postaday
The MacDonald House
The MacDonald House was built in 1949 by the architectural firm Palmer and Turner. It is now the only one building left with red- brick exterior in Orchard road. In 1965, two Indonesia saboteurs placed a bomb on the mezzanine floor, three persons was killed and 33 injured.
The impact of the bomb shattered all windows within 300 feets and damages car outside the building. It was due to Indonesia Confrontation, in support of President Sukamo, opposition to the merger of Singapore, Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak. The 2 Indonesia terrorists were convicted to murder and hanged eventually.
The building was built for The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. It was the first large office building of the post-war period and has gazetted as a National Monument on 10 February 2003.
The building is designed in Neo-Georgian style. Built in reinforced concrete and clad in red brickwork with rigid language. The white painted frame casement windows allow it to stand out from the modern cityscape of the Orchard road. 
The 1st floor was lay by creamy natural marble stones, the size of the tiles and refine details made the building more conspicuous.
Obviously, this buiding is different from fast restaurant Mcdonald, this is The Macdo
nald House.
Courier hour
Sometimes I’ll helped my friend who is doing courier service where he last minute can’t find anybody to do the delivery task.
So here I am.
Today, I left home at 5.50am in the morning, reached LRT (Light Rail Transit) by 6am. And took a public bus 27 and change to another bus 37 to reach Changi Industrial Park. Finally, I touched the ground of World Courier at 7.15 am, by then dawn was standing by my side.
I picked 2 parcels for delivery; one must be delivered at Chinatown by 9am, the other one by 9.45 at Orchard WHEELOCK PLACE.
Times is precious, I have to speed up to reach the destination before the specific time required by World Courier, so that I have enough time to roll over for the next delivery.
It was 7.30 am, I took a bus back where I came from and transferred to MRT (Mass Rapid Transports). The time traveling took me about 1 hour plus.
Gladly, I reached the 1st destination at 8.45. I got a stamped for acknowledgement and heading the next job.
I took bus no. 145 to reach WHEELOCK PLACE in Orchard road; by 9.25 I managed to deliver all on time.
This is my “Rush Hour”, quite fun and interesting, that is one of the reasons I had many pictures always ready on hand!
Anniversary Song
We dance in the waltz of flowers
Gliding in the rain
The leafs, the buds, the trees
Thanks to all the lovely faces
Thanks to all bloggers regardless race
Do remember to add grain on earth
This is the song for each and everyone
No candles, no roses, no ballroom chandeliers
This is the song for the earth
This is the song
For the 1 year old of addgrainonearth
We dance in the cottage of woods
Greet by the rain
The stones, the paths and the sculptures
Thanks to all the lovely faces
Thanks to all bloggers regardless race
Do remember to add grain on earth
This is the song for each and everyone
No candies, no popcorns, no champagnes
This is the song for the earth
This is the song
For the 1 year old of addgrainonearth
We dance in the melody of culture
Swinging in the rain
The hills, the gardens and the past
Thanks to all the lovely faces
Thanks to all bloggers regardless race
Do remember to add grain on earth
This is the song for each and everyone
More dancers, more singers, more dreamers
This is the song for the earth
This is the song
For the 1 year old of addgrainonearth
Singapore River by local poet, Lee Tzu Pheng
The operation was massive;
designed to give new life
to the old lady.
We have clearned out
Her arteries, removed
detritus and slit,
created a by-pass
for the old blood.
Now you can hardly tell
her history.
We have become
so health-conscious
the heart
can sometimes be troublesome.
Lee Tzu Pheng (Dr) (b. 13 May 1946, Singapore -) is considered one of Singapore’s most distinguished poets. A retired university lecturer, she is an award-winning poet who has published in anthologies and journals internationally. All her three volumes of poetry, Prospect of a Drowning (1980), Against the Next Wave (1988) and The Brink of an Amen (1991), have won the National Book Development Council of Singapore (NBDCS) Award – From http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_447_2005-01-25.html
Different types of Durian
Here are different types of Durian shown above and some recommended below.
D24 – Bittersweet in taste, with small seed and flesh in dark yellow color.
This is one of the most expensive varieties.
XO – It has bitter taste and XO aftertaste. This is one of the most expensive among all.
Hong Xia- (meaning red prawn) the flesh in the color of cooked prawn, thin and orangey, strong aroma.
Mao Shan Wang- (meaning mountain cat king) the flesh that is firm on the outside, creamy on the inside. Having the most satisfying of all durians types, having said that, this is considered the best among all.
Red, Orange meat- one of the rare varieties, fruits are very small and can be held by one palm. Both are considered as Wild Durians.
Esplanade – The biggest Durian in the world
How to choose Durian?
Is Durian’s Season now, some tips you may like to follow while choosing a king of fruit!
First, pick up a durian by using a towel cloth or a glove and give a gentle shake. If the sound is dull and subtle, this is just right. If it is knocking sound, the fruit is not ripe enough. It there is no sound; the fruit may be too ripe and taste bitterness (to some, bitterness is the best taste among).
Second, durian should smell little fragrant. Too pungent may indicates the fruit is too ripe.
Third, some seller allows open up the shell slightly to examine the flesh. It should feel soft and tender not watery and hard.
Fourth, buy back home and test personally.
Sculptures outside Peranakan Museum
There are two lovely sculptures located outside Peranakan Museum. Peranakan Museum is the first of its kind museum specialize in Peranakan culture. You will see a cat sculpture lying on the front court yard floor, before stepping in the building.
A grandfather and granddaughter’s sculpture located outside the main building.
Granddaughter was happily pointing something in the sky that made her cheering up.
A single’s day
A single moon
A single cloud
A single grass
A single drop of flower
A single bud
A single flower
A single sun
With all these to make up a simply joyful day.
My Article
Lately, a local Chinese Press published my article in one of the Leisure section. This is a prose; it talked about the beauty side of Sengkang@Promenade that is a famous estate park in Singapore.
This is the second articles published after 20 years of my “rest and relax” period.
I hope that this is not the last piece of my story.
But for sure, when ever I saw, I heard, I touched, I always think about what I write, is going to share with the whole world!
How exciting it is!
So for that, on this ordinary day, I would like to make this opportunity to thank all my followers and blogger friends.
Through my sincere heart, thank you very much!
Wishing everyone, a warm rising sun on you!
Sculpture “The River Merchants”
This sculpture signifies a Scotsman- Alexandra Laurie Johnston who was a prominent merchant, former ship’s owner/captain, Businessman, Magistrate, Justice of Peace in early years of Singapore.
The sculpture shows he was mediating between Chinese trader and Malay chief while Indian and Chinese coolies load sacks onto a bullock cart.
This is a common sight around the river in those days.
The sculpture locates between Singapore River and Maybank Towers where the heart of the river flow day and night.
Please drop by listen to their conversation, at the same time enjoy the breeze of the riverbank.
AddGrainOnEarth 