Flower Dome

Beauty of Chinese Character: 忠- Loyal

I find Chinese characters really amazing. It shows the wisdom of our Chinese ancestors. In the Chinese character 忠 for example, it's made up of two other Chinese characters namely 中(centre) and 心(heart). 忠 means loyal or you are the centre of my heart.

Mulan the Movie

I was initially reluctant to watch Mulan (花木兰), a movie about Chinese female warrior from Northern and Southern dynasties (4th to 6th century AD) of Chinese history. I mean it's weird looking at Chinese wearing ancient Chinese costumes conversing in English. Yesterday, after a hearty Italian meal at Waterfall, my friend and I decided to watch Mulan at my favourite movie theatre at Shaw Lido. 

To my surprise, this movie is quite funny and hilarious. Besides telling the story of how Mulan, a woman with amazing Qi or energy who took her aged father's place in compulsory conscription for the army (every family has to send a male to defend the country), there are also light-hearted moment of her funny matchmaker. Mulan represents the Chinese virtues- loyal, brave, true and filial piety.

I highly recommend this entertaining movie. This is my first movie this year amid COVID-19. 

Mulan is now showing at Shaw Lido movie theatres.

Shaw Lido theatre at Orchard Road is my favourite movie theatre as I love the comfortable and spacious seat.

Reflection

Chinese Reflection by Coco Lee

Loyal, Brave, True from Mulan

Jay Chou Mojito

Currently I'm into this song, Mojito by Jay Chou. I feel like dancing whenever I listen to this song.

Star Gazing in Singapore, Tampines

Today my friend told me that she saw constellation Scorpius from Tampines Central Park. I excitedly went to Tampines Central Park with my Samsung Note 10+ and Panasonic camera to look at the sky. 

Initially I could only see a bright star which is the Jupiter from the picture I took from my phone. Fortunately my friend taught me how to adjust the photo brightness, contrast and exposure to reveal the other stars. Actually I could see the stars from naked eyes as the sky is quite clear today. I'm so happy to see the Jupiter, Saturn, constellations like Sagittarius and Scorpius. 

To know how to see the constellation, you can download the Skyview Free app here.

Thank you LiL for sharing your knowledge on star gazing! 

Using Skyview free app, it reveals the constellation Scorpius and I can take photo too.

Can you see Scorpius constellation? It's between the trees.

Image is from Earth Sky here. How to identify constellation Scorpius. The body has the brightest star Antares and the right side has 3 stars and it has a hook on the left side of Antares. 

From left, you see Saturn (far left) and Jupiter planets and Sagittarius constellation. 

Really Cold Weather in Singapore

Yesterday, it was raining throughout the day and temperature dropped to a cool 25 degrees celsius. I have sinus and am sensitive to cold weather. Thus yesterday I spent almost the whole day sneezing. I slept early yesterday at around 10 pm plus. Normally I sleep around 1 am if I don't work the next day. 

I think I cannot stay in a cold country. I'm the only person at home who don't have air-conditioner in my bedroom as I have sinus issue and prefer to sleep in a well-ventilated bedroom with fan. If haze situation don't improve, I might just install air-conditioner in my bedroom.  

Design Your Own Salad at Cedele

After work yesterday, I had early dinner at Raffles city Cedele. I chose to design my own warm protein salad with grilled portobello, half avocado, cheddar cheese, sous vide egg and sweet corn with lemon mustard. Before eating, I went to Market Place to buy some dried cranberry and seed and pine nut. 

Besides the salad, I also had a bowl of hot wild mushroom soup and organic coffee. It gave me more energy to explore the flower dome and cloud forest at Gardens by the bay yesterday. 

                 I added cranberry and other seed to the salad.

Breakfast Prepared by My Father

Every weekdays before I go to work, my father will prepare healthy breakfast for me. He will cook oat and top it with fruits like banana, raisin and occasionally goji berry, pumpkin and sweet potato. I will also have a cup of milo with coffee. I think its the best breakfast sometimes. 

Singapore Rediscover Promotions

This year, Singapore government will distribute $320 million tourism vouchers to Singaporeans to boost local tourism. Maybe it's a good time for me to experience staying in a nice hotel for a day or two. I have not stay in local hotel yet. Maybe Fullerton hotel since there is good discount now.

My friend recently shared Singapore Rediscovers website which features accommodation, attractions, dining, shopping and tours promotions. I'm looking forward to explore Sentosa again during the holidays. 

Visit Singapore Rediscover website here

Straits Times: Singaporeans to get $320 million in tourism vouchers to boost sector

Sengkang Riverside Park

I haven't been to Sengkang Riverside Park but it is definitely one place I want to explore when I'm free. Jamus Lim did a great job introducing this beautiful park.  The park looks amazing and cheerful. I'm looking forward to explore the scenic park.

Fireworks Near My Home

At around 8.25 pm just now, stunning fireworks lighted up the sky in several parts of Singapore. I was delighted to see breathtaking firework in the comfort of my home. What about you? Haha, my young cousin shared that she could only hear the sound of fireworks. 

Happy 55th Birthday Singapore!

To all Singaporeans and residents, Happy National Day holiday! For the first time, there is no National Day Parade celebration at the Padang or the Marina Bay floating platform. Never mind, this year we'll be watching NDP show online. 

This is a very challenging year for Singapore and the rest of the world. Tourism is badly affected by covid-19 and it has affected many livelihoods. May Singapore overcome this difficult year. Together we Can. I am heartened that many Singaporeans are helping each others. As for me, this year I donate more money. 

What is your wish for this year? I really hope that we don't have to wear mask when we are outside. I'm really allergic to surgical mask and now my chin has more pimples due to wearing mask for almost half the day at work. Hope there is a vaccine soon.

The revamped Count on Me Singapore, 2020. Benjamin Kheng and Singapore Symphony Orchestra at Singapore Esplanade Theatre. Esplanade is definitely one of my favourite places in Singapore. It's one of the places I go to recharge after work on Friday evening. 

The original Count on Me Singapore, 1986

Simple Lunch at Home Yesterday

I had cheese and mayonnaise sandwiches for late lunch yesterday. Now I try to have two meals a day. I'm trying to lose weight now. I hope I can lose 5 kg in two weeks time. Hopefully I can achieve this goal.    

Bright Sun in Fluffy Cloud

I saw this beautiful sight early this morning of a rising sun shrouded in the fluffy rhythmic cloud up the blue sky. 

Free One Year National Gallery Membership

Do you love Art and is Singaporean or Singapore Permanent Resident? If yes, hurry claim your free 1 year membership to National Gallery by 31 October this year for this National Day Parade promotion to Singapore Gallery. Special thanks to my young cousin for alerting me to this promotion by Singapore National Gallery.

I love visiting art gallery to admire painting be it watercolour or acrylic. I love the vast art collection by Wu Guanzhong. Just staying in the art museum makes my soul sing. 

Click National Gallery Singapore website here to sign up for 1 year free membership.

Artwork by artist Wu Guanzhong

Projected Image of Singapore Flag on Marina Bay Sands

After exploring both flower dome and cloud forest at Gardens by the Bay, I walked backed to Bayfront MRT station and saw projected image of Singapore flag on the Marina Bay Sand this Thursday.

Singapore will celebrate 55 years of independence on 9th August this year. Yeah, really looking forward to another long weekend! For the first time, there will be no National Day Parade celebration but we will be celebrating at home by watching performances in the comfort of our home. 

One of my favourite National Day Parade Theme song 2006.