Then Brown, Cony and friends should be of no stranger to you.
McDonald's is collaborating with LINE to bring you your favorite LINE characters!
The set of five plushie will be made available in stores every Monday beginning 05 January 2015 at 11am. Each plush is priced at $4.90 with purchase of any EVM (Extra Value Meal™).
For the next 5 weeks, one design will be released every Monday at 11am:
Cony (from 05 Jan)
Sally (from 12 Jan)
Cony (from 19 Jan)
Moon (from 26 Jan)
Leonard (from 02 February)
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CONY
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Sally
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Brown
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Moon
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Leonard
Walk-in customers are allowed to buy a maximum of FOUR plush collectible per store visit.
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On the 6th week on 09 February 2015, there will be a "Forever Love Special Edition Box" consisting of two characters (Brown X Cony) specially created for Valentine's Day.
*Do take note that you have to add McDonald's Singapore on LINE to purchase this set (you will be required to show them the app on your phone).
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I have added them since last December and gotten quite a few free Vanilla cones!
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To save yourself the hassle of queuing at McDonald's every week, you can order the entire McDonald's X LINE Plush Collectibles set through this website.
One set is priced at $70 and comes with five individually boxed McDonald's X LINE Plush Collectibles housed in a protective shipment box and five $5 EVM vouchers (inclusive of Speedpost delivery fee OR POPStation self-collection).
Do take note that the "Forever Love Special Edition Box" is NOT INCLUDED in the online sale.
This set is available exclusively at the stores from 11am at $19.80 with the purchase of each Extra Value Meal™.
Each customer is only allowed to buy up to 3 sets per online transaction.
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There are two delivery options which is either by SPEEDPOST delivering to your residence or self-collect at a SingPost POPStation near you.
For locations of POPStations, please refer to this website.
McDonald's X LINE Plush collectibles are available with the purchase of an Extra Value Meal™ at McDonald’s® stores (excluding KK Hospital, Tampines Interchange Kiosk, Self-Ordering Kiosks, Drive-Thrus and through McDelivery®.
Cafe@Heart is located on the second level of the new National Heart Centre building opposite SGH Block 4.
I was there with Mum for her blood test and having fasted since the previous night, she was extremely hungry after done with the test. The cafe was just diagonally opposite from the clinic so we made our way there for a light breakfast.
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Since it is suppose to be a light breakfast, I ordered two Char Siew Pau with a cup of kopi o siew dai (black coffee with less sugar) for SGD2 and added on a Siew Mai for SGD0.80 to share.
The coffee is thick and aromatic and I quite like it.
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I love Char Siew Pau but good, tasty ones are not always easy to find. This Char Siew filling is moist and sweet but not to the point of cloying. I would say it's decent with the flavors quite balanced. It may not be the best out there but it is definitely a cut above the rest.
Siew Mai is not something I usually eat because I could not bear with the taste of the pork marinade. The one here is unexpectedly ok without the overkill smell that puts me off.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.I flipped over the paper beneath the pau, wanting to check the brand (whether is it from Kong Guan, Teck Kee Tanglin Pau, Tiong Bahru Pau, etc) but was surprised to see the halal logo instead.
This could only mean that the Char Siew Pau is not made of pork but chicken and yet both of us could not discern the difference at all!
Now it make sense why I was able to eat the Siew Mai without having the jelat feeling.
Do you know where else sells this halal Char Siew Pau from Nury Dian Xin Delight Pte Ltd? I certainly do not mind having it again.
Just when we were about to be done with breakfast, we saw the next table having Kuih Lopes.
It has been years since we last had this as it was not sold at the Malay stalls around where I stayed.
Kuih Lopis is basically glutinous rice cooked in pandan (screwpine leaves) juice, coated with salted coconut shavings and drizzled with gula melaka.
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Kuih Lopes (SGD1 each)
The glutinous rice is a little hard to the bite which I suspected to be leftovers from the previous day sale but all is forgiven because the excitement of having something which I have not had had in a long time makes up for it.
I have been toying with the idea of making my own biological cum chemical filter for a long time. I am using a overhead filter but it is kind of small to add in any other media after putting in the filtration wool.
Since my overhead filter is only fulfilling the mechanical aspect of the filtration system, this project will enhance the biological and chemical step.
There are three components to the filtration system:
- Mechanical
- Biological
- Chemical
MECHANICAL - This is the first step in the filtration of fish keeping. Physical debris such as fish waste, uneaten food and decaying plant matter will be sucked in by the filter/powerhead. The aquarium water will then return to the tank while the debris will be left behind on the filtration wool which can be easily removed for cleaning.
BIOLOGICAL - As ammonia and oxygenated water passes through the media (eg. ceramic rings, bio-balls, etc), a colony of beneficial bacteria starts multiplying itself on the surface area. These bacteria breaks down the ammonia into nitrite and nitrate then further into harmless nitrogen.
Ammonia in high concentrations is toxic to fish. Google "Nitrogen Cycle" to learn more.
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CHEMICAL- Activated-Carbon removes many harmful elements from your aquarium such as copper, chlorine, dissolved proteins, and carbohydrates. It also helps to absorb odors and make the water clear.
After watching a few videos on youtube, I thought that the DIY is quite doable but all the tutorials require a certain media called K1 (the surface area allows the good bacteria to multiply on them).
I do not know whether it is available here in Singapore since the tutorials are all overseas-based. I decided to pay Qianhu fish farm a visit but all they had were ceramic rings and activated-carbon. They have bio-balls too but those would not fit into the mouth of the water bottle (which is required in this project).
I have seen some tutorials using straws cut into shorter length instead. I wonder is it okay to use straws in place of K1?
Anyway, to start building your own biological/chemical filter, here are the things you will need:
- A mineral water bottle - Soldering Iron (to make the holes) - Airline Tubing - Cable ties - K1/Ceramic Rings (or any other media you can find that can fit into the mouth of the bottle)
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A mineral water bottle
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I used the soldering iron to make four holes on the cap
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Make another hole on the neck for the airline to go in. Make sure the hole is slightly smaller than the airline so it will not slip out easily.
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Make another few holes at the bottom of the mineral water bottle
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Insert the airline a few cm into the hole on the neck
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Secure the remaining airline and suction caps to the bottle with cable ties
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Since I cannot find K1 or its substitute yet, I bought activated carbon and turn this project into a chemical filter instead.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view. I removed the activated carbon from their mesh bag and screwed the mesh bag under the cap to prevent the activated carbon from falling out through the holes in the cap when the mineral water bottle is inverted in the tank
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This is how the completed bottle looked like. The bottle will be turned upside down and suctioned to the side of the tank.
As the airline starts bubbling, water will be suck in through the holes in the cap. The oxygenated water will rise through the activated carbon and exit through the holes on top
Last Sunday, I spend my birthday at the Singapore Zoo and River Safari for the second consecutive year ever since I found out that Singaporeans enter WRS (Wildlife Reserves Singapore) parks for free on their birthdays.
I arrived at the Zoo bright and early that morning to collect my complimentary tickets from the ticketing booth.
After getting my tickets, I head straight for the River Safari because I wanted to see the Manatees and Araipaima first.
While most people visiting the River Safari naturally turn left towards Rivers Of The World, I head for the opposite direction towards the Amazon Flooded Forest where the Manatees and Araipaima are.
The River Safari is designed in a loop so visitors can just go clockwise (or anti-clockwise like I did) around the park. The Rivers Of The World is at the beginning of the loop while the Amazon Flooded Forest is at the end of it. Since the majority of the crowd are at the other side, I have the Amazon Flooded Forest all to myself!
I make myself comfortable and let my senses take in the wonders of the Amazon. Isn't it amazing how watching the Manatees swim actually helps one to forget his troubles momentarily?
Leaving the Amazon Forest, I came to the next exhibit - the Giant Panda Forest.
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I think the Pandas had just woken up so they were not in the best of mood. Isn't that the same with us humans? I decided to come back again in a while when they are feeling less grouchy. In the meantime, I went to Mama Panda Kitchen to get my complimentary birthday ice cream. Isn't it nice of WRS to grant free entry and ice cream?
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My favorite Walls Paddle Pop Rainbow ice cream since childhood!
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So... yes. I succumbed to a 600ml bottled water for $2
It was almost time for the Zoo's animal shows so I left River Safari for the Zoo next door. Do let the staff know if you are coming back so they could stamp a chop on your arm for re-entry).
I wanted to enjoy my ice cream while watching Inuka at the Frozen Tundra but it was getting way too rowdy for comfort so I left after I am done with my dessert. I walked past the Treetops Trail where the False Gavial were swimming under the very bridge I was walking on when I heard someone shouting. It turns out to be the crocodile's feeding time and the keeper is calling out to them.
I only had a brief tour of the zoo and did not managed to see all the animals because I do not want to end up with a cramp at the end of the day like the previous year.
It is my first time spending an entire day at the zoo from the time they opened at 8.30am till they closed for the day at 6pm however, my day is far from over.
This year, I decided to visit the Night Safari - the world's first nocturnal zoo - for the very first time even though they were officially opened 21 years ago in 1994.
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My complimentary coconut Potong ice cream from Night Safari's Ulu Ulu Restaurant
There are four main things that you can do here:
1) Take the Night Tram
The night tram takes visitors on a 40 minutes ride around the nocturnal zoo. Your journey will be accompanied by an experienced guide giving live commentary about the animals that you are about to see. Most of the animals are almost within an arm's reach but you will repeatedly be reminded to keep your limbs to yourselves. Dangerous animals, on the other hand, are kept behind moats.
The tram ride is included in the ticket price.
2) Watch the Creatures of the Night Show
Learn about the importance of the three "R"s from the small-clawed Otters, the Binturong with a keen sense of smell and Maggie the "disappearing" snake. The amphitheatre is almost half the size of the one from the Zoo so be there early to get a seat.
3) Watch the Thumbuakar Performance
Be enthralled by the fantastic performance of the fire-breathing "tribesmen" that is sure to take your breathe away. Again, arrive early to get a good spot.
4) Walking Trails
There are four walking trails to explore on foot with each trail lasting about 20 minutes which is not accessible by the tram route. They are:
- Fishing Cat Trail
- Leopard Trail
- Wallaby Trail
- East Lodge Trail
I initially wanted to watch the 6.45pm Thumbuakar Performance but changed my mind when I saw the queue at the tram station getting longer. I decided to join the queue for the tram instead of watching the show. There are two reasons for this decision: isn't it better to see the animals while there is still lights; and to watch a fire-breathing show after dark?
The queue is horrendously long but the moment the tram ride begins, the queue starts to move very fast. I guess that's because a tram can sit many people at one go and once a tram fills up, another one comes along to pick up the next group of visitors.
Indeed, for the first few minutes, there are still some daylight left to see the animals but very soon, there was barely any visible lights left. I was able to film the beginning of the ride but I gave up after we were plunged into darkness... like this.
I totally gave up taking any more videos and just sit back to enjoy the rest of my ride. Being a nocturnal zoo, the lighting is made to resemble that of the moonlight so there is just enough light to see the animals. As excessive lights might agitate or even blind the animals, flash photography is strictly prohibited. Hence, taking photos and videos would be a challenge due to the low light conditions.
Being on a Safari tram ride for the first time, the feeling is quite thrilling but I feel that people with night blindness or astigmatism (me!) will find it a little difficult to see in the dark. Also, the tram moved off quite fast so we could not really observe the animals in details.
We returned to the tram station after 40 minutes and I was just in time for the 8pm Thumbuakar Performance. I even have time to visit the loo before the show starts.
After the exciting fire-breathing show, I quickened my pace to the Amphitheatre for the 8.30pm "Creatures of the Night" show. You have to hurry as the amphitheatre is very small. Once the seats filled up, you may have to wait for the next show (and they only have three shows per night). Before the show begins, the host used four different languages to advise the audience from using their camera flash which I feel is very impressive.
*Only on Fridays, Saturdays and Eve of Public Holidays
In summary, my recommendation is as follows:
1) Skip the first show (6.45pm) of the Thumbuakar Performance (11 min) and go queue for the first tram ride. Do not bother about taking photos or video. Just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. 2) The tram ride (40 min) will return to the station and you will be just in time for the second show (8pm) of the Thumbuakar Performance. 3) Head to the Amphitheatre for the 8.30pm "Creatures of the Night Show" show (20 min). 4) You now have the rest of the night (Night Safari closes at midnight) to explore the walking trails!
As I have spent the entire day at the Singapore Zoo and River Safari earlier, I am too tired for the Walking Trails. Maybe I'll leave that for next year!
Grave news shook the world on the wee morning of March 23rd 2015.
Founding father of Singapore - Mr Lee Kuan Yew - passed away peacefully at 3.18am. He was warded at the ICU of Singapore General Hospital on February 05 for severe pneumonia where he remained critically ill. He was 91.
For the past few days, the PMO (Prime Minister's Office) has been updating Mr Lee's deteriorating health status daily. Everyone knew what is to come after that but still, I was shaken when the inevitable happened.
I thought I would remain indifferent to his death but I was dead wrong. I may not see eye to eye with all his decisions or agree with the policies he make but the contributions and sacrifices he has put into our nation building is undeniable. We have to give him credit for putting Singapore on the world map.
Nobody is perfect but he did what he thought he had to do. And for that, I am grateful.
I went to two of the community tribute sites to pay my respects.
From 23rd March onwards, residents can pay their tributes to Mr Lee Kuan Yew at 10 Community Tribute Sites:
1. Ang Mo Kio Town Centre, Central Stage between 709 and 712 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8 2. Bedok Town Centre Open space (In front of 209 New Upper Changi Road Singapore 460209, outside Sheng Siong Supermarket)
3. Hard Court (opposite Choa Chu Kang MRT Station), Choa Chu Kang Loop Singapore 680355 4. Canopy beside Jurong Regional Library (J Link), Jurong East Central 1 Singapore 609731 5. Tanjong Pagar Community Club, 101 Cantonment Road Singapore 089774 6. Tampines Community Plaza (in front of Tampines One Mall), 10 Tampines Central 1 Singapore 529536 7. Toa Payoh Central Community Club, 93 Toa Payoh Central Singapore 319194 8. Sengkang Community Hub (Hardcourt), 2 Sengkang Square Singapore 545025 9. Hong Lim Park, next to Telok Ayer Hong Lim Green Community Centre 10. People’s Association Headquarters, 9 King George’s Avenue Singapore 208581
These community sites will be opened from 10am till 8pm.
Today is a day unlike any other for Singapore as we bid farewell to our Founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew.
The past week has not been easy for Singaporeans as they come to grips with the death of Mr Lee since news of his demise broke on early Monday (March 23) morning.
A private two-days family wake was held at Sri Temasek where President Tony Tan Keng Yam, the Sultan of Brunei and Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing were among the visitors on the first day.
On Wednesday (March 25) morning, Mr Lee's casket was conveyed by Gun Carriage to the Parliament House for a lie in state until Sunday (March 29). Thousands have stood in lines stretching over a few kilometers from the Parliament House just waiting to pay their last respects even though it meant a eight to ten hours wait.
The State Funeral will be held today (Sunday, March 29).
At about 12.30pm, the Coffin Bearer Party, comprising of eight officers from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Police, will enter the Parliament House to carry the casket bearing the body of Lee Kuan Yew atop a Gun Carriage pulled by an open-topped ceremonial land rover.
The Gun Carriage will then embark for the UCC (University Cultural Centre) at the National University of Singapore while passing several landmarks associated with Mr Lee's 60-year political career. The landmarks included Old Parliament House, City Hall, the Padang, NTUC Centre, Singapore Conference Hall and heartland areas, covering a total distance of 15.4km.
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The route
Those who have failed to pay their tribute during the public wake at Parliament House now have the last chance to bid their farewell when the cortege passes them en-route to the UCC where the funeral service will be held.
World leaders and dignitaries will gather in Singapore on Sunday (March 29) to attend the State Funeral.
First Secretary of State & Leader of the House of Commons William Hague
US
Former President Bill Clinton
Former National Security Advisor Tom Donilon
Vietnam
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung
On the conclusion of the funeral service, the late Mr Lee will make his final journey to Mandai Crematorium where he will be cremated in a private service.
Rest in peace, Mr Lee.
*The State Funeral procession will be telecast “live” on national television and online at www.rememberingleekuanyew.sg.
*This review is from a combination of two different visits.
Tanglin Halt Western Food is run by Mr Ng and his wife for the last 38 years.
Located just next to the popular Chai Ho Satay, this western food stall also happens to be one of the stalls with a perpetual queue at Clementi Central.
I mean, where else can you find Fish & Chips, Pork Chop, Chicken Chop for $4.50 and Beef Steak for $5.50?
Health freaks who avoid western food would be happy to know that since joining the Healthier Hawker Program in July last year, the stall owner has switched to healthier alternatives like oil with unsaturated fat and salt containing lesser sodium than regular salt.
Indeed, the thick-cut fries that came with my Chicken Cutlet on my first visit were lightly salted just the way I like without being overly salty.
However, the portion of the other two sides (baked beans and coleslaw) is quite small - about a tablespoon of each.
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Chicken Cutlet $4.50
The two pieces of fried breaded chicken were tender and juicy but it might taste just a little bland. I believe not many Chicken Cutlets come with sauce but the one here is drizzled with a tomato-based sauce which is a secret recipe created by Mr Ng.
If you see closely, the coleslaw is just that few chunks near the edge of the plate. The rest of the white part is just the liquid. I guess it is not even a teaspoon!
All in all, I would say Tanglin Halt Western Food serves passable western food at a affordable price. They just need to standardize the portion size of their side dish which is a disappointment.
If you do not mind having bland food, this would be for you.
This memorial exhibition at the National Museum of Singapore chronicles the life and political career of Singapore's first Prime Minister and founding father Lee Kuan Yew. It also highlights the ideals and convictions that shaped Mr Lee and his generation of leaders.
Through a selection of photographic images and audiovisual recordings, as well as artefacts from the National Collection, the exhibition begins with Mr Lee's formative years as a law student at Cambridge and his early involvement in the anti-colonial struggle.
It also traces his political career from the formation of the People's Action Party, through his Prime Ministership, to his final years of service as Senior Minister and Minister Mentor.
Mr Lee's political biography is inextricably linked to Singapore's own journey from British colony to merger with Malaysia to Separation and independence. This exhibition chronicles that journey and pays tribute to his contributions.
This exhibition will enable visitors to remember and reflect on the solid foundation that he built for Singapore.
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In the 1970s, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew delivered his annual National Day Rally speech at the National Theatre from this Rosewood Rostrum.
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The red Ministerial Box used by Mr Lee Kuan Yew while he was in political office. Mr Lee had used it to carry and store materials about issues that he was working on. He had used the box right up to the day before he was hospitalized. The red box, together with other personal objects and parts of the memorial exhibition will be incorporated into their new permanent galleries when they are open in September this year.
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The barrister wig Mr Lee and his wife, Madam Kwa Geok Choo bought in 1949 when they were admitted to the Bar.
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The Rolex Oyster Perpetual watch presented to him by the Singapore Union of Postal and Telecommunications Workers on 11 April 1953 after he had successfully represented the union in an arbitration over a wage dispute. Eventually, nearly 1000 clerks received 28 months' back pay.
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Dated September 26, 1958, Mr Lee had sent a telegram for the family while in Sibu, Sarawak. It simply read, "ARRIVING TODAY BATTLESHIP - LEEKUANYEW". In a Facebook post on Mon (April 6), Prime Minister Lee related that Mr Lee had wanted to have 'steam boat' for dinner that evening, but used 'battleship' instead to save telegram word costs.
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A letter from Mr Lee's employer John Laycock, telling him not to take on any more wage dispute cases as he was spending too much time on these “lengthy arbitrations”.
This glass master plate was used for printing leaflets for Mr Lee's campaign as a People's Action Party (PAP) candidate in the 1955 General Elections. The leaflet notes the polling date of 2 April 1955, and declares his support for Independence and workers's rights.
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This exhibition is held at the Glass Atrium, Level 2, National Museum of Singapore from 10am to 8pm daily (until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays). The memorial exhibition which was scheduled to end on April 26, has been extended to May 24 due to overwhelming response.
Admission is free.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SINGAPORE 93 Stamford Road Singapore 178897
After visiting the Lee Kuan Yew memorial exhibition on level 2 of the National Museum, I proceeded to the basement to visit another exhibition - Singapura: 700 Years.
History is one of my favorite subject in school so how could I miss it?
I studied South East Asia history in school and I would like to attribute my keen interest in the subject to my history teacher, Ms Lau Gek Moi who made lessons unboring.
Entering the gallery, I was thrown back into the pre-Colonial days when the then Temasek was still a Sultanate. Suddenly, familiar terms like Parameswara, Palembang, and the Majapahit Empire all came flooding back.
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Then, came the British (or specifically, Sir Stamford Raffles and William Farquhar) who colonized us and turning Singapore into a bustling port.
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A diorama depicting a view of Commercial Square in the 1850s
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All along, I have thought that "Keling" was a generic derogatory term to call the Indian/Tamils
In 1942, the Japanese Forces forced their way into our homeland. General Percival surrendered to General Yamashita at the Ford Factory thus began our darkest history.
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A Japanese language guided tour for some Japanese ladies. I wonder what went on in their mind as they learnt about the atrocities committed by Japan during the Japanese Occupation.
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Ration card to purchase cooking oil
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Operation Sook Ching
This is a diorama depicting Japanese soldiers screening Chinese men during the Japanese Occupation in Singapore. From 21 February to 04 March 1942, the Japanese carried out Operation Sook Ching to weed out anti-Japanese elements among the Chinese community.
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In 1966, the Japanese government agreed to pay $50 million in compensation. Part of this compensation money was used to fund the building of the Civilian War Memorial in Beach Road.
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After the Japanese Occupation ended, the people began to rebuild their lives and homeland. I believe this is where Mr Lee Kuan Yew and his political life came in in the history of Singapore.
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This diorama shows the issue of the merger with the Federation being discussed on the streets of Singapore.
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Who do you think this person resembles?
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On 09 August 1965, Singapore was kicked out of Malaysia.
Unemployment, poverty and unsanitary living conditions needed immediate solutions. Those were tumultuous times but under the leadership of Lee Kuan Yew, HDBs were built - we had a roof over our heads and our standard of living improved.
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A living room setup of a typical HDB flat in the 1970s
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Sierra 222 CTV 26 Television console clad in hardwood frame
We may be a relatively young nation but we have definitely come a long way. Do visit Singapura: 700 Years exhibition at the National Museum Of Singapore if you are interested to learn more about our nation building.
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This exhibition is held at galleries 1 and 2 at the basement of the National Museum from 10am to 6pm daily. The exhibition is from now till 10 August 2015.
Admission is free for citizens and PRs. Admission fee is applicable for international visitors.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SINGAPORE 93 Stamford Road Singapore 178897
Telephone: (+65) 6332 3659 / (+65) 6332 5642
Opening Hours: 10am - 6pm daily Last admission at 5.30pm
The first half of 2015 has just gone in a flash. A lot has happened during the last six months and my mind have been bogged down by family matters. All is fine for now and I hope it stays that way.
Last month, my folks and I brought forward our yearly retreat to Hatyai (we usually go during year end) and we took the opportunity to recharge and re-energize. Hopefully, we did not bring the negative vibes back with us.
I think Hatyai has been blogged to death by me so I shall consolidate the entire five days into one single post and not go into the details. Since it is simply a staycation, we spend most of our time sleeping/watching TV in the hotel when we are not out looking for food.
Now if you would fasten your seatbelt, our journey shall begin in just a minute.
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Safely buckled up inside the plane at Changi Airport waiting for takeoff
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Hatyai, here we come!
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Arrived at Hatyai International Airport
The flight was uneventful except for this old fart in the seat before me who reclined his seat all the way.
Surely, everyone knows how tight space is on a budget plane so why would some selfish prick go invade someone else's space?
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.The back of his seat is pressing on my knees causing me unable to move my legs freely or to even flip the in-flight magazine.
I even had to put up with his booming voice as he shouted to his friend seated right next to him. I am just this close to becoming the next person in aviation history to attempt to open the emergency door (to throw that man out of the plane).
The next time you decided to reach for that recline button, kindly check with the poor dude sitting behind if it's okay for you to put down your seat. I believe it will be greatly appreciated.
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Our plane TR2132 on the tarmac unloading our luggage
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Zeh zeh directing us which counter to go for our passport clearance
After clearing immigration, we were met with by our driver waiting to bring us to the hotel.
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Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel
I had my reservations when Dad picked Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel as our accommodation. Having stayed there for so many times, I wanted to try other nearby hotels but alas, Dad like it here so much that he wanted no where else.
Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel may be strategically convenient but it is bothersome to have our bags searched by security each time we return from outside. Furthermore, we had to take the lift to the lobby on the tenth floor before transferring to yet another lift to go up to our rooms.
Sibeh leceh if you ask me.
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A late lunch and early dinner at Shabushi
As per past years' SOP, after dropping our luggage inside the room, we will head to Shabushi below the hotel for a meal.
One significant change we noticed was that there is not much customers. Other than us, there were only two other tables occupied. We basically had the entire restaurant all to ourselves. Not that it is a bad thing but it is a striking contrast to our past visits when the place was bustling with business.
We thought that it might still be a tad too early but it is already near dinner time. Throughout our five days stay, business at Shabushi remained slow each time we walk past it. I guess it's time to explore Sizzlers on the second floor.
After our late lunch cum early dinner, it was time to prowl the streets.
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One of the reasons for our repeated visits to Hatyai is to stock up on medication which is way cheaper here
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Of course, massage is a must...
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Returning to the hotel, we saw a crowd gathered near the entrance where two little girls were taking turns dancing to the crowd.
A box with the word "scholarships" was on the ground in front of them. I dropped 50Baht into the box hoping to help them a little but at the same time, I am wondering if the money really go towards their education because there are two adults keeping an eye on them by the side. I hope the girls are not being exploited into money-making tools by the adults.
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Rise and shine!
I am excited about the hotel's breakfast but I am not having much expectations...
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The french fries, fried fish, drumlets and tomato are permanent items on the menu
I love fried chicken and fries but having these for breakfast at 8am seems rather heavy. The drumlets are a tad hard as usual but the chow mein and mini sausages are good.
After breakfast, we head for Kim Yong Market. I always believed that to understand the local's way of life is to visit their market place.
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I wanted to try the steamed bread but the lady is not wearing any gloves
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These entire basket of Mangoes costs just 300Baht = about SGD14
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Lunch at my favorite coffeeshop!
This coffeeshop is located just across the road from ODEON's Starbucks. There is only ONE Starbucks in this area so you can't miss it.
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I love 阿娇猪脚饭
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60 Baht is like only SGD2.40
You can order a plate of pork rice or you can request for the pork to be served separately. We opt for the latter.
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Stewed pork knuckles
The knuckles are stewed soft and tender! I love the skin!
The rest of the day is filled with more shopping at ODEON and CENTRAL
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Dinner later that day was at this hot and stuffy shop selling Hor Fun. Obviously, they don't call it "Hor Fun" there. You only need to tell the one taking order whether you want "Kway Teow", "Bee Hoon", or "Mee" and whether you want it "tah"(dry) or "th'ng"(wet).
"Th'ng" does not refer to soupy Hor Fun but the kind with thickened sauce found in Singapore.
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We all had the dry Kway Teow which is aromatically fried with a hint of "wok hei". Ingredients wise, there is only kai-lan and pork but the thick slices of pork are extremely tender. We like it so much!
The rain is making me hungry again so I took the lift down to takeaway McDonald's back to the room.
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Samurai Pork Burger
Thailand's McDonald's is called McThai. Other than Samurai Pork Burger, they also have Pork Hamburger and Pork Big Mac.
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This is a must-have for me whenever I go Thailand because you can never find this in Singapore
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(Top) Corn Pie, (Bottom) Curry with Crabstick Pie
McThai's pies are another must-try. Each time I'm there, they would always have different pies available. I love the Spinach Pie which I had two years ago. Sounds gross but it's really yummy. I have yet to try the Ham & Cheese.
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I woke up real early on the third morning
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Weekend crowd at Kim Yong Market
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My favorite kueh hawker
The Thai Chinese here speaks different dialects. This hawker speaks Hakka.
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I like this Basil Pork with Egg Rice
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"Wanton Mee" with fishball, fishcake, yong taufu, char siew and NO wantons
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Their honeyed sio bak is very nice!
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(Left) Kee Chang, (Right) Glutinous Rice with different fillings (banana, hae bee hiam, etc)
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Fish intestines
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This lady was bludgeoning a live catfish for a customer
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That uncovered pail by the roadside contains the batter for the dough sticks/you tiao
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We had Hor Fun for dinner again
We had the "th'ng" version this time which is similar to what we have in Singapore. Compared to the "tah" one, the Kway Teow for the "th'ng" portion is considerably lesser and not as tasty.
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Oyster Omelette 100Baht = SGD4
After the Hor Fun dinner, we walked back to the hotel and had this Oyster Omelette. The egg was super thin and crispy with no gooey starch. There is a pile of crunchy beansprouts beneath so it doesn't taste so jelat.
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We also had the dessert which is cooling but not very tasty at all
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The little girl is at "work" again
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The chicken and mushroom porridge is nice. So is the glutinous rice with crispy shrimps
There is a porridge stall selling coagulated pig's blood porridge but the attitude of the lady manning the stall is really one kind so I bought my porridge from another stall whose owner speaks Mandarin and Cantonese.
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Monks out on their rounds seeking alms
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Kan Eng Restaurant
Kan Eng Restaurant is just round the corner from the Hor Fun place. As usual, the Mango Kerabu and Seafood Tom Yum are the confirm-must-order for us. We will try to have another two dishes from the menu which we never had before.
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(Top) Mango Kerabu, Seafood Tom Yum
(Bottom) Brinjal with Bak Chor and Basil Leaves, Steamed Pomfret with Minced Garlic and Chili Padi
Dinner is back here at the Hor Fun place third day in a row
Yes. We really, really like the Kway Teow so much!
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Had the "dry" Hor Fun again cause it's nicer than the "wet" version
Nicely executed with "wok hei".
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Walked past this "Adult Dim Sum"
Do they place the Dim Sum on naked women like their Sushi cousin?
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Hatyai does not seem as bustling as before. Even the army and police personnel patrolling the area (there's a explosion at the McDonald's years ago) seem considerably lesser. Has Hatyai lose it's old school charm with visitors or did we arrive at a off-peak period?
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Must gorge myself with Mango Sticky Rice on my last night in Hatyai
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Hotel's breakfast
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Must go Kim Yong Market again
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I bought the chicken and mushroom porridge from the market back to the room
It was a flurry of packing and stuffing everything into the luggage before checking out at noon.
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Waiting for the airport transfer
Our driver, Ah Tan speaks Mandarin and Hokkien. This is his number 0819574309 should you need transport to go sightseeing. He drives a luxurious van with karaoke equipment.
McDonald's Singapore will be launching a set of 10 Minions collectible toys from the animation, MINIONS this coming Thursday, 18 June 2015 at 11am.
The Minions are:
1. Guitar Strumming Stuart 2. Groovy Stuart 3. Minion Caveman 4. Lava Shooting Kevin 5. Chatting Bob 6. Egyptian Hula Minion 7. Minion Vampire 8. Marching Minion Soldier 9. Martial Arts Minion 10. Guard Minion
The toys will come free with every purchase of a kid's Happy Meal.
For the Happy Meal Minions promotion (18th June - 22nd July 2015), McDonald's has implemented the following measures:
New toy designs will be available every Thursday from 11am, while stocks last.
Limited to a maximum of 4 Happy Meal Minion toys per transaction.
This promotion is ONLY applicable for purchases over the counter in our stores and will not be available via McDonald's Self-Ordering Kiosks, Drive-Thru and McDelivery or at KK Hospital, Tampines Interchange Kiosk, Nanyang Polytechnic, Nanyang Technological University, National University Singapore, Singapore Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic.
Q: When is this promotion starting? A: Thursday, 18 June 2015
Q: How many Minions toys are launched in this promotion? A: 10 in total
Q: How many Minions will be launched each week? A: 2 per week
Q: Which Minion will be launched each week?
A:
Thursday, 18 June 2015
Guitar Strumming Stuart
Groovy Stuart
Thursday, 25 June 2013
Minion Caveman
Lava Shooting Kevin
Thursday, 02 July 2015
Chatting Bob
Egyptian Hula Minion
Thursday, 09 July 2015
Minion Vampire
Marching Minion Soldier
Thursday, 16 July 2015
Martial Arts Minion
Guard Minion
Q: Is it available through Drive-Thru and McDelivery?
A: The promotion is only for in-store orders (dine-in/takeaway) and will not be available via Drive-Thru, McDelivery and Institutional stores
Q: How many Happy Meals do I have to purchase in order to redeem the two Minions? A: Each Happy Meal is entitled to ONE Minion therefore, it's two Happy Meals for two Minions
Q: When will the new Minions be launched? A: Every Thursday at 11am
Oscar winner James Horner has been killed after crashing his single-engine plane in Southern California on Monday morning.
Ventura County fire spokesman Mike Lindbery said the crash happened around 9.30am in the Los Padres National Forest, with the Federal Aviation Administration adding that the plane was an S-312 Tucano MK1 turbo-prop with two seats and that the debris was spread across an acre of land.
Crews extinguished a fire that erupted in vegetation after the plane became engulfed in flames upon impact, about 100 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
Horner, a husband and father of two, was later confirmed dead by one of his employees.
Horner's assistant, Sylvia Patrycja, confirmed that it was the beloved composer who died in the tragic accident.
'We have lost an amazing person with a huge heart, and unbelievable talent,' Patrycja wrote on Facebook.
'He died doing what he loved. Thank you for all your support and love and see you down the road.'
Jay Cooper, an attorney for Horner, said the plane was one of several owned by the 61-year-old composer.
Horner’s representatives have not commented on the issue. - Daily Mail
I am utterly shocked to learn about the death of James Horner. My first acquaintance with this composer goes way back in the 1980s through the song "Somewhere Out There" performed by Linda Ronstadt and James Ingrams.
"Somewhere Out There" is one of the soundtracks for the 1986 animated film, "An American Tail". To escape from the persecution of the cats in Russia, Fievel and his family boarded a ship bound for USA where there are no cats, or so they heard.
During the journey, a terrible storm caused Fievel to be swept overboard and he was separated from his family. He was washed ashore in a bottle where he landed - miraculously - in America. In his quest to search for his missing family, he learned that there are cats here too and he became the unlikely hero for vanquishing them out of America.
And then, there was "The Land Before Time" about a group of young dinosaurs who got separated from their family during The Great Migration.
They must resolve their differences not just to make their way to The Great Valley where their families were headed for but also to keep themselves alive from the Sharptooth.
This is one of my favorite composition from James Horner performed by Diana Ross.
I am the movie soundtrack fan I am today mainly due to his influence. In his career, James Horner went on to write more compositions for many blockbuster films like Star Trek, Braveheart, The Titanic, Avatar, etc
His music gives soul to the movie he is composing for and it never fails to bring out the emotions in me. It is a pity that he was taken away in his prime.
I was horrified to learn of the explosion at Formosa Fun Coast, a water park in Taiwan. At the Colour Play Asia party, colourful clouds of flammable powder were sprayed at the party goers which, unfortunately, ignited and engulfed them in flames.
It was like a scene out of a disaster movie as the victims scramble for their lives in the fire.
At the point of penning this entry, casualties numbered to 500 with close to 200 in ICU.
May the injured recover soon.
Party goers engulfed by flames
Nearly 500 people have been injured, 141 seriously, after a fire on a music stage spread into a crowd of spectators at a party Saturday night at a Taiwan water park, authorities said. The fire was sparked by an accidental explosion of an unknown powder near the stage in front of about 1,000 people, said Wang Wei-sheng, a liaison with the New Taipei city fire department command centre. Taiwan’s Central News Agency on Sunday reported 474 had been injured, including 141 in serious condition. It quoted the New Taipei City health bureau. The injured included four mainland Chinese and two foreigners. A spokesman for the New Taipei City fire department said: “Our initial understanding is this explosion and fire ... was caused by the powder spray. It could have been due to the heat of the lights on the stage.” The fire erupted at the Formosa water park in New Taipei City near the island’s capital and was quickly brought under control.Nearly 500 people have been injured, 141 seriously, after a fire on a music stage spread into a crowd of spectators at a party Saturday night at a Taiwan water park, authorities said. The fire was sparked by an accidental explosion of an unknown powder near the stage in front of about 1,000 people, said Wang Wei-sheng, a liaison with the New Taipei city fire department command centre. Taiwan’s Central News Agency on Sunday reported 474 had been injured, including 141 in serious condition. It quoted the New Taipei City health bureau. The injured included four mainland Chinese and two foreigners. A spokesman for the New Taipei City fire department said: “Our initial understanding is this explosion and fire ... was caused by the powder spray. It could have been due to the heat of the lights on the stage.” The fire erupted at the Formosa water park in New Taipei City near the island’s capital and was quickly brought under control. - The Guardian
Hello Kitty is here to paint the town red! Kick-start the SG50 celebrations with your very own SG50 Hello Kitty set, available for online order today.Log onto https://onlinestore.mcdonalds.com.sg at 11am today and place your order before it’s too late! Posted by McDonald's on Sunday, 19 July 2015
*Please note that plush collectibles are not available via McDonald’s Self-ordering Kiosks, Drive-Thrus, McDelivery®, McCafes® and stores located at LIDO, KK Hospital and Tampines Interchange Kiosk. McDonald’s will not be able to accept reservations for plush collectibles or advise on the stock levels at each store. A plush collectible that is purchased is non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for a plush collectible of a different design.
Can you feel the footsteps of the Jubilee weekend approaching?
As Singapore marks 50 years of independence this year (09 August to be exact), the President has declared 07 August 2015 (Friday) a public holiday. This will make for an extended Jubilee Weekend over the 07 to 10 August period so as to enable all Singaporeans to participate in commemorating this special milestone in our nation's history.
Over the Jubilee Weekend, special programmes have been prepared for Singaporeans around the island to revisit and experience afresh the journey of Singapore's story.
Here, I have compiled some events which is taking place during this Jubilee weekend!
ASIAN CIVILISATIONS MUSEUM
1 Empress Place, Singapore 179555
Event: Unearthed: Singapore At 25 Date: 03 August 2015 – 27 September 2015 Time: 10am – 7pm (Saturdays to Thursdays) Time: 10am – 9pm (Fridays) Admission: FREE
This exhibition displays the contents of a time capsule buried in front of the Empress Place building on 29 December 1990. Objects include first National Service mobilisation, development plans from the 1970s, military medals, stamps, public phone cards, a very young SINGA, the courtesy mascot, and even a poster of Ah Meng, ambassador for the Singapore Zoo. Come experience the sights, sounds, and thoughts of Singaporeans of 25 years ago.
Event: Treasures from Asia's Oldest Museum Buddhist Art from the Indian Museum, Kolkata Date: Till 16 August 2015 Time: 10am – 7pm (Saturdays to Thursdays) Time: 10am – 9pm (Fridays) Admission: FREE
The exhibition presents the evolution of Buddhism through the art of India. Important sculptures and paintings from the Indian Museum in Kolkata will trace the Jataka stories (past life stories of the Buddha), scenes from the life of the Buddha, and symbols used to represent Buddhist concepts. Representations of bodhisattvas and the Buddha will be on display. The exhibition features striking sculptures from the Pala and Gandhara cultures.
The Indian Museum, Kolkata, is the oldest museum in Asia, and greatly influenced the founding of other institutions in the region. Singapore's strong historic ties to Kolkata give this exhibition a special resonance, especially during 2015, Singapore's 50th anniversary as well as the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Singapore. Seen outside the ACM is the obelisk commemorating Indian viceroy Lord Dalhousie's visit from Kolkata in 1850.
Event: Ancient Religions Date: Till 31 December 2015 Time: 10am – 7pm (Saturdays to Thursdays) Time: 10am – 9pm (Fridays) Admission: FREE
The Asian Civilisations Museum has launched a new permanent gallery. The Ancient Religions Gallery traces the spread of religions out of India into China, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia. A thousand years of sculpture shows the change in art from early cults to international forms of Hinduism and Buddhism. The displays demonstrate how the cultures of Gandhara, Kushan, Tang China, and Srivijaya gave new expression to these systems of belief.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SINGAPORE 93 Stamford Road, Singapore 178897
Event: Singapura: 700 Years Location: Exhibition Galleris 1, 2, Basement Date: Till 10 August 2015 Time: 10am - 6pm Admission: FREE (for Singapore citizens and PRs) *Admission charges apply for international visitors
Experience Singapore’s transformation through the ages as it went from a humble fishing village to the pride of an empire, before finally achieving the status of being an independent nation-state as it is today.
Event: 50 Made In Singapore Products Location: Glass Atrium, Level 2 Date: 15 July 2015 - 06 September 2015 Time: 10am - 6pm Admission: FREE
Did you know that some products from Van Houten, Bata and Bridgestone are all made in Singapore? Come and find out more about our nation’s manufacturing achievements at the National Heritage Board’s 50 Made in Singapore Products exhibition, launching on 15 July 2015, at the National Museum of Singapore.
The exhibition showcases various Singapore products including Axe Brand medicated oils, Van Houten chocolates, Bata shoes, Butterfly brand kerosene lamps, Pan-Electric refrigerators, and Bridgestone tyres through text, photographs, memorabilia and multimedia stations. Celebrate Singapore’s Golden Jubilee at this commemorative exhibition.
Event: Playgrounds On The Lawn Location: Lawn in front of the museum Date: 30 May 2015 - 10 August 2015 Time: 10am - 6pm Admission: FREE
Have a bouncing good time at these massive inflatable playgrounds inspired by familiar mosaic playgrounds in the 1970s and 80s! Available for play every Sat & Sun, 10am to 12pm & 4pm to 6pm
Event: Heritage At The Bay Location: Clifford Square Date: 01 August 2015 - 10 August 2015 Time: 12pm - 10pm Admission: FREE
We've come a long way as a nation. Head down to Clifford Square (beside Clifford Pier), where you can enjoy a heritage display and look back at the past 50 years of our history.
Be captivated by a 10-minute lights and projection display of buildings around Marina Bay every hour!
GARDENS BY THE BAY
18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953
Event: Flower Dome & Cloud Forest Time: 9am - 9pm Admission: FREE (for Singaporean seniors aged 60+, 50% off admission for Singaporean citizens) *Admission charges apply for international visitors
Event: Fireworks & Black Knights Aerial Display Location: Various Date: Date: 01 August 2015 & 09 August 2015 Time: 6:10pm - 7:05pm (Aerial display) Time: 7:30pm - 8:20pm (Fireworks) Admission: FREE
Catch the Republic of Singapore Air Force's Black Knights as they fly past the Supertrees in an unprecedented "50" formation to salute the nation. Visitors can also look forward to be mesmerised by the "Majulah Singapura" themed fireworks display along the waterfront promenade!
Event: Garden Rhapsody (SG50 Edition) Location: Supertree Grove Date: Date: 07 August 2015 – 10 August 2015 Time: 7.45pm, 8.45pm, 9.30pm, 10pm Admission: FREE
Celebrate the Jubilee weekend with a special edition of the Garden Rhapsody to celebrate Singapore's 50th birthday. Featuring lasers for the very first time, this edition of Garden Rhapsody presents nostalgic favourites from yesteryear sung by prominent local vocalists.
Event: SCO Concert By The Bay Location: Marina Bay Sands - The Event Plaza
Date: 08 August 2015 Time: 7.30pm - 9pm Admission: FREE
If you're a fan of Chinese Orchestra, this is an event you won't want to miss! Getting off to a roaring start with Dragon Dance, the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, together with the Women Police Pipes & Drums, will then perform a medley of your favourite cultural national songs.
Following that, you can sing along with MICapella to a medley of local compositions before ending the night on a high with an arrangement of Stand Up For Singapore, complete with synchronised fireworks!
ARTSCIENCE MUSEUM 6 Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018974
Event: The Deep
Location: Artscience Museum Date: Till 27 October 2015 Time: 10am - 7pm (last admission at 6pm) Admission: FREE (for Singapore citizens and PRs from 07 August 2015 to 09 August 2015)
*Admission charges apply for international visitors
The deep sea is Earth's largest reservoir of life but has remained largely uncharted by Man, with only 10 percent of the seafloor mapped so far. The Deep reveals the mysteries lurking in the deep through the display of perfectly preserved and extremely rare animals in crystalline details, accompanied by mesmeric images of captivating sea fauna and ethereal bioluminescent creatures, some photographed for the very first time. The Deep brings together the largest collection of deep-sea creatures ever displayed in South East Asia. Providing a unique opportunity to encounter the reality of the deep first-hand and to raise public awareness about the fragility of the deep sea ecosystem.
Event: DreamWorks Animation: The Exhibition
Location: Artscience Museum Date: Till 27 September 2015 Time: 10am - 7pm (last admission at 6pm) Admission: FREE (for Singapore citizens and PRs from 07 August 2015 to 09 August 2015)
*Admission charges apply for international visitors
Showcasing DreamWorks Animation’s creative legacy, featuring over 400 unique objects from the studio’s archive of rare and never before displayed material, the Exhibition includes concept drawings, storyboards, models, masks, maps, photographs, posters, paintings, and other original artworks. These artworks sit alongside amazing immersive and interactive digital experiences, and a wealth of additional digital content, including many specially recorded interviews with DreamWorks Animation artists that explore the creative processes of this unique animation studio.
Event: Singapore STories: Then, Now, Tomorrow
Location: Artscience Museum Date: Till 04 October 2015 Time: 10am - 7pm (last entry 6pm) Admission: FREE
Singapore STories: Then, Now, Tomorrow mines the 170-year-old archives of The Straits Times for articles, headlines and photographs, including never-before-seen pictures, to tell the familiar story of Singapore in a fresh way. The exhibition borrows its themes from sections of the newspaper and looks to Singapore’s past to contemplate its present and future.
Step through the pages of The Straits Times to explore where Singapore has been, how its people came to be who they are today, and where the country is headed next.
Location: National Orchid Garden Date: 01 July 2015 - 31 August 2015 Time: 8.30am - 7pm (last entry 6pm) Admission: FREE (for Singapore citizens and PRs)
Event: Various (check table below) Date: 07 August 2015 - 09 August 2015 Time: 10am - 10pm Admission: FREE
The Singapore Botanic Gardens has lined up a fun-filled programme from 07 to 09 August as part of NParks’ SG50 Concert Series in the Park. A carnival will be held throughout the three days, featuring nostalgic activities which celebrate shared memories as well as the rich cultural and botanical heritage of the Gardens.
On 07 August, visitors can enjoy a variety show reminiscent of the “Aneka Ragam Ra’ayat” or “People’s Variety Show” held in the Gardens in 1959. Visitors can also enjoy a classical themed concert on 08 August, and bandstand performances and outdoor movie screenings on 07 and 08 August.
Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage tours will be held that weekend, and Singapore residents can also enjoy free entry to the National Orchid Garden from 07 to 10 August.
07 August 2015
(Friday)
08 August 2015
(Saturday)
09 August 2015
(Sunday)
Carnival
Maranta Ave & Bandstand
10am - 5pm
Carnival
Maranta Ave & Bandstand
10am - 5pm
Carnival
Maranta Ave & Bandstand
10am - 5pm
Concert
Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage
*Starting 4pm
Concert
Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage
*Starting 5pm
Concert & NDP Live Telecast
Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage
*Starting 4pm
Concert featuring artistes
(in no particular order)
53A
Apsaras Arts
Ballet Eastern Dance
Corrinne May
Eurasian Association Dance Troupe
John Molina
Mel & Joe
Olivia Ong
Robert Fernando
Rui En
Shabir
Sriwana
Taufik Batisah
Emcees:
Suhaimi Yusof
Vernetta Lopez
Singapore Lyric Opera
The Sam Willows
Jocelyn Ong (The Sonomas)
Lorraine Tan
MINDS Taiko Drums
Sezairi
Trick
Vocaluptuous
Wicked Aura
Emcee:
Andrew Lua
Performance by:
T’ang Quartet
Bandstand
*Starting 7:45pm
Performance by:
Brass Nation
Bandstand
*Starting 7:45pm
Movie Screening:
"It’s a Great Great World"
By the Swan Lake (Lawn E)
*Starting 8:30pm
Movie Screening:
"Singapore Dreaming"
By the Swan Lake (Lawn E)
*Starting 8:30pm
*Timings subject to changes
More information on the Singapore Botanic Gardens can be found on their website and Facebook Page.
SENTOSA
There will be free admission into the island via the following methods:
Walk-ins (every day until 31st December 2015) Drive-ins (weekdays after 5pm, until 31st December 2015)
Event: Sands Of Time
Location: Siloso Beach Date: 07 August 2015 - 10 August 2015 Time: 10am - 7pm Admission: FREE
Celebrate SG50 and rediscover the Singapore Story, told through a 100m long sand sculpture display at Siloso Beach. Sands of Time, the longest sand sculpture on Siloso Beach, will feature seven main 3D sculptures showcasing significant moments in Singapore’s history. The sand sculptures, ranging from 3 – 4.2 metres tall, will be set behind a two-dimensional sand mural chronicling Singapore’s evolution to the thriving city it is today.
For the first time, Sentosa will be creating a multi-sensory experience for visitors through audio accompaniment so that they will be able to immerse themselves in The Singapore Story.
Admission to the following paid attractions will also be free:
Event: Sentosa Merlion
Location: Merlion Plaza Date: 08 August 2015 Time: 10am - 8pm (last entry at 7.30pm) Admission: FREE
Set foot in the Merlion's mouth to get up close and personal with the legend. But don't stop till you get to the crown! At 60 metres above sea level, you will actually be seeing Singapore through the perspective of the Guardian of Prosperity.
Come soak up the 360⁰ commanding view and bask in the aura of this endearing national symbol. You'll see why legends, myths and stories all point to this regal creature for the swift recovery of Singapore's economy from the Asian financial crisis.
Event: Fort Siloso
Date: 09 August 2015 Time: 10am - 6pm (last entry at 5.30pm) Admission: FREE
Fort Siloso, Singapore's only Preserved Coastal Fort.
Journey back to Singapore's storied past before World War II. Built to defend the Singapore Harbour, Fort Siloso now contains a collection of authentic World War II memorabilia. Relive our nation's history and explore what lies within the last standing coastal fort in Singapore.
Visit the Sentosa website for more information on registration.
Event: Singapore Cable Car
Date: 10 August 2015 Time: 8.45am - 10pm (last boarding at 9.30pm) Admission: FREE (for Singapore citizens and PRs)
Enjoy a beautiful view on the most scenic highway in Singapore! Fly high above the hill from Faber Peak Singapore, through a skyscraper and cross the harbour on the Mount Faber Line before landing in Sentosa Island.
You can then continue to take in the sights on the new Sentosa Line which will take you to the various attractions on Sentosa, where you can have some fun in the sun with your family!
Event: Various (check table below) Date: 07 August 2015 - 10 August 2015 Time: 10am - 6pm Admission: FREE (for Singapore citizens) *Non citizens may purchase a day pass for $25
Celebrate SG50 with the Singapore Science Centre (SCS)!
Singapore citizens get to enjoy free general admission, including entry into six other SCS attractions - the "Human Body Experience" exhibition, the "Interplay: Where Science Meets Art" exhibition, KidsSTOP™, Snow City, The Cliff @ Snow City and the Omni-Theatre.
Event: Farm Tour Cum Halal Buffet Date: 07 - 10 August 2015 Time: 9am - 4pm Admission: FREE
Hay Dairies is the only goat farm in Singapore producing fresh and pure goat milk using the latest milking and pasteurising process. They welcome farm visits and offers educational tours. They will be opened this Jubilee weekend to celebrate SG50 at the farm with free halal meal (7 course buffet) as well as free flow of popcorn and candy floss on 09 and 10 August 2015.
The buffet will start serving at 10am so do arrive early to avoid disappointment!
More information on Hay Dairies can be found on their website and Facebook Page.
There are more SG50 Celebrations till year end but these are just a couple that draw my interest. So many places to visit but so little time!
Singapore has just ended her birthday celebrations with much fanfare but it was no birthday like any other for it is her 50th - her Golden Jubilee birthday. Fifty years since our separation from Malaysia, our progress is evident for all to see.
It was no mean feat though, as our forefathers paved the way for us - their future generations - with sweat, blood and tears.
It was a big blow to us then, when we were chased out of the door with nothing to our names and had to fend for ourselves. But one very brave man took charge and lead us to a brighter future. He is Mr Lee Kuan Yew.
This year's National Day Parade evoked many memories for Singaporeans. It was very meaningful that the parade was held at the Padang, the very same place where our first National Day Parade was held. We were reminded of the many challenges Singapore faced when we first became independent and how Singaporeans overcame these challenges together to get to where we are today. We built a beautiful country where people of diverse beliefs and cultures live, work and play together.
Alhough the parade is over, the celebration of our nation's progress and unity continues. We must not be complacent and take any of this for granted. We must continue to work hard at building our ties and relations with one another so that Singapore will thrive as a nation in the next 50 years and beyond.
Our Golden Jubilee is such a special year for us but regrettably, Mr Lee passed away on 23 March 2015, just a few months short of our birthday. Nevertheless, a seat has been left in honor of our founding father at the parade.
#NDP2015: In loving memory. Live blog here: str.sg/ZnmzThe specimen of orchid had been christened the Aranda Lee Kuan... Posted by The Straits Times on Sunday, 9 August 2015
The specimen of orchid had been christened the Aranda Lee Kuan Yew earlier this year in honour of the late former Prime Minister. The bright golden yellow flower, with a green tinge, is from the same line that yielded one named for his beloved wife, the Vanda Kwa Geok Choo. - Source
This is the first year that Mr Lee is absent from our National Day Parade thus before the parade begins, a moving tribute dedicated to the man is in order.
The Penguins of Madagascar outside the Artscience Museum
Last Friday was the beginning of our SG50 long weekend and there were a hosts of activities available for Singaporeans to keep themselves busy with.
For one, the Artscience Museum is offering free entry for Singaporeans to it's exhibitions "The Deep", "Dreamworks Animation: The Exhibition" and "Singapore STories: Then, Now, Tomorrow".
The exhibitions have been running for some time now but I only found out about it recently. I am particularly interested in the Dreamworks exhibition ($14) and The Deep ($11). I was able to plan my visit on the free entry day and saved $19 (All Access ticket - local rate).
I reached there slightly after 10am but I was startled to see a snaking queue stretching from the entrance of the Artscience Museum all the way to the wishing well at Marina Bay Sands.
Put off by the snaking queue, I thought hard for a contingency plan. I recalled that there will be a Black Knights aerial performance at noon over the MBS airspace so I hang around a little more.
I seek out a spot beside a Caucasian family overlooking the Merlion Park but, as soon as noon arrived, it started drizzling much to everyone's dismay. The spectators around me began putting on their ponchos and opening their umbrellas. I had nothing to shield my camera from the rain so I hid it under my shirt.
"Man, these people came prepared", I thought to myself.
I held on to my spot, determined to catch the Black Knights in action.
The drizzle advanced into something a little heavier and everyone started running for cover but still, the Caucasian family and I remain firmly footed. A few times, we heard what sounded like jet planes overhead but when we look up, all we saw were birds or a stray helium balloon flying past.
Unfortunately, the drizzle advanced into a heavy rain and we had no choice but to retreat into the building completely drenched.
"Is the show still on?", the Caucasian father asked when he saw me checking Facebook. I could not give him an answer as there were no updates from the RSAF.
Disheartened that I did not accomplish anything that I sought to do that Jubilee morning, I decided to head to Bugis for the lego exhibition at Central Library since it's only a station away from where I was via the Downtown Line but...
Continuing from my previous post, after wasting the first half of my Friday at MBS doing nothing other than getting drenched in the rain, I arrived at the Central Library at Bugis to attend a LEGO showcase only to find the library closed!
I was on the verge of killing someone when I noticed that the showcase is not held inside the library but at the foyer outside it instead.
Heaving a sign of relief, I made my way towards the crowd to understand what the showcase is all about.
Since it is our Golden Jubilee year, the talented builders from the Singapore AFOL community have built 50 exhibits all relating to a piece of Singapore history.
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Way before the age of PS2 , we have the Game&Watch handheld game. I used to have this when I was young but my Dad threw it out of the door and it broke to smithereens because my siblings and I were literally fighting over it. I guess all that crying and screaming pisses him off on his only day off.
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The first Japanese character I know is not Doraemon but Astro Boy. Astro Boy is also the first manga I picked up from the Mama shop.
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Can you recognise the iconic red bricks of this structure? It is the old National Library at Stamford Road. I don't have alot of memories with this library because I don't frequent it although I do passes by it on the bus countless times. The library was built in 1960 but demolished in 2005 to give way to the construction of the Fort Canning Tunnel.
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I guess I am more familiar with the hawker centre under the big tree with the famous Wanton Mee beside the library.
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Who can forget the Hello Kitty craze at McDonald's in Y2K?
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At the wayang show.
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The performers preparing backstage.
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The musicians playing by the side of the stage.
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People from all walks of life queuing at the Parliament House to pay their last respects to our Founding Prime Minister when he passed away in March this year.
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PSA.
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Playground of yesteryear.
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Watermelon playground.
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Cavenagh Bridge is one of the oldest, and the only suspension bridge in Singapore that was built during the Colonial times.
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Boat Quay Hawker Centre with Cavenagh Bridge in the background.
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Old school bus stop.
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The old SBS bus. I used to take SBS #14 from Orchard Road to East Coast Park. It was such a long journey.
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The new SBS bus.
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Singapore's financial centre by the Singapore River.
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Conservation shophouses along Koon Seng Road.
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The unmistakable spiral staircase is a feature of the Tiong Bahru flats built by SIT (Singapore Improvement Trust), a government body administered by the British colonial authority, to provide for mass public housing in Singapore.
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This sending off ceremony at the old CMPB at Dempsey Hill in 1972 is one of my favorite.
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Boys enlisted into National Service loading up the 3-tonner which will bring them to their designated camps.
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Bidding farewell to their loved ones.
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The SOC (Standard Obstacle Course) is another of my favorite.
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The SOC really bring back many memories for me. The low wall is my nemisis (I can never climb over it) but I love the jacob's ladder!
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Not only is the old school radio, calendar and tingkat made of LEGO bricks, even the Gem biscuits too! I'm impressed!
I have to say that this showcase really brings back a lot of memories for me. I would have loved to stay a little longer but my clothes are getting stinky from the morning rain and it's giving me a slight headache. This marks the end of the first day of my Jubilee weekend.
Stay tuned for part 3 of my Jubilee weekend and see what I'm up to.
The Little Red Brick Show ends this coming weekend 28 August 2015. Admission is free.
And so, we have come to the second day of the Jubilee long weekend.
I couldn't get over the fact that I didn't manage to visit the Artscience Museum the day before, henceforth, I returned to join the queue for the second consecutive day.
To be honest, I did not expect that there would be such a long queue on the first day. After all, I don't think many people would like to visit the museums which can be such a boring place. I believe that morning's ComChest Heartstrings Walk participants contributed quite a bit to the length of the queue after their event ended
I guess the onus is on myself to find out if there's any other activities happening at the same time, same area when I decided to visit a place.
Despite me setting off for the museum an hour earlier than the day before, the waiting time is 1 hour. The previous day's queue, though longer, was only a 45 minutes wait.
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The much coveted tickets!
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If you think the queue is over once you enter Artscience Museum, you couldn't be more wrong. There's more queuing to be done outside the individual exhibition hall as they only allow visitors in by the batches.
I figured out that the Dreamworks Animation: The Exhibition is going to be the more popular one (and therefore the most crowded) hence, I decided to visit it first.
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Resin cast of the Pharaoh from The Prince of Egypt
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Moses
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Aaron
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Moses
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Zipporah
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Resin cast of Po from Kungfu Panda
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Tigress
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Monkey
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Viper
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Crane
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Evolution sketches of the characters in Kungfu Panda
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The curse of the were-rabbit
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Wallace & Gromit
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Basic shapes of the Madagascar characters
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Shrek's swamp
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Far Far Away Castle
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Dragon Flight
This is the highlight of the entire exhibition! Take a four-minute virtual ride on the back of Toothless as he fly around the Isle of Berk, giving us a panoramic view of the island projected on a curved screen. I queued for this four times!
I visited The Deep next and yes, more queuing before entering the exhibition hall.
The Deep showcases a collection of the weirdest-looking life-forms found only in the deepest depths of the ocean.
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I have absolutely no desire to come anywhere near this Goblin Shark.
It is extremely challenging trying to take photos under low light conditions and in a crowded area. I guess that is the price one have to pay for free entry into the museum. I am sure the experience would be a better one if we come back another day without having so many people to jostle around.
Stay tuned for part 4 of my Jubilee weekend!
The Dreamworks Animation: The Exhibition ends on 27 September 2015 while The Deep ends 27 October 2015.
