30 Oct 2015 – And Rediscovering Suntec City

The Bios Urn – Let’s convert cemeteries into forests!

The Bios Urn is a fully biodegradable urn designed to convert you into a tree after life. Mainly composed of two parts, the urn contains a seed which will grow to in the name of your loved one. Bios Urn turns death into a transformation and a return to life through nature.

Pay attention to something he said about SIN – ‘transport this to SIN who is neutral and will give it to the world’. Let’s hope he is right about SIN as his ideas are brilliant and for the good to the whole world…

http://billionsinchange.com/film

Thu: happy to see blue sky and to have watched Baby Steps***where Danny and his boyfriend, Tate, want to have a child of their own but their journey to parenthood becomes complicated when Danny’s meddlesome mother tries to take control of the couple’s every decision. A good progressive Taiwan movie with a message of tolerance and love showing at Suntec GV,

Took the chance to rediscover Suntec City where only The Fountain of Youth seems to be the only constant fixture.

The new Sky Garden is now open and there is no lack of eateries. Looking at the cars displayed, I can also imagine what kind of clienteles are expected here!

South Beach standing on 3.5-hectar with 2 new blocks comprising of offices, a hotel, shops and residences on Nicoll Highway. Quite impressive, would like to be able to get up to the pent house some day!

The project includes the restoration of 4 conservation buildings – the former Non-Commissioned Officers’ Club building and part of the former Beach Road Camp which brought the memory back to the 1950s where I was there for a wedding. Glad to see somewhere still in the memory in this very modern project.

An old school mate, Melinda Lewis was one of them in the wedding group, must reconnect with her and ask whose wedding was it? Do remember that my cousin Des (may he RIP) was with me. So can presume that they are either family or friends of aunty Winnie.

Fri: good news today considering the tears and the scene I caused at the first and only bull-fight I attended in Spain/1960s not knowing what the reality of bull-fight was about then. Poor father, he was totally embarrassed by me!

Bull fighting or any animals used for fighting is cruelty against animals or any living creatures who has a life and can feel. This should NEVER have been approved least to even say subsidized !!!

http://www.peta.org.uk/blog/victory-european-parliament-votes-end-subsidies-bullfighting/

29 Oct 2015 – Getting Lost In Translation

Heartbreak is how we mature, there is almost no path a human being can follow that does not lead to heartbreak – David Whyte

http://www.davidwhyte.com/biography.html

https://www.brainpickings.org/2015/04/29/david-whyte-consolations-words/

This constant dialogue between reality and illusion, moderated by our use of language, is what poet and philosopher David Whyte explores in Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words

Norwegian for ‘the inescapable euphoria experienced as you begin to fall in love,’ from ‘Lost in Translation’ by Ella Frances Sanders.

Too often words get misinterpreted causing misunderstands, heartaches, etc – thus when a question is asked of me, sometimes need return with the question for the definition of whatever is asked, and that can be rather tiring at times…

Tkx Matty for this share and yes how important it is to promote what you love and to be positive. Like this cheerful and colourful painting by Paula Nicho Cumez. Water lily somehow gives me a positive serenity.

Mon: one of the MRT lines is down due to some power failure. Free bus rides for the areas effected. Interesting to get caught in the rush-hour traffic. People were civilized in the packed-bus and glad to see that everybody behaved. Had to close my eyes as it was too tight for comfort. Tkx Faith for lunch at IKEA. Had some food shopping to do there and nice to be able to catch up.

Tue: Happy 91 Bday to Ellen L&M Norwegian grandmother (pix from 1985 just before we moved to the US). Appreciations to LuLu from Miri/Sarawak for stopping by to share the salad. Take care, stay safe and have a good stay in hazy SIN. Purple sweet potato is my favourite potato and it is not always one can find these at the wet market.

Wed: most welcoming morning rains and today’s PSI 80+ under 100, first since my return. Time for a walk in my neck of the woods to see what is new.

Choices galore where eating is concern here on the East-side. Difficult decision when passing by Beach Rd PrawnMee, but did not feel like anything soupy. Glory**** for a popiah (薄餅), SIN spring-roll was more in mind.

Thu: it saddens me to have to share this link, but people ought to be aware and be very weary about food ‘Made in China’. Here is a typical case of ‘money is the root of all kinds of evil’. When their milk and infant formulas can be adulterated with melamine, what else will they not do to earn money???

http://www.timefornaturalhealthcare.com/be-careful-what-you-buy-plastic-rice-is-spreading-across-asia/

The Martian****astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a severe storm in Mars and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Millions of miles away, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring him home…

Good acting and effects with a sense of humour. No violence or villains but with everyone working together to bring a stranded astronaut home.

Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful – Buddha

25 Oct 2015 – Why 66 Is Better Than 28…

A few days ago read about this newly published book. About a month ago, a write-up interviewing me in ST/13 ST 2015 by Ho Ai Li about swim meets in SIN 50yrs ago. How coincident can this be? The message is loud and clear – start planning for another long-distance hike and if help, health and logistics permit, will put the plans into action!

2 Sep 2013, Diana Nyad age 64yrs emerged onto the sands of Key West after swimming 111miles from Cuba to Florida across this stretch of shark-infested waters in 53hrs – an epic feat of both endurance and human will.

Yes, this is a one-way journey we’re all traveling, and it has an endpoint. We have to get real. I can’t pretend I’m not a whole lot closer to the end than ever before. I accept the lines on the face, cartilage thinning in the knees, the breasts riding lower and lower – Diana Nyad’s memoir ‘Find a Way’

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-nyad-no-limits-aging-20151021-story.html

Thu: going thru’ the movie screenings online and decided to watch ‘Are You Here’ at Bugis Filmgarde. Was expecting to see an American comedy, but what a total shock to be watching some Chinese horror.

And it was the correct cinema according to my ticket…

http://movies.insing.com/movie/are-you-here-2014/id-9de70000/showtimes/

Wrote to Filmgarde to inform them of the situation and that being a senior does not mean the I can be so mistaken! Was there some confusion? or did I get lost in translation??

A prompt apologetic reply explaining that insing.com has placed the wrong movie poster on their site. Would MOST certainly NOT watch this movie with such a poster, even if you pay me…

Pix credits to Rico Hizon

Fri: with haze PSI readings of 200+ better stay indoors after my early morning marketing. Good morning Merlion – mascot and national personification of SIN, please puff away the haze with whatever powers that is within you. We in SIN will help to do the rain-dance to welcome the wet season which is sooo desperately needed…

Sat: thank you to Calvin and co at CC for yummy food and drinks. The new rope machine is quite something. Appreciations to Chris & Freddie for taking care of the dishes –  that is where I like to see my younger men, behind the kitchen sink 🙂

River Nights Festival – Colour of Lights lit up the historical SIN River and Empress Place. A walk around the ACM grounds and by the SIN River with performances at the Empress Lawn by T’ang Quartet and Vocaluptuous made a delightful evening with a breeze in spite of the haze, which actually was OK considering the result of these pix taken!

Thank you Yoshie for her company. Nice to see just a small crowd on the grounds of Empress Place, like the days at SBG when the SSO first performed outdoors there. Now the UNESCO grounds is too crowded for me on performance nights.

Fantastic job done with the revamp of then Victoria Memorial Hall, now Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall, both inside out. Amazing to think back when first inside there (no AC then) 1955-56? where mother was part of the Association for the Blind raising money at a charity bazaar. Dressed by our parents! as some mascots for the Chinese stall.

A year later 1957 other stalls followed the idea and here gathered on stage in The Victoria Memorial Hall then. Group pix found in the The National Archives of Singapore@1 Canning Rise and I have the original.

Sun: have to get my act together. Seems like life has been in a daze over the past week. Just having some not so good days in this haze. Prayers and thoughts for the sufferings and the lost of all kinds of habitats and life in these on-going fires. This is sooo very wrong and I feel sooo helpless. No pix needed here as they will make me sadder 🙁

Tkx Aud for the company and for cheering me up.

23 Oct 2015 – And Star Wars

Tue: today was at Orchard Rd and Dali’s ‘Profile of Time’ has time out. It was only last week I took the pix of it. Wonder if it will return? Did not believe my eyes – Christmas decorations are out and it is not even Halloween yet !!!!!!!

Watched 2 movies and did some grocery shopping since I was in the area.

Boulevard***is a movie about choosing truth, regardless of how many years may have been lost to a lie. A devoted husband in a marriage of convenience is forced to confront his secret life.

In retrospect, this seems an homage to the other side of the comedy mask Robin Williams wore. In many ways it is his Ave Atque Vale. Sensitive, subtle, deep, and heart- wrenchingly real, it is a fine yet sad way to say goodbye to RW – gradyharp

The Intern****a retired successful business owner and widower lands an internship at a fashion website run by a young, career-driven woman. Enjoy watching a movie when there’s no villain, ie bad guy in it.

Light comedy that offers entertainment which also touches on women’s rights and the elderly at the workplace. Some hope for me to be an intern somewhere 🙂

Wed: before filing away and forgetting, would like to remember some of my favourites contrast of the old (1700-1800s) with the new (1900-2000s) combinations from OSL/Norway.

The National Theatre (1829)
Designed by architect Henrik Bull.

http://www.union-theatres-europe.eu/UNIQ144540484831477/national_theatre_oslo

The Peacock Fountain was placed in 1989. Designed by Carl Nesjar (tkx to Kris for that info) and given to the city of OSL by Christian Ringnes, a businessman whose family started the country’s largest brewery Ringnes more than 100yrs ago.

St Olavs Plass (1864)

This square is located at the junction St. Olavsgate, Munchs gate, Langes gate and Universitetsgata. The yellow building was formally Rikshospitalet Apothek/The National Hospital’s Pharmacy (1872). Now a cafe and bar.

Center piece at St Olavs Plass. ‘Water Fountain Sculpture’ is designed by Sven Påhlson.

Oslo sentralstasjon/Oslo Central Station, abb Oslo S is the main railway station in OSL  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oslo_Central_Station

Norway being one of the oldest and strongest marine nations and this pix is my favourite for contrast of floating vessels.

Back to the Future: has it really been 30yrs ago??? That will add up to be 50yrs ago since I first left SIN and 30yrs ago I moved away from Norway. Do like the idea of self-tying shoes, especially at this stage when the knees and the back are not so cooperative 🙂 🙂 But US$10,000+ is a bit unrealistic.

Today the ‘Force Awakens’, but having problems to get thru’ corruption, deception and the galaxy of haze!!! May the Force be with us all.

Another exciting premiere will be taking place end of this month in China and Norway, a contemporary opera. Heard some bits of it and the music does not appeal to me, but would be interested to read the libretto someday.

When Nora walked out the door leaving her husband and children behind, in Ibsen’s ‘A Doll’s House’ in 1879, her future was a question mark.  Today 136 years later, it still is. The Opera ‘NORA – too late’ takes a new look on this iconic and world famous figure of the stage.

Librettist Jon Fosse is looking at the dilemma of Nora from a human, contemporary perspective while keeping the main focus on the three Women of the Opera. Du Wei’s composition is transcending Fosse’s text, interpreting its silence through a captivating, musical language that is both very emotional and personal.

20 Oct 2015 – Of Past & Present

Mon: catching up with newspapers headlines collected on the flights before putting them into the recycle bin. Unbelievable amount of junk, bad journalism, depressing news, etc. Do people really pay money to read such trash?

The link below has inspired this posting.

http://digitalsynopsis.com/design/reflections-of-the-past-tom-hussey/

Some amazing pix to remind us, the senior citizens, that yes we are aging and that is reality. Reflect back and remember the blessings in your life’s journey. Live and enjoy every moment to the fullest with the time we have left…

A comment from Julie in NC/USA: My mom told me that my aging dad, a tall and handsome captain of a ship in his younger days, used to look at his reflection and sigh a deep sigh. I interpreted it as , ‘Look at me now.’
After reading this, maybe he was seeing the reflection of his younger self but his sigh still meant ‘Look at me now.’ It was the tenor of his sigh.

My reply: For me the sigh can be interpreted – those were the days, been there, done that and glad that I do not have to do it again…

But then as Munch said – the truth lies between two lies 🙂

1981 – Norway

33yrs later 2014 – USA

This is what happens when I get stuck indoors. Took me forever but eventually found the pix (1961) with my first camera and 50yrs later in 2011 at Yulis wedding with a digital one.

Still enjoying and having good times with different cameras over the years, but has to be idiot-proof, ie simply just aim and shoot. No, do not want a selfie stick, takes the fun out of it for me!

Working hard to focus on clearing junk out of my place and packing away stuff that no longer are in used. Perhaps that can distract me from the very itchy heat-rash. Not getting any good night rest with this on top of the jetlag 🙁 This too shall pass 🙂 🙂

http://mothership.sg/2015/10/the-1-hour-pm25-in-the-west-of-spore-has-breached-442-on-oct-19-2015/

The haze is bad and if the heat-rash gets worse, might consider going away if the oral meds do not work. Do not understand how is it that the PSI reading in the west is 400+ ouch, while here in the east, it is 60+??? The news below in not something any of us wish to hear. Have not even dare to venture outdoors today and tomorrow will be another day…

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/hazy-southeast-asia-set-suffer-months-indonesia-fails-072018924.html?linkId=18051825

It’s just another day for you and me in paradise
It’s just another day for you and me in paradise, paradise
Just think about it, paradise, just think about it
Paradise, paradise, paradise… Phil Collins

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DFluKXQfiw

18 Oct 2015 – Connecting More Dots…

Fri: appreciations to Anita for the invite to Journey East 20th Birthday. The last visit was 2+yrs ago. https://amylamsg.com/2013/05/07/journey-east/

The new line of design by Francesca Lanzavecchia & Hunn Wei with their PLAYplay collection is a cute concept. My grandchildren would like it.

Some of the art pieces there are quite delightful.

Beautiful flowers providing some serenity!

Great to catch up with Anita and Philip. Such a small world – not only is he a neighbour but was in ACS back in the 1960s and in the same class with the bunch of guys I used to hang around with, Gerald and co! Also being involved with banks in his youth, he is quite familiar with Kwong Lee Bank! Thanks Philip for crossing my path and for the ride.

Had a great time meeting and chatting with new young people.

And last but not least, Ginger the REAL-LIFE mascot and not one of those hand-waving statue! did not seemed too pleased with the crowd invading the territory but being a well-behaved mascot, there were no hissing or scratching 🙂

A Maneki-neko in Chinese style. The maneki-neko (Japanese: 招き猫 ^?, literally ‘beckoning cat’) is a common Japanese figurine (lucky charm, talisman) which is often believed to bring good luck to the owner. In modern times, they are usually made of ceramic or plastic.

Am no fan of cats, especially this one!

Sat: trying to unpack is not as bad if only the eyes could stay open! Tkx Clement for saving this newspaper article in my absence. Was surprised to see that the pix and the article took up a quarter-page in The Sunday Times-13 Sep. Now I see that the whole page shows that it is part of the SG50-A Look Back At The Events – appreciations to HO Ai Li for her delightful write-up.

Just before taking off for Norway, received a call from Ai Ling who wanted to interview me as she read my blog posting on the SIN Sports School. Suggested for her to contact Jovina Tseng who was the top swimmer in those days, but looked like she did not do that??

https://amylamsg.com/…/singapore-sports…/

Sun: cleaning up FB pix and looks like a HKG friend RY had some fun on my behalf 🙂 🙂 He is so good at photo-shop that he got many of my FB friends believing this 🙂 🙂 🙂 Tkx RY for the nice collage (this one must have taken time to create) and the pix of Mark Zuckerberg with me! Am blessed with humourous people around me.

This evenings PSI reading is 160-180. Was out and about for a short time earlier visiting with Les&Ivy. The combination of jet-lag with this haze are giving me headaches and heat-rashes. Cannot imagine what it was like when the readings were 200+. Haze pix downloaded from various sites, not about to go outdoors in these conditions…

16 Oct 2015 – Salvador Dali

Mon: last walk here in OSL for 2015, along Parkveien behind the palace park.

Heading towards Uranienborgveien.

The little park on top on the hill where the church is located.

Tue:  dealing with goodbye hugs are reality of life. Tkx May for the pin which say is all. The truth lies between two lies – Munch. Let’s just put on the brave front and fast forward. Have been trying to capture this pix of Lillestrøm on the OSL Airport Express train for the past years. Either it was going too fast or it was just not clear enough to shoot. Today with blue sky and the train was slowing down just at that moment…

Wed: blue sky in LHR/London on transit. Flight took off in time and LHR is an airport where one is bus to and from the different terminals. Having to go thru’ both immigration and security another round is not much fun! Thank goodness my fellow Portuguese passenger Ricardo is a nice friendly chap!

Not so blue HKG sky in transit with 15mins delay and an uneventful flight.  Some loud obnoxious PRC were sitting near me, fortunately the plane was not full and I moved far far away from them. Finally the wings which got me to Norway also brought me back to SIN safe and sound 🙂

Wed: tkx to the new sculpture on Orchard Rd with Dali’s ‘Profile of Time’ – back in SIN where the heat and humidity can melt both clock and time!

Welcome Ruth & Mandy from Canada. With the combination of the jet-lag, heat and haze, was only capable to do indoors tourist guiding and local food tasting was the best I could do. They are great guests to take food tasting – enthusiastically tried everything I suggested, eating and finishing everything wholeheartedly.

Appreciate Clement for meeting up later for a bite. The bus-stop by St Andrews Cathedral has lovely night-lights on and there was some function across the road at  the newly renovated Capitol, now a Theatre and no longer a movie cinema. Visited with bro Steven and sad to see him with increasing signs of dementia…

12 Oct 2015 – OSL Port Authority

Fri: after delivering O, walked to Aker Brygge and towards Akerhus Fortress. An unusual public restroom which states Pissoar on one side and WC on the other side, so ladies remember to go into the correct side! A new diver statue welcoming visitors and swans contemplating their hibernation location!

Colourful wall murals

Checking out the new developments around the area at the bottom of Akershus Fortress. It  certainly has changed for the better and nice to see sea-faring tourist heading into town in this direction.

Glad that the horse-back security are there. Some years ago, would not have wandered in this area.

Oslo Havn KF=The OSL Port Authority first established 1735 and one of Norway’s oldest organizations still in existence.

Passing by electric cars refilling station (the red one is my favourite where parallel parking is not necessary), not sure what this piece of artwork is about, kids learning to throw the rope and a nice contrast the old and new floating vessels!

By passing the Opera House to check out newer buildings on Dronning Eufemias gate which are built to fit with the design of the Opera House.

The Barcode Project is a section of the Bjørvika portion of the Fjord City redevelopment on former dock and industrial land in central OSL. It consists of a row of new multi-purpose high-rise buildings and this is what they look like facing the sea.

The other side facing the central railway station must be rather noisy. considering that all the trains stop at this station. Enough of sight-seeing and pix taking for today. Rest of the day was also on my feet for early Christmas shopping at IKEA.

It has been a long time since my feet had to be moving upright all day and feeling my limits!

Sat: thought it would be a quiet weekend but how can I say no to food??? Farmers Market down the road with tasting, oh! I am in food paradise 🙂

The aromas of all the food variety is just intoxicating! Sooo true as to what George Bernard Shaw said  that there is no love sincerer than the love of food.

Could not resist buying the apple, black currant, elder berry juice and krasekaker. NOK600 S$100+poorer but happy 🙂 🙂 Christmas shopping done for M&B.

Sun: those who know me probably also know why this over-active energy over the weekend – a way to escape the thought of not seeing O until 2016. Have been thoroughly enjoying listening to his voice and watching him develop the past 7+weeks. Will count my blessings and start packing…

Close your eyes and I’ll kiss you
Tomorrow I’ll miss you
Remember I’ll always be true
And then while I’m away
I’ll write home every day
And I’ll send all my loving to you – ‎Lennon–McCartney

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QljI1Uotwc

9 Oct 2015 – At Høvikodden And Majorstuen

Wed: walking to catch the free bus from Frogner Parken to Høvikodden.

Tkx to Kirsten for a lovely afternoon with Hilma af Klint at Henie-Onstad Art Centre, one of my favourtie locations for an art gallery. Was first there with my father in 1967 when it was just opened. See posting below…

https://amylamsg.com/2008/10/11/henie-onstad/

Not at all familiar with Hilma af Klint‘s works, so this is new and am not sure as to how I feel about her works??? Will need to read more about her to find out.

Had to walk out of Bølgen & Moi at Henie-Onstad Art Centre!!! Remembering the size of the salad at Bølgen & Moi***Sandvika Storsenter when I was there with M & O, decided to share a shrimp salad with Kris and it was the perfect size and tasted good. The service and the menu selection in this branch is better than that at Henie-Onstad Art Centre.

Another unpleasant incident after getting grocery at Kolsås center tells me that this is NOT the Norway I knew many moons ago when I first moved here 🙁 Good to see Geir too and nice idea with all Kris pix books. Appreciations for sharing and for their sopp-soya.  Glad that Kolsås subway station is finally reopened.

Thu: day with O without day-care. Started the day at Colosseum which is the first time for O with a movie – Karsten og Petra på safari***a lion cub which has lost its mummy, grandpa being caught in a lion trap, and chasing a lion thief – just watching O’s expressions made my day. A child-size popcorn and a small box of juice made his day 🙂

A Happy Meal at McD and a walk in the area to see the sunflowers and the pigeons where he wanted to know the name of the statue! What a blessing and privilege to be a grandmother – highly recommended, especially when parents do a good job!

Expecting a quiet weekend as May&family will be away and I need some time to get my thoughts together before flying off.

A mother becomes a true grandmother the day she stops noticing the terrible things her children do because she is so enchanted with the wonderful things her grandchildren do – Lois Wyse

7 Oct 2015 – Haze In SIN

Sun: thoughts and prayers to family and friends with floods in SC/USA and haze in SIN. Those affected please take good care and stay safe.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34436669?SThisFB

Linn&family and SC friends are thank goodness safe in their homes. Pix from her showed that the level of Lake Murray has risen by quite bit. The uploaded pix of her favourite bridge in CAE shows that the river walk looks like it is completely flooded. Many have lost everything and some lost their life. My heart will not be able to handle another disaster after their house fire 2yrs ago…

The haze and PSI readings in SIN are way unhealthy – am not looking forward to breathing that air. Haze pix downloaded and here is the irony of it…

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/10/05/asia/singapore-smartest-kids/index.html

And how smart can they be breathing in this unhealthy haze for a prolonged period of time???

http://gemmacalvert.com/haze-impact/

Mon: more walks to get my mind into another mode but the flag at the US Embassy is a reminder of the gun issues with 10killed and 9injured in a shooting at the Umpqua CC in OR/USA on Thu.

Nok av det=enough of that – will keep my focus on some of my favourite scenes and subjects here in OSL besides O 🙂

Pascal****

Ibsen, like his plays and have read all of them in both Norwegian and English.

Slottet, Universitet Aula, Karl Johan gt with new sculpture.

St Olavs Plass centrally located in OSL where St Olavs, Munchs, Langes and Universitet gt all start here. Named in 1864 after St Olav (995-1030).

Pilestredet Park legesenter where my Norwegian doctor Eivind is located. Many fond memories together from our DUB student days. He is now a father to 2grown-ups, a grandfather to 2grandchildren and still the perfect gentleman I used to know. Thank you Eivind for being and for taking the time to take care of me and my medications.

Congratulations May for her Norwegian driver’s license.

Tue: the biggest and tallest sunflower seen, about the height of one storey high and some blooms bigger than my face. Flight booked to depart for SIN tonight but rescheduled to help with O. M&B will be busy with meetings and conferences the next few days.

When autumn darkness falls, what we will remember are the small acts of kindness – a cake, a hug, an invitation to talk and every single rose. These are all expressions of a nation coming together and caring about its people – Jens Stoltenberg