Flamingos

Flamingos are magical creatures, don't you think? These orange coloured feathered Caribbean flamingos were at the Singapore Jurong Bird Park. I took this snapshot when I was there with some friends three years ago.

A Railway Station that was: Tanjong Pagar

 Tanjong Pagar Railway Station (CNB 2011)

On 30th June 2011, the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station was closed and ceased to operate after nearly 80 years. Also known as the Singapura, or Keppel Road Railway Station, it was Malaysian (on a 999 year lease), run by the KTM (Keretapi Tanah Melayu) as an intercity station. But new Points of Agreement between Malaysia and Singapore moved the KTM terminus to Woodlands instead.

Architecturally, Tanjong Pagar is a beauty in the art deco style built in 1932, by Swan & Maclaren. The station has two long platforms, covered by umbrella reinforced concrete roofs.

The ticket counter (2011)

The main building has a barrel vault roof with the main public hall decorated with panels displaying batik styled mosaic murals depicting Malaysian scenes of rice planting, rubber tapping, and activities of shipping, tin mining, etc.

FMSR inside CNB 2011)

Murals on the station walls in the interior  hall (CNB 2011)

The facade of Tanjong Pagar Railway Station (NA 2011)

The decorative features on the facade include the letters F, M, S, R, to stand for the Federated Malay States Railway and four marble relief figures - representing Agriculture, Commerce, Transport and Industry (allegories of then Malaysia's economic pillars). They are works by Alfredo Nolli.

F and Agriculture (CNB 2011)

On 9 April 2011 the main building of the station was gazetted a national monument. So is it being converted into a railway museum now, I wonder?

Visited: 4 Feb & June 2011

Snapshots: Gingers at the SBG

(CNB 2011)

I took the photos of these beautiful, colourful inflorescences/flowers at the Ginger Garden of the Singapore Botanical Gardens the last time I was there. Some I have not yet been able to identify, but never mind, just ... enjoy!

 (CNB 2011)

Heliconia rostrata (CNB 2011)

Musella lasiocarpa/Golden lotus banana (CNB 2011)

Heliconia chartacea 'Sexy pink' (CNB 2011)

Calathea ... (CNB 2011)

Heliconia ... (CNB 2011)

Costus erythrophyllus/Red costus (CNB 2011)

Curcuma ... (CNB 2011)

(CNB 2011)

Musa coccinea/Red torch banana (CNB 2011)

Heliconia psittacorum (CNB 2011)

(CNB 2011)

Hedichium coronarium/Butterfly ginger (CNB 2011)

Heliconia psittacorum (CNB 2011)

These pictures show the Gingers (Zingiberaceae) and other banana-leafed families of Cannaceae, Marantaceae and Musaceae.
@SBG 2011

My Singapura in pictures (2009)

M, B, our friends from Iran, Agha Moandes ('Mr Engineer') Asaad and his wife and I went to Singapore after our trip to Indonesia. Our friends wanted to maximise the time they had in this part of the world, so it was one hectic round of Kuala Lumpur, Indonesia, Singapore (and later Pulau Pinang).

The Singapore skyline, the huge malls, the wide roads, the riverside...

The almost compulsory Singapore River cruise

By the iconic Raffles Hotel

At the Long Bar of Raffles Hotel, where the 'Singapore Sling' was first concocted, and the only place in squeaky clean Singapore where you can litter the floor with peanut shells. The peanuts you see in the middle of the table are complimentary, so litter away!

B at the Long Bar (pun intended).

In another part of Raffles Hotel, beautifully restored.










B getting her feet wet at Siloso, the artificial beach on Sentosa Island. She's the one with the shopping bag, on the beach!

Waiting for the show to begin on Sentosa - the sound and light show, "Sounds of the Sea".


2009

My Singapura: Universal Studios & More

In February 2011, during the Chinese New Year (CNY) holidays, we were supposed to go to Jakarta for a short break. Instead we went to Singapore, to enable us to cross over to Johor Baru (JB) to celebrate a CNY evening with friends there. Then we crossed into Singapore again to spend four days in the Lion City.

We arrived in Singapore by the Firefly flight around lunch time, so I was introduced to the Zam Zam Restaurant murtabak for the first time (I in turn introduced it to my friends when we went to S'pore later in June).  Nearby was also the Masjid Sultan and the Malay Heritage Museum. The latter, we learnt, would soon be closed (for renovation?). The almost compulsory Singapore River cruise, we went on again in the late afternoon.

Chicken murtabak at Zam-Zam Restaurant (CNB 2011)

The Sultan Mosque (CNB 2011)

With Zubir Said at the Malay Heritage Museum. He composed
and wrote the lyrics of Majulah Singapura, the national
anthem (AB 2011)

In Sentosa island, our first stop was Siloso, to walk a bit in the sand at this artificial beach. At the Nature Discovery Gallery we learnt to make lanterns. The child with us (and the child in us) enjoyed this thoroughly. We also went on the Tiger sky tower (the first time for me), and it afforded views of the vicinity, and neighbouring countries.

The Tiger sky tower ride (AB 2011)

After Sentosa, we made a photo stop at the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. That was when I decided that I would make a railway trip in memory of my father, before the closure of this station by the end of June (read my posting 'A Return Journey by Train').

By the tracks of the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station (2011)

Very colourful food at the Station eatery (CNB 2011)

That evening we crossed the Causeway into JB to celebrate Chinese New Year (and birthday of our host). The Lion dance, performed by the Malaysian champion team, was superb. I had never 'fed' lions before, but I had my chance to do so then. It was a truly memorable evening.

Chinese New Year red lions (CNB 2011)

With another guest in JB (AB 2011)

The next day was spent at the newly opened Universal Studios. Of course I tried all the rides. My favourite? Most definitely the carousel!

Universal Studios Singapore - USS (CNB 2011)

Of course I'm grinning. Its not everyday that
I get a 'super mom' award! (AB 2011)

Carousels are magical always (AB 2011)

With the whole menagerie of 'Madagascar' (USS Guide 2011)

Dinosaurs of Jurassic Park (CNB 2011)

Riding or rather, swirling into Jurassic Park (USS Guide 2011)

A sultry 'Marilyn Monroe' at USS (CNB 2011)

The other new attraction is the Marina Bay Sands Skypark, for the 'on top of the world' feeling.

Up high above the Singapore skyline (AB 2011)

Before heading for home, on the last morning, we headed to Robinsons for some shopping. But I spent more time at the 'Ode to Art' Gallery which had the sculptures by some Chinese artists. I liked the tangerine tango coloured figures.

The breaking dawn from my hotel room (CNB 2011)

An 'Ode to Art' Gallery exhibit (CNB 2011)

Another 'Ode to Art' Gallery exhibit (CNB 2011)

February 2011