11 Mar 2015 – Thru’ The Red Light District
Mon: still looking for some pants for the St Pat’s reception! No luck at Little India’s Tekka Market, Mustafa or City Mall!

Tue: decided to visit Geylang Serai market which will be the first experience. It is a wonderful feast of colours for the eyes. Maybe one of these lovely ‘tudung’ will be a good cover for my 50shades of grey 🙂

Continuing on bus#2 along Geylang Rd with interesting sights passing Masjid Khadijah build in 1917 and restored in 1996. This red light district is another world when the sun sets!

Kallang Rd passing ICA building, Victoria St/Malabar Muslim Jama-ath, constructed in 1962, so quite a new one. Still on Victoria St with Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church (built 1888, refurbished 2010) steeple in the background.

Victoria St at Bugis and the junction of the Gate of Hope, my old school CHIJ now CHIJMES with the chapel under covers.

Old Central Fire Station, now a museum on Hill St, former Hill Street Police Station, now the MICA Building, home to the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts. Clarke Quay Central Eu Tong Sen Street/Chinatown.

Views from bus #2 (app 30mins ride), not clear or sharp pix from a not-so-clean bus window, but a rough idea of the diversities of cultures and religions in SIN.

Edited 12 Mar 2015

SIN oldest places of worship for the different religions – pix downloaded from various sites.

Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka: Keng Cheow St was established in 1820, just a year after the British set up a trading post on the island. Since then, the mosque has been rebuilt twice; once in 1855 and again in 1981-1982.

Sri Mariamman Temple: South Bridge Rd in the downtown Chinatown district was founded in 1827 built of wood. A major part of the present structure is believed to have been built in 1862–1863. Repairs and restorations have been on going periodically over the years.

Armenian Church of Saint Gregory the Illuminator Սուրբ Գրիգոր Լուսավորիչ եկեղեցի, : Hill St, built 1835. The Memorial Garden was never used as a burial ground. The tombstones that lie there were all transported from the Christian cemetery in Bukit Timah when it was exhumed in 1978.

Thian Hock Keng Temple 天福宫 Telok Ayer St, built 1839. Managed by SIN Hokkien Huay Kuan was gazetted as a national monument in 1973. Over the years, it has been restored several times. The most comprehensive one commenced in 1998 and was completed in 2000.

Maghain Aboth Synagogue: Waterloo St was built by 1878. It is the oldest Jewish synagogue in Southeast Asia. In 1924, extensions were made to the building. Was gazetted as a national monument on 27 February 1998.

Shuang Lin Monastery/Temple (莲山) 双林寺 was originally built 1902 is located in Toa Payoh. Gazetted a national monument 1980, symbolizing the social and cultural roots of the early Chinese immigrants. In spite of being a national monument, Siong Lim was mostly neglected as the government of Singapore tried to westernize. By the 1990s, portions of the temple were in disrepair. Areas were cordoned off as being unsafe. A major renovation was started in 1994 and completed in 2002.

Only in SIN one can find the different religions co-existing in harmony within a stone-throw from each other. To those visiting these places of worship, plx be mindful to observe the dos and do nots.

The purpose of all major religious traditions is not to construct big temples on the outside, but to create temples of goodness and compassion inside, in our hearts – Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

8 Mar 2015 – Are Amazing

Fri: Chinese classes are encouraging me to want to learn more. Broke down and bought this book (cover with the character ‘fire’) even when there is no more space in the book shelves and I usually borrow from the library. Had better get back to some basic Chinese now that Katy is learning Chinese so that I can communicate with her.

Using the character ‘woman’ and see the logic when you combine these characters with another – this is so neat!

女  nǚ = woman

好  hǎo = good/adding the character child next to woman

安 Ānn = peace/a roof over 1 woman

女女 nuan = quarrel/2 women together

姦 jian = adultery/3 women together

This coming Sun is International Women’s Day, a good time to review these Chinese characters with woman compound!

If only these characters were taught as such during our school days, the interest to learn would have been there! But it is never too late even when it will take a longer time…

Song One****Franny is an archaeologist who is estranged from her family. She returns home when she heard that her brother is in a comatose state after an accident.

Her brother is an aspiring musician and in order to cheer him up, Franny tracks down his favourite musician…

Must admit that I only recognized ONE song of the music in this movie!

Appreciations to Nature Society SIN for hosting this interesting talk by William Boehn on Wild Life & Natural History of Glacier Bay Alaska. Last time at the NSS office was in 2008 when I gave a talk about the AT.

https://amylamsg.com/2008/03/05/nss/

Delighted to see that one of the best HokkienMee stalls here in SIN is still around just across the road from NSS.

Some photographers were there taking pix of the satay stall next to the HokkienMee.

Must try that another time. To die with a T has kicked in now 🙁

Sat: a nice walk on Bukit Merah Rd. Delightful seats in the common area.

A building that will not escape the eyes! The former HBD Hub, now Connection One.

Beautiful trees

Experimenting with coffee ribs and made Tiramisu too since coffee is part of the ingredients for these dishes.

Chesper did not think much of the Japanese ready-made Party dessert! He had a couple of servings of my home-made Tiramisu in spite of him claiming that he is no fan of Tiramisu 🙂

Tkx for steamboat dinner Clem and safe journeys to Richard.

Sun: International Women’s Day. Thank you RY for this cartoon. Agree fully and like it very much. A fantastic Sunday to all.

The smell of coffee cooking was a reason for growing up, because children were never allowed to have it and nothing haunted the nostrils all the way out to the barn as did the aroma of boiling coffee – Edna Lewis

https://amylamsg.com/2011/09/28/caffeinated-spider-web/

5 Mar 2015 – Zuno, The Puppy!

Wed 14th CNY Day: shopping for a T-shirt and eating at my favourtie places in Chinatown. Tiong Shian Porridge 長城粥品****is my favourite raw fish and frogleg stall.

Almond & Sesame 杏仁芝麻 at Mei Heong Yuen Dessert 味香园甜品****This Snow Ice from Taiwan is a refreshing cold dessert that comes in thin smooth mouth-feel sheets that reminiscent fine powered snow. There are 18 flavours and hopefully can try all before it is over!

Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first – Ernestine Ulmer

http://www.meiheongyuendessert.com.sg/index.php/our-menu

Also their black sesame and almond paste are yummy. Temple St is the first and original stall and the one preferred.

There are 2 other branch at Chinatown Point and ION@Orchard.

Stressed spelled backwards is desserts. Coincidence? I think not – ?

Not too interesting views on the way to the MP Polyclinics but only took 1hr (previous visit 2hrs) and was out with 4 different medications for 4 months S$11.40 ie with all the subsidies etc. Tkx to sis Jo for dinner

Does anyone know what is going to replace the Republic Theaters on Marine Parade Rd by Parkway? It is now nearly all torn down to ground zero! If only it could be the future MP MRT Station instead of the location on the map below. Oh how I dream, hope and wish…

According to this map, the new MP MRT station will be across the road from the HDB blocks and sadly it looks like we will lose some beautiful big trees on MP Rd, if this map is correct 🙁

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFT0mk_GZGI

Thu 15th CNY Day: last day of the CNY celebrations. 15th day of the 1st month in the Chinese lunar calendar, the end of the New Year celebrations and time to take down the decorations and take better care of the health! Happy Bday Gel, good to catch up. Take good care and safe journeys to Iceland.

TangYuan 湯圓 is a sweet glutinous rice ball eaten this day. After today the diet has to seriously kick in or I will be kick out. Death is inevitable but how to exit with dignity and least pain is most important…

Don’t dig your grave with your own knife and fork – English Proverb

Gator (2001-2013) lost to the house fire 1+yr/Sep2013 ago but never forgotten. 2011-12 Halloween pix of her.

Looks like they are now ready for another pet – Mizuno is the latest addition to the Halls. It’s a boy!! Introducing Zuno! Yes, Linn named their dog after her (Mizuno) running shoes and their tagline is – Never Settle!

3 Mar 2015 – To Go Thru’ Second Childhood!

Hello Mar, goodbye Feb! And two more day of the CNY indulgence. Is the will ready and strong enough to conquer the temptations of over-eating or do I need to reflect about what is eating me??

Gluttony is an emotional escape, a sign something is eating us – De Vries

Anyone knows the name for this beautiful flower? My Norwegian FB friend Carlo calls it ‘the new Norwegian dandelion orchid’.

Sun 11th CNY Day: with grandnieces Kiera, Isabelle, Beth and grandnephew Lucas who are updating me with their toys – Lego is timeless while Minions are more their time. Thank you Pat Lynn&David for lunch and a lovely afternoon.

One is never too old for Minions or for going thru’ 2nd childhood! Minions are my show & tell collection for the grandchildren. When Olai gets to watch Despicable Me****he too will hopefully get into the Minions’ lingo 🙂

Mon 12th CNY Day: good on May to keep the tradition of the red package. What a brilliant idea with a piggy bank gift and a clever way to teach children how to save at a young age.

Seems like Olai is more thrilled with the gift than the red package. As Audrey comment: ‘who wants money when you can have a pig 🙂 🙂

Tue 13th CNY Day: on my way to the dentist but made time to take pix of this amazing HDB/public housing at Everton Park/Neil Rd which is across the road from NDC.

Nice memories of this area/Neil Rd, used to visit cousins David, John & Wilki who lived in Everton Rd.

Glad to see that most of the former buildings here are not torn down. The former Fairfield Methodist Girls School is now Home Team Career Centre and St Matthew Church is still standing by the school on Neil Rd. The roots of the ‘Ketapang (Terminalia catappa)’ never fail to amaze me.

This threatening sign has not changed since my childhood days where I used to roamed around the Mr Faber area and this one is at the Cantonment main Police Station car park!!

Mar family and special days

3 Mar – Happy Bday Mike Leong

5 Mar – Happy Bday Gel

6 Mar – Happy Bday Linda

9 Mar – Happy Bday Sue Lynn

11 Mar – Happy Bday Ken

14 Mar – Happy Bday Ellie

17 Mar – Happy Bday Pat Lynn and Beth, Happy St Patrick’s Day

18 Mar – Happy Bdays Linn, Yi Sheng & Al Sosa

19 Mar – Happy Bday Thomas Heggelund

21 Mar – Happy Anniversary to Ivy & Leslie

31 Mar – Happy Bday Josephine

Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul – Samuel Ullman