The Big Picture

19 Apr 2021 – BBQ In Comfort & Style

Sat: not only regarding Science vs Social Media, but just about everything in life The Big Picture vs Tunnel Vision is one of the best visual examples, tkx to JJessup for this share. Does not only apply to vision, but also to reading & listening, not unusual that we all sometimes hear, read & see selectively & subjectively.
We often engage the defense mechanism of tunnel vision, just to keep ourselves focused on our daily lives. This makes us terribly jaded in our perception of what is really around us – Nazarian
Appreciations to Les&Ivy for a yummy BBQdinner. Pleasant cool evening after a whole day of rains causing flash-foods in some parts, fortunately the rains stop by dinner.  The new gazebo with a BBQbuilt-in is a such a good idea.
With them, there is always abundance of good food&wine. Patricia/May made a delicious potato salad (must remember to ask her for the recipe), and I, with my fruit-tower.
Sun: body needs to rest from food – just had liquids for the day. Trying to search for my father’s IC# and death certificate, but unable to find them – what a day, no food on top of that!!
Mon: lunch with Boon&HS and to also introduce them to my favourite CheeCheongFun @MTfoodMarket. Dinner with Calvin&Sam+Helen in my hood@PP/basementFoodRepublic and grocery browsing@3rdLevelNTUC-FairPriceEtra with a colourful 4wall mural to the ceiling+a bar within, and you can also sit down and have a meal, probably the only one of such! Last visit here was in Jan when the mural motive seemed to have been a different one!
From Garry16Apr: Trip around the block continued to Alice Springs. Almost 1000kms of dirt road covered, much of it corrugated and despite recent rains and some water still lying around, it was very dusty. I was in CooberPedy many moons ago and stayed in one of their cave hotels. It was nice&cool inside even with the hot temperatures outside.
Magnificent steel bridge that is part of the abandoned railway.
Main street of Oodnadatta- the hottest and the driest town in Australia. Abandoned railway station now a local museum.
Sunset at the Henbury Meteorite Crators -between Marla and Alice – camp-site for the night. Memorial to the bent stick! Because trees are all but non existent in much of the area, stunted twisted trees were all that were available for telegraph poles and their supports that carried the overland telegraph line from Darwin to the south. So they earned this memorial!
Crator – Red River Gum
Alice is approached from the south through a gap in the Macdonald Ranges known as The Gap! Through the gap flow one river bed, a pedestrian walkway, a two lane road and a railway. No space to spare! Up to 160 Aircraft stored at Alice during covid. So that is where our SIA,Scoot&SilkAir are hiding.

Coastal PlayGrove

16 Apr 2021 – 10 of the World’s Weirdest Flowers

Tue: Ramadan starts today lasting until Wed12May. To those marking this time – Salam Ramadhan&Selamat Berpuasa and fast healthy&safely. Should fast too, good to clean&clear  and to rid some of the toxicity in the system! Tkx to TuahBugis/Sarafian for his share of the SultanMosque pix. Blessed&fortunate to be living where the various culture, religion, race, etc are practised and there is much to learn from each other. Looking forward to taking a walk down Geylang Serai to taste the foods when fasting is over!

When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained – Sahih Bukhari (1899)
At first sight, thought it was a hoax or photoshop! This is for real, no photoshop and the names of this the above flowers are – HangingNakedMan/OrchisItalica, Hooker’sLips/Hot Lips/PsychotriaElata Check out the link below for more unusual flowers
Wed: JiaHe@One Farrer Hotel Connexion, Chinese Restaurant’s name is based on the Chinese idiom 家和万事兴which translates to if the family lives in harmony all affairs will prosper.
Appreciations to the 2 Ivys for this lunch. Homemade BambooCharcoalBeancurd with LocalSpinach was a good new taste for my pallet. Crispy PinkSwan YamPuff (WuKok 芋角) where beetroot juice is supposedly used to dye these dumplings is a nice novelty&presentation and the rest of the usual DimSum was OK.
Comment from cousin Yun in Toronto/Canada: we have a fancy restaurant here too that shape dim sum into shapes of animals. They use peasant meat and sharks fin and charge you accordingly. Give me the old lady with the cart any time. I am a sucker for the old tradition. For me: as long as they taste good, it is sometimes a nice change to have a pretty presentation for special occasions.
Variety’s the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavour – WilliamCowper
Thu: walked to AmberRd in the rains and took the underpass to ECPk – these clean&spotless, ie without graffiti&grabage underpass never fail to amaze me. The new shelter walkway here is also another pleasing sight.
The new CoastalPlayGroveAreaB, former BigSplash. Am rather upset, unable to find an old pix of L&M from 1979 when this location was BigSplash. Oh well, will keep looking and hope to find it.
The new revamp area is nicely done with a NaturePlayGarden 
Wading pool&streams with water jets surround the area.
PlayTower – 4-storey vertical net play area called the VerticalChallenge, and slides on the 3rd&4th level.
Views from the top of the tower – towards the airport, spotted an airplane; towards CBD happy to see the sky clearing there.
Views around the grounds from above.
Like the idea of this OutdoorClassroom and glad to see the contribution from SparkleTots@46MarineCres.
These are the eateries including a BK. Tkx to Clement for dinner@OldTownWhiteCoffee. 
Serene&cool stroll towards EC LagoonFood passing by a touching scene of a daughter surprising her father for his 50thBday. Got off at the underpass at AreaE heading for an ice-cream& a drink@BlackPearl ECRd. You are never too old for playgrounds and ice-cream, also never too old to walk 15k.
Fri: TGIF – a good weekend to all and good luck to Clem for his 1stShot this morning. Apr haircut with HelenS at TheRoots@EliasMall (PasirRis), found another way there with shorter rides on public transport. Tkx to Helen who recommended Peggy here.
CC to catch up with Calvin&Sam to learn about these expensive brandname bike+accessories from the younger generation!
Appreciations for scrumptious dinner@WhampoaHawkerCentre where one of my favourite seafood cooks, JYong is – highly recommended. When you are in good company with food like these, that is what life is about.
From Garry 13Apr: After two nights in Arkaroola its off to Maree. Was concerned about all these kids appearing of the scrub so headed off on the Oodnadatta track  .
Maree. The railway town without a railway. Long story but in the 1800’s the Great Northern Railway was built from Port Augusta to Oonadatta. Massive infrastructure project with different passenger and freight gauges. Later a decision was made to remove the railway westward to what became the Darwin to Adelaide track.. Thus a string of abandoned railway villages and bridges along the track. If i had an ancient relative who sweated his guts out building this railway for 2 shillings and two pence a day, I’d be pissed off on his behalf!
And then, in the middle of nowhere, literally, there appears a ‘sculpture park’ although if its ‘sculpture’.
The railway line to nowhere. Lake Eyre South. The white expanse is salt. 15m below sea level. The water from the recent rains in Qld have only reached the North Lake so far.
Lake Eyre South. The white expanse is salt. 120m below sea level, salt below my feet and flies on my back.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh

12 Apr 2021 – Prince Philip (1912-2021)

Fri: FarrerPkMedical to get BP meds&machine to control the BP before surgery. Appreciations&tkx to Ivy&Les for their help&lunch@Socieaty.

Since in the area, did some food shopping@DDD/CSMall to discover that it was raining cats&dogs when I got above ground to the bus-stop from LittleIndiaMRT – no worries as I will be walking in shaded walkways.

Sat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgIx3OrnixI Condolences to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll & the UK Royal family for the passing of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip (1921-2021) – may he RIP. Pix downloaded. Respect to this handsome gentleman with a sense of humour (not to all, but I enjoyed it) who has loyally served his Queen&Country for 7decades! with confidence and wisdom. 3 other men who I also respect, my own father, xNorwegian father-in-law and LKY(SIN-1stPM).

PrincePhilip visited SIN at least 5times in his life, toured an HDBflat, met with LKY. 

https://mustsharenews.com/prince-philip-singapore/

All these controversies going on regarding MeghanMarkle&PrinceHarry is sad. Besides PiersMorgan and many other similar thoughts on her, here is another interesting conversation with RiverASMR I just discovered:

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

Being born in SIN 1950 when the island was still a crown colony, thus grew up being under the influence of the British. 1950s pix of my mother, cousins&I  in front of RafflesHotel then and RafflesHotel now.

1819-modern SIN was founded by SirStamfordRaffles as a trading post of the British Empire. Pix downloaded.

1867-the colonies in EastAsia were reorganised, SIN came under the direct control of Britain as part of the StraitsSettlements.

1942-2ndWW, SIN was occupied by Japan, but returned to British control as a separate crown colony following Japan’s surrender in 1945. Pix downloaded.

1959-SIN gained self-governance, also the same year when QE-ll&PrincePhilip visited SIN. Pix downloaded.

1963-became part of the new federation of Malaysia, alongside Malaya, North Borneo, and Sarawak. Ideological differences led to SIN being expelled from the federation. Pix downloaded.

9Aug1965-an independent country. Left for overseas study in Jul1965 and did not return to live&work until 1999, but did occasionally travelled for short visits to see the family. Pix downloaded.

Sun: not only totally&majorly demophobic also totally&majorly ophidiophobic, am put off with hiking for now upon seeing these signs&pix! Pix downloaded. FairfaxCountyPkL-LaurelHill/VA, BreaksInterstatePk/VA, FrickPk-Pittsburgh/PA. There has been some snake comments from my AT-Group and on top of those signs, my dear #6 sent me this link:

https://people.com/pets/large-snake-found-pittsburgh-park-identified-as-harmless-species/

A snake can change its skin but not its disposition – Persian saying

Mon: appreciations to Gel for breakfast&lunch@our local MT Market with my usual favourite – delighted to discover more good things, fresh ginger drink made from scratch, another stall to frequent! Tkx to Jo for dinner.

From Garry10Apr: Trip around the block continued. Yunta to Arkaroola was 301km of corrugated dirt road. Camped part way along atop a hill at a long abandoned gold mine. Incredible 360• views as far as the eye could see and big big blue sky. Very calming.

From Garry11Apr: Around the block. Today was the day for a five hour walk through Bararranna Gorge in the Northern Flinders Ranges. Part of Arkaroola Sanctuary Reserve. The pics might seem repetitious but I was taken by the landscape, the colors, the rock formations. The lot actually! So easy to see why geologists and others come here to get their rocks off.

Pigs Fly To Blue Elephant

8 Apr 2021 – At The Lower East Side

Mon: tkx for FB reminder when QingMing 清明 (Tomb-Sweeping) is now ongoing in this part of the world. In memory of my parents&grandparents – will not be going to the crematorium, but thoughts are with them. Pleased to finally hear&read about the encouragement to do away with these burning of paper offerings, etc. Old traditions die hard, hopefully ppl will understand why the environment has to go green&move with times.  https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202103/1219072.shtml 

Appreciations to Ivy&Carmel for EasterMonday’s Thai lunch in my hood – the LowerEastSide where PigsFly to BlueElephant with choices of burgers, pizzas, Indian, Mexican & Thai cuisine! Tried the Mexican https://amylamsg.com/2021/01/27/light-to-night-festival-2021/

And if you are drinking to forget, you will certainly see pigs flying to blue elephant.

Back to PennyU for cakes, coffee&T. And yes, do like that dark&rich ChocolateTruffleCake today. Carmel had the Lemongrass CoconutCake, Ivy had Coconut IceCream. Yesterday’s HoneyAlmond was yummy&fresh, wanted to try something else today – if I keep returning daily, will end up like the guy in this pix! Pouring cats&dogs, but thank goodness Rahman had parked the car just around the corner.

Tue: nice of SK to get some updates from her branch, especially happy to hear that nephew Mun has been cleared with his health checks. Met@ShipRestaurant ShawHouse, but was too crowded&noisy to even hear myself think!

FoodRepublic located in the basement was my preference, not crowded&noisy, more choices & reasonable price for foods. Isetan is a must when in that area, look at these choices of yummy foods. Do not set foot here when you are hungry or you will feel like buying everything – hahaha!

I will not be impressed with technology until I can download food from the internet – Carlos Banks

S$108strawberries S$68grapes are not within my budget, but a feast for the eyes to imagine how deliciously juicy&sweet they can be – no sour grapes in this case!

WildRocket, RedCabbageSprout, OsouzaiSet, a  piece of ChateraiseCrispyChocolateCake, total~S$25 is affordable, the veggies should last me for a few days – a costly TueGroceryDay without SenSav.

Appreciations&thanks to SK for informing me that there were 2otherKLBanks in JB/Malaysia (where she worked in the 1980s) and another one in KL/Malaysia which I have no idea that they existed? Also was not aware that there was a logo?? Will have to update and find out more about them – now edited and added into the posting below:

https://amylamsg.com/2009/01/12/kwong-lee-bank/

Thu: a busy day ahead starting at 0600hrs with breakfast@MT Market – where Yong Huat Delight@MT Market is also Kotuwa’s Chef Alan Chan  favourite breakfast spot, he must have good taste – hahaha.

https://cnaluxury.channelnewsasia.com/experiences/where-singapore-s-top-chefs-go-for-breakfast-14572128

MP Rd on bus36 on ECP, changing to bus75 with a driver who nearly by-past me (another story when I am up to it!) by the Esplanade heading for the shuttle on OutramRd to

SGH for pre-ops procedures in preparations for a parathyroidectomy on 22Apr. Looks like my BP is way too high and will have to bring it down by the day of the surgery. Thank goodness for a cardiologist big-bro!

Done by 12n – headed to TiongBahruMarket for lunch and to pick up some fresh dates for tonight’s dinner. Bev dropped by to pick up an air-purifier after her 2ndVaccine@MPCC. Looks like some CrazyRichAsians have thrown this perfect little play-car out with their garbage on RochalieDrive, would have picked it up if I was not on my way to dinner! Appreciations for yet another yummy dinner@Theresa&ChengJun with Les&Ivy. Long&tiring day with nearly 4hrs spent on bus-rides!

From Garry6Apr: Well its only day 1 and tonight’s camp is by the banks of the Murry outside Nyah- just past Swan Hill. The sky is clear and the feeling is good.

From Garry7Apr: Camped beside Lake Bonney, just past Renmark into South Australian where the majestic river redgums gave up the will to live and now provide safe habitat for fish that don’t wantvto be caught. Managed to pick up a second spare wheel and tyre for the Pajero (18inch rims with 6 studs are hard to find) and around lunchtime found my car key in the bottom of the esky! 

April Showers 2021

4 Apr 2021 – Demophobia

Fri: yeah, finally located my flock of peeps, one for each grandchild! with mother-hen overseeing them!! These will be out until Mon and then back to their coop until next Easter!!!  One of the very few Easter pix with #1&2 from 2005, just before the AT Thru’Hike.

Must be suffering from spring-fever – looking with longings to be where ever these downloaded pix are taken! TGIF on this first April Friday and a Good Friday to all marking this day. March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers

Sat: having done the complete 25k GreenCorridor in 2016 with Clement and Hannah, https://amylamsg.com/2016/01/16/the-green-corridor/ was curious with the newly revamp central section. Had plans to explore it, but what was I thinking – always knew that being slightly demophobic, should avoid crowds! Up dark&early taking the first bus16 connecting to the Circle&Downtown MRT-Lines to meet with Inessa as she wanted to walk this section and could only do so in the weekend.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/4km-rail-corridor-stretch-between-hillview-and-bukit-timah-reopens.

Was really dreading the crowds, especially after reading about it from yesterday’s news, but had promised and wanted to encourage Inessa to explore these trails. Upon seeing the crowds at the  BukitTimahRailwayStation (buildings still behind barricades&fences) was enough to make me want to be anywhere else but here! Decided to brave the crowds and walked on. Below 2pix downloaded!!!

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/large-crowds-throng-rail-corridor-on-friday

Focusing on the trees was the only way for me to get thru’ these 4k.

A bite at SpringleafPrataPlace@TheRailMall by BukitTimahBridge before catching the bus back to the east. Lovely heavy rains in the later afternoon for a relaxing snooze. Today has convinced me that I am not just slightly, but totally&majorly demophobic!

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/4km-rail-corridor-stretch-between-hillview-and-bukit-timah-reopens.

Sun: Happy Easter Sunday to those celebrating. Delighted to receive above 5pix from my flock in US&Norway – missing them tons! Missing someone is your heart’s way of reminding you that you love them.

This 10,000 hand-painted EasterEggTree in Saalfeld/Germany must be the most amazing one I have ever seen and will add it to my bucket list.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/50-year-tradition-couple-trims-tree-10-000-easter-eggs-n56841

Lunch-CheeCheongFun@YongHuatDelight/MTMarket&FoodCentre. Good cakes&drink (non-alcoholic)@PennyUniversity, an artisanal cafe on EC Rd, good enough for a return.

Zhongshan Park but do not remember this part from my previous visit – searched blog posting and found the last time in this area was 2016, do remember the SunYatSenMemorialHall but not the park – oh dear! senior moments!! thank goodness for old blog postings!!!

IMG_8778IMG_8746IMG_8750

Feb2016: tkx to Gel&Mil for lunch at Kotobuki***locate by the new ZhongshanPark in the Balestierarea. A new area to explore here on another Heritage Trail.

IMG_8758IMG_8759IMG_8762

Feb2016: Appreciations to Mil for an informative tour in this elegant colonial-style villa, former BinChan house or WanQingYuan, now SunYatSen Nanyang MemorialHall – not to be confused with SunYatSen MemorialHall in Taipei/Taiwan.

Tonight’s dinner@FounderBakKutTeh/347BalestierRd, informed by Clement that this place was frequented by celebrities, but could not recognise any on the wall. The only pix that I found which was a young ChowYuenFat who is probably the only few Asian celebrity I know of. He was also on one of the walls during the MacLehoseTrail thru-hike in Mar2012@Beacon Hill. Nearly mid-point + high point! a cafe serving noodles and a pix of ChowYuenFatt@ShatinPass M101. A bowl of hot noodle hits the spot and continuing uphill to the mid-point M100. https://amylamsg.com/2012/03/10/maclehose-traildays-3-4/ 

Both cake&dinner locations are new to me and happy to discover them.

I am so very sorry and sadden to just learnt of WinnieLeeLewis’s bro, Arthur’s passing of cancer on 27Mar. Do have fond memories of him being the cheerful little boy and later the lovely man, bro husband&father he had grown to be. Condolences to Winnie and the family – thoughts&prayers are with them all and may he now RIP.
From Garry who will be driving around Australia starting this month and I will be following viciously with great interest as it is a dream for me to do a driving trip around the world. Permission granted from him to share his pix&comments (in brown-italic). Packed and ready to go. Leaving Mt Beauty Vic tomorrow morning. West into South Australia then North to Alice then…….. back maybe around Oct, Nov but definitely before Santa comes again…….and covid under control, here and abroad.

Goodbye March 2021

1 Apr 2021 – Believe Nothing, It’s 1stApril

Mon: there seems to be a day for everything these days, and being a piano teacher will try to remember WorldPianoDay celebrated on the 88th day of the year since pianos have 88 keys by tradition – this year it is on Mon29Mar.

Making a simple plate of clams, enhanced&garnished with some herbs&spices and this dish will look&taste more appetizing. As simple as that to the whole secret to food presentation.

Tue: grocery@Gaints/Tampines$107SenSav$3.33. This bunch of Pandan Leaves is perfect in every ways – have never seen such a beautiful perfect bunch until today. For 0.50c had to get it even if just for decoration!

Appreciations to CheeHeow for catching up. Tkx for lunch at BedokMall@TunXiang 豚香南洋馆 opp from MrCoconut! Good RoastedChestnutPork with rice and CrispyPrawnPasteChicken, and of course we had the coconut water!

Delighted to discover that my favourite yogurt, YoléYogurt is also located here, more reasons to stop by again when in the area!

Besides being a copy-writer, CH is on a recent local TV ads like 不用不用不用 (=no need) vaccination where he is here driving his father for the vaccine –  

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgKjHnMbrOK8xLzAwHO0aSg

Also into modelling, tkx to Bev for the pix of him in red here. Do remember one of his first ads I saw when I was out at the movies, on a couple using their SeniorCitizen movie discount but that is outdated and a new one should be soon on the air. Few more which I get ‘Video Unavailable’ when I try to load but can see them on my phone – oh well, too high tech for me!!  Here is one from UnionPay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xGdrzBEnrk

Wed: Happy 84Bday to a dear sister, Josephine. Appreciations to Pat&David for this yummy dinner and good wines from Les&Ivy to compliment the food.

The mini cupcake stand from the USdays does come into good use at times like these! Orchids from ColdStorage and leafs from Pat&David’s garden. Cupcakes from https://twelvecupcakes.com/

31Mar2021: WorldOmeter of COVID-19 deaths are as follow:

SIN/pop 5.6+mil in an area of 721SqKm – 30
SC/USA/pop 5+mil in an area of 82, 932SqKm – 9,126
Norway/pop 5.3+mil in an area of 365,268SqKm – 661

Thu: All Fools’ Daymany trace the origins of AprilFools’Day back to 1582 when Pope Gregory XIII adopted the Gregorian Calendar, effectively moving NewYear’ Day from the end of Mar to 1Jan. Though the change was widely publicized, some people didn’t get the memo, while others simply didn’t want to transition to the new calendar, so they continued to ring in the NewYear at the end of Mar. Those who didn’t make the change were mocked for their folly and called April Fools.

Welcome April – creating the illusions of Spring in my own tiny kitchen on this AprilFoolsDay to fool my now declining eye-sight – hahaha. Still waiting for a good harmless AprilFool’s prank!

A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool – Shakespeare

Interesting read: https://neurosciencenews.com/wisdom-loneliness-microbiome-18108/

Day after day, alone on a hill
The man with the foolish grin
Is keeping perfectly still
But nobody wants to know him
They can see that he’s just a foolhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Hlw_9ldThs

2 Apr – Happy Bday MarianneH
4 Apr – Happy Bday RichardY
8 Apr – Happy Bday TorillW
12 Apr – Happy Bday PeggyT
15 Apr – Happy Bdays LynneO & AileenK
17 Apr – Happy Bdays AnneS, SharonK & Sarah
22 Apr – Happy Bday Ike
29 Apr – Happy Bday Stanley

Spring Is In The Air

29 Mar 2021 – A Busy Weekend

Fri: TGIF and a good weekend to all. Was cleaning out some of my knickknacks to be rid of. This must be the smallest gold coin, so small that it has to be embedded into this card so as not to get lost! some of the other tiny stuffs are – angel, plate-display and μάτι (mati), eye (the evil eye) in my collection! Am keeping these as they hardly take up any space!

Nature gives to every time and every season beauties of their own – Spring is when life’s alive everywhere. Go and enjoy your walks in nature or in the parks. Appreciations to NParks for taking care of our island’s GardenCity with some of these pretty blooms along the streets&highways and not forgetting those in our parks as well.

CatClawIvy (Dolichandra unguis-cati) along PasirRisIndustrialDrive1 – pix credits Lee JiaHwa. Mexican Petunia (Ruellia simplex) lovely blue flowers@SingPohGarden from my walk in the park.

TrumpetTree (Tabebuia rosea) along UluPandan PCN – pix credits DennisQuek. YellowSaraca (Saraca thaipingensis) along SerangoonParkConnector – pix credits: KA Latiff.

Bus196 on NicoleHighway heading into the CBD with threatening skies

Brunch@BkMerahView where the sky finally opened up with a short heavy downpour – pleasant breeze to accompany this yummy plate of CharKwayTeow, been a long while since I had this dish and one of my favourite stalls for this is@ZionRd which is closed for renovations. Went to Clement’s place (just around the corner) to watch Ode to Joy, a no brainer romantic comedy.

Burger dinner@Carney/AmoySt, and there will probably not be another round here again for me!

Desserts at rooftop@PS.Cafe/AnnSiangAnn for KeyLimePie is another story where they will be more rounds here for me as this only place in SIN which makes a good tart one for my taste.

The others had Profitero&StickyFigPudding which were also yummy. Appreciations for a belated Bday dinner.

Sun: admiring beautiful daffodils and guiding on foot a young couple, Hannah&Heiko starting with a brunch 1100hrs@TiongBahruMarket with few yummy fresh dates to taste (8 tiny dates S$3!).

Heritage Tree along to YongSiakSt to learn that BooksActually is no more physically, now only online. Walking around to point out some of YYC’s early wall murals here.

AirRaidShelter around MohGuanTerrace

Faun&flora with this vibrant red Peregrina (Jatropha integerrima) along SengPoh Garden&Road. Heading towards on SengPohRd to the former BirdCorner along TiongBahruRd-TiongPohRd-EngHoonSt to pick up 2almond croissants@TiongBahruBakery (my favourite croissant place) to nibble on the way towards Chinatown via OutramRd. Appreciations to PaulineTay (Nparks) for providing the names of these lovely flora.

Up to Pearl’sHillCityPark from OutramRd to sadly discover this lovely big tree is no longer and again upset to see another gone on the way down towards Chinatown. Wished that these were heritage trees too! Fond memories from here when&where the former condo block was and when I used to walk up&down here picking the red SagaSeeds on my way.

https://amylamsg.com/2013/12/31/pearl-bank-apts-pearl-hill/

Detour up 195PearlHillTerrace and down to People’sParkComplex&MeiHeongYuen(TempleSt),  too crowded to stop there, but did point out as we passed by some of YYC’s wall murals. Finally a break@MaxwellMarket where there were no crowds or lines for a refreshing cold fresh sugarcane juice.

MaxwellMarket-MaxwellRd-RobinsonRd-RafflesPlace-FullertonHotel.

Today the cakes@FullertonHotel did not tempt me even after ~10kwalk! Bus196 directly back to my 4-walls for a welcoming shower and an early night. H&H also found a direct bus back to where they need to go. Appreciations to these young ppl who are such a spot to walk with me.

Mon: after a good 8+hrs sleep and with a good rest today to update blog&pix, will be ready seize more moments ahead!

The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time – Mark Twain

Kovan

25 Mar 2021 – Bougainvillea Garden@ECPk

Mon: The Owkang Chicken Sellers@Kovan – appreciations&credits to JeromeLim, my favourite SIN blogger The Long and Winding Road for his posting:

https://thelongnwindingroad.wordpress.com/2019/06/08/the-owkang-chicken-sellers/ 

Found the newer edition, 2019 BusGuide@Popular – the old one I have from 2015 is missing some of the new routes and have been wanting to get the newer edition for some time! This guard for the gas stove will come in handy when I have the front door+kitchen window open at the same time when cooking!

Stars of Kovan – newly designed condos without any sharp corners! (not good for fengshui according to some ppl), but with various eateries&services on the ground-level.

Must try this WaWa Seafood someday, ie if they are still here on my next visit!

Appreciations to DaisyC for yummy BakChorMee/MeePok 肉脞麵 a staple food commonly found in SIN-HawkerCentres. Tasting my way around the island! figuring which will be amongst my favourites!! Tkx for guiding me thru’ her hood, another unfamiliar area for me to wander about!

Tue23Mar: A Tribute And In Memory of Singapore’s First Prime Minister Mr. LEE Kuan Yew (1923-2015) – the only politician who has gained my total admiration&respect. 6yrs ago – Singapore Matters remembers our founding father, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Time… does not lessen our gratitude.

https://amylamsg.com/2015/03/23/tribute-to-mr-lee-kuan-yew/

Today’s grocery at Giant@MarineT-SenSavS$1.10. Dinner@Jo’s who will be 84 end of this month and just got her 1st vaccine yesterday without any side-effects so far. 

Wed: delighted to discover MrCoconut@PP, a new drink&dessert joint in my hood. https://mrcoconut.sg/full-website/ Have been told that this fresh refreshing CoconutWater (not to be confused with CoconutMilk) is cooling!! (a Chinese myth??), but then at S$4.60per cup, can only afford to drink one of my favourites once in a while. The SnowBallCoconut is another one that I like, also at the same price and would would get it for an occasion treat when grocery shopping@Tampines’Giant. CoconutWater and not juice! but then coconut is a nut, not a fruit.

Thu: ~5k walk on the ECPk to check out the blooms@Bougainvillea Gardens – strange that the taller ones are in full bloom but not the shorter ones?? Was hoping to see them all in blooms, so will probably have to return to see the others in bloom.

Looking left towards the airport, across to the Indonesian islands and right towards the CBD on this serene overcast morning. Strange, but quiet&peaceful to hardly hear&see any flights landing&taking off!

Standing tall amongst magnificent trees, taking time to enjoy the moment from their tops to their roots.

Area-F is the only section I know of where bus36, the only bus that stops so close by the ECP-PCN. Decided to take the bus back to not miss the blooms on the highway this year. When travel was more at ease, this will be around the time I fly off and would usually admire these blooms on the way to the airport!

A flower blossoms for its own joy (and so should we… hahaha) – Oscar Wilde 

City Square Mall 2021

21 Mar 2021 – Yip Yew Chong’s Works

Fri: TGIF on this WorldSleepDay! and a wonderful weekend to all. 

Good soup&salad, Malay-style, SotoAyam, chicken-soup (without noddles), Achar, pickled veg+1Begedil, potato patty lunch ($5.80)@HJH-MaimunahMini, CitySqMall/FoodRepublic, one of the food courts which is tastefully painted with the old heritage shophouses

Other reasons for me to be there: DonDonDonki&Daiso – the DDDDs, like IKEA, have seldom got out of these stores empty-handed!

These caught my eyes while excising by walking around all the 5levels+2basements, and no, would not want any of them.

AIRZONE-Indoor-Atrium-Net-Playground suspended over 3-storeys has been here for some years. Have always wanted to try it out whenever I here, but forgot about it last year when Linn+#2&May+#6 were visiting – hopefully their next visit.

Thank you Helen for introducing me to this hair-dresser, TheRoots@EliasMall (PasirRis), 1st time wondering in this hood – buses 31&68 and 1+hr to get up there, but am satisfied with the cut. Most hair dressers would not even attempt to give me this short style cut on the back, even when I request for it!

Delightful alfresco dinning on yummy Malay food, drinks and 

in good cheerful company+dark&rich chocolate ice-cream for dessert, all costing less than S$20pp. Lucky me – Malay food twice in a week! 

Sat: In0850hrs-Out0930hrs@MPCC less than 5mins from where I live crossing the overhead-bridge on StillRd, 2nd shot against COVID19, Pfizer vaccine done – one of the best vaccinations experienced so far, did not even feel the slightest sting when the needle went in! Will let y’all know if I am still alive in a fortnight’s time!! Talking it easy for the day, ie snoozing&watching movies!!!

Happy Spring Equinox – goodbye Winter, hello Spring! Beautiful memories of the daffodils from Ireland and blåveis from Norway – what are the chances that I will ever see such lovely spring, the real thing again?? Thank goodness for memories&imagination – pix downloaded.

Sun: was thrilled to receive this, #3 has not been back to SIN since he was born here, must have drawn this from his mother’s&sis’s pix during their 2020 visit or maybe being born here, he has some idea! Painted a small section of the small narrow gutter outside in the common area as it was flaking&peeling, quite an eyesore for my sight! Not the exact same colour, but still better (I think) than what it was, forgot to take a before shot.

Do enjoy many of YipYewChong’s works and the below documentary features SIN-Chinese from various dialect groups and their cultures. Here you can catch a glimpse of him bringing TV host DannyYeo to his studio to view the paintings 年晚,行清,烧衣, 中秋夜, 冬至 and 戏院横街湿巴刹 Also a walking tour of his ChinatownMurals, as well talked about his 2012 trip to his ancestral village in China’s Guandong province. E.

Well done YYC, hope that he will someday publish his works, if not already done? Pix downloaded.

https://www.mewatch.sg/watch/We-Came-This-Far-E2-The-Teochew-And-Cantonese-205220

The arm is no longer sore and hope that it will be the only side-effect from this 2nd vaccine! Appreciations for dinner to Les&Ivy to mark their 51stAnniversary – my contribution, a presentation of local dessert tray of kuehs. The most common flavouring ingredients for MalayKuehs are grated coconut (plain or flavoured), coconut cream (thick or thin), Pandan (screwpine) leaf and GulaMelaka (palm sugar, fresh or aged).

OndeOndePandan infused dough balls covered with grated coconut, commonly green color with GulaMelaka filling; LapisSagu-multi coloured layers; OngoiUbi-Tapioca with grated coconut; KuehTalam-Pandan&CoconutCream – these are a few of my favourites from BengawanSolo.

St Patrick’s Day 2021

18 Mar 2021: Happy 47Bday To My First-Born

Tue: Chaco@CC sales S$75, time to get a new pair for nephew Clem as he has worn out the last sale’s pair! Also to check out these lovely photo books by SengHock

Some of these lovely tree pix from his collection – now updated&inserted in my AmazingTrees posting.

Trees are sanctuaries. Whoever knows how to speak to them, whoever knows how to listen to them, can learn the truth. They do not preach learning and precepts, they preach, undeterred by particulars, the ancient law of life ― Herman Hesse

Tkx for Calvin for dinner from Jaggi’s Punjabi/NorthernIndian cuisine in good company of Helen, SengHock & Iyas.

Wed: La Feile Padraig Happy St Patrick’s Day to all celebrating. Will always try to attend the parade whenever possible. 1st parade attended (pix downloaded) in Dublin/Ireland 1966 and the last one (so far), in HI/US 2019. Legends associated with St Patrick – he miraculously drove all the snakes of Ireland into the sea, thus one of my favourite saints, hahaha! He is said to have used the three leaflets of the shamrock to explain the concept of the HolyTrinity.

Many of my favourite writers are Irish and it will be a never-ending to list them with their quotes, thus an Irish blessing to all.

Thu: 47yrs ago, there were concerns, hoping that my contractions did not start on St Patrick’s Day. Rotunda Hospital was at the other end of O’ConnellSt where the parade was held. Two above pix downloaded with a route-map for the present day parade.

Mon18Mar1974-0430hrs a bundle of joy, Linn, my 1st born was welcomed in Dublin/Ireland when I was 24. Anyone who has been thru’ a natural childbirth for their 1st born will always remember that feeling of becoming a mother – lost my voice for a few days after she was born! For real, looking at the old pix now and remembering why there was a scarf around the neck. Pix of her from Dublin/Ireland 1974+pix from SIN 2020. 

https://amylamsg.com/2010/03/18/happy-birthday-linn/

Today she is still a bundle of joy with 5children and makes me a proud mother&grandmother.  Having children has changed me in the best possible way. Was an OK person before having children but I know that I am a different person now, and hopefully better because of L&M. Many moons ago, when asked what was my most difficult challenge in life? My reply was&still is: 1-raising children, 2-completing the AT Thru’Hike, and will never want to trade them for anything else.

Appreciations to sis Jo for dinner, she makes a delicious MeeSiam. Belated 50thBday (9Mar) celebration&cake for Sue