Quirky Singapore XX - Before and After Pictures...Singapore

It is a must read (& see), a blog post on "22 Incredible Before and After Pictures that Reveal the Transformation of Singapore".

Singapore Sights - Marina Bay by night

My pictures from around Marina Bay at night. (I had issues with my phone camera re picture quality up until now as well, but I think I have found the limits of its capabilities last night - sorry!)

Concert at the open air theater in front of Esplanade Theatres.

Esplanade Drive (the bridge) and the Central Business District. There is Fullerton Hotel in the middle, and there should be Merlion on the left, but it is being spring cleaned.

Quirky Singapore XVIII - Utilities

There is some blogging going on about Singaporean utilities bills.

I write this post on account of the news that: Singaporeans can soon compare water usage with their neighbours
"Are you and your family using more or less water than your neighbours? The authorities will soon provide households with this information, as part of a new tactic to spur water conservation.
Currently, water utility bills give information on the average water consumption of households of the same housing type across Singapore. But in the second half of this year, national water agency PUB will include data on the average water usage of households of the same housing type in your block or on your street." (Source)

And then I find this: What do Singapore utility bills look like?

With a pointer to this: Sample utilities bill

Btw, hasn't this "comparison with your neighbors"-business turn out to increase consumption of some people in the Netherlands?

Fate of Malaysian Airlines

This is a Singaporean blog post entitled "What is the post-MH370 future for Malaysian Airlines?"
Why I am posting it is Scenario 3... Have a read if you have the time!

Quirky Singapore XIX - Negotiation styles

This is based on classification or characterization of negotiation styles from around the world by a British linguist (see the whole article here)

These are the comments about the negotiation styles of the three nations I am focused on:

Hungarians value eloquence over logic and are unafraid to talk over each other.

The Dutch are focused on facts and figures but “are also great talkers and rarely make final decisions without a long ‘Dutch’ debate, sometimes approaching the danger zone of overanalysis.”

Singaporeans generally take time to build a relationship, after which they can be shrewd negotiators.

But the best in the post is the illustrations. Unfortunately I couldn't copy them here one by one, or make it bigger. So you might need to visit the post itself...

Local news V

Rooftop farming
Tucked away in the heart of Orchard Road is a uncommon sight for Singapore's main shopping belt.
A vegetable and fish farm called Comcrop is located on the rooftop of *SCAPE. With 6,000 square feet of space, it can produce eight to 10 times more than traditional farms over the same area by using vertical farming techniques. (Source)

Population

Singapore citizen population grows 0.9% to 3.31 million. More than 31,000 Singaporean babies were born in 2013, giving the country a total fertility rate of 1.19. ... The government also granted citizenship to about 20,000 people and permanent residency to about 30,000. (Source)

PM Lee (of Singapore) in The Hague
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong arrived in The Hague on Sunday and met his counterpart Mark Rutte on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit. Both leaders reaffirmed warm bilateral ties between the two countries. ... Singapore has thanked Netherlands for its support of the European Union-Singapore Free Trade Agreement. (Source)

Parking fines
The Housing and Development Board (HDB) said it issued an average of 740 summonses each month in the last five years to drivers who park illegally in reserved lots.
These include the lots set aside for disabled drivers, police and Singapore Civil Defence Force vehicles.
HDB said it takes a serious view of such "inconsiderate acts".
Among those inconvenienced are drivers in the car-sharing scheme because users locate these shared cars at reserved lots, which are sometimes taken by other drivers.
HDB said those who park illegally face a S$50 fine.
Repeat offenders may face a fine of up to S$400. (Source)

Flight MH370 consequences
Robust security measures are already in place at Singapore's Changi Airport to manage threats against the aviation sector, but these have been reviewed and stepped up in light of the recent Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 incident.

Quirky Singapore XVII - A gift

A short film, without comment.

Quirky Singapore XVI - Reclamation (as in reclamation of land from the sea)

Land reclamation in Singapore has started in the colonial era on a fairly small scale, as early as the 1820s. Large scale land reclamation has started in the 1960s to reclaim a total of about 135 km² of land by 2003.

Wikipedia says: Land reclamation, usually known as reclamation, and also known as land fill (not to be confused with a landfill), is the process of creating new land from ocean, riverbeds, or lake. The land reclaimed is known as reclamation ground or land fill.

Flowers on campus

One morning I have walked to school

 These roads/walkways are used by people, especially in the morning to work out. Run, walk...

Singapore Sights - Chua Chu Kang

In my quest to find the end of the world, after failing on the northeast (see my adventures here), with lower expectations I have also tried on the northwest.

I was better prepared and took the bus that went to the end of the world in Sarimbun/Lim Chu Kang. I have traveled from the Seletar/Punggol area (northeast), and in the north I have seen one military camp after another. Getting closer to Lim Chu Kang, I have noted down the following: Keat Hong Camp, Tengah Air Base, Lim Chu Kang Camp, Singapore Infantry Brigade, Sungei Gedong Camp. Getting even closer, I have also noted down this: Hay Diaries Goat Farm, fish farm, guppy farm, bean sprout farm (and Sarimbun Recycling Park)...

So I have expected the area to be more rural on account of the predominantly agricultural (and military) activities, I was still surprised. The end of the world in Lim Chu Kang was (almost) really the end of the world.

Singapore Sights - Punggol

Punggol to me is (was) one of the most exotic places in Singapore. It is far away from the center and also from where I live in the west :). It is on the north shore, and after Changi (which I intend to discover on my last day in Singapore) the easternmost part of the island.

This is the final stop of the North-East MRT line, and the area around it. Convincingly in the middle of noowhere, with construction/development everywhere.

Singapore Sights - Seletar colonial buildings

Seletar is also in the north of Singapore. It is west of Punggol, and northwest of Kampong Buang Kok (my post). It is most famous for Seletar Airport, build in 1928.

These houses were built for military personnel of the British Royal Air Force. Of the 378 colonial bungalows, a lot are still in use and therefore in good repair, but 178 are condemned, to give space to the Seletar Aerospace Park that expands in the area.

The buildings are black and white, with high ceilings and a lot of windows: built to ensure good air-circulation in tropical climate.

Rain!

Mid-Jan to mid-March Singapore has gone through its longest and worst drought of its history since the end of the 1800s.

So when it started raining (last Sunday), it was an event. And we had 6 days of glorious rain! (And mindbending humidity.)

Although I realize photographing rain is a difficult if not impossible task, here are my pictures.

At NTU.

Cashing a check

Because I don't have a bank account in Singapore, and because my local insurance company was not willing to wire me the money. I have gone on a trek to reclaim expenses.

I have started out as usual around 7.30, and after breakfast at my Saturday breakfast place, I have arrived a little after 9am to Tanjong Pagar, at the south end of the business district. The interesting thing is that it is only 4 bus stops and 12 MRT stops away, on "my", i.e. the East-West MRT line. So it took me more than an hour to get there!

The Axa building.

In front of the building.

Singapore Sights - Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

Bukit Timah is a hilly area roughly in the middle of Singapore island. It doesn't look that tall, but the transmission tower is on the highest point in Singapore.

Bukit Timah has an area of 1,732 hectares. The nature reserve is 163 hectares of that. It is an integral part of the Central Catchment area, with a total area of 3,043 hectares. Bukit Timah is in the bottom left corner of this map. The MacRitchie resesrvoir and hence Tree Top Walk (see my post) is in the bottom right corner.

Cemeteries VI - Hakka Cemetery

The Ying Fo Fui Kun (应和会馆) Cemetery, or Hakka Cemetery, is located between Buona Vista MRT station (close to Holland Village, my post) and Commonwealth MRT station (close to the abandoned HDBs, my post). This is one of 3 (or 4) cemeteries in Singapore that are still in operation.

The story of the cemetery starts in 1822, when Hakka Chinese immigrants from Guangdong set up the Ying Fo Fui Kun clan at Telok Ayer street (in Chinatown). They chose their name very carefully, desirous of a peaceful environment and mutual support among clan members. In 1887, the clan bought a huge piece of land around the current cemetery, to use for a village and burial place, naming it Shuang Long Shan (双龙山), Double/Twin Dragon Hill. 

After decades of negotiations, in 1965, almost all of the original 100 (or 40) hectares were returned to the state for redevelopment, with the exception of the 1.89 ha of the cemetery. By 1969 the majority of the graves were exhumed, the remains cremated and reburied in urns (and much smaller graves). The hill was also flattened. The land of the cemetery is under a 99-year lease, but talks have already been started for redevelopment... 

Wu Fa Tang Ancestral Hall (五富堂义祠), with a fish pond and ceremonial furnace in front.    

Singapore Sights - Bukit Batok Nature Park & Little Guilin

Getting to the "entrance" of Bukit Batok is quite a climb. (The Park is to the left.)

Singapore Sights - Haw Par Villa

I have first heard about the Villa from a blog (I don't know which one, see all the sources at the end). Then I have researched it, and found more and more intriguing details about it: it is a bizarre cultural theme park, Singapore is not all glitzy malls and manicured lawns, it has a dilapidated side as well. Other words to describe it: out of place, perplexing, gory, somewhat gaudy, mystical, source of nightmares, but also: fond memories, a bit run down, fascinating, unique, artistic statues, stories of legends and folklore, our country's heritage... So I had to see it for myself.

Haw Par Villa (虎豹別墅,Hǔ Bào Biéshù) is a theme park, on the south shore of Singapore (originally right on the sea, now looking on the Pasir Panjang terminal on reclaimed land). It contains over 1,000 statues and huge dioramas, showing scenes from Chinese mythology, folklore, legends, history and Confucianism. It was built in 1937, by Burmese-Chinese entrepreneur and philanthropist Aw Boon Haw (1882-1954) for his brother Aw Boon Par (1888-1944). Their father, Aw Chu Kin (?-1908), had travelled from China, through Singapore and Malaysia, to Burma (Myanmar) and settled there. He had three sons: Boon Leng (Dragon), Boon Haw (Tiger) and Boon Par (Leopard). And he invented a herbal ointment or heat rub called Tiger Balm. The brothers have made their fortune through this balm (hence the original name of the Villa, Tiger Balm Gardens). As the richest man in Rangoon, Boon Haw has migrated to Singapore in 1920, to expand his business. He was very successful, so he soon expanded his business into publishing and banking as well. Boon Haw acquired a hilly piece of land on the sea for US$1.95m to build a park, dedicated to his brother, to promote traditional Chinese values and family harmony, through morality tales, and a villa for himself and his brother. Entry was for the people. The gardens were badly damaged during the Japanese occupation, and his beloved brother Boon Par has passed away in 1944, so Boon Haw demolished the villa, but restored the gardens. After his death in 1954, a nephew, Aw Cheng Chye has created "international corners", in the corners of the park, based on his visits abroad. Finally the park has fallen into disrepair. The state has taken over, had incurred huge losses on high entrance fees. Now entrance is again free, and there are restoration works ongoing.

Singapore Sights - Old Ford Factory

Old Ford Factory is Singapore's museum of the World War II Japanese occupation.

Singapore Sights - The last kampong of Singapore

The area, while quite remote, is on the edge of an HDB. (Surprise, surprise)

Musings of an expat in Singapore

It is worth reading this!

Singapore sights - Walking in remote HDB territory

I took these pictures on my way to the last Singapore kampong. This is a pretty remote area of Singapore, to the north. I assume this was one of the last areas to be developed.

Building works everywhere.

Nicer houses. Probably not HDB.

Local news IV

Missing Malaysia Airline plane
The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has sent a C130 Hercules aircraft on a search and locate mission for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane which carried 239 people. (Source)
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has deployed more assets to assist in the search-and-locate operation for the missing Beijing-bound Malaysia Airlines (MAS) plane MH370.It sent two more Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) C-130 aircraft, a Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) Formidable-class frigate (RSS Steadfast) with a Sikorsky S-70B naval helicopter onboard, a submarine support and rescue vessel with divers onboard, as well as a Missile Corvette (RSS Vigour). (Source)
Singapore continued to help search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 for the fourth day. (Source)

Dengue
The dengue situation in Singapore showed a marked improvement last week, with the number of cases dropping to the lowest in slightly more than a year. The Ministry of Health said there were 197 cases last week, the lowest since January 2013, when 132 cases were reported. (Source)

Singapore the most expensive city

Singapore has jumped to the top of the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) ranking of the world's most expensive cities, overtaking the likes of Tokyo and Osaka. (Source)

COE

Certificate of Entitlement (COE) premiums went up across all categories of vehicles except Category A in the latest bidding exercise. ... The premium for cars in Category A inched down S$202 to end at S$76,999. [COE grants you licence to operate a car for 10 years] (Source)

Foreign nationals and vice
Sixty-one foreign nationals were arrested in the forested areas in Punggol during an operation on Friday night. The suspects are believed to have used the cover of the forest for various illicit activities such as vice and gambling. The suspects, comprising men and women, were arrested for wilful trespass on state land or offences under the Women's Charter. If found guilty, they may be fined up to S$1,000.Investigations are ongoing. (Source)

Local news III

Air quality

Singapore's air quality worsened ..., with the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) crossing into the moderate range ... a total of four hot spots were detected in peninsular Malaysia while 35 hot spots were spotted in Sumatra. (Source)

Slightly hazy conditions continued ..., with the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reaching the moderate range. (Source)

[T]he haze may be attributed to hotspots to the north of Singapore, blown in by the prevailing northeasterly winds. (Source)

Singapore continues to experience slightly hazy conditions ... the condition is expected to gradually improve. (Source)

Breach of security checkpoint (border check)

The failure of a security barrier was the key reason why a 65-year-old Malaysian driver in a gold Mercedes-Benz managed to breach the Woodlands Checkpoint ..., even after two of the tires were punctured. (Source)

The 64-year-old Malaysian driver who allegedly crashed through the security barrier at Woodlands Checkpoint and entered Singapore on Saturday is facing two charges. Tan Chu Seng, who is also a Singapore permanent resident, is accused of committing two offences -- one count of acting rashly and another of vandalism. (Source)

Public transportation
Commuters on the North-South MRT line experienced delays in their travel. (Source)
About 1,700 passengers were affected when the Downtown Line (DTL) service was disrupted on Friday morning for over half an hour due to a power fault. ... SBS Transit said it "deeply apologises" to all passengers who were inconvenienced. (Source)

Dry spell
The prolonged dry weather affecting Singapore since mid-January 2014 has set a new record for the driest month since 1869. ... During the month, there were only seven days of short showers that occurred between February 7 and 19, mainly in the western parts of Singapore. (Source)
Residents in the west of Singapore enjoyed a slight reprieve from the dry spell ... as rain fell for the first time in weeks. ... The downpour, however, does not mark the end of Singapore's dry spell. (Source)

The number of vegetation fires early this year was four times more than the same period last year But the fires are just one of the effects of the dry spell. Mosquitoes have become more common too, and one doctor said he is seeing more patients with respiratory conditions and eczema. (Source)

Singapore's water consumption has gone up by about 5 per cent during this dry spell. But for now, Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said there is no need for water rationing in Singapore, if a lid is kept on demand and consumption. (Source)

Tourism

The two Merlion statues at the Merlion Park will be undergoing regular cleaning and maintenance from 15 March to 7 April. (Source)

From March 28, visitors to Chinatown will be able to access a free street-level Wi-Fi network and search for information and interesting stories on the precinct's history, landmarks and variety of offerings while on the go. (Source)

Alcohol

Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam announced ... that liquor duties will increase by 25 per cent to keep pace with inflation. (Source)

Liquor excise duties are up by 25 per cent, and the impact on prices has already started to show.
The government announced the increase in liquor duties as part of Budget 2014 to discourage excessive alcohol consumption. (Source)

Singapore Sights - Fort Canning Park

Fort Canning Park is one of Singapore's most historic sites: Malay Kings have ruled Temasek from here. Later Raffles built the first Governor's house here, it became known as Government Hill and has overlooked the development of Singapore as a trading port. Even later, with the fort being built, it became a military site, being instrumental in war efforts during WW II. Today it is a bustling recreational area with running paths, open-air concerts, and dining...

Fort Canning Park or Fort Canning Hill (Chinese: 福康宁, pinyin: Fúkāngníng, Malay: Bukit Larangan, Tamil: Pokamutiyatha Arasarin Malai ) is located on or is a small hill, about 60 metres high. It is located in the center of Singapore, overlooking the central business district to the south, Singapore river and Clark Quay to the west, and Orchard road to the east.

Cemeteries V - Bukit Brown Cemetery

Bukit Brown Cemetery is probably still the largest cemetery in Singapore, although it has been abandoned since 1973. Surprisingly enough, it was only opened in 1922, but has an estimated 100,000 tombs, in a huge area of about 0.86 square kilometers.

Bukit Brown was named after George Henry Brown (1826-undetermined), a British trader who arrived in Singapore in the 1840s, had his place of residence on a road close by (Mount Pleasant Road) and built his business here. The area was originally known as Tai Tuan Shan (太原山), Xing Wang Shan (新恒山), or, its more famous name, Kopi Sua (咖啡山 Coffee Hill), due to the nearby coffee plantations at Mount Pleasant. It has grown out of an area, known as the Seh Ong Cemetery, that was burial and farming ground for the Ong clan, and was owned from 1872 by three rich Hokkien businessmen Ong Kew Ho (undetermined-1889), Ong Ewe Hai (1830-1889) and Ong Chong Chew (undetermined). The Ong cemetery was expanded as public burial ground for the early Chinese community in 1922.

This cemetery is also close to a nice residential area.

 

 

Singapore Sights - An affluent neighborhood

On my way to and back from the Japanese Cemetery, I had to go through this neighborhood. No comments beyond that I was impressed!

Cemeteries IV - Japanese Cemetery

The Japanese Cemetery at Chuan Hoe Avenue.

The cemetery is probably the largest burial ground for Japanese outside of Japan, but definitely the largest in South East Asia. It is reportedly the resting place for an estimated 10,000 war dead. On grounds of 29,359 sq meters there are 910 graves, which hold the remains of Japanese prostitutes, civilians, soldiers and convicted war criminals executed at Changi Prison.

Singapore Sights - Commonwealth housing estate

This is an older HDB estate, apparently one of the oldest. It was built between 1960 and 1967. These houses were known as Chup Laus, that is, ten-storey houses in an old housing estate. These ones, specifically Blocks 74 to 80 of Commonwealth Drive (very close to Commonwealth MRT station) were condemned, or put in a nicer way, earmarked for the Selective En Bloc Replacement Scheme in 2008. As part of the scheme residents have moved into replacement flats and the area reportedly looks like a ghost town. That was all I needed to know and I went for a visit.

Although parts of it indeed look like a ghost town...

Singapore Sights - An old part of town

Right off North Bridge Road (and close to St Andrew's Cathedral and City Hall), and on my way to Fort Canning Park, close to the intersection of Hill and Coleman streets...

Quirky Singapore XV - Pole drying

A very familiar sight at HDBs is clothes drying on poles.

Singapore Sights - Ang Mo Kio and Bishan Ang Mo Kio Park

Ang Mo Kio is a mature public housing estate, i.e. HDB disctrict. It was planned in 1971 as a small residential estate for an industrial site for motor workshops that got relocated from the city. In 1973 it was earmarked to become the 7th housing town in Singapore, with six neighborhoods. The site was covered with hills, swamps, forests and farms. It was planned in a gridiron pattern (main streets run at right angles to each other). It was the first estate to be designed in metric dimension (rather than the imperial system). It was the first to offer 5 room flats. It is the first (and still the only one) to have an HDB with a round/circular plan. And one more piece of trivia: it is not known what Ang Mo Kio stands for, in Hokkien it can mean tomatoes, foreigner's bridge, or concrete bridge.

Singapore Sights - Geylang

Geylang is yet another district of Singapore that is famous for its eateries. And its prostitutes.

(Important notice. To me Geylang is Geylam, don't ask me why. I tried to cull out my name for the area, but if I haven't caught all of them, be aware that Geylam is a typo, and the correct spelling is Geylang!)

Now, that the covered walkways are not such novelties for me anymore, I could pay attention to other things. These smaller and larger shrines crop up ALL the time in Geylang. I think I saw similar shrines in Little India, but not in Chinatown. Even tough they look very red, have lions and joss sticks. All in all, I don't know which religion they belong to...perhaps not even one.

 

Singapore Sights - Kallang

I have wanted to explore the other side of Rochor river, the area north of the Kallang river. You might remember, that I have shown you the Rochor river from one side already (here), when I have walked the length of the North and South Bridge Roads. Now I have gone to the other side.

This is one of my favorite residential buildings in the area. I wonder if this is HDB as well. Probably not :)

This picture also shows a bridge over the Rochor river.

Cemeteries III - Kranji

Kranji State Cemetery (officially the Kranji Commonwealth War Cemetery) is very close to the Kranji MRT station, which is right next to Singapore's racecourse, the Singapore Turf Club.

 

 

Singapore Sights - Holland Village

I have arrived to Buena Vista MRT station and walked.