Bright cheery sunflowers are back at Gardens by the Bay from 9 October 2026 till 9 November 2026!
This year discover more than 5000 stunning sunflowers of 20 varieties set in Portuguese theme for the very first time at Sunflower Surprise: Garden by the Ocean in Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay, Singapore. Explore one of Lisbon's oldest neighbourhoods, Aflama and discover Portuguese textiles, crafts and Azulejo-inspired designs and later costal heritage through the Costa Nova and a 6 metres tall Belem lighthouse, and traditional Portuguese carrack.
Nearest MRT stations: Bayfront MRT and Gardens by the Bay MRT stations
I notice great changes in the 40 years old neighbourhood. I miss the vibrant wall secular cute design outside young nursery/kindergarten. Also it had been quiet and peaceful in the past. It's only recently, like a year or two that the playground and near the fitness corner, you can hear children screaming and screeching in loud pitch frequently. I mean it's normal for children to raise their volume when playing but nowadays the way they scream are very high sharp pitch and very loud.
People staying above floor is always making noise by hitting the floor. It seem like they are always doing renovations or just want to make noise.
I asked my friends and relatives if they noticed the change in children and also teenagers. My relative shared with me some teenagers like to scream in high pitch in the public bus causing public nuisance! Maybe they need help to release stress. I also noticed some teenagers playing loud music in public bus. Maybe public bus need to put up reminders in the bus that if people play loud music or make loud noise in public transport, there will be fine now. The volume and pitch are much louder now. If parents despite teaching and the children are still screaming like that, maybe they need to seek help. Or are they intentionally creating noise pollution to disrupt the harmony and peace of the neighbourhood? Maybe that's the reason why some Singaporeans are leaving due to the crowd and noise.
Early intervention can help the children to self-regulate. Schools should also remind their students not to scream in high pitch when playing. Parents should not ignore if their children like to scream in high pitch. Parents should be around to teach their children to be mindful of noise level and be considerate of others and not leave them disrupting the peace in the neighbourhood. In addition, if they have teenagers, they should monitor what websites their children visit. It is very worrying that children and teenagers are screaming in public. 阿弥陀佛
The vibrant eye-catching Protea flowers are a sight to behold. Protea is native to South Africa and it is one of the oldest flowering plants on Earth dating back to the supercontinent Gondwana, over 300 million years ago.
I finally visited Ngee Ann City to buy orh nee or yam paste mooncake today as it is Mid-Autumn Festival. I'm Teochew and love orh nee or yam paste moon cake with flaky crust. Since it is the last day, I only paid $40 in cash for 8 mini mooncake instead of $60.00.
I also brought traditional paper lantern and had fun just carrying the lantern with candle inside the lantern. What about you? How did you celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival?
My mum said the orh nee mooncake tasted delicious. I also love it as it is not too sweet.
On this full moon day, may this day bring you joy as you enjoy the mooncake and pomelo with your family. Happy Midd-Autumn Festival!
The Suntec City Sky Garden is a lush oasis located on Level 3 of Suntec City accessible from the lifts at Tower 1. There is no admission fees and there is no need to make reservation to explore the Sky Garden.
Enjoy the beautiful bamboos swaying at the top with tropical flowers like heliconias and plumerias in the garden. You can view an overview of the iconic Fountain of Wealth and the 5 buildings surrounding the fountain.
Just take the lift from Suntec City Tower 1 visit the garden.
Discover more than 7000 lilies from 46 varieties of lilies at this year Lilytopia at Flower Dome set in Ancient Egypt with replicas of vibrant temples and arts. In addition to unique lilies, see giant water lilies like Victoria amazonica and Victoria cruziana grown from seeds by the Gardens by the bay team for the past 1.5 years.
Date: 21 August 2026 to 27 September 2026
Nearest MRT stations: Bayfront MRT and Gardens by the Bay MRT stations
Kevin Warsh hinted of interest rate hike recently. Will local banks also increase interest rate for savers? Banks are quick to raise interest rates for credit cards but slow to increase interest rate for saving account. In Singapore, it is low 0.05% interest per annum if you don't credit your salary and saving for some local banks. I'm thinking of changing OCBC to other banks.
I'm thankful to one local bank for giving decent interest rate at about 1.5% for UOB stash account. At least every month, I have some money to buy coffee and snacks.
I find the following verse from Diamond Sutra helpful in letting go unhappiness. In life, there are times you need reminder or encouragement. Life is life Tao, that looks like sine wave with up and down when rotated. But it is when there is duality that you understand what it means in both polarities.
If you are interested to read more about Buddhism and the Heart Sutra, you can visit my blog here.
I spent some time translating meaningful part of this drama on the life of the 6th Patriarch of Chan, the Venerable Huineng as I find that it is helpful. Please highlight to me if there is error in translating.
Venerable Hui Neng, the Sixth Patriarchof Chan (February 27, 638 – August 28, 713) was said to attain awakening when he heard a verse from the Diamond Sutra 应无所住而生其心. Without abiding anything, give rise to the pure mind.
When the Fifth Patriarch of Chan Venerable Hong Ren explained to him the Diamond sutra. Venerable Hui Neng was "suddenly and completely enlightened, and he understood that all things exist in self-nature.
应无所住而生其心，Without abiding anything, give rise to the pure mind
云何应住，云何降伏其心 When does the cloud abide, how does the cloud calm the mind
佛说应无所住而生其心 Buddha said without abiding in forms, arises the mind
即是说心即是佛,佛即是心 Meaning Pure Mind is Buddha and Buddha is Pure Mind.
他做了一首偈子Venerable Huineng came up with the following stanza when he understood the verse. I think true self, is our consciousness.
何其自性本自清净！What is true self, it is intrinsically pure
何其自性本不生灭！What is true self, it is neither born nor extinguish
何其自性本自具足！What is true self, it is self-sufficient
何其自性能生万法！What is true self, it can produce immeasurable dharma/ideas
From the Diamond Sutra
Subhuti, all great bodhisattvas should give rise to purity of mind in this way: they should not give rise to a mind that abides in form; they should not give rise to a mind that abides in form, sound, smell, taste, touch, or dharmas. They should give rise to a mind that does not abide in anything.
Subhuti, a bodhisattva should turn away from all notions, and initiate the mind of anuttara samyaksambodhi. He should not give rise to a mind abiding in form, and he should not give rise to a mind abiding in sound, smell, taste, touch, or dharmas. He should give rise to a mind that does not abide in anything.
When we contemplate the following verses from the Diamond Sutra, your mind should not be affected by forms which are transient, dependent on causes and conditions.
一切有为法，如梦幻泡影，如露亦如电，应作如是观
“All conditioned phenomena Are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows, Like dew and lightning. One should contemplate them in this way. “
All phenomena appear in the world is a combination of causes and conditions that is temporary by nature. It will pass. There is no permanent nature to form which is subjected to change due to causes and conditions, thus it is illusory. Thus why be sad over something that is illusory. Just let it go and not be attached to it.
A lot of suffering comes from the mind which is influenced by forms like sight, hearing, touch, taste or perception. When someone criticised us, we get upset, when someone own something we don’t have, we want it. We are always influenced by the three poison, greed, anger and delusion.
From the book, Miracles Happen: The Transformational Healing by Dr Brian Weiss, “ Chinese philosopher Hui-neng (6thpatriarch of Chan Buddhism/Zen) wrote, “When we are free from attachment to all outer objects, the mind will be in peace. Our essence of mind is intrinsically pure, and the reason why we are perturbed is because we allow ourselves to be carried by the circumstances we are in. He who is able to keep his mind unperturbed (calm), irrespective of circumstances has attained enlightenment. “
A woman who went through a near-death experience shared,” I realized that life is like a dream”. She wrote, “ When you are born, you wake up into mortality in this physical body. When your physical body dies, you return to immortality.”
I realised what is 无我 no-self as our consciousness or mind changes identity in various body forms in our many reincarnations. Thus there is no permanent self-identity. Do not cling to anger and just let go.
Today on 9 August, Singapore is celebrating 61 years of independence. The success of modern Singapore is inextricably linked to our first Prime Minister, the astute and wise Mr Lee Kuan Yew who led Singapore with his fellow comrades like Dr Goh Keng Swee, from third world to first world. Thank you Mr Lee Kuan Yew for your lifelong dedication to Singapore.
If you love flowers too, visit my Blooming Flowers and Arts blog here.
You can watch the recently concluded Singapore Garden Festival 2026 here. I like the impressive landscape gardens with amazing architecture designs and also intricate penjing.
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I'm currently working part-time in an organisation and I'm delighted to see the most beautiful exquisite pine trees and bamboos! I'm impressed by the effort and thought put into landscaping and taking care of the gardens. Other organisations just put perfunctory effort in creating garden as part of the organisation criteria or KPI. I have to say it's one of the beautiful gardens with unique and exquisite bamboos and pine trees that are quite rare. It's the first time I seen such beautiful pine trees.
This is the third organisation that I joined as part-time staff this year. Actually it should be the fourth as the third was an independent organisation. I learnt about different organisation cultures and implementations. This current organisation has the best culture (respectful generally) and most beautiful garden with creative leaders. The good thing about working part-time is I just focus on the creative aspect of my work and not spend too much time on admin and meeting.
Anyway, I always feel happy whenever I go back early after completing the task and I don't have to stay back for meetings and other duties. Contract with this organisation will end in few months time. I will use the time to admire these beautiful pine trees during my free time. These ancient looking pine trees are indeed a sight to behold.
I decided not to use Facebook account. What is the point of having the account if I can't share my blog or video? I'm also not comfortable giving my phone number and putting my photo to the social media. In a way it is good that I can save time by not spending too much time on Facebook. So do not respond if you see my name as I'm not using Facebook now.
Immerse yourself in a showcase of award-winning orchids at the Singapore Orchid Show. Co-organised with the Orchid Society of South East Asia (OSSEA). This amazing showcase gathers a diverse collection of warm- and cool-climate orchids from around the world at Flower Dome, at Gardens by the Bay.
