Wonderful Sight & Sound

Coming to the end of the month already?  I think I wrap up with happen this month since I didn't blog. I thought I'll take it slow for awhile and not to be so hang up about my blog although I do go in to check every day. That's me. Quite a busy month though, hence I did not spend time to doing my drawing. I set a deadline but somehow other things took over. So how did this month go?  Great . . . celebrated my birthday, my girl's and my church friend too . . . and there is the Easter weekend !

On Good Friday, we had hi-tea at a church care group member's home. Each of us contributed

Smile . . .  You're on candid camera.

a dish. Then I had the pleasure of attending my son's band concert. This is his alumni band from St Andrew's. I truly love band performances and never imagine I would get to enjoy such music again after I left school. I don't play any musical instrument but I love music. My son's involvement with the band from Primary School to Junior College gave me many more opportunities. I attended his past band competitions, performances at the Botanic Garden and Concerts. I'm really blessed.

On the eve of Easter Sunday, I suggested to go down to Marina Bay Sands to watch the thirteen minute light, laser and fountain display called 'Wonder Full'. It is a very nice place to go especially on the weekends to hangout. Outside the Event Plaza, visitors are being entertained by band playing light jazz music and bossa nova. Marina Bay Sands built on reclaimed land is situated in the heart of Singapore's central business district. Great place for entertainment, shopping and dining. You can try your luck at the casinos. For those reading from overseas, don't forget to drop by at this place when you are in Singapore.

The Shoppe

 

Even though the show was brief, it was a delight to engage ourselves in this spectacular display of lights and music. Bubbles were released into the air and drifted around everyone and the children enjoyed that the most. You can go to the link below to see what's it all about. Bye . . . for now.

http://youtu.be/BOnR6IoaAgs

Here is an overall impression of Marina Bay Sands

seen from far and near.

Rejoice, Review, Recollect, Rethink

To a Bright Future 

Welcome to a New Year. Must be wondering why there isn't an entry at the start of the
new year from me. I am off to a slow start. What is the point of making resolutions or a bucket list for this year, when such goals are sometimes unrealistic expectations on our
part. Besides, at the end of the year is about letting loose and celebrating the holidays.

 

Some of us were already so busy with the festivities. So slow down for a minute and take

 stock of what you have done for the past year. Celebrate your achievements & milestones

in your life. Give yourself a pat on the back when you think you have already taken that

first step to get whatever task started. Aw . . no one took notice or encourage you? Don't
 let that bother you. Not everybody could make sense of what you are doing. If your think changing your habits or putting in an extra effort will redefine your future. Do it, keep it going and don't stop. This is what I say to myself about my blog. I only hope I will keep
the posts and drawings coming. Old habits die hard. I have to be discipline I guess and change the way I go about each day. I am glad to have started this journey because I
have learned a thing or two along the way.

 I leave you with this clip to inspire you, to set your priorities right. May this new year,
all your dreams will turn into reality and all your efforts into great achievements.

Mid-Autumn Festival

  

Mid-Autumn Festival this year happen to fall on the last weekend of September, that was Sunday. Prior to this weekend, last weekend Singapore held the F1 night race. September was such a happening month. (Our way of saying that so much of activities going on) This year is so uncanny, based on Chinese calendar. My mum's death anniversary falls on the same day as my wedding anniversary. My mum spent her last Mid-Autumn Festival and departed the next day 10 years ago.

My mum was pious believer of whatever deity she worship. She was a stickler for all the festivals and would duly carried out the rituals that was expected of each festival. On certain occasions she would prepare food as offerings. She would get me to help. There are many festivals to observe in the Chinese calendar. As for the Mid-Autumn Festival it is customary for parents to buy their child a lantern. As the night approaches, a table laid with fruits and mooncakes and urn would be set up out in the backyard to celebrate the occassion. Whenever a festival comes around, it is hard not to think about her. What she did then is greatly appreciated now because I missed those times and not to mention the food.
  

       

So this evening after paying our respects to her at the columbarium. My family headed down to The Central @ Clarke Quay for dinner, as this place is alive with Mid-Autumn festivities. Unwittingly we are back here again and to the same restaurant. My mum would occasionally takeout curries from here for our dinner. The food here is wonderfully scrumptious. I had to recommend this place to my husband on one of those early dates as he has never try it before. Now he would bring his business associates and our kids. It serves Korma Chicken, Beef Rendang, Mutton Curry, Sambal Squid, Sambal Prawns, Fried Mackerel with Sambal which are the main draw. Real yummy I must say.

This eatery has been around for more than eight decades. It started off from a small coffee shop in the 1930s named as Hock Loke Kee catering to British soldiers' palate. In those days, it was a popular chillout haunt for them. From the 1930s to 1950s, it was dishing out western food, until the troops from Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom gradually pulled out. An array of western Sumatran dishes called 'Nasi Padang' were introduced to the locals. By now I am sure some of you would have guess which restaurant I am referring to. It is none other than the 'Rendezvous Restaurant'.

Singapore's Famous Authentic Nasi Padang since the 50's

Located at Clarke Quay Central
    

 Since I bring you so far back in time, let's sit back to watch what was like back then.

Wanderlust Back In Time

When Singapore was a British Colony

     G00d~Bye.  Enjoy . .

Baba And Nonya

The Baba House and Peranakan Museum showcase our island's Straits Chinese rich

heritage & culture. The Peranakans are decendents of the early Chinese settlers

who married women living in the Malay Archipelago dating back to the 17th century.

The culture is a amalgamation of Chinese and Malay culture with influences from

colonial days of the Portuguese, Dutch, British and India. Their traditions, customs

and lifestyle encompass clothes, jewelry, beaded slippers, cuisine, porcelain wares,

furniture and poetry. It is a unique blend of culture. A hybrid and melting pot of

practices adapted from their forefathers and assimilated into the indigenous lifestyle.

To view these cultural artefacts and sarong kebayas worn by the Nonyas, Peranakan

Museum is located at 39 Armenian Street. This museum was formerly a Chinese school

built in 1912. After the school moved out to a bigger premises, the building was restored

 and converted to museum to document the history of the Straits Chinese culture in

general. The male descendents are called the Babas and the women, Nonyas while the

elderly females are addressed as Bibiks. 

       

Baba House

   

The Baba house is situated at 157 Neil Road, built in the 1860s. It is now run

by the National University of Singapore's Centre for the Arts. The townhouse

was donated by Agnes Tan, daughter of the late Straits Chinese leader

Tun Tan Cheng Lock. Over here the visitors step into a typical Peranakan

home and see for themself the living spaces of yore. Be enthralled by the

intricate carvings of the partition screen and bedrooms on the second floor.

It also has a gallery on the third floor that host temporary exhibitions.

    

Martha Stewart was actually here at the Baba House. If you have missed this

segment in her show. You can take a tour of the house with her. If you are
interested in old stuff like me, would be glad to hear from you.

Martha Stewart In Singapore
  

                       

                             ~:oxo:~

  

Down Memory Lane

Walking down any streets that comprises of old shophouses evokes a sense of nostalgia. When was young, I had to catch up with my mom walking down these five-foot ways (walkway passage) with shops along side of it. Nowadays if I have the time, I will pause to admire what the interesting facade has to offer. Each house has some unique features about it either ranging from plain & simple to elaborate & ostentatious with ornamental mouldings. Their ornamentation draws inspiration from the Malay, Chinese and European influence. Their style is very much determined by when it was built and affluence of the owners.  

The earliest shophouse style dating back to 1840s built in Chinatown and Kampong Glam were mostly for male immigrants slogging at our Singapore River. By 1900s to 1940s an array of ornate and intricate designs were introduced to the shophouses' facade. These two or three-storey shophouses or townhouses have narrow street frontages. The interior extends back to great depths. On entering the front door, one progresses through a series of spaces, unfolding different sections of a family home. One of the reasons for the narrow widths of these buildings is that they were historically taxed according to the width of their street frontage rather than the total area, thereby it was practical to build them this way. Another reason for the structural span, was determined by the length of the timber used. Such buildings could be seen throughout South East Asia. In some remote towns most of these derelict shophouses had to make way for development.

There is also a growing concern to hold back part of our personal heritage. Heritage resonates with people's psyche and it's often manifested in homes they had once lived before. Though such old houses may have been restored, with new businesses taking over. A sense of displacement is often felt when familiar places are refurbished. Vanishing trades in the yesteryears have totally disappeared. Their brick & mortar business can no longer survive in the current world of mechanization and technology. Thus, Chinatown in Singapore has evolved into a clean touristy place of interest.

This was the Chinatown I had the chance to experience in the 1960s when my minder (Amah) brought me to her servant quarters in Sago Lane. This lane was home to funeral parlors, coffin shops and death houses for the terminally ill and dying, since the early 20th century. I remembered hearing the blowing of the suona, the clanging of cymbals and chanting when the funeral rites were carried out downstairs. 

While I was doing up this blog, I happen to stumble upon a rare gem to show you what it was like in  those days in Singapore. I don't know why I hadn't come across this film when

I have seen other Harley Mills movies. This short story was shot entirely on location in Singapore probably in late 1966. Have a treat since it is Valentine's Day. I hope you have enjoyed my posts and do hope you'll keep coming back for more.

~:xoxox:~

Pretty Polly  (1967)

~:xoxox:~