7 Jan 2010 – ACM

For me, it will never be the same at the Asian Civilizations Museum/ACM now that Kenson KWOK has retired. He was the main reason I was introduced to this museum and do remember attending the opening in 2003! He has built and developed two of SIN museums into world-class museums SIN can be proud about.

All my overseas’ family & friends are totally impressed whenever I take them to the Peranakan Museum or ACM. One of my English friends who used to visit SIN yearly would never miss out visiting ACM. And I am always happy to let them know that if not for my oldest pal and godfather to second daughter May HALD, these museums would not have existed!

1954/55 pix of the Kwoks, Leungs and some of the Lams. Thanks Kenson for his being, for his long-time friendship and to have done such a wonderful job for SIN. It will be ACM’s loss but he can now travel to the places he wants to visit and have time to enjoy with family & friends. Happy Retirement. Looking forward to seeing more of him 🙂

Official Openings of ACM at Armenian Street/1997 and Empress Place/2006

The Egawa Donation will be officially opened tonight by Guest-of-Honour Mr George Yeo. This collection of Japanese & Chinese ceramics explores the interactions between East Asia & Europe on ceramic art. Will surely miss Kenson’s opening speech and his presence.

Retire from work, but not from life – MK Soni

6 Jan 2010 – New passport

Mon: at the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority/ICA on Kallang Rd before 0800hrs to collect my new passport. When I got there, the line snaked around the building and there were about 200 others in front of me (asked the guard with a clicker counting). Was considering abandoning the collection until another day but the guard ensured me that it will be fast and he was right! The doors opened at 0800hrs sharp, unlike most SIN citizens as the word- punctual does not exist in their vocabulary 🙂 Believe it or not but was out of the building with my new passport by 0815hrs. The new passport’s number differs from the IC number and it is valid for 5 years instead of 10… most impressed with their efficiency.

Was expecting to be waiting for at least an hour. It was a pleasant morning after the rains and decided to walk around the area to take some pictures. Random pictures from Victoria Street, Jalan Sultan and North Bridge Rd.

Airplane travel is nature’s way of making you look like your passport photo – Al Gore

3 Jan 2010 – Family weekend

Amazing what the sun plus a whole day walk can do. After the Changi walk on Fri, I went to sleep before 2300hrs and did not get up until 0900hrs the next morning. Can certainly feel that the energy-level is not as it used to be! To think that only 5 years ago, I hiked the whole Appalachian Trail. Cousin David WONG (who returned to Hawaii yesterday), asked if that was equivalent hiking from SIN to Pahang/Malaysia? How about 350 times around SIN island or nearly from SIN to Shanghai if that helps to give him a perceptive of the distant!

Sat: Thanks to brother Les & Ivy for the lunch-buffet spread*** at the Traders Hotel, great to catch up with niece Kat & Greg who will be flying back to New York today. And to nephew Vincent LAM & Ann, thanks for Darryl NEO’s (Daisy LAM’s son) 11th Bday dinner and the yummy chocolate cake (which also means I have been back in SIN for 11 years). How wonderful that I can get a picture of brother LAM Kwok Ping’s family with all his children & grandchildren present (the generations arranged accordingly- green, orange & purple in the picture).

Visits from family overseas have been fun and now that another holiday season is closing, I can look forward to the next occasion, when we can meet again. For the LAM Heritage- the never-ending family tree and trail, am still working and trying to put together a format so that family members can provide me the info. Will be sending an email about that and hope for the cooperation from everyone. In this way, less errors and less work for me!

2 Jan – Happy Bday Darryl NEO

4 Jan – Happy Bday Desmond LAM

5 Jan – Happy Bday Leonard SHOH

6 Jan – Happy Bday Cindy HALL

9 Jan – Happy Bdays Judy LAM & Lee Wang AMEEN

10 Jan – Happy Bday ANG Kee Yang

15 Jan – Happy Bdays Angie SOSA, SNOW & Me onwards to my 6th decade 🙂

18 Jan – Happy Bday Isabelle AMEEN

22 Jan – Happy Bday Katy HALL

24 Jan – Happy Bday Ole Kristian HUSTAD

Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow,
That I shall say good night till it be morrow – Shakespeare

A Happy, Healthy & Wealthy 2010 – the year of the Tiger
Godt Nytt År
季節問候

1 Jan 2010 – Start the year with high spirits!

Started the year walking in Changi Village with Sebastian CHOW who wanted to photograph the area. Fond memories from the 1950s (14 Sep/Time & Tide wait for no one & 15 Sep 2009/Ignorance of childhood- post search). Today, as I was taking pictures, thoughts from 2006 of Linn & family came to mind. Was checking out lodgings for her & her family then, as they were on transit to Banda Aceh and they had to be in SIN at the Changi area to attend daily briefings before heading on to BA.

By chance I stumbled upon Changi Commando Barracks/Roberts Barracks @Fairy Point Hill then. Unfortunately, did not have a camera with me (pictures downloaded from http://sgforums.com), but do remember roaming into the building to where it must have been a ballroom at one-time. People dancing and making merry flashed across me, and even the big band music was quite vivid for a split-second. Was it just my imagination? Just then, a snake slithered on the ground in front of me and really freaked me out. Took off like a bullet and have not given any thoughts about the incident until today.

The history and stories connected with this barracks and this area can literally stir your emotions and make your hairs stand. Have heard or read about the paranormal investigations for the old hospital and prison, but I had no knowledge about this barracks until after the snake encounter. The surrounding grounds are now under construction. According to the project title, the barracks on the hill-top will be conserved with additions and alterations. Can look forward to seeing real people making merry in the ballroom!

Appreciations to Sebastian for his company and patience with the havoc auntie 🙂 Looking forward to receiving his pictures.

Met another hobby photographer and he was shooting with more sophisticated equipments and a tripod. Refreshing to see people out enjoying nature on this sunny day; delighted to have stopped to chat. Thank you TEO Soon Haur for emailing the lovely parrot picture. My idiot-proof camera could never do justice to this beautiful bird.

There is no refuge from memory and remorse in this world. The spirits of our foolish deeds haunt us, with or without repentance – Gilbert Parker