community
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!
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.
Running story
In the wee hours of March 29, a secondary school girl, Tian Xiao Qi from Hualian, Taiwan sent her ailing grandma to the local hospital A&E unit for treatment.
She has an exam in the same morning at 10am. According to the news, the exam takes the whole class as a scoring margin. As she doesn’t want the class score to be dragged down by her absence, she’s very insistence to sit for the exam.
With not a single cent with her, she decided to run back to school on her own two feet. Started at 7am and reached school at 10, spending a total of 3 hrs for 23km. When she reached school, her classmates were stunned and touched by her action. They quickly offered her tidbits for replenishments as she ran with an empty stomach throughout the whole journey.
She was asked if anyone offered a helping hand along the way. She responded that 2 policemen from the police post offered but she can’t explain why she rejected the kind offer which will only took her 10-15min to reach her school.
In a good way, she made it in the end! When asked how she felt, her answer was simple “the running was not so difficult, as it is worthwhile exchange for a meaningful journey in life”.
Postbox collections of Singapore
These postbox collections of Singapore, from the British Colonial days until the present.
1950s
1970s
1980s
1990s
30) Caring is the core of this festive season
The hall behind the Sri Mariamman Temple is a place to offer a reunion dinner to those new immigrants and the underpriviledged. Early days, immigrants from overseas go through hard life, many were earning token just to fill up their stomach. So it is understandable that they live alone and did not start a family. This temple was also used as a refuge camp to hold new immigrants. During Chinese New Year, you will see them gather here to celebrate the festive season irregardless of race or religion.
This is the front view of Sri Mariamman Temple. It is the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore. It was founded in 1827 and built to dedicate Mariamman, a Goddess, famous for her healing power of epidemic diseases.
Banana and mango leaves hanging over the temple door, welcome and purify visitors with a fresh reborn life.
Mango leave will withered after a few days and closed up by itself, this symbolizes a humble society, caring for the surrounding and to make way for their passing by.
Isn’t it sending a clear message across? Being caring and benevolent are the cores of this festive season!
3) Temp for a night!
Hi! Sydney is away for party fun today!
He put me on stool before he left the house, and demands me to put up the post for him tonight!
So, for the time being, I’ll be a temp staff for Addgrainonearth.
And while waiting for Santa Claus to come, I’ll sing along with you guys first!
Let’s start with the “Blue Christmas”!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfd8353Uazc&playnext=1&list=PL0C0A8F33E4DA4382&feature=results_main
44) I can’t find my way back home!
This is not an ordinary street buzzing with pushcarts selling souvenirs in the core of Chinatown. It has a certain background we should recall or try not to recall…the Sago Street.
Sago Street alias “sei yang gai” in Cantonese refers to “street of the dead”. Back to the last century, funeral parlours stretching from one end to another are not an uncommon sight.
In the funeral living room, you see bodies covered merely with cloth lying on pallets in open cubicle, each with a table placed with offering items. As the shops are usually small and dimly lighted, the atmosphere then was chilly and creepy. It is definitely not for the feeble hearted.
When I was young, I remember having to pass by a few lying bodies just to reach the toilet situated right behind the backyard of the shop. To me, attending funeral wake is always a hair-raising event. It’s a frightening experience and one that left a deep impression behind.
The picture was captured in the Chinatown Heritage Centre at Pagoda Street (a few lanes away from Sago Street) depicting the bitterness of life during that century.
Those offerings are the basic needs for the deceased, it’s offered to serve them with a better life at the other side of the world.
Today, if your soul traveled back home from the other side of the world, you maybe surprised by the overwhelming tourist crowd, waking you up next to the side of your soul bed. Or maybe you would consider starting a new life again, this time with a more graceful surrounding.
9) A Story About A Poor Granny
This heartwarming real story happened in Indonesia. It’s regarding a judge handling a theft case. The defendant is an old frail granny from a meager family. She committed the crime as her child was sick and grandchildren were starving.
She succumbed to stealing cassavas for them. But the manager of the plantation insisted to put her behind bars, so she has to face the punishment.
After reading the sentence, Judge Marzuki took a deep breath and made the announcement. “I’m sorry Grandma, I have to abide the law. You are guilty of what you have done, you are to pay a fine of 1 million rupiah (about US$100/=) or you’ll be put behind bar for 2½ years.”
AddGrainOnEarth 