Yes, it looks like an upside down Christmas tree. So the next time you bump into one, ask him “where have all the Christmas trees gone?” I believe his answer will never turn you down.
A Tour to Toa Payoh Town Park
If you happened to ask a local, “Which particular park holds the most sweet memories in your childhood?” I bet 9 out of 10 will give the same answer: “It is Toa Payoh Town Park!” If you are too young to answer this question, ask your parents then!
Toa Payoh Town Park is sitting on the southern part of Toa Payoh Housing estate. In the 70s, this is a place famous for outdoor wedding photography. You will see dozen of visitors, couples, families enjoying themselves with photo shooting, having their picnic on the open grass field on weekends and public holidays.
Today, I return here to trace back some footage of my memories for my long faded album.
This pond-side restaurant is one of the iconic landmarks on this piece of greenery. To hold a wedding dinner, celebrate an event is not uncommon here and it’s exclusive in those days.
The brick-tiled broadway has been witnessed by many couples and happy families throughout their entire life.
The preceding willows replaced by reeds blend so naturally well with the clever thoughts of the landscape designers.
A snake-like design bridge with bolt nuts-like balustrade, give weight to recollection of certain bits and pieces of our faded memories.
The 2 curvy stone bridges are the pioneers in this green community.
The ‘Bottle Brush’ trees are the most humble and gentlemen around.
This 4-storey viewing tower is one most significant feature in this land. In the past, it was a joyful twirl walking up to the top of the floor to catch the bird-eye view of the entire garden. But in the present, we look for elevators or escalators to fulfill this task.
This park is filled with breeze and songs of bees. Last and not least, you’ll bump into a jaywalker like me!
Friend (29) – The sweet and bitterness of life
There’s this 5-piece English historical building theme coasters sticking on my kitchen wall for many years. I recalled it’s a gift from a friend some 20 years ago. This friend was a full-time architect and a part-time chorus conductor. I was then a lame singer in the choir.
We rarely talk, not because he is a discipline guy but I guess it’s my introvert personality that fails to break the communication barrier. Not long after I left the choir as I need to spend more time on personal enhancement.
Yet, I was surprised by a surprise. I received a souvenir from him through my sister who is also a choir member. I came to know that he bought me the gift during his Europe tour. As he knew I have a penchant for architectural stuff and he specially choose this theme for me.
I recalled I was stunned and moved by this friendly thoughts. On social ground I should at least give him a ring to deliver my gratitude. But I didn’t, as I wasn’t a person good at expressing myself. Yet, my way of displaying my gratitude is to hang the coasters on my kitchen wall. Everyday, the coasters remind me of this nice, gentleman I’ve met in this lifetime.
Lately, I came to know that he’s facing some upheaval in life. It’s not easy to meet up again, but I’ll like to take the opportunity of this write-up to wish him all the best and have all his good wishes come true. At least, there is also another man like him, who’s always standing behind, tasting the sweet and bitterness of life with another….Be blessed, my long lost friend!
Sick Song
Sydney was sick for the past few days
He couldn’t get himself awake
Conquered by his body ache
Flu attack his nose
Lightning hammer his head
He walks like a zombie
Resting in the daze
He dreamt a lot
Slept a little
Weak, weak, weak
Still, his daily mission had to be conveyed
It’s on the way
Click, click and click…
Click for a day
Sydney was sick for the past few days
He couldn’t get himself rejuvenated
Concealed by outer space virus
Fire attacked his brain
Drowsiness drowning his pace
He talks like a zombie
Resting in the daze
He slept a lot
Dreamt even more
Weak, weak, weak
Still, his daily mission had to be conveyed
It’s on the way
Wait, wait and wait…
If he made any mistake
Please forgive, as he is still on his sick bay
They are not lonely at all
Today is the last day of Qing Ming festival. According to Chinese believes, Qing Ming duration stretch over 20 days that is before and after 10 days of the actual Festive season.
The Choa Chu Kang Cemetery is the biggest cemetery in Singapore, located at west side of the island that takes approximately an hour to reach from my home.
This is the only burial cemetery left in operation but this also proves that many friends will be known in this special community.
My ancestors are somewhere there, the rest are their friends, a group of long living friends!
This Golden Shower tree is a very special friend of everybody. He is the Guard man of this senior home as well as the directional sign.
Some, they like to wave at you and show you the colorful smile over this windy season!
Some, they prefer stay green for lifetime on your head!
Some like us; be a green follower!
And some are so sweet and beautiful!
Some are very union, putting effort to get close to each other and cheer up the environment.
That’s why I’m glad they are not lonely at all…
Crouching Tiger and the Hidden Dragon Pt 2
One blogger put up a request to me for more pictures of these wooden tree stump sculptures displayed at the Green Pavilion, Singapore Botanic Gardens.
In fact, some of the sculptures were also placed as an art deco at the lobby. This is the one placed as a backdrop of the counter. No visitors would dare to confront the counter staff with the three dragons behind them. Perhaps, visitors may have mistaken them for the real ones and wonder why the dragons are let loose from their enclosures.
Do you fancy two gigantic lizards crawling on top of your head?
A miniature Godzilla having a good life here!
I still can’t figure out what animal is this? Could it be an eagle?
Is that real? Is up to you to judge!
Are these pumpkins? What are they doing here after the harvest, waiting for the next Halloween?
Just relax and take a sit, while you enjoy the works of art with our hands, provided by nature.
“Mom, wake up!”
These are the words from a three-months old elephant calf trying to wake up his dead mother. The mother elephant was found dead at the Gunung Rara Forest Reserve in Sabah.
Suspected being poisoned under mysterious circumstances, a total number of ten endangered Borneo pygmy elephants were found dead in the forest.
“We highly suspected that it might be some form of acute poisoning from something that they have eaten but we are still waiting for the laboratory results of the chemical analysis from samples taken from the dead elephants to confirm the diagnosis” said the authority.
“It looks like these animals are from the same family group, as the carnage took place on the same time and space. It was a very sad sight to see all those dead elephants, especially one of the dead females who had a very young 3-month old calf. The calf was trying to wake the dead mother up.” Said Dr Sen Nathan, Senior Veterinarian for the Sabah Wildlife Department. The baby calf was very distressed and had to be rescued. It is now being hand-raised by wildlife rangers at Lok Kawi Wildlife Park.
“Mom, wake up!” I heard the voice wandering in the woods….
A thoughtful car parking lot
Whenever we look at a car parking lot, it doesn’t appear to be unusual, but at least to me, it is unusual!
对一般人而言，这个停车位是在普通不过了。但对我而言，它有异于一般。
An ordinary public car parking lot is usually made of cement, asphalt, bricks or sometimes just a layer of stones screeds.
一般的停车位用的建筑材料都离不开混凝土，沥青，砖块再不然就是铺上一层小石子。
This parking lot featured here is made of broken strips of thin concrete slab laid out sparingly.
这个停车位是以瘦长的混凝土块以间隔的方式铺设而成。
Nature will fill up the remaining gaps with weeds and gravels.
混凝土块之间的空间就由小石子与植物填补上。
Imagine a little foliage living under a tyre day and night, on the road for months and years. No passer-by realizes or knew their existence.
想象这些小植物日以继夜在车轮下生活。可曾有人留意它的存在？
Are we able to feel the hands of hard work behind these thoughtful parties, who are doing a great job for our Garden City? With intelligent ideas that combines concrete forest with nature green into a song. A beautiful song composed by a harmony melody and an activist conductor, the orchestra just goes on and on…
你可以感受得到那幕后功臣在这花园城市里所付出的努力吗？把绿意与钢骨森林结合成一首歌曲，这首美丽的歌曲由和谐的旋律与活跃的指挥家组成，不止如此，旋律会不断地播下去，继续地播下去。。。
Reliving the Cactus Song
Yesterday, I received an email from a US based song writing and artist development company.
They’ve stated in the email that they were fond of one of my song series – The Cactus Song, which I have written last September on my 2nd month of blogging. They offered me a package into buying my lyrics but I have to pay an upfront. The company will then complete the lyrics with vocal and music to compile the song and do the advertising for me.
Though this is a brand new experience but I’m not sure why I felt uncertain about it. Perhaps I can take this opportunity to relive this song and recap my inspirations to my lover – the Cactus Song
I live in Texas my homeland, a desert an untouched ground
I love the sun being my clothes
And I love the sweet, warm breezy blows
With a grouchy cuckoo on my head
No autumn leaves or winter snow
No splashing stream or falling rain
Just an empty Paradise on my own,
With the rocks and stones.
I like to dance in the falling night,
With the cowboys dancing around
That is my homeland, a desert an untouched ground
I live in Singapore IKEA my homeland, a concrete desert ground
I love the air-conditioner being my jacket all year round
And I love the halogen light giving me a good shine
With a grocery shopper passer-by
No autumn leaves or winter snow
No splashing stream or falling rain
Just a perfect Paradise within my reign
With my color and little sands deco
I like to sing in my own shadow
With the shopper’s cajoling around,
This is Singapore IKEA my homeland, a concrete desert ground.
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