Last Muse of 2008, First Muse of 2009

I have a habit of writing the unhappy post first so that it will be hidden by the happy posts published later and my blog will not start with a sad beginning. The problem is such post tends to be difficult to write and I ended up having a backlog. In the end, I had to release my Xmas break posts first else I get an overflow error haha.

Anyway I don't remember what made me melanholic already. Losing my camera spare battery was one and for that I hovered between "I must have done something bad and this is my punishment" to "this was taken to protect me from losing more precious stuff". It is the same déjà vu I had when I dropped my hdd. Anyway I bought the spare already so one less depressing thought.

Then spring cleaning always brings back all kinds of memories and feelings. But I'm done with it technically speaking (don't know where I hid those stuff, next year then remember haha). I remembered stoning in FB might add on the misery too. Then those gatherings of all kinds will accentuate the out of place feeling. However is weird that once I voice out my displeasure, something will happen to rectify it and motivate me to keep in contact with them. Frankly speaking, I have to admit FB is useful as it updates me about these people without too much an effort, being the ever curious me I supposed.

Oh did I mention that as 2009 starts peeking into my horizon, I became more unease and lost about myself. I had a few clashes, became irritable and doubtful, and was in trance most of the time. Thus I was amazed that I managed to cover my agenda for the Xmas mini break - temples, Pulau Ubin, Changi, Southern Ridge, Administration (taking leave on a working day can make one's day productive) and spring clean. Only missed out the museums (covering in 2009), Keppel Bay and Sentosa / Labrador Park (might do them in the same day, needs further research).

I had also watched too much love stories - Barbie as island princess, A walk to remember (re-watched.. still love it lots), Cape 7 and 100% Senorita (QE yeah!). I started to wonder if one should get terminal illness to experience love in its truest form. Because only then one will be more daring to fight for what she wants due to time constraint. Also they will live life to the fullest and treasure each other. Crap! What about your parents and others especially the atrociously expensive healthcare charges.

It's been more than a year. I feel like Li-Ann. Times I feel foolish missing and thinking. Times I make myself busy to preoccupy my mind. I guess that is one reason I don't want to see 2009.

The other more pressing issue probably is money. And when I worry too much, I turn calculative for meagre amounts. I guess I need to figure something out. As what my friend analysed, I don't feel too hopeful about 2009.

GA, I miss you. Oh and really grateful for the good weather during the Xmas mini break.

Without suffering, there will be no compassion
- From A Walk To Remember

逃避未必躲得过， 面对.不一定最难受，转身不一定最软弱
- 100% Senorita

Maybe that will enlighten me for 2009 haha.

While on the topic of "世界上最遥远的距离" because of 100% Senorita, I found this paragraph

世界上最遥远的距离
不是生与死的距离
而是我站在你面前 你不知道我爱你

世界上最遥远的距离
不是我站在你面前 你不知道我爱你
而是爱到痴迷 却不能说我爱你

世界上最遥远的距离
不是我不能说我爱你
而是想你痛彻心脾 却只能深埋心底

世界上最遥远的距离
不是我不能说我想你
而是彼此相爱 却不能够在一起

世界上最遥远的距离
不是彼此相爱 却不能够在一起
而是明知道真爱无敌 却装作毫不在意

世界上最遥远的距离
不是瞬间便无处寻觅
而是尚未相遇 便注定无法相聚

世界上最遥远的距离
不是 我就站在你面前 你却不知道我爱你
而是 我就站在你面前 你却听不到我说 我爱你

世界上最遥远的距离
不是 你听不到我的倾诉 我爱你
而是我永远都没有机会对你倾诉

and CL's contribution
世界上最遥远的距离
就在眼前，但永远都感觉不到

lastly my contribution
世界上最遥远的距离
是刻意制造的距离，存心逃避的意志

And shucks I did not sleep through to 2009, I got glued to 100% Senorita. Well either way, I find myself alive in 2009 so I guess I just have to figure out a way to survive 2009 (preferably in a way I like haha). March on!

The Art of Being Well

Source: Email
1)...Speak your feelings.
Emotions and feelings that are hidden, repressed, end in illnesses as: gastritis, ulcer, lumbar pains, spinal. With time, the repression of the feelings degenerates to the cancer. Then, we go to a confidante, to share our intimacy, ours "secret", our errors! The dialogue, the speech, the word, is a powerful remedy and an excellent therapy!

2)...Make Decisions.
The undecided person remains in doubt, in anxiety, in anguish. Indecision accumulates problems, worries and aggressions. Human history is made of decisions. To decide is precisely to know to renounce, to know to lose advantages and values to win others. The undecided people are victims of gastric ailments, nervous pains and problems of the skin.

3)...Find Solutions.
Negative people do not find solutions and they enlarge problems. They prefer lamentation, gossip, pessimism. It is better to light a match that to regret the darkness. A bee is small, but produces one of the sweetest things that exist. We are what we think. The negative thought generates negative energy that is transformed into illness.

4)...Don’t Live By Appearances.
Who hides reality, pretends , poses and always wants to give the impression of being well. He wants to be seen as perfect, easy-going, etc. but is accumulating tons of weight. A bronze statue with feet of clay. There is nothing worse for the health than to live on appearances and facades. These are people with a lot of varnish and little root. Their destiny is the pharmacy, the hospital and pain.

5)...Accept.
The refusal of acceptance and the absence of self-esteem, make us alienate ourselves. Being at one with ourselves is the core of a healthy life. They who do not accept this, become envious, jealous, imitators, ultra-competitive, destructive. Be accepted, accept that you are accepted, accept the criticisms. It is wisdom, good sense and therapy.

6)...Trust.
Who does not trust, does not communicate, is not opened, is not related, does not create deep and stable relations, does not know to do true friendships. Without confidence, there is not relationship. Distrust is a lack of faith in you and in faith itself.

7)...Do Not Live Life Sad.
Good humor. Laughter. Rest. Happiness. These replenish health and bring long life. The happy person has the gift to improve the environment wherever they live. “Good humor saves us from the hands of the doctor". Happiness is health and therapy.

Bflygal's comments:

I know that I don't follow all 7 points... I know that I still walled myself up
I know that I have a lot of doubts and questions to ask... to ask... to ask...
I know that I still cannot face 2009 because I am still clueless

and I know that this picture below is 1 month too early but I like the 4 words - 牛轉乾坤... because at the end even though I have no faith in 2009, I still wish that 2009 will be a good year to all my friends whom I know, whom I hold dear. I really wish happiness to all... and I have to find my courage to face 2009, to find the path GA decreed for me....

失戀與患癌症一樣，會有四個步驟的反應。
首先，是痛哭。
第二，是憤怒，否認事實。
接着，絕望消沉。
最後，可憐不幸的當事人，不是死亡，就會康復
《四部曲》 - 亦舒
--> If you are forlorn in love, does any of the stage applies to you? (I vaguely remember hearing an attendant stating why I look so sad when I was walking out that day... and I wondered why... Some did not got to any of the first 3 stages and ended up at the last stage... I find that none of the stage suits me.. but with reference to him, probably 憤怒 except I have no right to be angry at all...)

Life is like a cup of tea.
You sit by the side of the window, lift the cup and take a careless sip,
Only to realize, somebody forgot to put the sugar.
Too lazy to go for it, you somehow struggle through the sugarless cup.
Until you discover un-dissolved sugar crystal sitting at the bottom...
Source: Web
--> Who is that someone? If is a waiter, does it mean you should never assume they will stir for you? Or should you make a habit to stir before you drink? Or is it this tells you that sometimes the things you are looking for exists but is hidden from your present view. But what if you had went to get the sugar, will your tea turned out sweeter than expected? And in life, does that mean you got more than you bargained for? Shucks I'm going crazy over a short para??

Happy 牛 Year

☆╭┐┌╮☆°．﹒
╭┘└┘└╮∴°☆°
└┐．．┌┘─╮∴°
╭┴──┤牛轉 ├╮
│ｏ　ｏ│乾坤 │●°
╰┬──╯　 　│ ∴°﹒
☆ ˍ|ˍ/ˍˍˍˍ/∴☆．

Really hope when CNY comes, the bull year will 牛轉乾坤 for all good tidings to happen...

Internal Tourist - Southern Ridge

Travel Details:
Nearest MRT: Harbourfront MRT Station
Beside Vivocity (Shopping), Harbourfront (Shopping)


Still remember in May 2008, Southern Ridge officially opened. At that time, news talked about it. Reporters wrote about their experience and the map. And I kept the article telling myself I will visit it soon. The soon is today haha. My friend was commenting I kept the articles for 6 months and I reasoned is to let the crowd die "p. (Psst, I might keep the article till Labrador Park and such is completed too and that will be my next trek project in SG.)

This southern portion of the island loop (also known as the Southern ridges) spans a total distance of 9km from Mt Faber via Harbour Front and ending at West Coast Park, (claimed by the May 11th 2008 Straits Times article).

I took the first train (Saturday's first train is 5.30 a.m.) to Harbourfront. We wanted to start early else once the sun is up, the trek will get tiring. But we were too early and



the new Marang Trail (Exit D at MRT), which is named after the small slip road called “Marang road” just off Telok Blangah road, was just too dark and scary for the 2 of us. Plus we forgot to bring torchlight (didn't expect to, I brought swiss knife though and my friend kidded for self defence ah haha).

So instead of a quick 10-15mins climb up gravel and wooden staircases right up to Mt Faber, we went by a longer detour up the hill roads from the Faber lodge area (Mt Faber Road).

Once up the Mount Faber hill, we were greeted with an astonishing sea view. Unfortunately the low light and my unstable hand made me unable to capture any pretty photos.


We passed by a ship like chinese food restaurant, the Jewel box (aka cable care station) and several good views of the surrounding Telok Blangah residences, Keppel port as well as the distant view of the central business district.

But my greatest treasure was to catch the sunrise.

We stood there seeing the sun slowly rise steathily. Awesome view.


While seeing my sunrise photos, I was thinking about my friend's new year day where he caught the sunrise in Japan. And I was thinking how significant it was as it was the first sunrise of 2009 and I kinda envy him till another friend reminded me that sunrise of that day is the same as sunrise of any day. Indeed she reminded me to treasure my present, and that this sunrise photo is just as precious as the new year day.  (Coincidentally keeper was telling me that human are the only creatures that think too much.  We think about the past and the future, and neglected the present... unlike the animals... hmm... ) (Just had too add, mum commented that while this photo is nice, the photographer aka me is stupid because sunrise should take when the sun was coming out of the horizon.. but then i did not know there is such a good spot to watch sunrise then.. next trip?  abit crazy tho coz I will prob need a car to reach there bright and early)


Anyway after staring too much at the sun that my eyes hurt, we marched on towards Henderson Wave.


Henderson Waves bridge, so called the Singapore’s tallest “over head bridge” or pedestrian bridge spans the top most peaks of Mt Faber and Telok Blangah hill and peaks at a maximum height of about 77.18m above sealevel according to the labeled markers lined on the bridge decks.


The bridge floor is made entirely of wooden timber and the design is very unique as the timber spans all the way up the guardrails and positioned in such a way they can be benches too.

After the Henderson Bridge, we passed by Telok Blangah Hill’s mini forest walk and Telok Blangah Hill Park to the Terrace gardens. I forgot that this is one place I wanted to visit and continued my journey. A mistake and the reason why we had to walk back when I realised it at Reflections at Bukit Chandu.


The forest walk is not a typical walk in the forest. It is a 2km walk consisting of a series of interlinking grated steel walkways joined together to form a continuous linked hilltop walkway towering over the tree canopy tops. Thus we started off at the peak of Telok Blangah hill park and slowly descended down the hill, ending at Alexandra road with the Alexandra Arch Bridge.

Alternatively you could use the old earth trail which is quicker than those zig-zagging inter-twining linkways. I took that on the way back because was tired already haha. Another alternative if you are halfway through the steel walkway is the access stairwells to minimise the zig-zagging.


The Alexandra Arch Bridge that spans across Alexandra road which will eventually leads to Hort Park. This bridge lights up during the evening.  Quite a lovely sight then.  Hmm to visit?  Nah my camera probably cannot do it justice.


Hyderabad’s Hort Park. The place I wanted to be for a guided tour. However I was an hour too early and quite tired by the time and decided to just explore on my own.

Details of the guided tour:
Date: Every last Saturday of the month
Time: 10.00am – 11.30 am
Venue: Register at Visitor Information Counter @ HortPark - The Gardening Hub

The hort in “hortpark” stands for horticulture, which derives from the Latin hortus meaning a ‘garden’ space. Opened on the 10th May 2008 and located right next to an industrial neighborhood and CL's workplace... lucky gal!


The center’s vast manicured lawn.  Very picturesque.  Oh did I mentioned that for my adventures these few days, I felt like I'm reckeeing wedding favourite spots haha.  But admit it, wedding business is the last business I want to be involved in... In fact after the last 2 weddings I been, I really felt I should reject all wedding invites already.  Put me alone in nature, I can survive and loved the solitude.  Put me alone in a banquet and you can just kill me... For the first time, I left 2 weddings right after the photo... the first one because I drove and wanted to leave before the queue builds up (Oh and actually I quite like the drive to Orchard, I'm building my confidence haha... came up with a theory that at least in SG, even if I get lost, the sights are still familiar so I will be fine but when I'm overseas, I will be doubly lost so I must learn how to cope.. and yes I did got lost on the way back, not surprised right haha)


The Bamboo Labyrinth and my favourite spot.  A tranquil quiet area enclosed with a grove of bamboos.



And on the floor lays the Path of Life... the Path of 3 Cs
1. Confrontation
2. Convergence
3. Closure

And when you exit out of the labyrinth, all your worries are thrown away.  My friend tried to do that.  As for me, I kidded with her that I went in with no worries so I left with no worries haha.  Coz I was preoccupied taking photo, no time to think if I have worries "p.


The Fantasy Garden where you can catch the characters from The Wizard of Oz.  This is Dorothy if I'm not mistaken.  Tin Man, the Lion and Scarecrow were around too plus another character with a doggie...


The Recycling Garden... where most items were just used to grow plans.  It reinforces the concept of 3Rs - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle  though I felt the attempt is quite feeble.



At the end of the walk at HortPark, there are six prototype glasshouses.  I like the look of them, filled with various plants.  Seems very... fabalous haha.

Thus ended our leisurely walk around the park and begun our trecherous mud track up towards Kent Ridge park where the tree top canopy walk resides.


The price of being discovered... the destruction of nature works.
If I'm harsh, I will say if you are lazy, don't trek in the first place.  Because you were lazy to go the zig-zag path, you chose to make your own straight pah and killed the innocent grass.  Sighz.  Oh and the Canopy walk is in the back of the photo.


We rested at Reflections at Bukit Chandu.  A moument to remember our heroes... as what the slate state:

If we do not remember our heroes,
we will produce no heroes.
If we do not record their sacrifices,
their sacrifices would have been in vain...
the greatest strength we have as a people is our common memories of the past
and our common hopes for the future...
For without those memories,
the next generation will not have the fighting spirit to carry on.
- BG (NS) George Yeo at the launch of SCCI publication, "The Price of Peace", 21st June 1997

We decided to skip the Kent ridge heritage trail as I couldn't figure out how to link from here to the Kent Ridge park itself. So instead we


walk back to the Terrace Garden, the place most commonly used for filming, the place I always wondered about when I used to watch TCS show.  I think my day had been a rewarding one...


that is till I see the monkeys at Henderson Wave Bridges.. hmm... heard they were regular monkeys that are commonly sighted.... Wow, that was a bonus and definitely not in my checklist of the day hahah...


After 6 hours of trekking, it was time for lunch and when my friend aked me where I would like to satiated my appetite, Marche - Rosti!  No second thoughts.. been craving it for a very long time haha.

The day was supposed to end with me going to the gym but I figured 6 hours of walking is enough exercise for me and I headed home and sleep.  Afterall I still had 2 more days of xmas break then of which for one day, I enjoyed myself in my friend's house (remember the one with the fabalous swimming pool view haha).  Then the house was yet to be furnished with no lighting.  Finally got a chance to visit her (consider a xmas gathering with the others SOCians) and to see the pool in day view.  But I did not take any photo this round because it is a bit too obvious "p.  My last day of xmas break was spent settling administrative stuff (visited a total of 3 financial related offices that day with financial worries weighing heavily in my mind). Phew!

Related Posts:

Internal Tourist - Wheelies and the rest
Internal Tourist - Club
Internal Tourist - Temples
Internal Tourist - Palau Ubin and Changi
Internal Tourist - Southern Ridge
Internal Tourist - Museums
Internal Tourist - Arts
Internal Tourist - Arts Part 2
Internal Tourist - Asian Civilisation Museum

Internal Tourist - Pulau Ubin & Changi

Travel Details:
Nearest Bus Interchange: Changi Terminal (Take 29)
Take a bumboat from Changi Jetty (Jetty is near the Changi Village Hawker Centre) to Ubin Jetty

Costs: SGD 2.50 / pax ( + SGD 2.00 if include bicycle)
Note: Bumboat usually leave when they have about 12 persons


I kept hoping for good weather on xmas day especially since xmas eve was rainy. And while there was a drizzle in the morning, I have to admit the weather is perfect (not too sunny, not rainy). Thank you.

The boats usually leave when they have about 12 persons else will have to wait awhile. I was wondering if there are people heading to Pulau Ubin on Xmas eve, and considering both trips, I did not need to wait long, I guess you know the answer haha.


Reached Ubin Jetty. This is the boat I took.


Pulau Ubin. More description here:

Shaped like a boomerang, Pulau Ubin (Granite Island) is situated just off the northeastern corner of mainland Singapore. The 1020-hectare island was once a cluster of five smaller ones separated by tidal rivers, but the building of bunds for prawn farming has since united these into a single island. Two other islets, Pulau Ketam (Crab Island) and Pulau Sekudu (Frog Island), lie to its south. Ubin is largely a series of undulating, granite hills. In the early days, granite mining supported a few thousand settlers. Much of the original vegetation was cleared for the cultivation of rubber and crops like coffee, pineapple, coconut and jasmine. Today, abandoned granite quarries remain as picturesque relics of Ubin's history, while forests and grasslands have regenerated to cover up the ravages of the past.

Source: Nparks

Oh and there were plenty of taxi drivers and bicycles centres to rent for one to roam around the island. Before I embarked on the tour, I stopped by the NParks Info Kiosk right infront of the jetty to pick up a free Ubin pamphlet and get some tips from the friendly NParks officers on how to spend your day. (If you want to recycle, you can return the map. It is better than leaving them lying at other places e.g. Chek Jawa *shakes head*)


The Wayang Stage, centre of Ubin Town. Share with you its colourful history:

At one time, before a school was set up in Ubin by the residents, it was a classroom for the kids of Ubin. Even today, the stage is sometimes used to house large dinners in Ubin Town and is the focus of other major events on the island.

The Wayang Stage, however, comes into its own during the Chinese Seventh Lunar Month or Hungry Ghost Festival. The Chinese traditionally believed that at this time, the gates of Hell are opened allowing spirits to roam among us. To appease spirits, especially those who are lonely and have no living relatives, various traditional activities are held. "Hell Money" is burnt and offerings of food and other items are left as gifts for the spirits. Wayang or Chinese opera performances are held, with empty seats left at the front for the spirits.

In Ubin, these traditions are very much still alive. Open air wayang performances are held at the stage as part of the Hungry Ghost Festival. This is NOT a special performance put up for the public, but a part of the way of life of the residents of Ubin.

Source: Wild Singapore

Then is time to head to Butterfly Hill.

First you must pass by the Ubin-HSBC Volunteer Hub (so-called Meeting Point 1 haha)



Then you must pass the Pekan Quarry. On the right side of the road, there is a little viewing area facing the quarry's water where you can see white birds on the opposite shore. On the left side of the road, you should be able to see a little pagoda-like structure way up on the hill. That is a little rest-area in the Butterfly Park.

Thus take the left turning, then turn left again, up a little hill. (Oh and if cycling, it might be tough to get up thus one must start pushing/pulling the bike up the hill)



Cycad Blue or Pea Blue Butterfly? When I first saw this butterfly photo, I wondered why "Blue" because its underside was brown (and I saw it when it closed its wings.) Now with the wings open, I finally know where its blue comes from haha. (I can't be too sure if this really is cycad blue or pea blue.. I"m not a butterfly expert so if I make a mistake, do correct me.)


Caterpillars.. but I'm not sure what it will grow up to become.

Oh ya and I got my direction from the Butterfly Circle.


Oh and more information given by my butterfly expert. The butterflies I seen include:
Common Grass Yellow
Common bush brown
Plain tiger - at the Crown plant
Chestnut bob
Blue Glassy Tiger
Painted Jezebel
Common Birdwing (Female) - That was lovely. The female has many variations compared to the male... and it was really awesome to see it though unable to capture it through the shutter. (Probably need SLR + Wide lens + Stable hands for moving objects)

Life cycle of butterfly:
1. Egg (ovum): 2~3 days
2. Caterpillar (larva) - 4 stages (instar): 1 week ~ 3 weeks
3. Pupa (chrysalis): 1 week (birdwing ~ 4 weeks)
4. Adult (imago): 2~4 weeks

Best time to observe butterflies?
Butterflies are day flying insects and thus are active during the warmer part of the day. The best time to observe butterflies is when the sun is up and there is a light breeze, typically from 9:30am-12pm, 2:00pm-3:30pm.

Oh and if wondering where do butterflies go at night or rains?
Butterflies seek the shelter of leaves at night. Most park themselves on the undersides of leaves where they are sheltered from the rain and winds. Now you know why I needed good weather, is definitely not for my sake... come on butterflies should be active on xmas day too :p .

Source: Butterfly Interest Group Nature Society (Singapore)

Oh there is a 大伯公 temple to visit/pray if interested.


The bicycles for rent. Rented one to visit Chek Jawa. I couldn't cycle (totally couldn't balance that day.. I guess is the crowd that scares me) thus had to rent a two-seater and let my friend be in-charge of balancing haha.



If you cycle to Chek Jawa, you have to leave your bikes at Punai Hut.  You can see lots of bicycles parked there! Walk a short distance to reach the information kiosk. If you intend to walk, it is an estimated 40 minutes walk.

Chek Jawa is an intertidal area, with its various eco-systems unveiled at low tides of 0.5 metres and below.

Opening Hours: 8.30 am - 6.00 pm
Check here to refer to the tides.



The boardwalk at Chek Jawa was launched in 2007. Facilities include a visitor centre at House No. 1 with a viewing jetty, a 1.1km boardwalk (Mangrove and Coastal Loops), and the 21m Jejawi Tower with a panoramic view of the surroundings.


As I'm no expert in such area (maybe will try to volunteer here to gain knowledge one day??) thus I am only able to identify the mudskippers


and fiddler crabs

As mentioned, the Jejawi Tower. It is named after the Malayan Banyan (Ficus microcarpa) growing nearby that was as tall as the tower. The Malayan Banyan is a fig tree. As fig trees produce figs very regularly, they are able to provide regular food supplies for all kinds of animals such as birds and monkeys, unlike other forest trees that fruit perhaps once a year or even once every few years. In fact, such large fig trees play a critical role in providing food and shelter, and studies suggest the number of such fig trees limit the number of animals found in a forest.

Source here

The scenic top view.


Oh and this is Nipah. Its most recognisable use locally is its edible young seeds - attap chee. Craving for ice kachang?


The viewing jetty... Quite lovely


and the Chek Jawa Visitor Centre. It is a former Tudor-style cottage built in the 1930s by the Chief Surveyor, Langdon Williams. It was his holiday retreat. The building was designated for conservation in 2003 and restoration works were completed in 2006.

That was our last stop before we headed back. Spent a whole day in P. Ubin, pretty fruitful actually.

Travel Details:
Take Bus 29
Operation hours: 9:30am - 5:00pm daily;
last admission at 4.30pm (Including Sundays and Public Holidays)
Admission is free.

And the next day, I went back to Changi again, this time to visit Changi Museum, Changi Beach and the Changi Boardwalk



Changi Museum does not allow any photography so I did not take much photos here.

Travel Details:
Nearest Bus Interchange: Changi Terminal (Take 29)

Then we continued to Changi Village Hawker Center for dinner. Yupz I chose to see the sunset because Changi Boardwalk has a sunset walk haha.. so I figured it should be interesting to catch the sunset. Made my friend walk after dinner.. oops... well but she doesn't mind.


Explored the beach first since we were nearby.

Nice sandy beach...

So close to the Changi Airport you can see the planes flying ...



The Boardwalk is a 1.2 km boardwalk along the scenic coast connects the Changi Beach Club to the Changi Sailing Club. One passes amidst several heritage trees when on the way to the walk. The boardwalk comprises four segments:

1. Sailing Point Walk: One can enjoy open sea walking on this stretch.

2. Cliff Walk: Passing through verdant landscape, the walk is located just below the hilltop chalets. Viewing decks on this stretch give lovely views.


3. Kelong Walk: This stretch has kelong stilts built over water, giving one an idea of the old Kelong days.


Sunset Walk: It provides glorious views of the sunset over Changi point, with massive boulders working as a backdrop. It is also our last stop.


Can see the ocean current? The sea, the sun... the view...

Source: Singapore Tourism 

Related Posts:

Internal Tourist - Wheelies and the rest
Internal Tourist - Club
Internal Tourist - Temples
Internal Tourist - Palau Ubin and Changi
Internal Tourist - Southern Ridge
Internal Tourist - Museums
Internal Tourist - Arts
Internal Tourist - Arts Part 2
Internal Tourist - Asian Civilisation Museum

Internal Tourist - Temples

Travel Details:
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar MRT Station


Source: Chinese Temples

It all started when I asked my colleagues about icon village. Then I realise that there is something interesting hidden in the city too.


Icon Village. I did not expect it to be a tall residential building with a mini shopping centre at ground level. Had lunch in a Jap restaurant there.


Seng Wong Beo Temple is dedicated to the Cheng Huang, the patron deity that protects the city and is responsible for guiding the dead into the underworld. Thus, what makes it different from other temples is it conducts ghost marriage.

According to Taoist belief, the rules in Hell permit only the married to eat at the table. Children and the unmarried could only eat under the table. For that reason, the spirit of miscarried foetuses and the unmarried would not be able to receive offerings made on family altars. A ghost marriage has to be conducted to upgrade their status and meal tickets in Hell.

Ghost marriages are usually conducted when the dead appear to their living relatives, seeking their help to find them a match. Though rituals conducted at ancestral altars, the dead were introduced to each other. The success of the match is determined by the casting of lots and interpretation of dreams.

Source: here

On the way back, saw the orchid motifs on the flats. Lovely!

Travel Details:
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar MRT Station
Beside Maxwell Hawker Centre (Yummy food!) or Red Dot Design Museum

It was kinda fated the day I planned to visit Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum as I pondered how to go.  Then colleagues brought me to Maxwell for lunch and I saw the museum just at the other end.  Hmm I'm so close to Chinatown.

.
On the way I saw the Red Dot Design Museum and got curious about it.

Here is the red dot. Full stop! (haha)


Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum. I admit the design is very extravagant (reminded me of Kyoto Kinkakuji Temple - Golden Pavilion) because it was asking for a huge donation (45 million Singapore dollars and 27 kilograms of gold for the four-storey building where the tooth, said to be one of Buddha's molars, is kept in a 3.6-metre-high stupa made of gold).

I don't wish to comment on the relics but BTRT is just not your typical temple. The fourth level which house the relic is the most sacred level. Footwear and camera are not allowed. There are 2 quiet corners to mediate. Although I did thought about returning there should I ever be too stressed, but that was before I saw Hort's Park Bamboo labyrinth. (Haha now I envy CL's working place but I know is just too far for me). It was also where I first started the tour because it closed by 6pm.


Then I proceed to the roof, an open area where one can find a beautiful garden and the Vairocana Buddha Prayer Wheel (and fresh air). Due to fate, I had volunteered to help a couple take photo as I felt it was interesting that they will make a visit here. I am indeed curious how many tourists will make a trip here.

More info about the Prayer Wheel:

Buddhist Prayer Wheel was originally a revocable book shelf for the sutras. This cylindrical book shelf had a central shaft for it to rotate, for easier searching for sutras; hence, called revolving scriptures. The revolving scriptures originated from ‘revolving pitaka’, which means turning to read the sutra; and is different from ‘reading pitaka’. ‘Reading pitaka’ requires one to read everyday and not to miss any words; whereas ‘turning pitaka’ is just to read the few lines at the start, middle and end portions.

Prayer Wheels originated from ‘The School of Shakyamuni sutra, volume 3 – pagoda and temple’ which states that, “those who set up the place for worship, use the knowledge to propagate the dharma to common people, should there be any man or woman who are illiterate and unable to read the sutra, they should then set up the prayer wheel to facilitate those illiterate to chant the sutra, and the effect is the same as reading the sutra”. Some temples build a hall to house the prayer wheel called ‘library of Buddhist scriptures’, whilst others housed them in a pagoda. The earliest prayer wheel in China was found near the Yangzi River, therefore they were popular with the southern temples first; and later spread to the northern part of China.

Source: here

One of the 4 buddhas of the Cardinal Points. Hmm truthfully speaking, I did not realise there is a difference in the 4 pavillions of statues... because I had no intention of doing a close-up photo (I am not comfortable taking photo of Gods, hmm just as I'm not comfortable taking photos of people I guess).  Oh just zoomed in and found out I took the pic of Amitabha Buddha (or Buddha of Limitless Life) of the Western Realm of Tranquillity and Bliss.  Nice, I love tranquility.. thank you.

The third storey is Samantabhadra Hall - Nagapuspa Buddhist Culture Museum where it retells the Story of the Buddha with a lot of interesting facts e.g. 善哉（善成），三界（欲，色，无色），四苦（生，老，病，死）.



Another level down is the souvenir shop cum library (lots of scriptures) and a teahouse for a cosy meal. The basement (which I did not explore) holds the theatre and the dining hall (Five Insights Hall - Vegetarian Sponsor’s Dining Hall). I would like to try the vegetarian food (I remember must pay a token amount) there one day. Why 5 insights?  Answer taken from the site:

The Lord Buddha always teaches us to respect life, take good care of life and maintain long term peace. Therefore, to fulfil the Buddha’s teachings, the Five Sights Hall will provide free vegetarian food to locals and tourists who visit our temple.

Venerable Shi Fazhao pointed out that vegetarian food is not only part of Buddhist culture; but it would eventually become part of the modern lifestyle. Enjoying healthy vegetarian food not only promotes benevolence and prevents the slaughtering of animals; it also helps to promote the development of the harmonious spirit in the modern city life.

The five sights include: 1) counting the amount of the merits, paying attention to where it comes from; 2) thinking of what I have done right, accumulating more good deeds; 3) prevent doing wrong things; 4) right action is the best medicine; and 5) in order to complete the karma of Buddhism, one must take this food.

Source: here

On the way back I passed by Sri Mariamman Temple


and the Jamae Chulia Mosque but did not step in. Partly I remember the Sri Mariamman Temple charge a camera fee so didn't feel like going in already, plus the fact that the BTRT had too much statues that I'm kinda overloaded that day already.

p/s: While surfing, I realised I forgot another temple - Thian Hock Keng Temple hmm.. I suppose another time.

Related Posts:

Internal Tourist - Wheelies and the rest
Internal Tourist - Club
Internal Tourist - Temples
Internal Tourist - Palau Ubin and Changi
Internal Tourist - Southern Ridge
Internal Tourist - Museums
Internal Tourist - Arts
Internal Tourist - Arts Part 2
Internal Tourist - Asian Civilisation Museum