Unique Architecture: Parkroyal on Pickering

This unique architecture with lush greenery sky gardens on different levels of the Parkroyal on Pickering hotel and office is designed by Singapore firm WOHA Architects Pte Ltd and is awarded the President's Singapore Design Award 2013, Design of the Year 2013 award. It is located on Upper Pickering Street and is a walking distance from Raffles Place MRT station. When I first saw it, I thought it looked like many layers of cardboard stacking on top of each others due to the texture and color at the bottom. 

Singapore is a small island that is known as a Garden city. This architecture really epitomize Singapore, a land of high rise building( due to limited land) and greenery. 

ParkRoyal on Pickering

 A model of Parkroyal hotel on Pickering at National Design Centre

Topview of the Parkroyal

Exhibition of award-winning designs at National Design Centre, 111 Middle Road. It is 5 minutes walk from Bugis MRT station.

Wong Mun Summ Lectures on PARKROYAL on Pickering at WAF

Singapore Countdown at Marina Bay

Are you ready for countdown to 2014? 3 more days to 2014!

Bras Basah Complex, a Treasure Trove for Art & Design Booklovers

Located near both Bugis and Cityhall MRT, Bras Basah Complex is a favorite treasure trove for arts, design and booklovers. You can enjoy really good price for the wide range of arts and design related books and magazines. Now Popular Central bookshop has increased their Art & Design selection, besides stationery, English and Chinese books and assessment books. I really love their newly revamped bookshop. 

For art & design booklovers, you must not miss Basheer Graphic Books shop which is offering 20% discount on most books. I'm so glad I saved about $20.00 after the discount. Offer ends at end of December this year. 

http://bras-basah-complex.com.sg/portal/

 Popular bookshop has increased their Art & Design books range! 

 Basheer Graphic Books shop is now offering 20% discount till 31 December this year. 

 Bras Basah Complex. The books here are definitely cheaper than those in orchard road

Amazing Time-Lapse Video of Singapore Changi Airport

Everytime I return to Singapore, the first place in Singapore I reached is Singapore Changi Airport. Everytime I see the iconic control tower, I know I'm back home.

FACTS & STATISTICS OF CHANGI AIRPORT 
http://www.changiairport.com/

Serving about 100 international airlines flying to some 250 cities in 60 countries and territories worldwide, Changi Airport handles about 6,500 flights every week and over 50 million passengers a year.

SIZE

Total size of Changi Airport: 1,300 hectares (1,800 football fields)
Number of runways: 2
Length of each runway: 4km

SIZE PER TERMINAL (SQUARE METRES):

Terminal 1 – 280,020
Terminal 2 – 358,000
Terminal 3 – 380,000

YEAR OF TERMINAL OPENING:

Terminal 1 – 1981
Terminal 2 – 1990
Terminal 3 – 2008

MOVEMENTS

Annual air transport movements in 2012: 324,722
Daily average air transport movements in 2012: 889.65

AIRCRAFT STANDS

Number of aircraft stands served by an aerobridge: 92
Number of remote stands: 37

DESTINATIONS & AIRLINES

Number of airlines: 106
Number of destinations served: 250 cities (60 countries)

TOP 10 CITIES*

1) Jakarta
2) Hong Kong
3) Bangkok
4) Kuala Lumpur
5) Manila
6) Tokyo
7) London
8) Bali
9) Sydney
10) Ho Chi Minh City

TOP 10 MARKETS*

1) Indonesia
2) Thailand
3) Australia
4) Malaysia
5) China
6) Hong Kong
7) India
8) Philippines
9) Japan
10) Vietnam

PASSENGER NUMBERS

Average number of passengers arriving & departing per day: 136,738
Number of passengers arriving and departing in 2012: 51.2 million
Busiest day ever recorded (passenger numbers): 22 December 2012 with 180,400 passengers
Busiest month ever recorded (passenger numbers): December 2012 with 4.92 million passengers
Busiest year ever recorded (passenger numbers): 2012 with 51.2 million passengers
Percentage of transfer passengers in 2012: 30%
Percentage of premium passengers in 2012: 10%

EMPLOYMENT

Number of Changi Airport Group employees: 1,400
Total number of staff working at Changi Airport: 32,000

*Accurate as of May 2013 What goes on in a day in Singapore's award-winning Changi Airport? Video from Yahoo

Singapore iconic air traffic control tower

Versatility of Durian

At Ngee Ann shopping basement 2, you can find Four Seasons Durians where there are a variety of durian desserts. My favourite dessert is the durian pancake. They will prepare the pancake on the spot and then fill the pancake with a generous dollop of frozen durian. Each pancake costs about $1.90. Normally I buy one or two durian pancakes to eat. 

How to go to Ngee Ann City Shopping mall?
Just alight at Orchard road MRT and walk for about 8 minutes via Wisma Atria shopping mall to Ngee Ann City shopping mall . 

You can see the price and menu at Four Seasons Durian website.http://www.fourseasonsdurians.com/

Durian pancake

They are quite generous with the durian filling

Durian cakes, durian puff, durian mochi, durian pudding. Everything made with durian

Ee Hoe Hean Club in Chinatown

I really love the unique and beautiful architectures that are also rich in history in Chinatown. At Bukit Pasoh, you find many rich heritage architecture that are still around like the Ee Hoe Hean Club. The remaining buildings are now occupied by many restaurants, spas, offices and hotels. 

Ee Hoe Hean Club was established in 1895 and is one of the oldest Chinese clubs in Singapore.

I found this information at Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall exhibition.

Animated Arts in Singapore Outram Park MRT: Auto Awesome

Google + has this Auto Awesome function where the photos can be combined to form motion picture. I took a series of these pictures at Outram Park MRT station and the Google+ helps to make this look like the series of pictures are moving. Really cool!

Arts in Outram Park MRT: Memories III -Medallions by Wang Lu Sheng

If you are not in a hurry, do stop and admire the arts in the MRT station. At Outram Park MRT, near exit F/G,  there are arts titled Memories III -Madallions that depict local institutions like police and hospital in Outram Parks. I just find it interesting that the artist Wang Lu Sheng drew human heads with unique characteristics of Outram Park in it. 

Memories III -Medallions by Wang Lu Sheng

DNA helix that is synonymous to health science in Outram Park

Singapore Biennale 2013 at Singapore Arts Museum

From now to 16 February 2014, you can visit Singapore Arts Museum for the Singapore Biennale If The World Changed. You get to see art works by Southeast Asian artists on their interpretation on the theme "If the World Changed".

One of the interesting film I saw is by Boo JunFeng who produced a short film of celebrating 50 years of Singapore and Malaysia merger if they had not separated in 1963. There are many impressive works by regional artists. Do visit the museums when you are free. Every Friday, from 6.30pm onwards, there is free entry for Singaporeans.

Singapore Art Museum (SAM) is located at 71 Bras Basah Road, Singapore 189555.

Ticket costs $10.00 for adults however there is free entry on every Friday from 6.00pm to 9.00pm and on Open House Day.

How to get to Singapore Art Museum?
Just alight at Bras Basah MRT and you reach the museum in about 2 minutes.

Exhibitions at SAM :http://www.singaporeartmuseum.sg/exhibitions/index.html

Cosmology of Life by Toni Kanwa from Indonesia. 'He believes that every object bears its own energy and character that influences the definitive form of the artwork.

These miniature sculptures were carved by the artist. There is magnifying glass to zoom into the details.

My Longhouse Story by Malaysian artist Jainal Amambing . His drawings depicted his experience of growing up in a Rumgus longhouse in Kudat, north Sabah. From a young age, the child is taught how to catch chickens, craft food and cargo carriers with local materials and techniques from their relatives. 

'The world change for the children when they leave their village to attend school to learn new set of knowledge. 'The artist feel that it is important that the old knowledge not be forgotten.

About 113 paintings from Wu Guan Zhong were gifted to Singapore Heritage Board. His works were first appreciated and brought by Singapore. The Wu Guan Zhong gallery will move to the National Art Gallery at the former City Hall and Supreme Court in 2015. 

Galloping to Prosperity in Singapore Chinatown

I was exploring Chinatown today and is delighted with the galloping horse lantern design. The side of the roads along Eu Tong Sen and New Bridge are adorned with a starry of golden coinage (ancient Chinese coinage) and herd of energetic galloping horses since next year is the year of Horse in the Chinese Zodiac. 

The galloping horse theme is designed by a group of 19 students from Singapore University of Technology and Design. The horses and coinage are made of silk and wire and are assembled by 100 skillful Chinese craftmen who were invited to Singapore for the event. 

Get ready for the beautiful light display along Chinatown when the street will be illuminated with galloping horses and coinages from 11 January next year to 28 February.   
May next year be a great and prosperous year for all of you! 

For more information, visit Singapore Chinatown official website shown below.

Chinatown Chinese New Year Celebrations 2014 Street Light-Up  (http://chinatownfestivals.sg/cny2014-street-light-up/)

Date: 11 January – 28 February 2014

Time:
7.00pm – 2.00am (Friday & Saturday)
7.00pm – 12.00mn (Sunday – Thursday)

Venue:
Eu Tong Sen Street, New Bridge Road, South Bridge Road and Garden Bridge

'Usher in the prosperous Year of the Horse with 88 illuminated lantern scuptures of horses galloping towards prosperity and countless gold coins suspended along the street. Combining traditions with modern design, be enthralled by the creativity of the contemporary street light-up design.The light-up features a refreshing and innovative Horse theme design conceptualised by Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD).'

2014 is the year of Horse in Chinese Zodiac

 Herd of energetic horses galloping to a brand new Chinese New Year which start on 31 Jan 2014

 Starry of coinage above the cars.

Ice-Cream Toast at Ya Kun Kaya Toast

Finally I had a taste of the ice-cream toast at Ya Kun Kaya Toast. The crispy fried toast is topped with sweet vanilla ice-cream and strawberry sauce.This was a good afternoon high-tea with my cousin. 

Esplanade Circle of Hope from 11 Oct 2013 to 5 Jan 2014

From 11 Oct 2013 to 5 Jan 2014, Circle of Hope by Indonesian Octo Comelius will be on display in Singapore Esplanade concourse. 

"This is a story about deforestation. There are birds everywhere and they try to tell a story about what’s happening to the forest. They meet the children, who ask them why they are trying to build a new home all the time, and why they always seem to be in a frantic state. The birds tell their stories..." Octo Cornelius 

 Children watching helplessly

Why skeleton birds?

BookFest@ Singapore

If you are in Singapore, don't miss the largest Book and Stationery event of the year at the Suntec city which is organized by Popular bookstore. Bookfest@Singapore starts on 13 Dec 12pm and end on 22nd Dec 10 pm. Being a book and stationery lover, this is the favourite event of the year for me. 

I'm delighted with the list of invited local and overseas authors and celebrities. 
I'll be attending the famous Taiwanese author and director 九把刀 or 9 swords talk on 14 Dec which start at 7pm and maybe savvy investor Jim Rogers who co-founded the Quantum Fund and retired at 37 years as I also aspire to retire early like him. 

Click this link to find the invited speakers at http://www.bookfestsingapore.com/about/special-appearances

Singapore MacDonald's Kampung Burger

This is MacDonald's Kampung Burger. The pineapple doesn't look fresh and I don't like the sauce. Just tasting it once will do.

New MacDonald burger in Singapore that aims to share the kampung spirit. Kampung means village which don't really exist except for one or two left in Singapore.

Christmas in Singapore

About a month before Christmas day, orchard road will be decorated with christmas lighting and shopping malls will be dressed to the nine. Although there is no snow, it is normally quite cooling in December and it is the school holiday for the students. Though I'm not a christian, I anticipate the christmas decoration at orchard road. 

Christmas tree outside Ion Orchard shopping mall

Ion Orchard shopping mall

Christmas decor along Orchard Road

People watching street performance at Orchard Road

On Hiatus

Dear friends, I be not be blogging on Singapore for a week as I be in Taiwan for holiday. Will update the blog when I return to Singapore.