Chinatown - Sago Lane

To start the exploration of Sago Lane in Chinatown during this period of the Mid-Autumn festival, I loaded up on carbohydrates at a small restaurant that is famed for its Ipoh Hor Fun. With mushrooms it is $3 more. So just order the serving with chicken only because the mushrooms are not worth that much.

Outside a medical hall where a Chinese physician provides treatment for aches and pains for people of all ages, I saw this lady with this bag of petals from the flowers of the Blue Pea Vine. She told me that she used them as a dye for nonya kueh. Pomelos appear in such abundance only around this time of the year. The best ones come from Malaysia in a town near Ipoh. Visitors from another rich culture taking in the sights and sounds of Chinatown..
Kids love to see these spinning wheels. I like them for the cheer they bring whenever the wind blows. Ladies who can bargain can get a good deal for these necklaces and go home very satisfied with their purchases because something similar would cost a lot more in our departmental stores.
Lanterns made of plastic may reduce the chances of their being fire hazards. Actually they are bad for the environment.
More plastic! The traditional ones made of cellophane paper and bamboo strips are more attractive and friendlier to the environment. Paper ones are best because when destroyed, they are returned to the earth harmlessly. Sago Lane years ago was a far cry from what it is today. Tourists then would go there for the mobid reason of looking at the 'death houses' where old people go there to wait out their time on earth. (Shudder). Today, tourists buy souvenirs and stroll through the stalls on one side and on the other side, shops selling traditional cakes and biscuits, food and drinks and for now, pomelos.Seedless pomeloes - Nature must have been tampered with.
I thought they sell plastic toy footballs this way. Pomelo sellers are rather creative in displaying their goods. Fridge magnets - more plastic. They are cheap but do you need them?
Sunglasses for the trendy on a budget.
Vivacious animal from the Chinese horoscope.
Here's another one. Were you born in the year of the Rooster?
This is my favourite type of roadside stall. You can find almost anything you want here - nail clippers, safety pins, combs, pots and pans. It is more fun to browse here than in the shopping centre.
Here's a secret I will share: I am scared of photographing strangers in the street though they make great subjects sometimes. A long time ago when I was just a student, I went to Chinatown on a photo club outing and got scolded by a fiery old woman who was selling fish. She threatened to throw water at me if I went near her and pointed a camera at her again. In those days, my skin was not as thick as that of a pomelo and her words had a lasting effect on me. This explains why I always 1. shoot from a distance 2. pretend to be photographing something else. 3. Angle my camera at waist level to steal shots of people I find interesting. 4. Find creative ways to escape detection by my chosen targets.
I only noticed this sign when an American lady posed for a picture beneath it. She was so amused. Luckily the restaurant people did not detain her and put her in their soup.
Finally, a Chinatown old man's two-wheeler. I need four wheels to get home.

The End

The Civic District in SIngapore

On a Saturday afternoon, the place looks very different than it usually is on a typical weekday. Walking from the City Hall train station to the Ancient Civilisations Museum in the humid weather was compensated by the elegant architecture of the old colonial buildings in the area and the colourful shophouses over at Boat Quay on the opposite side of the Singapore River. The Ancient Civilisations Museum.Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of Singapore chatting with a modern day construction worker. "So, where are you from in 21st century Singapore?"
"Your great-grandfather would not recognise Singapore River if he were here today." Instead of warehouses and godowns, these buildings lining the river are now restaurants and pubs. Where numerous bumboats ply the river carrying goods from overseas, there are now river-boat cruises for tourists and locals on family outings.
Pillar of information on the 'Beauty in Asia - 200 BCE to Today" Exhibition at the Ancient Civilisations Museum.

Uma or Parvati, the wife of Shiva was the epitome of beauty in the 11th Century.In the 21st Century, beauty is something that was probably unimaginable during Uma's time.
Before stepping into the museum, you can take in another aspect of what is beautiful - architecture. They don't make buildings with designs like these anymore.

Tall, taller, tallest - in our race to be the best we soar towards the sky and in the process become flat and one-dimensional in character.

In the past, all efforts in building were channelled towards creating solid works that speak of craftsmanship and intensity rather than speed in building and utilitarian features. One Fullerton, formerly the General Post Office and now a posh hotel with Cavenagh Bridge in the foreground.
Victoria Memorial Hall where classical performances such as those of Symphony Orchestras and Operas were usually held.

Bridges, such as Anderson Bridge above that were constructed during colonial days were funcitonal as well as decorative. Today's bridges serve solely cars - the wider the better, do not bother with the frills for no one has time to admire them while zipping or crawling to and from work.
A memorial for 'Our Glorious Dead' at the old esplanade where I went frequently as a child especially when relatives from Malaysia came visiting.
The fountain of my childhood, not quite the same but still memories return.
Encounters that brightened up the day. An open-top bus for tourists to enjoy the Civic District.
A 'Duck Tour' that brings you from land to sea.
We think of everything, don't we? A city of possibilities, that's our Singapore.

Danish Seamen's Church

Driving down Mt Faber I caught sight of this cheerful looking building and discovered that it is the Danish Seamen's Church.Now that I have scrutinised the building, I am reminded of this one which is our Central Fire Station.

Singapore's architecture is rich in surprises.

You look like me

East and West. These buildings are near the extreme ends of roads that connect the people in Jurong and the people in East Coast near to the Changi International Airport.

From North Bridge to South Bridge Road

Looking up at the impressive National Library building at North Bridge Road.
The traffic light has not turned green, another shot of the building.
Walking towards Bugis Junction. Old buildings given a new coat of paint.
It was my dream that Singapore could be entirely air-conditioned like Bugis Junction is.
South Bridge Road - When did this new building appear? The Ministry of Information and the Arts from my car while waiting for the traffic lights to change.
Each building is special in its architecture.
Before turning into the tunnel leading to the Ayer Rajah Expressway.

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum

This is the Temple that contains a Buddha relic and it was officially open on Vesak Day on 31 May 2007. It is located in Chinatown at Sago Lane.
Look at the very intricate carving of dragons on the plaque above the main door.The ferocious image wards off evil. About 83 Japanese temple bells are hung on the roofs of this temple and each has a unique chime. What beautiful music will pervade the air when the wind blows.
Right at the top of the temple is this golden pagoda-like structure on top of which is a crystal ball. Crystal balls like these radiate positive energy from the roof of the temple.

At the roof level of the temple which is 5-storey high, there are many lovely orchids surrounding the giant prayer wheel that was caste by a Japanese master.
A Japanese-style temple in Chinatown.