postaday
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?
16) Whose feet are those?
A) Skinny but master of wings
B) Northern survivor
C) I am not Lion King!
D) I am not Godzilla!
E) I am not Vampire!
F) I am not Meat Eater!
G) Deep! Deep! Deep!
H) I am not a Horse!
J) I am not birdie!
K) Ho! Ho! Ho! Where is my best friend?
A) Crane
B) Polar Bear
C) Tiger
D) T-Rex
E) Bat
F) Ant Eater
G) Angler Fish – http://wp.me/a2DqYS-Q0
H) Donkey
J) Big Bird – http://wp.me/a2DqYS-Q9
K) Reindeer
42) We are non-ordinary buildings (Part 2)
Is a numerical figure prominent in this particular row of buildings?
A closer look can make one guess what the number is? Though, the view might be block by some building beneath.
Yes, it is number 13. This is on the exterior of Conrad Centennial Singapore. The number 13 in Cantonese coincidently sounds like “实生”, and it means “sure to survive” or some interpret it as “sure to prosper”. However, this could be tittle-tattle, the number 13 could have belonged to a Friday!
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.
The Fullerton Hotel, glimpsed through steel arches and ribs.
15) We are smaller than Ikan Bilis (Anchovies)
Ikan bilis translated from Maly literally means “fish anchovy”. It belongs to Anchovies family, tiny shape in size but full of iron and calcium in nutrients. It is also an essential ingredient in a local delicious dish Nasi Lemak (coconut rice). I would have thought that Ikan bilis is the smallest fish that I have known of, but surprisingly it is not true.
Paedocypris is claimed to be one the smallest known species fish in the world. It measures from 7.9mm to 10.3mm. It can be found in Southeast Asia, where it appears in Malaysia and Indonesia.
Schindleria brevipinguis, also known as ‘stout infant fish’ is the second smallest known fish in the world. It can grow up to 8.4mm and it can be found in Austria’s Great Barrier Reef and Osprey Reff in the Coral Sea.
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