literature
45) I lost my Christmas Tree this Christmas
I asked a mangrove tree, he presented me with a creative idea in return.
I asked a poster, which told me the story of the forest.
Asked a tortoise, which told me it is not in the water.
Asked an autumn leaf, which told me it is not far away.
Asked the fern trees, they reply “aren’t we gorgeous enough?!”
Asked the restaurant staff, they showed me the Christmas set meal.
Asked a delicate flower, she said, “I am not a tree”.
Asked a mini-waterfall, he said, “I couldn’t hear you”.
Asked a cannon ball tree, he said, you could take me as the ornaments.
Asked an antique clock, he told me time is running out.
So, so, where is my Christmas tree? Is it hidden with you somewhere?
I lost my Christmas tree….lost it in the Singapore Botanic Gardens
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.
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?
14) Whose eyes are those?
A) One of the smallest eye in the world
B) Eye of Nature
C) Eye of Kindness
D) Sleepy eye
E) Slowest eye
F) Eye of warrior
G) Eye of Night rider
H) Eye of the Ocean
J) Eye of a Hollywood Star
K) Sexy eyes
A) Ant
B) Cat eye stone
C) Giraffe
D) Hippo
E) Snail
F) Tiger
G) Owl
H) Whale
J) E.T
Friend (23) – Falling is Just Another Form of Dancing / 朋友- 跌倒又跳舞
Road, it is born for us to tread on. For a life time, we flatten and walk on it for countless time. Yet, when it is uneven, we start to complain about it, and when we trip on it, we grumble on our own bad luck.
Yet, if you are lucky, you board the broad sunny way with pleasant scenery and you say, “well, I created my own road”. Then, many a times, we step on mud, collide with stones, cross the tough Himalayas, go against the tide of the Atlantic. And again, this is the time you started to question yourself on the road you are travelling.
The day I nearly slip and fell on a mossy floor along the corridor. In the midst of panic, I felt I fell with a beautiful stance, and started to understand the fact that a fall can be swift, yet graceful and poise.
Life is filled with swiftly changes and it is a stage with ups and downs. Rather than complaining it being slippery, why not help things along; have a dancing fall, slide out your steps with a spring, as Spring is not far away from us!
路，它一生下来就被人踩，我们一路踩在它身上，一生一世不知来来去去走过几回。它一不平坦我们就抱怨连天，一打滑就怪自己运气不佳。
如果幸运的话，上了康庄大道，一路上风和日丽，景色怡人，你说路是自己走出来的。但很多时候事与愿违，很不幸地踩到的都是烂泥，碰撞都是石子，跨的是喜玛拉雅山，逆流的是大西洋。这时你又会不竟地问这是一条什么样的路？
那天我差一点在有青苔的走廊上打滑，慌张之余，感觉自己跌倒的姿势蛮美的，领悟出其实跌倒也要跌得优美，跌得韵味，跌得坦然。
人生舞台起起落落，与其埋怨路滑，不如来个顺水推舟，以跳舞的方式跌倒，滑出一个春天，反正春天离我们不远了。
37) Brother Bridges to Chinatown
There are two bridges leading us from the direction of east to Chinatown.
One is on the left, the “Elgin Bridge”, while the one on the right is “Coleman Bridge”.
Elgin Bridge was built as an unnamed footbridge in 1819. The existing bridge was built in 1929 and named after Lord Elgin (Governor-General of India). It was the first bridge across Singapore River that linked two roads to Chinatown core, South Bridge Road and North Bridge Road.
The second one is Coleman Bridge, which was built in 1840. It was the second bridge built across the Singapore River. Designed and named after an Irish, George Drumgoole Coleman, Singapore’s first architect.
In 1865, the original brick bridge was replaced by timber. And in 1886, an iron bridge was built to replace the wooden one.
To withstand the increasing heavy traffic flow, the iron bridge was finally demolished in 1986 and replaced with the present concrete bridge while the iron lamp post and railing were retained under historical conservation.
Day and night, Elgin Bridge stood still as strong as an iron man, bearing travelers without any complaints.
Ferry with tourist sight seeing the landscape of Singapore River.
The little Bodhi tree witnessing the hustle and bustle of our footsteps and the history of the two bridges in the heart of the Singapore river.
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.
11) Who named the “King of Fruits”!
Regarded by many as the “King of Fruits”; durian, is native to Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia. British naturalist, Alfred Russel Wallace famously described its flesh as “a rich custard highly flavoured with almonds”.
During his stays in Malay Archipelago (1869) Wallace described “to eat durians is a new sensation, worth a voyage to the east to experience’.
The flesh is best when it’s ripe, though it can also be consumed at various stages of ripeness. The unripe fruit makes good vegetables. It is also used to flavour wide variety of Southease Asian cuisines. The seeds can be eaten when cooked.
Durian is a spiky round or oblong husk containing pods in yellow custard-like fruit. The trees are tall and straight. Durians orchards are danger zones often covered with nets. As the fruit strikes a man in its fall is strong enough to kill.
The fruit emits a pungent distinctive odour, you either like it or hate it. It has a very unique character. Some regard it as pleasantly fragrant; others find the aroma disagreeable. The odour has led to the fruit’s banishment from hotels, airline cabin and public transportation.
It is no wonder Wallace the “father of biogeography” in the letter to Sir William Jackson Hooker stated – “If I had to fix on two only as representing the perfection of two classes, I should certainly choose the Durian and the Orange as the king and queen of fruits.”
Durian flowers are usually closed during the daytime, I believe it is because the King needs more rest than others!
8) Dice your Life
Lately, I read an article on newly wed Chinese couple born after the 80s. They have innovated a special dice. The shape does not defer much from the traditional rounded cube, rather of showing number 1-6 on the six-face dice, this one has daily activities like ‘laundry’, ‘cooking’, ‘wash dishes’, ‘buy groceries’, ‘run errand’, ‘staring blank’ etc. on the six-face dice.
The couple has to toss the die to decide their choice of house chore to be done for the day. That’s a fair deal but it could be the starting of a nightmare for the husband.
It is a popular and trendy practice among the young couple. Isn’t it an innovation, and creative idea used in an amazing way!
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?
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