29 Jul 2025 – Memories And Emotions

Sat: TanjongKatongRd/South closed after sinkhole appeared near the junction heading to ECP and also where bus stops for 36&48 – buses I take. Will have to take the MRT more now that those buses will be diverted despite apprehension and concerns about the section of TEL built under reclaimed land! Appreciations with thanks to our excellent public transport system and no problems to find other bus route with more changes but hopefully not being in the wrong place at the wrong time!! Pix downloaded.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/tanjong-katong-road-south-sinkhole-closed-repairs-bus-5260676

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/collapse-of-tanjong-katong-road-sinkhole-did-not-happen-overnight-experts

Used to think that sinkholes happened only in FL/USA and joked about it with the kids when we lived there that those sinkholes reappeared on the other side as Guilin/China – hahaha. Pix downloaded and have never been to Guilin but have lived in FL ~16yrs!

Sun: appreciations with thanks to Theresa&CJ for scrumptious dinner @ImperialTreasureTeoChew/Ion – always a treat in this private room with a view for their signature items starters.

Shark-fin-chicken-soup, excellent suckling piglet(one of my favourite locations for this dish), TeoChewPorridge.

Sugar-coated yam sticks(first time tasting this yummy dessert) 反沙芋頭 easy recipe but hard to master and requires practice as it deals with recrystallization of sugar. Lotus&red bean dumplings, need to fast for a few days after such a dinner.

Feeling lost every time here@Ion, Dior is the landmark to find the restaurant+out to OrchardRd and Nespresso is the other landmark to the MRT-TEL.

Mon: bus196 on MountbattenRd passing the closed TK-Rd/South near the junction heading to ECP and also where bus stops for 36&48 before heading onto ECP. Those buses are now diverted to skip the stops before TK-Rd/South taking StillRd onto ECP – to my advantage!

Overhead bridge/KampongBahruRd on my way for appt@SGH/Blk3 – not the shortest route but will willingly take those extra steps to avoid ppl.

Today is the last day of operations for MP-PostOffice. GeneralPostOffice located at the back of this building on EunosRd looking just like any shopping mall – such a contrast from the 1950s GeneralPostOffice when it was at the Fullerton Building (now a 5*hotel). 

Lorong Buangkok is the last remaining kampung in Singapore. As Singapore’s economy grew rapidly, so too did the changes in its urban landscape. Singapore’s kampungs have made way for high-rise public housing with cleaner and more modern living conditions. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Zarina Baguio)

Tue: interesting read and not only memories of past locations but also some images can help to bring back memories of some moments – sometimes good and sometimes not so good.

Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it – L.M. Montgomery

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/ura-draft-master-plan-housing-identity-corridors-heritage-5249256

Developing your self-control starts with self-empowerment, said Ethan Kross, the director of the Emotion and Self-Control Lab at the University of Michigan and author of “Shift: Managing Your Emotions So They Don’t Manage You.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/19/well/mind/self-control-willpower.html?unlocked_article_code=1.ZE8.MU7E.onTz4oXZU2-2&smid=url-share&fbclid=IwY2xjawLv2EVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHrf-yVv_khiv0-x1-PWtUnltjjZ1zcmbjLquPM5owF22kRp4fDC9fXT5OjX7_aem_7dc1wKOE-9DtLegGXXIHKw

Balance&moderation might actually be the more sustainable and more realistic approach to dealing with both emotions&memories.

All the knowledge I possess everyone else can acquire, but my heart is all my own ― Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

25 Jul 2025 – Private Museum

Tue: ready&decked here with the appropriate colours lights for SG60. MT-GiantS$47.15 and with SenSavS$1.97,PromoS$7.15+CDCvouchersS$10 paid S$7.15 for this week grocery. Usually done with Bfast+TueGrocery before sunrise avoiding the heat&crowd.

Two of my favourites cartoonist – CharlesSchulz/Peanuts and BillWatterson/Calvin&Hobbes. Have been a fan of Schulz since student days in Dublin/Ireland and he was already launched since 1950! Watterson was launched in 1985 and was introduced to me when we moved to CA/USA. Both my children Linn&May had their imaginary friends/Knerten&Konda – could so relate with appreciations to both these cartoonists for always putting a smile on me.

Read&heard about 2workers being rescued yesterday after they became stranded on a gondola@RafflesCityTower. Usually like walking&wandering in the rains here in the tropics but considering that I had to take shelter@SBG despite having an umbrella yesterday, cannot imagine how the rains&winds must have been on the 28-29Floors – thank goodness no one hurt or injured – pix downloaded.

RescueTeam equipment are supplied by Campers’/SingingRock – pix credits to Chris

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/raffles-city-tower-gondola-two-workers-rescue-scdf-5249111

Wed: Happy 14Bday #5-James. Like his mother, he too likes to be near&in the water – the only one of my grandchildren who has not been here to SIN and will be starting in HighSchool next month! Also Happy 17Bday to GrandNephew Lucas.

Well, I could do it for a day, but I wouldn’t want to be a teenager again. I really wouldn’t – Jamie Lee Curtis.

Appreciations with thank to Chris for making sure that I get up these stairs to MtEmilyPk safely – no SingingRockEquiptment needed, hahaha.

First visit@PrivateMuseum/UpperWilkieRd, walking&wandering inside brought back memories of childhood home@5TemenggongRd, especially the staircase and the marble&wood floors.

The Art of Lee Boon Ngan: Celebrating 60 Years of Singapore through the Love of Chua Mia Tee & Lee Boon Ngan’ is open from now until 21 September 2025 celebrating the love and legacy of two Singaporeans who have dedicated their lives to art and nation. Tkx to ChuaYang for her interesting talk&tour – the photo by her of her father working at his last painting has quite an amazing effect for me.

You don’t make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved ― Ansel Adams

https://www.findglocal.com/SG/Raffles-Park/208661435832201/The-Private-Museum

Squid-ink-pasta@DaPaoloGastronomia/BukitTimahS$39.45 – been a long time ago since having a meal in this location! Night walk into SBG from this gate was unfamiliar in the dark, felt more comfortable when we got to N-Parks-HQ leading back to familiar grounds from Nassim-TanglinGates.

Thu: a fire this afternoon at the multi-storey carpark@35MarineCrescent – quick response by emergency services, the fire was swiftly contained&extinguished. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported – pix downloaded.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/three-vehicles-catch-fire-at-marine-crescent-carpark

The sirens&fumes of burning rubber got my attention bringing back traumatic memories. https://amylamsg.com/2013/10/06/lost-for-words/

Fri: after ~15,000steps/12k@MtEmilyPk&SBG-LightShow slept like a rock on Wed night for 8hrs!

Now some clarity&energy to post! SBG will host its first-ever light show to commemorate the 10Anniversary of its inscription as a UNESCO-WorldHeritageSite, also coinciding with SIN-60. Just learnt that SwanLake is the first man-made-lake in SIN. Somehow one needs to be there to do justice for these lights!

In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present – FrancisBacon

https://mothership.sg/2025/07/singapore-botanic-gardens-1st-ever-light-show/

22 Jul 2025 – National Orchid Garden@SBG

Tue: early yesterday@SingaporeBontanicGardens/SBG to escape the heat and the crowds but many also had the same idea! Direct MRT TEL MT to NapierSta,nice ceiling and shaded walkway to traffic lights

but without any shade crossing the junction of Napier&ClunyRoad to SBG/MainGate.

Heading via the Main/TanglinGate towards the BotanyCentre.

One of the Heritage Trees – Calophyllum inophyllum/PenagaLaut, impossible for me to get a good shot of the whole tree where it is growing.

Prisoners-of-wall brick steps –  they bear the memory of those who were imprisoned during WWII in SIN under Japanese occupation. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/prisoner-of-war-steps

Unlike the Girl on the Bicycle/1987 and the Bandstand/1930, the Girl on the Swing/1984 is not so easy to spot if not aware of it.

You can wander onto any path and will not be disappointed.

SIN-National Flower since 1981 – Vanda Miss Joaquim

https://www.nhb.gov.sg/what-we-do/our-work/community-engagement/education/resources/national-symbols/national-flower

Images and pix do not do justice to this spectacular Heritage Tree – Ceiba Pentandra/Kapok or SilkCotton, you need to be there to see it.

Enjoyed the Heritage Museum/first time. In 1861 LawrenceNiven planted these Grammatophyllum speciosum/TigerOrchids and they are still at the same spot today – for real and I do try to be there to see them in bloom when possible.

By the time I got here, the sky opened up and the rains came pouring down in buckets, best to be indoors to check our this new Planting Memories. To my surprise, saw this pix with Albert in it, and strangely enough its his Bday today which he does not celebrate!

Like the idea that this CDL-GreenGallery has orchids blooming on the roof. Hope that they can keep this despite looking portable!

SIN-GardenFestival2025 starts with Orchid Society of South-East-Asia/OSSEA’sOrchidShow from 19-27Jul@NationalOrchidGarden.

FOC for locals in celebrations of the Orchid Garden’s 30th anniversary,

SBG’s 10th year as a UNESCO-WorldHeritageSite,

and 150th anniversary of the SIN-Herbarium&Library of Botany&Horticulture.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/medallions-with-singapore-botanic-gardens-iconic-landmarks-launched-to-mark-milestone-filled-year

SBG – one of the best gardens in the world listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Founded by the Agri Horticulture society in 1859 and covers an area of 183 acres. This 150 years old botanic garden has a history of horticulture attractions and one of the worlds best plant collections and the only botanic gardens in the world that opens from 5am to 12am midnight. Botanical gardens are the sanctuaries where we can immerse ourselves in the peaceful embrace of nature’s healing presence.

Have been helping out OSSEA with their MOR publication from 1999-2009 and setting up with their 2003 first show The Singapore Orchid Festival@SBG, then the first festival held@SBG in the UNESCO’s/World Heritage List. For me it was and still is my favourite orchid festival&show ever. Despite having worked here once upon a time, there is always some new surprises to explore. Do like visiting but it takes a day of ~10,000steps to see only just a small part of this amazing garden and another day to put that small part into ~500words with ~40pix just for this posting!

https://www.nparks.gov.sg/sbg/our-gardens

21 Jul 2025 – Imagine

Sat: belated posting for last night’s Steamboat dinner@BukitMerah. Delighted that elevators are now installed@overhead bridge. ~45mins direct joy ride on Bus196 to Clement’s getting there just before 1800hrs to avoid the CBD-rush, otherwise would have taken over an hour if caught in rush hour. Being in a rush and not moving are not mutually exclusive, the Japanese have adopted this western phrase as their word Rushawa – trivial info!

We’re in this together usually means I’m here for you, unless it requires me getting into my car anywhere near rush hour – Dov Davidoff

Appreciations with thanks for a delicious&delightful Fri evening discovering refreshing new drinks, especially for someone who usually drinks water.

Someone tell me how this is works? @MT-Giant with intentions of buying some fruits, eyed a bag of cherries+a bunch of grapes but was informed by cashier that for one bag of cherries would cost S$18 2bags on promo for S$13.95 – not going to argue or question such a deal. Decided to forget the grapes, bought 2bags of cherries using S$10CDCvouchers, paying a total of S$3.95 cash – pleased to taste these fresh firm sweet yummy cherries for the weekend treat. No Sour Grapes – hahaha…

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom and where our cherries grow – Marcel Proust

After S$90 with 2foreign workers for ~45mins as the presence of Cantonese-speaking BigBoss only for BigJobs. Minor job of kitchen sink now no longer dripping, yeah to that new sink not necessary, and hopefully no more drips for the rest of my time here.

Sun: appreciations with tkx to FB-friends DocMartin&RY/HKG for updates on TyphoonWipha – pix credits to DocMartin.

Mon: nieceYasmine&family+cousinYatSoon&family, pix credits to him who so eloquently puts it what a wonderful vindication it is of our interconnected world that these two lovely, differently mixed-heritage women living in 21st century London share the same great-grandparents who were born in 19th century China. We are all citizens of the world and we should rejoice in our shared diversities. In these potentially troubled, distracted times it is a comfort to reflect that “we are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us” (Jo Cox MP, 1974-2016).

Bringing back memories of a trip in Paris,France/1998 with May and her 2cousins Kat&Yasmine – quite an amazing mix with origins from China,Iraq,Norway from LAM TinYue’s branch. We also have 12AuntieWinnie/Eurasian,15AuntieElise/Germany,CousinHelen/UK.

Still is my favourite song since it was first released in 1971.

Off to SBG for the 2025Orchid Show for today. Posting tomorrow…

18 Jul 2025 – Pictures Do Not Tell The Whole Story

Tue: will try to make use of Giant’s SeniorTue4%Discount as every cent helps – its Lychee season and S$1.56 for these will be dessert for today.

S$800 tkx to SG60-CDCvouchers, no need to dig into the bank or pockets when using locations accepting CDCvouchers for now.

Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance – Eckhart Tolle.

Comfortable cloudy&cool and not too crowded morning for a sit-down MeePokBrunch@MT-food&market(usually take away to eat)CDCvouchersS$5 – spending only S$1.60 for coffee this morning.

Wed: appreciations for call from Linn who is now on her last lap of the summer vacations. We had a good laugh over good and so good experiences&memories of our travels with air,bus,car,foot,trains,etc. The most traumatic on flight being when we both(she was probably too young to understand what was happening!)saw fire shooting out of the what looked to be the pylon? on the wing on route from SIN-CPH-OSL/1982. For one moment, thought it was the end, but our time was not quite up yet! After an emergency landing and an overnight in BKK/Thailand, we were back in the air and headed safely back to Norway. May was then nearly 1, still not yet walking, and Claire our baby-sitter was also with us on that trip. Downloaded pix is what we all hope to see when on flight.

The ongoing news with the recent Air India/171 crash has stirred up some traumatic and not so good experiences which are there deep down but best not to dwell or think too much. Hopefully we learn to deal with them as constructively as possible so as to move forward with some wisdom when there is still life to live – pix downloaded.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/12/india/air-india-crash-questions-intl

Thu: dinner@PalmDr – good to see sis Jo/88 with such a hearty appetite and also quite agile&mobile for her age.  It did not seemed that long ago this corner location was some durian stall, how things change so quickly and amazing how this wallpaper can be so misleading!

Fri: have been visiting my US-flock annually for the past 25yrs(even before blogging and before grandchildren!) except during COVID shutdown and this year – pix from 2011 and 2024. #1Katy will soon be married and #5James the baby will be 14 next week – missing that I will not be with them this year but will look forward to Feb2026.

The pictures do not lie, but neither do they tell the whole story. They are merely a record of time passing, the outward evidence – Paul Auster

14 Jul 2025 – Gasket vs Washer

Fri: IngcoByHorme@342ChangiRd did not have what was needed but StrongHardware the shop next door had – what was though as gasket is known as washer here! Just as well had them along to show, discovered that it is cheaper to buy a whole new drainer including 4gasketsS$2.50, just the gasket cost .80c per piece.

Pleasant walking in the shade to see such lush greenery with a tall-fenced-in cactus on one side and bamboo on the other side+nicely maintained fences with colourful Bougainvilleas/TelokKuruaRd. Bus33 to OldAirportRd.

Trip to Decathlon/Kallang – do like this view on both sides from the overhead bridge on MountbattenRd despite it being more garbage in the GeylangRiver this time!

Short walk along GeylangPC and HokkienMee CDCvouchersS$5@OldAirportRd.

Refreshing fresh OJ(not everyday or week but ~a few times per month)hit the spot by the time back@MarineC, 151,091,514cups sold worldwide today. ~10,000steps and probably overdid it ending the day with a headache but appreciations to May for walking me thru’ online with SAS tickets from OSL-ATL-OSL bookings ~EUR457/NOK5,500/S$684. Will keep checking SIN-OSL-SIN fares and book when the price looks reasonable.

Sat: the short early storm~5a was quite something, even uprooted one of the newly planted trees. Kathleen, one of the best bakers, yes have tasted her bakes with her homemade, handcrafted, 100% deliciously fresh available this week at the DowntownMebaneFarmersMarket NC/USA. Plx beam me there&back immediately – hahaha! Hope that she will be able to bake for Katy&Jack’s wedding – pix credits to Kathleen.

If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world – Tolkien

Toasting to the craftsmanship and centuries-old heritage of sake and appreciations to Ivy&Les for Sashimi with Sake (seldom drink Sake but this one is not to be missed!)a memorable Japanese meal for the tongue(with thoughts of BabyKai). Tuna/maguroまぐろ with the ōtoro 大トロ cut from the belly which practically melts in the mouth+salmon/sāmonサーモンfresh enough to be made for Gravlaks too. Tkx to Kiera for the first taste of Warabimochi, a silky-soft and delicately chewy mochi dessert coated in kinako/soybean powder, served with kuromitsu/black sugar syrup, on the side.

Wine to me is passion. It’s family and friends. It’s warmth of heart and generosity of spirit — Robert Mondavi

Sun: after replacing with new drainers still leaking realizing that it is from the main sink, and knowing my limits, will have to call a real plumber next week. Hoping&praying that no new sink will be necessary…

Writer’s block? I’ve never heard of a plumber complain about plumber’s block – RB Parker

Mon: mess in the kitchen+more mess by cooking bones,withered herbs, etc for stock and TexMexChilli – should be enough food in the freezer to last for a while.

Happy Bastille Day! 20yrs ago today when on the AT-Thru’Hike was thinking how to locate my Irish friend Keith to wish him a Happy Bday. Finally located him in France/Aug2012 and have not seen him nor have I been back to France since then but do appreciate the seldom exchange with updates of a few online words. Wonder if our paths will ever cross again, may it be in whatever his latest car or in his RedCitroen2cv?

https://amylamsg.com/2012/08/21/etourvy/

https://amylamsg.wordpress.com/2012/08/24/citron-2cv/

Take care of all your memories. For you cannot relive them – Bob Dylan

10 Jul 2025 – 1st LAM For this New Generation

Mon: welcome to the LAM-family and to this world adorable Great-Grand-niece LAM XinLin(Jun2025). Congratulations to my 2ndBro LAM KwokKiong’s branch of the family(2020pix) for this addition. Totally blessed to be alive and still OK health to experience and see #2 of a new generation, the BrownGeneration in the LAM-family-tree.

Am so impressed – as mentioned last week, flags were up and just coincidental that I was within my 4walls when the flags were being attached to the railings. Feedback to them that it defeats the purpose as those flags keep flying up in the wind and end up looking rather untidy wrapped around the railings, asked if they were any ways to prevent that from happening?

Lo&behold wonders never cease! today those flags that were possible to be attached are attached at another extra point. Amazed&delighted that my feedback did not fall on deaf ears and now looking much better for my eyes – hahaha!

Tue: early morning grocery@Giant+fresh produce@MT-Market. Nice to have caught up with Sim even for just 30mins(do not know when and if next!), sorry to miss his jazz session last Sunday@Esplanade but if possible, trying to keep away from crowds especially indoors. Looking forward to these constructions to be done with more entrances&exits in&out of PP.

CDCvouchers accepted@PP and now back to access with CareFridge@MarineC,  sandwich dinner and dessert thx to SIN.

Walking to&fro PP between MarineDrHDBs is pleasant now that there is an elevator crossing the overhead bridge on StillRd, did not want to deal with the traffic crossing when walking on the main MP-Rd – making 8,000+steps for today.

Blessed&spoilt to have these choices when walking from my 4walls-PP, in AC&ShelteredWalkways and on EC-Pk by the sea, the choice depends on wherever is least ppl. If not walking, there are many buses/3stops &MRT-TEL/ MP-MT-direct.

The power of choice is a double-edged sword – Oscar Wilde

Wed: well done Desiree – nice article&read on this lovely wet Wed morning. Still have one of those CHOPE tissues – hahaha.

https://www.islands.com/1901457/lively-country-singapore-street-food-culture-unesco-culinary-tradition-celebrities/

Thu: have been having minor leak from kitchen sink for a while, but was not too concerned until recently. Cleaning out wherever possible to discover that the gaskets look rather worn, to be expected after 25yrs – time for new gaskets…

2 Jul 2025 – And Hello Angeline

Sun: appreciations with tkx for dinner@Rochalie/beautiful flowers in that hood made my day with adorable BabyKai discovering his tongue who will surely be trained to appreciate world’s cuisine some day – he has already tasted durian and seems to like it!  A reminder that the tongue is a small thing, but can do much damages&hurt, so talk with your mind before you talk with your tongue.

Mon: Nov2024 watched a HKG movie@Cathay, PoDeiJuk/Cantonese 破地獄=lit Break Hell’s Gate/The Last Dance on big screen. Enjoyed this interesting flick but would have preferred it in the original HK-Cantonese, here being dubbed to Mandarin. Rewatched it in Cantonese recently online without subtitles so will probably find another version to watch to get the full understanding. Seldom rewatch movies so must really like it to be willing to rewatch it for the third time!

The Last Dance isn’t just a movie about death – it’s a reminder for all to break through our own personal hells of unexpressed emotions – not only the dead, but living people also have hell’s gate to break.

Tue: half of 2025 has gone starting the other half with grocery shopping@MT-GiantS$59including PromoS$8+SS4%S$2.50=S$10.50TotalSave. Worth the 3mins-read for this interesting link with constructive info stating that the longer you live, the greater your risk to dementia – simple biological mathematics. But you do have the power to take action to reduce the risks. In short, it isn’t just a biological issue, it’s also a social justice issue. And that’s precisely why the researchers insist that:

Public health policies must be inclusive and targeted. It’s not enough to say ‘eat better and move more’. We need to ensure that everyone has the real means to do so.

Why Dementia Cases Are Exploding (and What Researchers Say)

Wed: a good view of The Crown&The Jewel when walking to&fro T3&T1. Welcome Angelina from Belgium on transit here for a few days en route to KCH,Sarawak/E-Malaysia. Sometimes it seems like I am living in this airport nearly! ~13yrs ago since in Belgium visiting with Angeline&family! https://amylamsg.com/2012/08/26/6-stations/

When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it — Henry Ford

Aug2018:  appreciations with tkx to Angelina for meeting me at the station, to Kurt for making Belgium national dish, yummy mussels with fries to Kiefer for his sweet smiles.

Wed2Jul2025: so cute to hear Kiefer/13 speaking fluent Flemish to his brother Zephyr/9.

4 Jul – Happy 4th
6 Jul – Happy Bday cousin JohnWong
14 Jul – Happy Bday Keith and Happy Bastille Day/France
17 Jul – Happy Bday NancyBowman
20 Jul – Happy Bday DavidYeoh
21 Jul – Happy Bday AlbertChua
22 Jul – Happy Anniversary Dike&Mark
23 Jul – Happy Bdays Lucas & James