photography
2) Where is my Christmas gift?
My owner, Sydney, this is the place where he was born, a green green grass of home, a place where he spend his childhood busy catching spiders and butterflies, Merpati Road. Now with the remains of the old wall, the grass still looks green. When he left this place 23 years later, it still wave at him now and then, as if asking him to drop by now and then.
Though his house has been torn down for redevelopment many years ago, it is still a very fond memory in his heart. The trees, the wall, the green grass and the road to the playground, it’s his childhood nostalgia.
Sungei Kallang (a canal) is also full of his memories. In those days, when the tide is high, kids lure fish from the canal with their utmost attempt. A fish is so precious in those days where most families were poor. It was not until a drowning incident occurred, the fun of this young seeker would have continued.
This is a shot of a ‘meal finder’. This chap is not smart enough to spot the right place, all his seafood has been gobbled up by F&B for the preparation of Christmas parties!
This is the neighborhood park where he lives now, a crawling distance from the Sungei Punggol. A quiet and serene wetland where he got his surprises and funky inspirations! There is a Sports & Recreation Centre nearby, where you can practise your swimming skill or have water fun with your ducky toy.
This is the west side scenery from the apartment where we stay, a glance of the Bukit Timah Hill on the right, stormy clouds is a reminder of nature dear and near.
On the left, is the last Kampong in Singapore. Sometime is so amazing to wake up by the ‘Kampong fragrant” under the star!
And this is the door leading to our home sweet home, a door opening up to east meet west.
Where reindeers are all dressed up, but no where to go…
Shimmering stars all ready and awaiting for the dance and party goers..
Oops! So much about my owner…He won’t realize how much I have reviewed the little secret of his past. He is still busy waiting for his turkey, honey baked ham, log cake, Christmas gifts and party dress-up!
And now, don’t keep me waiting…where is my Christmas gift before the year past…
Friend (24) – No Doomsday but Dawn is here / 朋友- 末日早晨
A thin layer of fog floating on the grass, just awaken. That’s the face of nature’s pure, perfect face under the escort of the Divine. No one can help not to give it a second glance…on the day after doomsday, on the morning after doomsday; a brand new morning!
一层薄薄的雾气，漂浮在刚苏醒的草地上。那是一张大自然的脸孔，单纯无瑕，在神的护航下，让人不禁多望一眼。
这玛雅传说后的第一天。
这玛雅传说后的第一个早晨。
Cool air and blue sky, accompanied by the sounds of insects hidden in the green grass, I rejoice with the miracles in my eyes and the warm in my heart.
清凉的空气与湛蓝的天空，伴着草地里的虫鸣声，我的眼睛被这一幕神迹吸引。一股喜悦在心里满满的被滋润。
Standing outside the fence, asking myself how often do I witness nature with his hazy eyes. While eveyone is busy with the myth of the Apocalypse, the new day has gradually emerge, never deceptive, never turn up late with hesitation. Giving everyone a fair day of his own.
篱笆外的我伫立片刻，试问我们这一生，有几何见证大自然睁开朦胧眼睛的样子。当大家还忙于世界末日的传说，新的一天已经在那儿慢慢耘酿，毫不虚假，毫不迟疑，每人一份公平的一天。
How far you go with the 24-hour is up to you. You can walk a distance with it and you can fly far with it. Paint this canvas of the sky with your own colours, you may obtain your own rainbow or may not even sell it for a penny.
每人一份24小时的天空，你要走多远，随你。你要飞多远，也随你！这幅天空随你用什么颜料去涂彩都行。用心画会有彩虹，没用心的当然卖不出一分钱。
I am not fearful of the end of the world, I am more apprehensive when the world lost its sight of light. Then, front with tract of the sunray, doesn’t it have enough to shoot through the doomsday? We don’t even have to debate about it!
我不怕世界末日的到来，我只关心这世界有没有曙光。但眼前这道旭日足以射穿末日的那一端，还要争论吗？
16) Winter is the beginning of all season
Today, is one of the twenty-four solar terms of the Chinese calender the “Winter Solstice“. The winter solstice is the beginning of the twenty-four solar terms in ancient times. In Chinese belife, the Winter Solstice is greater than the Chinese Lunar New Year.
今天是”冬至”，华人二十四节气中之一。在古时候冬至是二十四节气的起点，所以有冬大过年的说法。
The arrival of the winter solstice, is floating in the festive atmosphere. You will see everyone gathering together for celebration. It’s just like the western Christmas seasons, one celebrating with turkey, another with rice ball dumpling.
冬至的到来，充满着浓浓的节日气氛，你会看到大家聚在一起大肆庆祝一番。这好比西方的耶旦节，吃的是火鸡，华人吃的则是“汤圆”。
Rice ball dumpling, in additional to its shape of delegative round, it is wrapped with flour and stuffed with knead, lotus seed paste, peanuts, sesame etc. The lightly sweet taste filled and warm the stomach in the winter.
汤圆，它的外形除了代表团团圆圆外，以面粉搓成包住的不同的内馅，有莲蓉，花生等等，吃起来让人感觉甜甜蜜蜜。
This warm in the winter, fullfilled my stomach and warm my heart just like rejoicing the human race and traditional close relationship. Just like the tree roots wrapped around the earth, it is the image of the extension to the traditional practices of intergenerational, how appropriate!
这种温暖在冬季，吃在口里，暖在心里，代表人情与传统有密不可分的关系。那天，偶然拍下树根的照片。如果把树根缠土的精神，延伸到传统习俗对世代相传的贡献，不是再贴切不过吗？
Today, is not end of the world, is just the beginning of all seasons. Let’s have the rice dumplings as wine and toast to our heart content, I wish all of you a wonderful festives, happy and healthy life all year round!
今天，不是世界末日，是新的一年的开始。在此，我借汤圆当酒，祝大家圆圆满满，幸福安康！
46) We are all shouting out loud in IKEA
We are not going to be like this dull fellow anymore.
I want to be a prosperous flowerpot, making your word and world upside down!
I want to be the up and coming Christmas super star, shining on your wall and ground
I want to be a dangling dancing cushion, making your home look smart and smitten!
I want to be a jelly cup, filling up rainbows in your stomach!
I want to be an Eco reindeer, waiting for Santa happy cheers!
I want to hang myself in a graceful way, leading you all the way to Christmas Day!
I want to clean your space with my creativity, as this is my duty.
We want to be the flag of IKEA, joining force to capture your heart!
And enjoy a colorful dream at dark!
Here you come, a brand new you after walking out from IKEA and after knowing us!
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
15) A bottle of Coke in you and me!
This traditional local branded bakery shop, is more than enough for you to explore their recipe for your entire life, not only the secret method to produce, but the persistency and the spirits of hardship.
Today, I passed by this bakery. With a glance, I guess I have missed the lunch crowd and the Moon Cake festival. Just like others, I like the moon cakes of this bakery. This bakery may not be a favor with people who likes fanciful moon cakes, but to the local, we know he is someone standing on his own ground firmly, with pride and vision. The good taste never changed!
The shop was established in 1938. Since then, the hands of this traditional bakery shop never stop its hand movement! With original recipe and without preservations, the art passed down from one era to another. Bake instantly with fresh ingredients, this is the slogan for every single cake lovers of our nation.
During the Moon Cake Festive seasons, shoppers queue in rain and shine with paper carrier printed with the Chinese name on it. If you have the cheek to ask them why not go for the fanciful cakes made of durians, birdnests, chocolate or even ice-cream! I believe the answers are the same for sure! “I love the traditional moon cakes”!
In fact, by looking at the long queue, it’s not hard to know they are not an ordinary celebrity, with fans from all ages and from every corner of our country.
Though Moon Cake Festival is over and a snowing Christmas with Santa is arriving soon, but I still think this is just like a bottle of Coke in you and me, with sweet memories and sense of belonging, deep down in our homeland.
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.
43) Please drop me a card this Christmas!
You may be able to spot this pillar post box at the Fullerton Heritage Gallery at The Fullerton Hotel. But these are the last two left since 1873, which were specially shipped from Great Britain. These special pillar post boxes feature the EIIR (Elizabeth II Regina) British Royal Cipher on its door as symbol of the ruling monarchy at that time when the pillar post boxes were produced.
In 2001, the Fullerton Hotel has transformed himself from a General Post Office to a super star Hotel. It was during that time that the post box was preserved as his iconic memories!
The other pillar post box is still serving the public outside Singapore Philatelic Museum. It stands in front of the museum welcoming people from all over the world.
And this handsome guy in the Fullerton Hotel, is gladly asking if you would like to drop him a card this Christmas!
This FLOOR COMPASS shows you the direction to your destination.
Whether you are going Hong Kong or Saigon, it takes you over thousands of kilometers from this direction
Or you want the distant Cairo or the nearby Penang?
My home Sydney or neighbor Auckland?
41) We are non-ordinary buildings (Part 1)
If you stand at the direction of the Merlion, over looking Marina Square, while enjoying the seascape of this city. You may spot an animal-form building in the concrete forest. Have a second look and see if the building resembles certain animal?
That is Marina Mandarin! A hotel building with an exterior resembles an elephant with two flapping ears, a lowered trunk and a wide face. In “Feng Shui” philosophy, elephant signify peace, steadiness and good fortune. By placing this architectural edifice just a distant from Marina Bay, and having the best view of the waters, it is by nature a good “Feng Shui”? Stay tune for the next building!
Take a close-up look at this special building from the concrete forest.
This is an elephant from its own habitat, are they alike?
40) The two arms of The Fullerton Hotel
In my opinion, The Fullerton Hotel, from the direction of Victoria Theatre is a giant man standing in between two spreading arms with a warm cheering face!
Cavenagh Bridge, the right arm was built in 1870. It is the oldest bridge existing in its original form on Singapore River. It named after the last India-appointed Governor of the Straits Settlement, Major General William Orfeur Cavenagh.
The bridge was designed by John Turnbull Thomson, under supervision of Captain Charles Edward Faber, the Madras Engineer who have Mount Faber named after him.
Before the bridge was born, there was one shaky bridge connected the both sides. Travelers just need to pay 1 cent for passing the bridge.
And now, Cavenagh Bridge is one of the Singapore bridges fav by lovers, after it overtook by Anderson Bridge due to overloading problem.
Steel rivets stand still throughout the era.
Anderson Bridge, the left arm was built in 1910. Given a name after the Governor of the Straits Settlement and High Commissioner for the Federated Malay States, Sir John Anderson.
This beautiful steel arc shape structure was built intended to lighten the load of Cavenagh Bridge. It is so far the last bridge built in steel along the Singapore River.
In the past, there is a belief that men and women tossing apples and oranges respectively into the River will be blessed with a happy marriage.
And for singles hurling oranges into the River will be blessed with a partner soon.
Not so sure if this belief is still concurrence, but the reverse effect may end you getting a fine for littering the River.
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