29 Mar 2014 – The Week Flew by with Buses, MRTs and Walks…

The most efficient, reliable and inexpensive mode of public transport here in SIN. The bus-stop is beside the MP Police Station and must be the safest bus-stop to be at. No chances to pull the Alonzo trick and in addition SIN bus stops are cemented to the ground in anticipation to people like me 🙂

Prefer the bus if in no hurry and usually have a book with me to catch up with reading. Enjoy it more when able to ride off-peak hours Here on bus#75 Shenton Way (CBD/Central Business District). 10.00hrs on Wed. Only for a few stops to feel like I had the bus to myself, it was nice to have that kind of space even for just a few minutes when one lives with a pop of 5+millions…

Here is the best commercial for public transport!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10200181914463019&set=vb.1606365393&type=2&theater

Mon: The Journey*****beautiful movie.  A conservative man and his hope is to reunite with his only daughter, whom returned from overseas after graduation to live together as a traditional family. When she brings back her foreign boyfriend with her and plans to get married, her father tries, but fails to change his daughter’s mind.

A must watch for anyone wanting to understand and learn about another culture than their own. Subtitled but in many dialects including English… just love the Chinese title, even with my most limited knowledge of Chinese – translate literally, one road have you ie there is you all the way…

Wed: Nasi Padang Zion Rd 10.30hrs and 11.15hrs. The standard of the food is certainly not as it used to be and they will be closing on Fri for good after 58yrs. Wanted to have one last bite for old-time sake. Begedil (mashed potato) is one of my favourite nasi padang dishes. Llady in pink T-shirt is my 16th auntie and she was there with 11th auntie. Small world!! Only realised after they finished eating and they were there since 10.00hrs!

Tried to see The Grand Budapest Hotel at GV Great Wold City but it turned out that when I was the there, this was only shown at Gemini where it only has twin couple seating, did not even know that this kind of cinema existed! Was NOT about to pay S$12. So will have to wait with this flick.

Thu: welcome back to SIN Richard. Delicious Cantonese dinner at WahLok****in Carlton Hotel. This place is newly renovated and the standard of the food has not disappointed me yet.

Lovely stroll down New Bridge Rd to introduce the ‘flying wine angel’ at Divine Wine Bar in Parkview Square; Gotham City of SIN, an only one of a kind here or anywhere else. Do enjoy taking visitors here and so far, they have all been fascinated. First time here in the evening! Pleasant life music.

Below is a good blog of this location:

http://jotterboard.wordpress.com/2012/02/05/parkview-square-aka-gotham-city-of-singapore/

Every now and then in the history of cities, an individual has a building constructed to stamp his mark on the metropolis – and the public takes notice – Calvin Low

26 Mar 2014 – This That & Everything!

Fri: movies and lunch at Bugis Illuma with grandniece Kiera before school starts after a week of break. Mr Peabody & Sherman***a computer-animated film based on the characters from the ‘Peabody’s Improbable History’. Mr. Peabody, a talking dog who is the smartest in the world, and his pet boy Sherman.

Good sugar-cane juice and decent Popiah and Tohu Gore at Albert Centre with someone serenading 🙂

Colourful fruits shopping with a stall of durians around the Bugis area, also another area for tourist to check out. Thanks for home-cooked dinner at Les&Ivy who have forgotten their own 44th wedding anniversary, so just some flowers to remind them 🙂 🙂

Sat: great to catch up with Brian&Helen and the kids. Been a year ago since we last met in HKG then. Appreciations for yummy home lunch, delicious chocolate liqueur and to be updated with their girls who are growing up too fast. And to meet some younger families.

Dinner at Culina****Dempsey Hill, thanks to Les&Ivy. Kiera’s latest colourful fashion statement is quite refreshing, to match her dish of Ravioli.  We had yummy octopus, oysters, snails, sea bass baked in salted dough (slightly on the salty side) and Dover-sole and this is the first that my finger bowl has a flower in it!

Only today the strength within is there to update with pix about Linn&Jeff’s house-fire from Sep 2013. Most grateful to receive the pix from the CAE/SC fire marshals who managed to extract some of the data and pix from the burnt MacBook Air when many have given up hope to finding any.

http://amylamsg.com/2013/10/01/a-sad-and-longest-day/

Life is here there everywhere with this that and everything – Amy Lam

21 Mar 2014 – Colourful & Vibrant Peranakan Influence

Not my usual walk but was pleasant to have a change of scenery, without sound of waves and views of the sea. Siglap Park Connector will bring you to Bedok Res Pk, Pasir Ris Pk and Changi Beach Pk Park. Walked this stretch starting from the opposite direction (via EC Pk) sometime ago, nice except for the section by the airport (green tunnel on concrete sidewalk) where the planes are practically above you head. Started that walk at 0600hrs when the weather was predicted overcast then and ended in the late afternoon.

This time round, just a short 30ins walk by back gardens with beautiful flowers and fruit trees… Artocarpus heterophyllus/Jackfruit – tempting but unable to run away like we used to in the 1950s our childhood days 🙂

Thanks Carmel for a nice lunch gathering. Good to be able chat with her mom who is visiting from Ireland and to catch up with Mei-Ling in our hectic life!

The colourful Peranakan life style here in the East Coast area never fails to amaze me. These shops on the main East Coast Rd and are will certainly catch your attention. Pix taken thru’ the bus window, thus slightly blurred. Those who are thinking of visiting SIN or are interested about SIN might want to know and learn more…

Personally I do enjoy this part of SIN more than anywhere else in SIN, and just as well as I live in this area 🙂

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peranakan

The Peranakan Museum here in SIN is a must for visitors to understand the SIN culture and this is not located in the East but in town near the National Museum.

Penang and Malacca in Malaysia have stunning houses (open to public for a fee, the blue one is a hotel) that gives an idea how lavish a style some of these wealthy Peranakans have.

You’re Born, You Get Married, You Die – The Peranakan Version

18 Mar 2014 – To Linn, my First Born

Now going on her 5th decade with 5 children after many relocations – also means many of us in the green generation are heading to the 7th decade as reminded by Alfred 🙂

Looking back the past 4 decades, starting from 1974 when and where Linn was born in Dublin/Ireland and moved to Nesøya/Norway when she was 3 months.

By the time Linn was 3yrs (1976), we relocated to Lyngseidet/Norway, 4yrs (1977) to Tromsø/Norway, 6yrs (1980) to Korsvoll/Norway, 7yrs (1981) to Kolsås/Norway. Pix with May from 1984 at Kolsås on Linn’s 10th Bday.

1985 to CA/USA, 1988 to FL/USA. 1993 Linn moved to UF and with her husband Jeff to OK/USA 2000-2003.  2003 – Present SC/USA. Pix from 1994 with May at LHHS Homecoming, FL/USA

2004 Christmas SC/USA with Jeff, Katy and Ellie on the way! Not many pix in my procession after Linn & May left for university. Thanks Linn, edited with the correct time line after you started you own life.

40 years ago today, I became a mother. Appreciations to Linn for being my first-born and sharing for this life’s journey, very blessed and so sorry, unable to be with you for your day. Looking forward till when we meet the next month. In the meanwhile take good care. Always love and miss y’all tons. Hugs from mom.

Sometimes, mothers say and do things that seem like they don’t want their kids… but when you look more closely, you realize that they’re doing those kids a favor. They’re just trying to give them a better life – Jodi Picoult

17 Mar 2014 – And the Snakes!

Happy Birthdays to niece PatLynn and her daughter, ie my grandniece Beth, mother and daughter sharing the same birthdays!

The absence of snakes in Ireland gave rise to the legend that they had all been banished by St. Patrick chasing them into the sea after they attacked him during a 40-day fast he was undertaking on top of a hill. However, all evidence suggests that post-glacial Ireland never had snakes. Explains why I like Ireland 🙂

St Patrick was a 5th-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Known as the ‘Apostle of Ireland’, he is the primary patron saint of the island along with Saints Brigit and Columba. The dates of Patrick’s life cannot be fixed with certainty. He is generally credited with being the first bishop of Armagh, Primate of Ireland. Non-liturgical St. Patrick’s Day is always held on 17Mar as Patrick died on 17Mar ca. 460.

Prior to 1600s, the most commonly associated with St. Patrick was blue. Shamrocks become so inextricably linked to the legend of St. Patrick as he taught about the Holy Trinity with the 3-leafed shamrock. Americans celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a meal of Corned Beef and Cabbage. It is not a traditional part of the holiday in Ireland. Corned Beef make an appearance on the Irish feast table at Christmas and Easter.

Saint Patrick’s School/圣伯特理中学校 is a Lasallian Roman Catholic boys’ secondary school in East Coast Road/SIN. The school is well-known for its Military Band, which has performed internationally and won awards. It has six houses named after former brother principals of the school and Joseph McNally (McNally House) is one of them. Born 1923, Ireland, died 2002. An important figure on the SIN art scene, Brother Joe is best remembered for his efforts to found the LaSalle College for the Arts.

http://amylamsg.com/2012/07/08/how-to-travel/

The world of men is dreaming, it has gone mad in its sleep, and a snake is strangling it, but it can’t wake up – DH Lawrence

15 Mar 2014 – To Those Who are Helping me Thru’ a Rough Patch

Les&Ivy, Sue, Clement, KokSoon&Carmel, KK, Leo for their being & to all those with their thoughtful voices and words.

Thanks Sue for a lovely lunch last Sun at Imperial Treasure****Changi Airport  T3. Have been too preoccupied with flight MH730 and other issues, apologies to those who deserve the attention and acknowledgements whom have been neglected…

Pleasantly surprised between 0800-0830hrs on ECP, this section is usually bumper to bumper at peak hrs. It really does help with the MCE! After Rochal exit, it was good for a short section, then bottle-neck started after Bugis. Looking forward for the road works to be completed… appreciations to Sue again for this ride.

Was trying to figure out some of the older pix to see what Linn might not have. But the energy and mood levels are not quite with it. Taking small steps. 2005 when Ellie was born and the year the AT was hiked and completed! Sharing Linn’s pix with the 4 of them enjoying their sushi out in their new yard; Ellie’s new running outfit, even with the tag still hanging 🙂

Discovered Maprang, looks like a mini mango with a very slight hint of mango taste, but more a texture of a plum, ie less fibre compared that to a mango. Rather expensive, app S$20 per kilo. Bought 8 and cost S$6.20, each fruit 0.80cents for this tiny fruit.

Views at the front door thru’ smooth & rough times. When one is unappreciative and unaware of your surroundings and your PRESENT, then you have wasted time, no matter how smooth or rough! That moment never returns. Still no rains in our Green Garden City, quite distressing to see it turning into a brown city. Even the rain-dance with the rain-stick, was only a few drops in this area but other areas had more!!

Fri: great to catch up with this group of gentlemen who crossed my path 15yrs ago. Tkx to Leo for getting dinner, Chuan for those delicious melt in the mouth cookies, Justin for flying back German cheese and the informative talk, Robin, for joining us, been 11yrs ago since we last met at his wedding! Good Luck to Justin for his Brunei project and would love to visit when there is AC in the living quarters 🙂 🙂

11 Mar 2014 – Dedicated to those Affected by This Flight… and the Ferry/Apr

None of the speculations for Flight MH730 have been confirmed. Still hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. Best to just keep the prayers and thoughts going for those affected.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia_Airlines_Flight_370

The heart has not been in the best of moods lately, thus hibernating and watching movies that will soon be forgotten! Flight MH730 and those affected in this flight has been reoccupying the mind. It has been 3 days ago and all the news have yet to be encouraging.

And the plot thickens, read the book and watch the movie when they are out and that certainly will happen. Can bet you that someone somewhere has already started with the plot. Thanks to Chesper for the link:

http://hollywoodlife.com/2014/03/10/flight-mh370-suspects-plane-crash-missing-mr-ali-malaysia-airlines/

Tue: 34 planes, 40 ships and search crews from 10 countries are scouring a large area of the South China Sea near where the plane was last detected. And still nothing and as CheeHoew mentioned, the Pacific is sure a big area!

Thanks to Lucy for this interesting link:

http://beforeitsnews.com/events/2014/03/electronic-weaponry-hiding-malaysia-plane-24-suspects-on-board-2432744.html

The irony that high tech is so advance and yet no traces and signs of this aircraft, a Boeing 777-2H6ER, the 404th Boeing 777 produced, it first flew on 14 May 2002, and was delivered new to Malaysia Airlines on 31 May 2002.

Edited 12 Mar 2014: why did MH730 turn its direction???

http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/se-asia/story/missing-malaysia-airlines-plane-search-now-focused-west-peninsular-malay

Wish all these authorities can get their act together to have compassion and to understand the there are 239 life + their family and friends involved!

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/mh370-search-extends-to/1029604.html

Re-edited 14 Mar: Happy 9th Birthday dear 2nd grandchild Ellie.

Even I am frustrated now, so think of how those who are directly affected by the missing flight MH730 feel? Not that I am agreeing or disagreeing with these conflicting info. Somehow is this not a joint Southern China Airlines Flight 748?? So what are the roles of the Chinese officials???

According to the news, the Chinese had info on Sun morning but did not share. As mentioned this is not taking considerations or thoughts to the affected people but now more a political and power game + cultural difference. Somebody call me when the info are confirmed,  accurate and correct!

This link really top the icing of the cake, wah BOMOH BOLEH!!! What next????

http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/se-asia/story/search-missing-malaysia-airlines-plane-gets-helping-hand-bomoh-20140313

Hopefully final edit: 24 Mar 2014 – RIP to all the passengers on MH730. Deepest condolences to all their families and friends…

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/24/world/asia/malaysia-airlines-plane/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

26 Mar 2014 – And the conspiracy starts with salt & vinegar…

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/03/25/355959/the-cia-hoax-flight-370-revealed/

Interesting read…

http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2014/03/23/malaysia-airline-najib-government-corrupt-column/6797203/

27 Mar 2104:

Laurence Gonzales, author of flight 232: A Story of Disaster and Survival, says some nations are bound to have more sophisticated surveillance systems than they are letting on. “A very small, fast ballistic missile can be picked up easily, so how can they lose a big, slow-moving object like a jumbo jet? It tells me somewhere in the angles of power in the world someone knows where the plane is but doesn’t want to talk about it, probably for reasons of national security because they don’t want to reveal the sophistication of the material they have… that their satellite technology is so good it can read a label on a golf ball,” he says.

29 Mar 2014:

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/28/world/asia/malaysia-plane-questions/index.html?hpt=hp_c1

2 Apr 2014: ‘May not be solved’ and Do NOT want it to be solved are two entirely different issues:

28 May 2014:

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/05/27/world/asia/malaysia-data-five-things/index.html?hpt=hp_c4[/embed]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26847402

Oct 2014: an interesting link to follow:

https://www.facebook.com/findingphilipwood370?fref=nf

2 May 2014:

http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-05-01/one-missing-jet-one-sunken-ferry-two-responses

5 Mar 2015:

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20150303-the-chilling-truth-about-mh370

12 Jun 2015

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/21/us/malaysia-airlines-flight-370-theories/index.html

8 Mar 2016 – Today, marks the 2nd anniversary of the disappearance of flight MH370

http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysias-pm-najib-says-hes-hopeful-that-missing-flight-mh370-will-be-found-in

17 Mar 2016

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/07/asia/mh370-quest-pilots/index.html

9 Mar 2014 – Oh No! So Very Sad 🙁

http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/se-asia/story/mas-flight-enroute-beijing-lost-contact-over-ho-chi-minh-report-20140308

Sat: thoughts and prayers are with all affected passengers and crew and their family members.

Plans for the weekend, just chilling and watching movies thanks to Clement. He sure has loads! At least the haze and the PSI readings are not too bad as compared to yesterday but still prefer to stay indoors for the weekends.

Getting paranoid again after Linn’s house fire in CAE/USA (Sep 2013). Another fire across the road on MarineC/SIN (Oct 2013) when I got back and this fire someone did not survive. Yesterday’s fire at Ting’s mom backyard/SIN (no pix, where I buy orchids from when I need tons) and the local coffee shop on MarineT/SIN (where I frequent).

Sun: Happy Birthday dear niece SueLynn!

Edited 17 Mar 2014: answers to the locations and need to edit this as I will be wondering where these locations are one day if not documented: 1&2.Esplanade, 3.Turf City/Poika & Tytar, 4.China Sq

5.China Sq, 6.Somerset/Bencoolen St, 7.DaLaura Italian Restaurant/Neil Rd, 8.PekKioMarket at Owen Rd

9.Mamanda/Sultan Gt, 10.Junction Jalan Sultan&Pahang St, 11.MRT Downtown Line, 12.SPACE/Bencoolen St

13.SPACE/Bencoolen St, 14&15.Changi Airport T3

After hospital, fires and missing plane, something on the brighter and lighter side 🙂 Posting some of my random SIN scenes from 1Jan-1Mar 2014. The first who are able to provide me the exact and correct locations to all 15 pix, will make or buy you dinner 🙂 🙂 Those who were with me when any of these pix were taken can participate but NO dinner… 🙂 🙂 🙂

We each have a special something we can get only at a special time of our life. like a small flame. A careful, fortunate few cherish that flame, nurture it, hold it as a torch to light their way. But once that flame goes out, it’s gone forever – Haruki Murakami  

7 Mar2014 – SIN Most Expensive City

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-26412821

No wonders with the heart problems, no matters of FIBS or not 🙂 SIN ranking #1 as the most expensive city to live in the world and OSL/Norway #3!! Both cities that are frequently in my paths!! Hopefully with diet, medications, treatment and slowing down a little will see me thru’ some more livable years. Trip to the US rescheduled under doctors’ advise. Will miss Linn’s actual Bday but will be to celebrate when May& family arrives.

Wed: an afternoon at the Nation Library, and quite impressed to see how the children’s section is done up to attract young readers. And also an outside area to read. It was actually OK on these windy days but probably too hot when no wind. Also at this outdoor section , the bricks from the old library is used on this wall.

Good catch up with beautiful and charming Yulis and to see her glowing in anticipation of motherhood. Dinner at Grandma’s***in Raffles City. Will probably not be here for the birth but will looking forward to meeting the new female addition when I am back.

Thu: lunch at Bijin Nabe***in Plaza SIN, delicious Japanese noodles in soup. Good recommendation, Leonard. For the stomach under these circumstance, the portion was enough to doggie-bag for dinner too.

Slideshow Night: Coast to Coast Walk In England with Amy Lam,

Thu 6 Mar 2014 19:30 at Campers’ Corners/SIN.

An enjoyable evening at Campers’ Corner for the UKc2c Walk talk! Nice catching up with a great group of old and new friends. Appreciations to Calvin, Chee Hoew, Hannah, Henry, Hong Sze, Leonard, Philip, Wendy, Sam and all the others who attended and hope that I did not bore them to fall asleep. Special thanks to Leonard (and for pix too!) & Henry for helping out and another special thanks to Calvin for hosting this talk.

Fri: Oh no, am getting paranoid again, first it was Ting’s parents’ backyard and now to discover this when I was downstairs buying food…

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/residents-evacuated-after/1023940.html

My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She’s ninety-seven now, and we don’t know where the heck she is – Ellen DeGeneres

4 Mar 2014 – A Total Halal Location…

Stephen commented that the above pix, ‘looks like 9/11 but with a beautiful sunrise in the background’ He has a point there but never saw it as such until his comment…

After a Sat of total rest and a Sunday morning with timing the landings of planes at sunrise 🙂  it was time to take a slow walk to the bus-stop, 3mins away since I could not move the bus-stop closer 🙂 🙂 no.36 bus is wonderful, it takes me right down the heart of Orchard Rd as well as to the airport and taking the highway ECP. For less than S$1 it gets me to Orchard Rd and another 2 mins walk to the Royal Plaza Hotel on Scotts Rd.

Thank you to Clement for a lovely family gathering. Carefully picking the foods that are suitable was not that difficult with such an attractive wide spread!

Savoury spreads of seafood, cheese and meats.

The dessert spreads and this is only 1 section out of 4…

Not only dessert but movies can also distress for people like me! Appreciations to Clement for a movie afternoon at his place… Saving Mr Banks****Author P.L. Travers reflects on her childhood after reluctantly meeting with Walt Disney, who seeks to adapt her Mary Poppins books for the big screen.

Stuck in Love***a tale of family, love (lost and found), and how endings can make new beginnings. There are no rewrites in life, only second chances.

George Banks and all he stands for will be saved. Maybe not in life, but in imagination. Because that’s what we storytellers do. We restore order with imagination. We instill hope again and again and again – Walt Disney