Flower
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!
Dempsey Hill
The present Dempsey Hill was formerly known as Central Manpower Base of Singapore (CMPB) packed with British army barracks. After eras of long services, it has turned into a new life lined with bistro and lifestyle designer shop spaces.
The parade square was once used as a place to pick up and ferry new recruits on their first day of national service. In my memory, I was ferried by a three-tonner military truck from this place before I started my new journey in the army. Now, some of the barracks are instead occupy by BBQ restaurant with no traces of military soldiers.
Some has changed over and became art museums where cultures and sculptures do their guarding jobs.
Some revamped as supermarkets. No more cookhouse food other than frozen pork and beef steaks!
This place for hang-out is always a good choice for fine dining and chilling out on Fridays. Wine and beer will never get away from the cozy lounge with beautiful architecture details.
Lush greenery is the big selling point of Demsey Hill. With this resort-like entertainment ground, it’s hard to recall the boorish shouting over to a recruit from an army officer, and the chisel of how army life is going to be.
The feeling between anxiety and relaxation, which one do you choose to boot-out?
Something fit for a vegan
I had an awesome vegetarian meal at Beets located at 22 Dempsey Road. This unique restaurant offers a variety of high quality and creative range of food fits for non-meat eaters.
The foods and the lounge setting are equally refine, a new definition of modern vegetarian cuisine you must experience.
Tofu Burger
This is one of the signature dishes. The seaweed tofu burger served toasted with grilled pumpkin, truffle aioli, relish and pumpkin crackers are enough to make your mouth water and wanting more from every bite.
This dish may look bare but it comes with a taste you’ll never forget. Baby roquette, grilled butternut squash and tofu served with sambal olek dressing. The sweet, sour combination come just too perfect with the leaves. You will never let go this mouthful experience.
Char-grilled Vegetable Platter
A mixture of grilled vegetables come with a fresh selection of red and green pepper, Portobello mushroom, asparagus, roma tomato, corn and Bombay onion complete with the homemade garlic aioli. One of the most delicate dishes on the table, the crunchiness of the asparagus and the fragrant of the freshly grilled greens with a spray of flower petals will lure you back to the next visit. The edible flowers is new to my taste buds, It’s hard to resist the next trip there!
The restaurant is located at the entrance of Dempsey Road. Operation hour for lunch is 12pm to 3pm and 6pm-11pm for dinner.
For a stylist and healthy meal, this is the right choice. Just chill out..
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!
Green Roof
When we enter the lobby of this green pavilion at Botany Centre (Singapore Botanic Gardens), you see a stretch of timber walkway covered by ripple of greens on the top of the roof. This special feature not only rejuvenate the gardens but also provides the objective of the green pitch roof.
You don’t find any special elements underside of the pitch roof. But, by enjoying the reflection of the pond on the ceiling might be a bonus to understand how nature interacts among them.
Either gets a faraway distant angle from the Green Pavilion, or another option is to reach the 2nd floor of the pavilion to get a closer look of the green roof.
With the help of lushly covered plants decrease the temperature of the room beneath, obviously also decrease the energy generated. It is no doubt, green roof are widely adopted eco concept and globally well received in the world. Then again, did we take this eco steps for granted? When you enter this blissful green land, the cooling and refreshing ambience don’t come along without the effort of green hands behind. Without them, we won’t have a chance to enjoy a green and blue combination of this horizon of landscapes. Should we thankful for that?
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.
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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