Singapore
34) What so special about this ceiling?
This is the main reflective roof ceiling of Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3.
This unique roof has a second name – “butterfly roof”. As the name has it, the butterfly-like automatic reflector panels open up its wings and reflect natural light from the open skylight and illuminate the open space beneath.
The daylighting system helps to reduce energy usage by minimizing daytime use of artificial lightings. It also results in decreased cooling load for air-conditioning.
During the night, the skylights will be lighted up by artificial lightings, and the reflectors will do the same job as in the day as an Eco-Ambassador.
Beneath the impressive roof, a distinctive 15m high vertical garden call The Green Wall, spanning 300m across the building enjoys and dances in the light of glory.
When you look up the ceiling, you see a group of eco designers spreading their warm gestures and friendly handshakes. That is where I salute them with the great job they have done to conserve energy and our environment.
3) Stairway to Heaven
A true story of 1950s happened in Chongqing, China. A 20-year old villager Liu Guojiang fell in love for a widow, Xu ZhaoQing who is 10years older than him. In order to avoid gossips from other villagers, they eloped to Jiangjin, a town 1500metres above sea level, deep in the woods, build a home of their own.
Liu Guojiang spent 50 years alone, chipping over 20 over chisels to carve 6000 over steps of stairway for his wife. This extra ordinary kind gesture of love is to facilitate his wife daily ascending and descending from their mountain habitat.
They live off their life in the forest by picking wild walnuts, dates and have a few vegetable farms. The couple raise 7 children with whatever they have and spent half a century living in the mountains.
In 2006, media make a shooting of the 6000 steps and couldn’t find a single moss on the stairway. They discovered that Liu Guojiang clean up the moss daily so that his wife will not slip and fall along the steps.
Unfortunately, in 2007, the 72-year old Liu Guojiang died of cerebrovascular disease. The sudden death left his wife, Xu Zhaoqing devastated and despondent. Due to her failing health, one of her son relocated her from the mountains. She remained forlorn and passed on few days ago at the age of 87.
Xu Zhaoqing left a note before her death that she wanted to be buried next to her beloved husband, as she wish to continue walking hand in hand with her husband on their Love Ladder in another world.
Well, I guess the loving couple wouldn’t mind though the Stairways in Heaven are now clogged with moss.
19) Song of Abduction
I am lack of air
You are a billionaire
I got no one to care
You got plenty things to spare
You are rare
You must be in the sky somewhere
So, I lock you up
Asking for anything you can bear
First, I share with you my nightmare
Secondly, you share with me how to become a billionaire
I believe this is fair
I am lack of air
You are not that bad
I got no one to care
At least, you have something to spare
You are well aware
You must be working for somebody somewhere
So, I lock you up
Asking you for any peanut can be shared
First, I share with you my nightmare
Secondly, you tell me what rate is fair and square
I believe this is fair
This post was inspired by a news article regarding kidnappers are now diverting their targets. They are now on lookouts for ordinary people for ransom, as they believe ordinary people are easier targets to them, as they have no security guards protecting them. Besides, the lower ransom they demanded is much easier to be fulfilled than the huge payoffs. This is real crime case happening in a country somewhere.
Friend (22) – Small vegetation / 朋友- 小植物
We often stop by the road, and notice small little plants piercing their way out from crack line or slit of wall.
The small vegetation can operate in a small corner of the sky, with a feeble body, in a harsh environment. The struggling spirit is respectable.
We feel this resilient power in countless people. As there is no overnight success, just like swaying from a bumpy sea, the myth of achievement often emerged from diligence and spirit of hard work.
While we look around in all places, we see people, especially the blue collar workers; day in, day out, they are able to work under harsh environment, at long hauls. This proves that the small plant is not diminutive at all, as it has an attitude that is bigger than life itself!
我们在路边,墙缝或台阶都时常看到那些从细缝里钻出来的小植物。
小植物能够在小角落经营自己的天空，用柔弱的身体在恶劣的环境中以柔制刚，打造出一番事业，这种精神令人可敬。
我们可以在无数的人身上感受这种力量，勤奋以及一步一脚印的打拼精神。他们不是一夜成名的神话，而是在颠簸飘摇的海上走出来。
举目环顾周围的小人物，尤其是蓝领工人，能在这么恶劣的环境里工作，不就印证小植物那令人敬佩的生活态度吗？
8) What are your 3 favorite words that start off with alphabet D?
Dignity
Mountain broken down into walls, and dignity stays.
Wall broken down into bricks, and dignity stays
Workers broken down into day and night, and dignity stays
Dream
Propellers in the sky, is driven by a dream
Alice in Wonderland, is written by a dream
A moon walker, started off being a dreamer, dreaming day and night.
Debark
Sea rushes to the shore and debarks on a green land.
Vapor rushes to the dawn and debarks to a diamond-like dew.
Rain rushes to the land and debarks on a boundless green.
3) Dinning with you and the “Kuehs”
“Kueh” is a Malay word literally means traditional biscuits or cakes.
These are the three types of Kueh I would like to dine with you.
Binka Ubi
Binka Ubi Kueh is rich in golden color, with a layer of brown-coated skin
Ingredients include Tapioca, Coconut Milk, Sugar, Salt and Water.
It tastes sweet, flavor of Tapioca enhanced by the heated exterior of coated sugar.
Kueh Lapis Sagu
This is one of the most famous among the “Kueh”. It has nine layers of Kueh laying on top of each other. It is laid layer over layer after each layer settles.
Traditionally, it comes in multi-color, red, green, blue and white. But, choice of colors is still up to the baker’s creativity!
Colors are usually red, green and blue, is up to the maker creativity.
Ingredient are Tapioca, Sago Flour, Mung Bean Flour, Rice Flour, Coconut Milk, Sugar, Water, knotted Pandan leaves and finally the coloring.
Peeling off layer by layer at the same time enjoying the fragrance sweetness of the Kuey, is one of our traditional ways of eating.
Kueh Talam
This Kueh is special in term of its simple and yet refreshing color combination, just white and green.
The green portion is make of Pandan leaves coloring, coconut milk, sugar etc. For the white portion are make of sieved rice flour together with sago flour.
This is a very delighting Malay Kueh as it appears visually in a soothing way.
4) What so special about this Orchid?
(Vanda Miss Joaquim)
Vanda Miss Joaquim, our very own Singapore national flower. A natural hybrid Orchid between Vanda terres and Vanda hookeriana.
It was first discovered in 1893, in the garden of Agnes Joaquim, an Armenian best known for breeding the hybrid orchid. Agnes Joaquim’s tombstone can be found in the grounds of the Armenian Church at Hill Street, Singapore.
The flower was selected as Singapore’s national flower in 1981.
Vanda Miss Joaquim was chosen from 40 flowers, 30 Orchids out of the 40.
It stands out by its vibrant in color, hardiness as it blooms throughout the year. Thus, it reflects the spirit and quality of the Nation.
And now, Miss Joaquim is humming National Song in the sunset.
8) Boss comes 1st
A sales rep, an administration clerk, and the manager are walking to lunch when they find an antique oil lamp.
They rub it and a Genie comes out.
The Genie says, ‘I’ll give each of you just one wish.’
‘Me first! Me first!’ says the admin clerk..
‘I want to be in the Bahamas , driving a speedboat,
without a care in the world.’ Poof! She’s gone.
‘Me next! Me next!’ says the sales rep.
‘I want to be in Hawaii , relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse,
an endless supply of Pina Coladas, and the love of my life.’ Poof! He’s gone.
‘OK, you’re up,’ the Genie says to the manager.
The manager says, ‘I want those two back in the office after lunch.’
Moral of the story:
Always let your boss have the first say.
18) Wind Song
I traveled all the way to you
Looking for a place to land
I am sorry for being a breeze
I have mess up your face
Stir up your BBQ flame
Overcook your lamb
But I am sure you’ll re-build your land
Gather all the strength and friends
Be a stronger, happier, tougher man
I traveled all the way to you
Looking for a place to land
I am sorry for being a wind
I have mess up your plan
Stir up your navigation
Override where you stand
But I am sure you’ll re-build your formation
Gather all the strength and friends
Be a stronger, happier, tougher man
I traveled all the way to you
Looking for a place to land
I am sorry for being a Hurricane
I have mess up your family
Stir up your garden
Over-turn your land
But I am sure you’ll re-build your home
Gather all the strength and friends
Be a stronger, happier, tougher man
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