Esplanade

Before there was Marina Bay Sands and the Helix Bridge, there was the Esplanade - where arts and theatre flourished under the twin durian-shaped roofs that Singaporeans either love or love to hate. It has been months since I went there for a musical event or an art exhibition. Although there were a few exhibitions nearing the tail end of their display period, I was glad to have seen this particular one dedicated to the victims of the recent horrendous Earthquake in Japan.

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Read the details of this exhibit by Japanese artist Coco-Z.

I just love the graceful branches done in calligraphic style.

A unique place to extend the exhibit - a skylight.

Another exhibit where the artist fused Peranakan subject matter with a Mediterranean approach. Wall tiles given a western treatment - interesting!

Earth Day - lights out in the city

When the lights were supposed to have gone out between 8.30pm and 9.30pm and we were supposed to be in deep contemplation about the state of the earth and our existence in the darkness for an hour, where did most people go? For those who heeded the call to switch of all the lights in the house for that one hour (like us) we headed towards Vivocity hoping to have a quick meal and then get into the cinema. We went as far as touring the car park in Vivocity before making a quick exit because the carpark was full to the brim. So all Singaporeans had the same idea - off the lights and home and head out to the malls. We decided to have dinner at Makansutra at the esplanade where a concert was held in celebration of Earth Day. These are the pictures taken there.

The IR project could not afford to switch off its lights.

The Esplanade concert took place during the designated Earth Day hours but when we got there after 9.30pm the lights came back on again.

Makansutra was blazing with lights to attract the foodies. We had a lovely meal there - Roti John, Kambing soup, Roti prata, Hokkien noodle, prawn omelette...count the calories.

Eh Uncle, how much to go to Mars?

Enough light to show off the colours on the bay.

Subdued lighting still.

Drawing with light.

Shoes I won't wear.

Cool carpark. No sweat parking here because it was around $5 per entry, more expensive than a plate of Hokkien mee at Makansutra.

How I think Earth Day should be celebrated: We should stay at home with all the lights off. We should sit around a candlelight and talk to each other. We should not drive around in our cars during that hour because we are doing worse by burning petrol and emitting carbon monoxide into the air. On the whole, I think the lights-off hour gave businesses a boost if it had achieved nothing else because the majority of Singaporeans were out shopping, eating and going to the cinema.

F1 fever is on.

Sunday night, the IR builders at work round the clock.

A visit to the Esplanade to discover that I have not been there for a long, long time. A new stage structure that glows in the night that allows our local talents to flourish.

And the Makansutra food place. The Lor Mee was nice. The ice-kaching was a let down because the ice was rough and the miserable amount of atap chee and red beans made me wonder how the stall got into Makansutra's list at all.
Seats were available because it was almost ten o'clock.

The F1 racing track in front of City Hall and St Andrew's Cathedral in the daytime about two weeks ago. What is it really going to be like when the track and lights are ready and when the Formula 1 cars roar around our city circuit in the night? Scroll down to see how I will find out.



Tickets to the F1 - To go or not to go?