Elections Fever

Elections fever had been raging for the past 9 days, and it had never been a more exciting and breathtaking time in Singapore politics. For the first time, I am seriously torn with my choices (I never was!), and until now, am still ruminating over many questions. What do I want for my future as a Singaporean? What should we be thinking about when choosing our government? How can our national identity be solidified further? How sustainable is Singapore in the long term, and who can help us forge ahead? What defines happiness? Simplicity, contentment, being surrounded by the people you love? Or economic growth, stable jobs, high incomes? Do we want Singapore to be run like an enterprise? Or do we want the kampong spirit to be back, albeit in a simpler, less stressful Singapore? 

For those of us with a deep love for our country, we need to truly think about what we want as a future Singapore...and really analyse options from many different perspectives and parties. We had achieved immense growth as a country in the past 50 years and no one can disagree with that. Moving forward, are there more avenues of growth as our country matures? What defines future happiness? Future successes? Future growth? Are there other ways of analysing successes other than material growth or increasing GDP? What about the emotional health of Singaporeans?

On Cooling-Off Day, I had been reflecting about how enlivening this whole GE2015 journey had been. It is an awakening of sorts for Singaporeans, where we are able to immerse in open dialogue, liberal thrashing of different candidates and parties and mass rally gatherings. Most amusingly, such discussions are probably the root of many split party opinions within families and friends!

But I view all these as highly positive signs - that we are able to debate openly, sometimes irrationally, sometimes persuasively, but mostly vehemently. And by us doing so, it merely proves that all of us deeply love our country, that we care about where Singapore is heading, that we harbour hopes for the future of Singapore. And most importantly, that we all feel we can create change and have the liberty to choose. And the amazing thing is that all these rigorous debates were conducted in full respect of peace and harmony, with no violence, physical fights or acts of terrorism that had been so commonly linked to election seasons in many countries.

So I am truly thankful for this journey, allowing us to truly ruminate and reflect in the face of intense, spirited and energetic debates. Never have I felt so much like a Singaporean, even at the cusp of possible changes and possibilities. Never have I felt so gratified that I live in this country, witnessing the subtle ripples of changes that - hopefully - will create a better Singapore for our children, where open dialogue, intelligent discourse and a unified love for our country, exists. Whatever the results are tomorrow, we know that we have groups of passionate individuals who dearly love Singapore and who wants to help the country ride to better heights, however you define those heights. Majulah Singapura! 

"I am not a brave man, but I love Singapore and I love Singaporeans." ~ Chiam See Tong

Up Where We Belong...

I had been in a nostalgic mood lately, browsing through old travel pictures and dreaming of simple days of yore. 

This was a view of what paradise could look like for me, in a trekking trip to Nepal back in 1998. It was inexplicably magical to be surrounded by omniscient mountains, revelling at how the light of the setting sun brushed the tips of the highest mountains, igniting the resplendence of the Himalayas all around us. 

In that space, I felt small and yet contented - gratified to be a minuscule but fundamental chess piece in this gargantuan and turbulent world where all of us have a place and role to fulfill. And most importantly, realising that the most beautiful things in life are free yet priceless.

I hope to return to Nepal, up in the mountains where I feel most at home in, together with the Bees. So that they can understand that true beauty really costs us nothing, except for an appreciation for the natural phenomenon all around us. 

{100 Places}: Botanic Gardens

When the Singapore Botanic Gardens was awarded the UNESCO World Heritage privilege, I was filled with trepidation. When a place I had always treated as home becomes world renowned, I know it will be filled with curious crowds and new faces. Which is exactly what happened. On our recent visit to the Botanic Gardens last week, Hubby asked a service staff if there was any change in their work since the UNESCO World Heritage award, and she said that there were so many more people, sometimes people who had not been in the Gardens since their dating days 50 years ago. I also read that the park authorities are looking at ways to preserve the authenticity and infrastructure of the park in anticipation of 6 million footfall by 2020. Yikes!

But this space is to reflect on the little beauties and happiness that Singapore Botanic Gardens had bestowed on us. It had always been home for us, with our weekly to monthly jaunts there, in various corners of this sprawling park. We love seeing the myriad changes of light in our different visits - the crisp, cool air of a coral-tinged dawn, the happy, yellow sunshine of late morning, the comforting shade of the verdant giants sheltering us from harsh noon, soft tangerine-golden rays of a setting sun that glistened on the lake, the lavender gloaming that made twinkling lights seemed so magical, and the dark, mysterious abode of sleeping trees.

The Botanic Gardens will always be remembered as a place where I grew up in. The jogs as a child with my parents and brother. The picnics with cousins as a kid. The place where Hubby and I brought our dogs to chill and relax before the kids came our way. The concerts my friends and I used to watch, sprawling on the lush meadow. And then fast forwarding to us in the same sprawled position - but watching Big Bee dancing on the same Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage. The breakfasts all over the Gardens - under the protective embraces of antiquated trees, beside the lake, alongside swans and pigeons. Outings with friends. Jaunts and discovery trails with the family. Too many precious memories are created here.

Our latest trip had us exploring a rainforest trail where we were surrounded by tall, venerable trees. Walking in the midst of towering trees provided us with much-needed refuge from the scorching noon heat. I had never hesitated about walking deep in the rainforests in the blazing heat of Singapore, because we would invariably be ensconced in a sanctuary of coolness and tranquillity, without the extraneous need for air-conditioning.

Another recent trip had us exploring the Botanic Gardens in the dark, as we strolled in the cool, crisp gloaming, after a tempestuous afternoon storm, only to find serenity amidst glistening wet grass and an orchestra of hidden singing frogs. It was so deserted that Little Bee joined the frogs in their choir with her loud, booming voice!

In time to come, I hope that our much-loved place will still maintain its authentic and unpretentious beauty, without too many touristy crowds!

Previous posts about Botanic Gardens:
Colours of Nature: The Colour of Drought
Colours of Nature: Strolling Through the Beginning of Time
Colours of Nature: Of Cygnets and Ducklings
Colours of Nature Part 2
The Macrocosm Of Nature
Soccer Babes
Light from the Heavens
Of Old Friends and Gatherings
Breakfast with Swans
Home of the Black Swans
Lazy Sunday Breakfasts
The Elusive Moon
Her Dance Odyssey
Grandparents

Learning At Home: A Magic Picture!

We hardly have time to do home learning during the school term these days, what with Little Bee's CCAs and school work. So, it was a much welcomed reprieve when we finally managed to squeeze in time to do some fun crafts during the June holidays.

This interesting "magical" craft amused Little Bee for a couple of hours! I tried this with Big Bee when she was younger, and she was amazed at the end product. It was truly gratifying when we saw the same sense of wonderment in Little Bee's eyes too!

This "magical" picture changes from monochrome to colourful with just a pull of your hand - what wizardry indeed!

You will need:
Thin card or paper
Scissors
Markers, colour pencils, felt tip pens
Small plastic folder
Tape

Step 1: Take a sheet of thin paper and fold it carefully into 3 equal sections.

Step 2: On the front flap, mark out a rectangle and the finger grip space. Cut away the finger grip space.

Step 3: Open out the card and cut out the rectangle. This will be the front of the card.

Step 4: Draw a decorative border on the front frame. Cut a separate piece of paper that is the same size as one section of the card, and draw your design, colouring the entire picture.

Step 5: Slip your completed picture into the plastic folder with the top against the fold of the plastic. Trim the plastic folder to the picture, and use the tape to stick the back of the picture to the plastic.

Step 6: Use a marker pen and draw an outline of the picture on the plastic.

Step 7: Fold the bottom flap of your card into the middle section. Slip the plastic-covered picture over the bottom flap. The bottom flap is now between the coloured picture and the outlined picture on the plastic flap. Fold the top flap down over the plastic. Grip the plastic and paper, and then pull the coloured picture out. Voila! The picture will seem to appear magically in colour as you pull it out. Enjoy!

Little Bee was able to work on this herself with minimal help from me. She had loads of fun! Experiment with different pictures like a hillside covered with white, fluffy sheep or a bare table top with a birthday cake appearing on it (I am excited to try this one out!).

{100 Places}: Tiong Bahru

We spent an unhurried, languid afternoon in the old Tiong Bahru precinct, soaking in charming nostalgia and immersing in the laidback culture. Quirky shops and cafes sprung up alongside old, fascinating residential blocks and kopitiams. We ambled along its quiet streets and admired the plethora of bicycles all around. We loved the old walk-up apartments that were wistfully dreaming of an era spanning decades of turbulence in Singapore. We browsed in hole-in-the-wall bookshops and had breakfast and coffee in 2 fancy cafes (that were really pricey, in my humble opinion!). 

It was great for the Bees to see another slower side of Singapore, where crowds were elusive and the pace less hectic. Where one can browse in creatively original shops, without the need to visit large, sterile chain malls.

Early evening was exquisite - with tangerine golden sunrays casting a warm glow on the old gracious buildings. It is little niches like this that make me love the varied landscape of Singapore - and I hope that more quaint areas will be preserved and kept in their original condition, without the need to construct new boring and colourless air-conditioned malls!

{100 Places}: Arab Street

We constantly find it miraculous that so much diversity - be it in society or in nature - exists within this tiny island we call home. We enjoy exploring different corners of Singapore over weekends or during school holidays, and even then, there exists untouched places in Singapore where we had not visited before!

I thought it might be interesting to compile a list of 100 places around Singapore which we had enjoyed visiting - and are continually visiting, especially the free parks and nature reserves! I would love to revisit these places for a long time thereafter, and this would be a wonderful way to constantly remind ourselves of the beauties around us.

I thought Arab Street would be a splendid place to start with - an enclave right in the middle of Singapore which feels like another world, another era.

Brilliantly colourful wall murals grace the facades of quaint, old shophouses. Dusty shops selling mystical and nostalgic knick-knacks from exotic perfume bottles to candies right from the 1970s era. Charming hipster boutiques hidden in long-forgotten corners of the streets. Whimsical, tranquil cafes that ensconce us into another realm of time. More importantly, we love to soak in the vibrancy and buzz of the Muslim community, understanding a different way of life that is so familiar to us through the decades.

It is a perfect escapade for a couple of hours in the afternoon. Early evening is the perfect time to visit, with golden sunrays casting a magical glow on the majestic dome of the Sultan Mosque.

Previous posts about Arab Street:
The Arabian Enigma
Ghoulish Glee

The Magic Of England (Part 1): London

Imagine a city steeped in thousands of years in history, of legendary monuments that everyone reads about in books, royalty and palaces, West End musicals and the magic of Harry Potter and Peter Pan. That is London for you.

Imagine rolling meadows of gold, quaint thatched-roof cottages and sleepy villages right out of a fairy tale. That is the Cotswolds and the quintessential English countryside for you.

Imagine the uncertainties of world wars, of the last frontier in England, of centuries-old majestic cathedrals, Geoffrey Chaucer's old English, and the oldest university in the English-speaking world. That is Kent and Oxford for you.

In June, we went on a whirlwind trip of the above places in under 9 days. It was a little challenging with jet lag settling in both ways, but children are adaptable at this age, so we managed to enjoy ourselves nevertheless!

Having been to London countless times on my own for work and with Hubby, this was the first time that we brought the kids with us. They are both huge Harry Potter fans (both the books and the movies), and we are excited to see how they view London from the eyes of Harry Potter. While I am a little jaded of London and its crowds, the girls loved London and all its buzz.

Summer in London was particularly pleasant, with long sunshine hours (from 4.30am to 10pm!) and lovely, cool weather. These were perfect conditions for long, languid strolls along antiquated landmarks that we had read and seen manifold times on the mass media - the Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Westminster, London Eye, Tower Bridge and more.

We cruised down River Thames, admiring the transformation of London from archaic city to a modern capital. We cheered and applauded audacious and sometimes foolhardy street performers on a bustling Sunday.

We soaked in the atmosphere of the Covent Garden market and the excitement of the crowds near the Big Ben. Being bibliophiles, we immersed ourselves in bookstores and searched for bookshops selling old, old books! We also had fun taking the London Tube and comparing it with the MRT back home.

This little alley is filled with quaint little old bookshops!

This bookshop sells mainly first-edition books! How fascinating!

A chessboard for 3 that we chanced upon in Covent Garden. The Bees and their Papa tried playing, and it was a little more convoluted, but so much more fun with 3 persons playing!

We visited the British History Museum and gawked at the mysteries of evolution, largely inspired by Charles Darwin's work through the years. We spent an entire day in the British History Museum because there was just too much to learn and observe, from the beginnings of life to geology to dinosaurs.

The girls were fascinated yet overwhelmed at the same time. We had fun losing ourselves in the colossal and majestic museum building, while wondering how so many British school children can be on field trips in the museum (and all over London) all at once! We wish for as many field trips in Singapore schools!

The Bees looking at lots of stuffed little birds

Finally, what is a trip to London without a visit to the West End and immersing in their musicals? Big Bee fell deeply in love with the musicals in London, and we ended up watching 3! Les Miserables was Big Bee's absolute favourite, while Little Bee was hugely entertained by Mamma Mia, which totally suited her fun-loving and bubbly personality. Meanwhile, all of us were blown away by Elphaba's awe-inspiring vocals in Wicked. We also loved how different West End theatres had their own idiosyncrasies that were personalised to their respective musicals, and the intricate designs of the sets.

Les Miserables

The beautiful stage set of Wicked

The breathtaking and intricate designs of the theatres

Most of all, we had wonderful meals, sitting, chilling and just bonding together, a little family of 4 lost in a big, crowded city.

When The Moon Disappeared...

The Bees had always been fascinated by space and the universe around us. We started learning about the solar system and outer space since Little Bee was in K1, creating mini fact books, a rocket craft, singing about our planets and sketching the solar system.

We have had numerous conversations about the possibility of life in outer space. Hubby and I are strong believers that life exists in other galaxies, and maybe because of our beliefs, the Bees are starting to acknowledge the possibility of aliens, although the concept is totally creepy to them.

2 months ago, we observed the April total lunar eclipse with our close friends at home. We took out our telescope in a bid to observe the movement of the eclipse but were more successful at observing the red hues of the blood moon and the path of the eclipse with our naked eye. After the eclipse, when the moon was rising and shining bright, we observed its mysterious craters through the telescope. It was intriguing to look at the intricate craters and shadows on the moon through the telescope, and we adults had crazy conversations about potentially observing signs of life on the moon! We also discussed the moon landing conspiracies, and wondered about the state of the universe and the first creation of life.

It is apparent that the adults were more fascinated than the teenagers and big kids, who were holed up in the bedroom, gossiping about books and pop music on their own! These days, it is interesting to observe what teenagers and big kids do when they get together. These 4 kids had been hanging out since they were babies, and it is really heart-warming to see them maturing together from active kids who ran all around playing with toys to sedated teenagers who would rather lounge around the house, chatting about books and music.

As for the adults, we are excited to catch the next lunar eclipse!

Lunar eclipse in action! 

The mysterious surface of the moon

More moon pictures - these were all taken from our mobile phones through the telescope!