Memories at Old Ford Factory

Formerly known as Old Ford Motor Factory, this national monument located along Upper Bukit Timah Road showcases articles of and artifacts from the painful WWII period - particularly the dreaded Japanese Occupation of Singapore. There's also an actual diary belonging to Force 136's Lim Bo Seng and a 20-minute documentary screening. Admission's only $3.00 for adults. A gem :-)

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JUSCO

Japan United Stores Company has found firm footing in several Asian territories. Pictured is one in Ipoh's Kinta City Shopping Center. But why isn't it in Singapore? Competition from Giant and Carrefour? JUSCOME!

Sungei Buloh Series

Having explored Chek Jawa on Pulau Ubin and enjoyed it, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in Kranji was, naturally, next on the list. Good thing today's weather wasn't really hot (although it was rather humid).

5SMRT bus service 925 takes ready trekkers to the gateway of this 130ha oasis gazetted in 2002 and known globally as a stopover point for migratory birds.

5The Visitor Centre. Entry into the Reserve entails an admission fee of $1.00 for adults and $0.50 for children, students or senior citizens on weekends and school/public holidays. Otherwise, it's free of charge.

5A specimen seen along the Butterfly Trail. There were also a myriad of live faunae ranging from birds, crabs, fishes, prawns, spiders, tortoises, mudskippers to monitor lizards. Cool!

5Relax. This one isn't real.

5Only for service personnel. The others have to travel on foot. Sorry!

Ling Sen Tong

Entrance to the limestone cavern at Gunung Rapat. Like Har Par Villa, there are many statues of gods, goddesses, demigods and demons. Enjoy!

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My First Day in Bidor

After our cross-country coach SE Super unreliably broke down along the highway, good-hearted townsfolk gave us an early morning ride to the main street of Bidor, where we waited for a just-awoken WY to fetch us home. Now, that's the kampung spirit sorely lacking in Singapore!

Off to Bidor!

Selamat tinggal, my dear readers! I've hopped onto a Grasslander en route to the titular tiny town in the district of Batang Padang, Perak, Malaysia - and I'll only be back on Monday. So, miss me lots (and death to streak)!

ArtScience Museum

"The Singapore ArtScience Museum building's outstretched palm roof collects rainwater, which feeds a waterfall cascading through the museum into a pool. At night, the roof is transformed into an amphitheater with skylights and tiered seating." If that's really an "outstretched palm", then the fingers must've been severed. Still, I'll very much love to visit the place once it's open :-D

What's nex?

The newest and largest shopping mall in northeastern Singapore (at 23 Serangoon Central), nex is "at the epicentre of an integrated transport hub that links the new 16-bay Serangoon Bus Interchange and the stations of the new Serangoon Circle line and existing Serangoon North East line".
So it's highly accessible by public transport, it seems. But is it 'shoppable'? Shall find out today!

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A Day at the Races

Happily headed up to the Singapore Turf Club in Kranji expecting to be thrilled with nail-biting moments from SEABISCUIT and SECRETARIAT. Alas, no such luck. As it turned out, it was a foreign race day with only 'live' coverage of equestrian competitions on giant TV screens. What a letdown; didn't even get to see any real horses or jockeys in action :-(

Bottle Tree Park Series

Nestled in Yishun, at 81 Lorong Chencharu (which is 15 minutes walk from Khatib MRT Station), is the pastoral Bottle Tree Park. If you like fishing, paintballing, RC car racing or simply spending a weekend afternoon without fuss, then this is one of the cool places to check out.

5Couple swan paddling at a rather steep rental charge of $9 per 15 minute block (or an hourly rate of $500 for 12 swans). Any tryers? No? In that case, moving on...

5Water hyacinth resembling free-floating colonies of green. Science students, can you list three basic characteristics of these tropical plants? [3 marks]

5Bull cart ride for those too tired to tread on foot. Doesn't cost a cent, but doesn't move an inch, either.

5Stand to drive away a brand new Zotye Trex if you can name Mr. Alex Neo's favorite exotic flora species. Otherwise, wait for next year's Subaru Challenge.

5Tony Roma's for dinner?

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Symphony Lake

One of the central set pieces of the Singapore Botanic Gardens (AKA Pinays Picnic Park) has to be this serene Symphony Lake (shot here with my 5-MPX SEY). And in the center of this man-made lakelet is an islet on which the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage sits on.
The peculiar thing is, there were lotsand lotsa lily pads in the pond, yet not a single Kermit could be sighted...

One Last Spin

After this round(-and-round-and-round), you won't hear me gab (much) about Genting or theme parks - that is, until amnesia catches up with moi. The Spinner (pictured above) was actually on my to-try list when I was there, but this fraidy-cat backed out at the last minute :-S

By the way, why doesn't Singapore have (more) Marrybrown outlets?

Labrador Park Series

Thank Yari for Google Maps, I didn't end up as lost as a shipwrecked mariner. After alightling prematurely from Bus Service 408 along Alexandra Road (opposite NOL Building), there was still about 20 minutes or more of footpath before arriving at...

5Ta-da! Destination Labrador - an "oasis of tranquility and natural wonder". This must be one of the lesser visited national parks in Singapore, or so I assume. ECP, it's not.

5British soldiers loading up a cannon at the old Fort Pasir Panjang. Good to know we now have land-to-air missiles at our disposal.

5Opened by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong on October 17, 2008, ComChest Green is "a haven for all and a place to celebrate the spirit of giving and community engagement". In short, a garden for the old people.

5The public is prohibited from feeding crabs (like who'd do that?), even though the jetty had been closed - meaning there's no access to crustaceans of any kind, anyways.

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The Chapel

Hand-built using Tembusu wood as a main material, the Chapel within the Changi Museum is dedicated to the memory of all internees and POWs incarcerated during the Japanese Occupation from 1942 to 1945. Lest we forget, let's step forward and offer our most heartfelt prayers.

Singapore Crocodile Farm Series

5Or Tan Moh Hong Reptile Skin & Crocodile Farm, as it's called. Located at 790 Upper Serangoon Road (not far from our MMI Kovan preschool), this humble 'hideaway' was founded more than 60 years ago at the end of World War II by Mr. Tan Gna Chia. (It's all research, baby.)

5Like we need to be warned/reminded at all. With a bite force exceeding 5,000 pounds per square inch (340 atm), which is the strongest of all animals, we wouldn't risk anything. (Surprisingly, as much as crocs' jaws can snap close with immense power, they don't possess much strength to open them - and one can even keep their mouths shut using a single rubber band!)

5Two pairs of Crocodylidae members basking in the midday sun. Frankly, their family is so huge I can't - for the life of me - tell a caiman species from a gharial.

5Is this an alligator? I have no idea. All I know is it looks positively menacing. Easy, boy.

*SCAPE ≠ Skate?

embrace the now, but skating's disallowed!

NEWater Visitor Centre

Managed by the Public Utilities Board (PUB), Singapore's national water agency, the NEWater Visitor Centre near Tanah Merah MRT Station is an edutaining one-stop hub for ignoramuses who still insist that NEWater = sewage water. Click here for a free fully guided tour of the premises and be convinced once and for all.

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Navy Open House

5Hey, I got an 'invite' to Changi Naval Base! Shuttling off from Singapore Expo Hall 1 via chartered SMRT buses.

5Okay, so this is a huger version of my pamphlet (*rolls eyes*). Perfect backdrop for photo posing?

5Inside those air-conditioned tentages are model displays and interactive games to engage and entice the crowds.

5An RSN Frigate, but the one we boarded and toured around was a Landing Ship Tank (which culminated in a high-speed water-splashing ride on a Fast Craft Utility from the welldock). Super fun!

RWS = Really Worth Spending?

This enormous canopy5enveloping the piazza of FestiveWalk @ Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) provides plenty of shelter for tourists and big spenders willing to part with good money (for value entertainment?). But is it really worth paying between $32 and $72 for an essentially ephemeral experience? Don't answer that, Tan Sri Dato Seri (Dr.) Lim Goh Tong.

Where's Waterworld?

Honestly speaking, I don't much care for Battlestar Galactica, the world's tallest dueling roller coasters, or its sky-high admission charges. All I want to know is, will there be a Waterworld attraction at Universal Studios Singapore? If yes, will Kevin Costner be there and will he be peeing into a potted plant?