postaday
26) Where is this place ?
Labrador Park Pt 3
Out of many, this is one of the “Black and White” houses on our little red dot. The name “Black and White” depicted the black painted timber windows & doors and the white color painted walls. Currently, there are about 600 colonial houses scattered around our main island. In the past, it was meant for public servants’ lodgings but these days, these houses are on lease for residential, commercial or F&B usage.
The picture revealed House No 30, Bukit Chermin, which is one of the grandest and largest of the four existing bungalows along Bukit Chermin. Just like the rest, the house is preserved by the URA, Conservation Unit.
However, the old Keppel Shipyard is gone at this time, it was relocated to another part of the island. Now the mangrove is left behind listening up to the tide gushing up and telling the old story of reminiscence.
Strolling along the Coastal Walk in noon time, is hard to find a single soul.
A lonely bird ignoring a lonely stranger or a lonely stranger staring back at a ignoring bird.
I prefer a leafy sky.
25) Where is this place ?
Labrador Park Pt 2
Walking towards the left of the Park, the scene of an inviting island over the other side of the sea greets you with open arm. This is the western side of Sentosa Island, Ford Siloso is lush by the den and greenish forest.
There is an machine gun post built during the British colonial era and is meant to protect the coastal shore. Thus, any attempt to assail the main island will acquire a heavy cost.
There is also a restoration of Dragon’s Teeth Gate. According to the provided introduction, Dragon’s Teeth Gate was famously known as “Batu Berlayer” or “Sailing Rocks” among the local Malays.
In 1349, A Chinese Historian Wang Da Yuan described in his article, “the straits between the two hills, Temasek (old name of Singapore) looks like Dragon’s Teeth, this is how the name was derived.
In 1405, the great Navigator, Zhen Hē sail passed Temasek using his navigation chart with Dragon’s Teeth Gate as one of the landmark.
In 1819, the first resident of Singapore, William Farquhar found a deep harbour at the site and named it Keppel Harbour. Subsequently, the British blew up Dragon’s Teeth Gate to widen Keppel Harbour. Fortunately, this historical scene was saved by an artist name J T Thomas with his brush of paint.
As you saunter along the curve boundary of the Park, you catch a good glimpse of The Reflections Apartments and the delighted Star Cruise Virgo waving and welcoming you on board.
Friend (20) – FOC Tea / 朋友 -清茶
Brew a pot of tea with three Friends – Fragrance, Optimistic and Clarity. Looking at each other speechless beats a thousand words.
My friend is FRAGRANCE, she came up with a surge of faint fragrance and gently caressed my nose, clearing my nose, and finally hook up with my mouth leaving my lips upturn and marks at the curve.
Your OPTIMISTIC persona makes me more certain that happiness is inevitable being your friend. Your gentle body has the ability to bring one to another realm. There is no doubt I am affected by your pure and optimistic nature.
Staring at each other, distinguish the precision between us. Both our CLARITY reflections mirrored on our pupils. The longer we stare, the more apparent the lucidity. Till the tea sediment descended thus laid the meaning of Friends.
On the path to tea appreciation, I met my three Friends, they are on the FOC and yet they lead me to the course to good health, what can be more superior?
沏一壶茶，跟三位朋友；清香, 清乐, 清澈无言对望，胜过千言万语。
朋友清香,弄出一股幽幽茶香轻柔地抚摸我的鼻子,然后再清洗我的鼻腔,最后在我的嘴角边一勾,让他微微上扬,最终在我的嘴角上留下痕迹。
你乐观的样子，让我更肯定和你做朋友的人必然开心。你那轻轻的身体还能把人带去另一种境界，肯定是被你那清纯乐观的性格所影响。
我们互相对望，同时看到对方清澈的一面，对方的眼瞳里都出现对方的倒影。看得越久，看得更透，直到茶叶沉淀也奠定了朋友的意义。
一条品茶的路上竟然遇上三位朋友，不止免费,还赠送养生之道,何乐不为呢？
Friend (19) – The Four Gentlemen
Plum Flower
My Friend, there is a nation who feels proud of you. Your unyielding nature makes you look even emaciated. But lanky is not your name. You are not afraid of the cold winter, but you are the first to bloom in spring. The first gentlemen standing on the land dancing fearlessly with spring and a smiling gentleman, I called.
Chrysanthemum
My Friend, you do not mind lying next to the grave, and you do not mind associating with strangers soaking up in holy bath. But you mind only if fall brings you the beauty of grief or sorrows. With your haughty attitude in autumn, I do not ask for much. As maple leaves died out all over the floor just for your tender face.
Bamboo
My Friend, your elegant, free and easy attitude whirling in the wind, bring a pause to my reminiscent for others. But you are so modest, you do not forbid birds and landscape rivals with you on a manuscript and you give way to a painter’s inspiration.
Orchid
My Friend, you are infamous. You uphold the title of a National Flower and people sing so well of your elegant glory. What else do you lack of? Your distinctiveness, wholesome and noble sentiments put you high up to the zenith. Infact, with your independent personality, praises are to you only a title, but a pursuit in the eyes of others.
6) Life – The Last Kampong
Recently visited Singapore’s last Kampong – The Surau Kampong. The Kampong is located in Buangkok, nearby the old Woodbridge Hospital which is now known as Institute of Mental Health.
“Kampong” in Malay literally means village. In olden days, Kampong is the main building form before the reinforcement of concrete technology is established.
The common scene in Kampongs during rainy seasons is fun and memorable. Villagers chasing after ducks and chickens, hastening to bring in clothes from their clothes lines to keep away from flood and rain, whilst barefooted kids and dogs hastily fleeing to find their own shelters. Sadly, this amusing scene is a memory of the past in Singapore with the exception for this little last Kampong.
Kampong houses are usually constructed with zinc roofs and timber walls with windows and doors. Floors are usually laid with cement screed and it feels chilling whenever you step on the floor day or night. Leaving each other’s door open is a common sight in a Kampong. That was the trust and camaraderie the villagers had for each other.
Wind charms, tree houses, birds, chicken, ducks, dogs, cats, fruit trees, flowers, make-shift fencing, stand alone post box, shabby toilets, raw and unpolished nature 
landscapes are the elements of Kampongs.
Smells of chicken poo floating in the air; gecko’s calling; mosquitoes whizzing in your ears; lizards clicking on the wall; cricket’s chirping with their dance; dogs bucking in the night; frogs singing with their 
orchestra are just part of the calling soul of a Kampong.
The Surau Kampong currently houses 28 families – 10 Malays and 18 Chinese. In time to come, it may not be able to protect its own boundary. As life is impermanent, more than ever in this fast changing Lion City. Before Singapore gobbles up its last village, let’s step in more often to this carefree and slower pace of life as compared to the urban contemporaries.
Friend (18) – Nature
An elderly couple emerged from the early morning mist. Age in their 80s, sported in their usual casual wear, look washed out with the waves on their face. Unlike their silvery white sideburns, their energy never slide. The old man held a clutch in one hand, sustained by the old lady’s feeble arm on the other. Both look so happy like the desirable cobalt blue sky.
This is my other Friend “Nature”. He bestowed comfortable, warm and simple affection. Though they are just a pair of strangers in my life journey, but their presence and silhouettes never ceased to be strangers in my mind.
Few years down the road, the sight is still in my mind so sharp and clear. No exaggerated manners needed for set off, no gorgeous embellishment required to look good.
The elderly couple emitted fragrance so natural and rustic. No pretentious smile, just healthy, serene and noble sentiments circulated with elegant simplicity!
With the presence overtaken by events, perhaps both are together in heaven, or perhaps they are still strolling in the early mornings. But the message my “Friend” had left behind, makes me realized the wisdom of another life, sparkling with crystal clear insight.
5) Life – Kachang Puteh Man
I met a Kachang Puteh man outside Peace Centre along the main street. “Kachang” in Malay means Bean and “Puteh” denotes color White, on the whole it means White Beans.
Kachang Puteh man was an immigrant who came from India during the 50s and 60s. They are popular among the kids, cinema or amusement park patrons.
Life is a start from scratch. They are self-reliance and sell beans for a living. Besides selling beans and nuts, tidbits like prawn crackers, sweet candies are what they can offer too.
The beans varieties were mostly roasted, though some were steamed (like the chicks beans). All beans in containers are neatly laid on the Kachang Puteh cart. The kachang are wrapped with thin paper folded in a cone-up shape. In those days, it cost $0.05cents per cone but now I have to pay $1.00 for a cone!
Personally, I have a penchant for the roasted variety which comes coated with a layer of sugar, though too much of it may cost the Tooth Fairy some works!
Kachang Puteh man usually lodged their carts outside cinemas or amusement parks. In those days, cinemas and amusement parks are standalone buildings and it is easy to push the cart around and start a business. Unlike now, cinemas are mostly “built-Ins” and run by building’s management. Renting a ‘peanut’ corner in a building will be costly and affects the Kachang Puteh Man’s income. Moreover, no outside foods are allowed in the cinemas other than those bought from the cinema’s vendors.
However, Kachang Puteh man are vanishing soon, we don’t see them around more than often, even in our country’s Little India these days. If you happened to see one, do stop by and patronize, as they may fad off soon. Now you see it, now you don’t…. In times to come, it does not only leave behind a taste of nostalgia but also the shadow behind our Mr Kachang Puteh man.
7) Chrysanthemum Song / 菊花之歌
Is just another day
People rolling on the street
Wheels chasing each other
This is the moment we meet
You are in a cart along the city
When I look into your eyes
Let me have a chance to call out your name
Miss Chrysanthemum
You are a whispering angel
Calling my name in the dust
You are a true angel
And I am a true follower
By your side
I rather be a charming face
Is just another day
People walking on the grass
Wind chasing each other
This is the time we greet
You are the guardian of the graveyard
When I look into your eyes
Let me have a chance to call out your name
Miss Chrysanthemum
You are a humming angel
Calling my name in the garden
You are a true singer
I am a true prayer
By your side
But I rather be a faithful hand
Friend（16）- Autumn Rain
This few months, the haze from Indonesia has smog Lion City all over again. Our smoky heart yearns to see the bright sun and flashing star yet and again.
On that day, through my window west direction, my friend finally arrived.
He came from distant lands, dragging along in his left hand layers of thick dark clouds coming from the mountain. Trudging in his right hand a large rainy blow. Standing behind the window, awaken from my sweet drowse, surrounded with the sniff of the immense rain.
With this timely arrival of breeze, I know the rainy season is not far away as it adds ease and bliss to my heart and a little gay.
Friend, your name is “Autumn Rain”.
Faraway overlooking from my balcony, I evidence your arrival. As the Chinese poem said, “ Rain comes from the wind”. Friend, swinging your sleeves left and right, disperses the dense smoke in our city and dispels mist in our spirits.
Rainfall forms A beautiful Autumn.
Your are not just my Friend, you are indeed a friend to this piece of Land.
My friend, with you the land formats the four seasons, farmers gain their autumn harvest.
My friend, thank you for your attention, and thank you for selflessly nourishing this barren land.
6) 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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