Empire State Building

New York City has her share of beauteously structured/ architectured skycrapers, but none is more breathtaking than the 80-year-old Empire State Building. It's been scaled by King Kong and blown to smithereens by an alien mothership in the movies, but still stands tall today. If I have a chance to visit the Big Apple, I'll be sure to stop by this 102-storey historic landmark :-)

Leaning Tower of Teluk Intan

One doesn't have to jet all the way to Tuscany, Italy, to behold the Leaning Tower of Pisa, because there's a so-called 'replica' - erected by Chinese builder Leong Choon Cheong circa 1885 - over in Teluk Intan, Malaysia.
Check out the pasar malam there, too!

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MSC

While I'm well aware that a public multi-storey car park - particularly one under construction - can't possibly be considered an architectural marvel by any stretch of the imagination, this half-retired 'flogger' (read: 'fotoblogger') has also seen better times.

Warisan Merdeka

When Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak announced lofty plans to erect a 100-storey megastructure called the Warisan Merdeka in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, which will dwarf the existing Petronas Twin Towers (and many more skyscrapers around the world), local citizens didn't exactly embrace the move as a surefire symbol/testament of their country's economic strength. On the contrary, they protested and even petitioned to have the RM5 billlion proposition canceled. So, will it still break ground and take off?

St. Joseph's Church

Was cabbing along Victoria Street on the evening of The Excursion when the vehicle stalled - courtesy of rush-hour traffic - beside this 1851 Catholic church with beauteous columns and corridors. If only I could teleport instantaneously to the Vatican right then and there.

Petronas Towers - Up Close

The world's tallest twin towers captured with my still-functionable Nokia cell cam. Tried doing the same with my still-considered-new Sony Ericsson, but (even after photo fixing) the end result was a slightly golden look on these iconic 'corns' instead of their typical silvery look.

(Big thanks to the accommodating and hospitable Ah Siang for driving us all the way to KLCC just to get an eyeful of these breathtaking landmarks!)

Elgin Bridge from Afar

From The Riverwalk, to be 'GPS-able'. Taken during sunset before my 'crossover' to The Central for dinner. Hokkienly known as 'tee teow kio' ('iron suspension bridge'). One can spot the (dome of the) Old Supreme Court Building in the background.

Pinnacle - Up Close

A closer look from across the street at the now completed and occupyable Pinnacle@Duxton. Absolutely astounding, ain't it? Had this architectural achievement not won the 2010 Best Tall Building Asia & Australasia last month, it would really have been a great travesty.

Rear Harbor

Forget the unsatisfactory Town Council Assessment Report, Mr. Low Thia Khiang. This5right here's what we call 'aesthetically agreeable'!

Masjid Abdul Gaffoor

A fine looking mosque at Dunlop Street with its many minarets. Passed by it while making my way to The Verge (FKA Tekka Mall) two weekends ago.

Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall

Attended a Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) concert here during my non mihi solum days for a General Paper (GP) assignment. Splendid acoustics in my inaugural exposure to 'artistic appreciation'.

Dragon Gate Inn

One half-expects to see armed bandits crashing out of this modernized 龙 门 客 栈4 through its windows at the hands of a highly skilled pugilist. This is what happens when you watch too many mindless wuxia flicks.

Chrysler Building

Designed by architect William Van Alen before the Great Depression in America, Art Deco skyscraper, the Chrysler, located on the east side of Manhattan, is considered by many as one of the finest buildings in New York City. With that regal glass crown and tapering spire, who could argue otherwise?

The Architecture of Batam

The last - but not least - of my Sekupang series (it's a stretch, I know). Nonetheless, the islanders should be thanking me for being their self-appointed 'tourism ambassador' :-D

5One of the better kept domiciles in this pantai (i.e. beach) area, or perhaps it's just newer. We were told that to own a property here doesn't cost (Singaporeans) a whole lot.

5 A scaled-(down-)to-size pavilion - only 1 of 32, representing Indonesia's different provinces - at the famed miniature park. Very beautifully crafted, innit?

5Golden Prawn 933 Seafood Restaurant (we had our lunch over here at the identical 555). What a great appetite booster, eh? Gotta soak in all that rustic kelong feel!

5The site for the traditional Kuda Lumping cultural dance and 'special feats' performance such as peeling coconut husks with teeth and eating glass. Tipping is welcome.

5An ultra ulu - not to mention squalid - shanty town right at the doorstep of our **** hotel! Unbelievable. People live here? How?

GWC Returns

Since my last Great World City glorification more than three years ago, these Manhattanized buildings have remained as beautiful as or become even more beautiful than before. My goshness, I'm gushing again!

Behind Goodwood Park

...was the venue for our annual dinner & dance (in a dingy lil' place called York Hotel). Donna Daniels teased, the Pussycat Dolls imperson-ators seduced and Iggy Pop made more blunders than Mike Adamle on Raw. What an evening.

Burj Dubai

How does a corporation or country flaunt its power or affluence? One of the ways would be to challenge the limits of verticality by building the world's tallest freestanding man-made structure - in this case, the U.A.E.'s Burj Dubai, which, at a staggering height of 818 m (spire included), surpasses Taiwan's Taipei 101 by more than 300 m!

Cottage

hansel and gretel outwitted the ogre and escaped from this godforsaken place

The Tate Residences

"More than a mere residence, The Tate Residences (at 21, 23 Claymore Road) is a vivid celebration of the finer things in life. A veritable study in the impeccable juxtaposition between form and function, every conceivable detail has been addressed, and re-addressed, leaving you the enviable task of savoring an abode that is clearly a cut above all others."

Ed: Funtustic. Kong kah ooh leng ooh hong. Except that in the course of its construction, it's caused much megrim for Amy, Hasnah, et al.

ION Orchard

Months of hullabaloo from Hougang to Tiong Bahru (it's not intended to mean anything) didn't materialize into much hoopla or balooza when CapitaLand's multi-billion ION Orchard officially opened its doors to the public late yesterday morning. Last heard, there are some parking problems to boot in spite of 650 lots. Unbelievable, huh?

Ed: Managed to take a sneak peek inside the 'coffin' and, boy, was I bowled over big time! Reckon it'll take a casual shopper half a day (or more) to completely cover this megamall.