It's about time

It's about time to consolidate, to gather all that I have written, drawn and photographed into a common space. So here it is, Mable in Singapore is the now my Home Blog.

Masterpieces from the Louvre

Greek heroes were the stuff that gave me a headstart as an avid reader in Primary One. The first book I ever borrowed from the National Library was a book on Greek Mythologies. I lapped up every story, relived the adventures of the gods and goddesses in my imagination over and over again. Years later, I visited the Louvre museum and years after that I have no impression of what I had seen there but I remember that while I was there, it was an experience of wonder and awe staring at all the great works of art that were centuries old.

This exhibition of Greek masterpieces from the Louvre at the Singapore National Museum replicated those experiences. It was a chance visit on that day with my daughter (not the one in the picture) because we both shared the same intense curiosity about each and every artifact. It was a joy to have gone to see this exhibition with her.

It's a pity no photos were allowed in the exhibition area. I must say that the exhibition was very well presented and we were fortunate to have gone ahead of the crowds so we were able to examine each exhibit at our time without the pressure to move on.

The museum itself was something worth exploring. The high ceilings that open up to the skies where you get to see the clouds and rain and play with the shadows on the floor and your live digital image on a wall. There is an art installation comprising a row of swinging chandeliers made of blood red crystals that make me think of Dracula's castle. Fascinating!

Destination: National Museum

Fairies in Chinatown

I did not expect to see these beautiful fairies frozen in timeless gracefulness in the middle of a road divider in Chinatown. It was the Mid-Autumn festival and these life-size figures were lanterns that I imagine are even more beautiful when they are lighted up at night. In the day, they make you forget about the searing heat of the sun and the the noise from the traffic. It would be wonderful if they could move as well.

High post

A gigantic truck rumbled down the road. Curious, I looked out only to see it stop right in front of my house and while stationery with the engine running, this cherry-picker contraption hoisted a worker up to the top of the lamp post where he did an installation of something into the lamp. The driver gave me an incredulous look as if I was not of sound mind as I pointed the camera at his colleague who was oblivious to my photo-taking. How often does one meet people who work in high places? I did.

Cloud characters

A childhood pastime of mine was to look at clouds in the sky with a friend to look for familiar shapes and characters. A bear here, an old woman there and very soon time has moved on and we had to go home for dinner.

What do you see in this cloud formation?

Today's sky was filled with soft cotton-like clouds that seemed to stretch for miles ahead as I drove along the expressways. Against the clear blue skies, these clouds assembled as if a conference was taking place. What were they planning to do? Rain of course but we did not get much of that today except for short downpours on the western part of Singapore.

Cute car

When my daughter stood next to this car for a picture, she was head and shoulders above the top of this car. We came across this refreshing little car in a basement carpark that was a change from the giants on the roads these days. Makes me smile when I recall that a very tall cousin of mine once used to own a car like this.

From countryside to the city

What had I expected to see on the bare branches of this tree? Actually I did not expect to see anything and so it was a pleasant surprise to discover a kingfisher and a bird that I was not able to identify from that distance amongst the branches. Therefore, when you have no expectations, you are always open to the presence of pleasant surprises.

If I were with someone from my schooldays, we would have gone to the middle of the road and taken an award-winning photo. Age has its disadvantages and fear of being run down by the row of cars made me take this scene from an angle that ensured that I returned home safe and sound.In all the years I have been passing by St. Andrews cathedral, I have never ventured inside this place of worship. I was glad I finally did.

Quality time

I had wanton noodles for breakfast one morning while spending quality time with my son. These humble sauces on the table tell you that this is no high-class place but just a small outfit that serves great wanton noodles as well as delicately wrapped dumplings that are tasty and crunchy with fresh prawn meat . Coffee tastes best when enjoyed with a good friend. Quality time spent here too because people are busy with their own lives most of the time. To get together once in a while keep the bonds of friendship together and coffee is the best reason to just sit and talk for an hour or so.

West Coast Road

When you see a few heliconias, you think how pretty these flowers are. When you a driving around an unfamiliar place and see ahead of you what looks like a sea of heliconia flowers, what would you do? I do not know but I happened to be a traffic light junction when the light was red and I did what I just had to do. Random sights, these flowers are not here forever but for those moments I was taking photos with my camera stuck out of the car window, these flowers certainly made my day.

Clark Quay

A century ago, this place near the mouth of the Singapore River bustled with trade. The buildings have been preserved and the place still bustles but instead of the warehouses, coolies loading and unloading goods from bumboats that clogged up the river, Clark Quay is now a watering hole for people looking for drinks and excitement. The warehouses have been refurbished and now house restaurants, pubs, shops and whatever it takes to keep people going back for more fun. Changes took time to evolve. The river was cleaned up, the bumboats were re-located, the dilapidated buildings were given face-lifts and it is a happening place for the young and the tourists. I took these shots last year and wonder if the place still look as it does in the photos.

Construction Site in Katong

Initially, I thought that these two beautiful houses in Katong would be demolished to make way for some faceless condominiums. I was filled with relief when I realised that all the towering cranes were working around them and it appeared that these houses would not be mindlessly demolished. They're probably marked for preservation and thank goodness for that.Take a look at the houses, houses, they the only ones we've got ~ in terms of architectual uniqueness and history.

I would like to know more about these houses but for now I am glad I had stumbled upon them to witness their ability to stand firm amidst the menacing presence of all those the powerful cranes and excavators

City sights

Little India

Bridegroom all ready for his big day. Photos of beautiful brides in a beauty salon.Certainly not the bridal car. This is how our streets are kept clean.
Buying and selling handphones? Just call this number.
Orchard Road

Get a free coffee from Starbucks on a hot day. If you need the toilet, here's one for the ladies.

In a Wet Market in Singapore

All the goodness of a meal can be found here in this stall selling dried goods. Stuff that make your cooking taste good and that make your soup delicious concoctions can be found here. You only need to have the numerous recipes in your head that you have learned from your mothers and the goodies like dried oyster, prawns, squids, scallops, dates, salted and preserved vegetables are yours for the asking. The Chinese take pains to brew health-giving soups that nourish the body and keep the yin and the young elements balanced in our bodies. There is no way that such goodness can come out of a can. I wonder if kids in Singapore these days know where groundnuts are found in the plant. I would not be surprised that if asked to draw a groundnut plant, some kid will draw a plant with the nuts dangling on the plant like Christmas decorations.