Passionate About Life | Abode

+ Vicinity | Sports Sunday

2006-05-21T23:00:00.000+08:00

Today was not such a bad day after all. It was a Sports Sunday.

While Wify was at her shop in the afternoon, my son and I went for some exercise. I know, not a fair deal it seems, but us guys need sports to keep us sane.

We did not get off so easily though. Wify had me go over to scout a place she thinks has a good deal for a shop. We need a bigger shop than we have now to expand our collection and range. The need for more display space.

My son and I left home in the afternoon to ICON @ Bugis Point. There is a shop on the 6th floor that is for rent.

The building is just opposite Parco Bugis Junction and beside the DHL Balloon. At 50 Square feet, it sure is too small for the collections we have in mind to display.

Further more, each shopping floor is accessible by either staircase or elevator only.

With about 12 cubical shops of about the same square feet, it did not seem to be a good idea for expansion, since not many people will actually casually wait for the only elevator, go up to do window shopping.

The walk-in crowd is just not there. We have to give this space a miss.

So off we went back to Tampines Central where we finally can do some exercise. A first visit for me since I bought the home-gym set last year.

Tampines Swimming Complex has been revamped to facilitate resort style fun pool with water falls , mushroom fountains and water slides, amongst 3 other adult and competition pools.

There is also a sun-tanning deck right in the centre, elevated two stories high. Cool!

This swimming pool now has a second story catwalk with a big fitness gym overlooking the pools. The fitness club was moved from Tampines Sports Hall to this location for all-family fitness life-style.

The place was buzzing with family and happy kids. Fun screams and the loud waterfall sound gave it a fun resort and theme-park atmosphere. I got excited just looking at it from the entrance alone.

Bought the ticket from the vending machine for my son to enter the swimming pool area. It costs S$0.70 per entry for children and S$1.20 for adults.

I paid S$2.50 per entry to work out at the gym.

Impressive ample space with the full floor to ceiling glass panels on both sides over-looking the swimming pools as well as the football field and Tampines Millennia Roller-skating Ring.

The gym equipment are the ones moved from the Sports Hall and the number of equipment available is much to be desired given the ample space.

Though enough for now with multi-gym sets and free weights available for weight training, treadmills and stepper machines are lined and more than enough to satisfy everyone without having to wait for your turn.

It however lacks a calf-machine and cable rows for flying pecs and deltoids which I prefer. I had to use free weights for these instead.

Overall, I was quite impressed with the revamped facility and the amenities comparable to health clubs and small-scaled theme-parks. All these for residents of Tampines. Another silver lining we get when we chose Tampines New Town as our home.

Life is good!

+ GE2006 | Polling Parents

2006-05-07T08:00:00.000+08:00

Done my bit for the nation in the morning yesterday, casting my vote for Tampines GRC.

The scooted off to my parents' place in Woodlands after lunch, to accompany them to cast their votes for their constituency - Sembawang GRC, between People's Action Party or PAP and Singapore Democratic Party or SDP.

Mom in her wheelchair, Dad pushed it from their block 101 all the way to block 123 where the polling station is, while I just walked beside them. Kind of awkward with all the stares I got from the passers-by.

What an insensitive son that person is! Is the feeling I always felt whenever I accompany them anywhere we go. Passers-by seem to be thinking and "saying" with their facial expression out loud.

Understandably, here I am, an able-bodied man walking by their side while this poor old man had to push his wife's wheelchair around.

It is just that Dad insists to do it every time we go out. Not because he does not need any help, but he uses the wheelchair to help him balance as he walks.

So he wheels my Mom everywhere we go. He says it is good exercise for him. I have to agree.

He is a very strong person for an 80 year-old man.. physically and mentally, though he is hard of hearing nowadays.

He was my hero when I was little, he is my hero still, only more magnificent nowadays.

Coming back to the polls.

It was nice that the officers there "took-over" Mom from Dad. Both of them were guided by an officer each from registration, to the casting post where they left them in privacy to mark their choices, then to the ballot box and out to meet me.

I would have taken a photo of them casting their votes, but unfortunately cameras were not allowed... will compromise the voting secrecy... blah... blah...

We went straight to Causeway Point Shopping Mall and had a late lunch at Long John Sliver, my second lunch of the day. Yikes!

We did some shopping since Mom had several stuff to buy. We went to Metro department store to buy her medium cooking pot, then off to Courts Superstore to buy Dad's, well it was Mom who wanted a portable radio in her bedroom.

Dad ended-up buying a portable an Enzer VCD Player model GA1548VCD with radio, CD and tape player in one for S$69.90 and Mom bought a Moulinex Food Processor for S$84.90 after using a S$5.00 discount coupon.

Then off to HomeFix hardware store for where Dad got his Osram 15Watts energy-saving light bulb for S$12.90 for their kitchen bathroom, while I got a halogen light bulb at S$3.50 to replace the a blown one in Wify's shop.

Walked back to my parents' home. Fixed their new VCD Player to her bedroom LCD TV and taught them how to use the player. Gave them their monthly "allowances" for their expenses like always and headed home.

Not before taking some picture of their corridor garden as their potted plants are in full bloom. Since it was already dark, the pictures did not turn out so good.

I left my parents' home with 2 big bags of groceries they bought and already packed earlier for me. They always do that whenever they know their children are coming over.

Big hearts with wonderful gesture, but the best one is when you get to see them with their warm smiles bidding you goodbye at the door until you turn the corner. Always warms the heart.

I wish to do be able to do that with my son when he has his family later in our lives.

Parents... so selfless, always thinking of their children first. Their unconditional love. I vote for their love anytime, love them back forever.

+ GE2006 | Polling Day

2006-05-06T12:00:00.000+08:00

Its polling day today!

Polling opens at 8:00am and ends at 8:00pm today. We are casting our votes at our polling station in Poi Ching School. So I get the "bird's eye view" of the going-on from my bedroom window.

At 8:45am, the school was very much still empty, as people are still waking up, but much of it was due people waiting out the morning heavy rain.

At 9:45am, there were still very few people, but I could see cars start to fill-up the road behind my block. And about 10 minutes later, I could now see people with umbrellas scattered all over, converging to the school's main gate.

My wife and I cast our votes at about 11:00am - PAP or SDA party... X marks the spot on the ballot paper.

No major delays at all. The elderly and those on wheelchairs were given priority to cast their votes first. This is a thoughtful idea. The balloting went smoothly as expected.

We got to meet our neighbours as they queued behind us.

We also got to see PAP's Mah Bow Tan and his 4 other candidates coming into the polling area, observing the exercise.

They stayed there for less than 2 minutes before left the school. As they passed our queue, they gave everyone a nod and a smile.

With our polling card and our ID card, we were verified against a register and passed over to receive our ballot papers.

Our serial numbers and names were called out for the voting auditor to also verify our eligibility.

Our polling card serial number was written on the ballot tab before the ballot paper was detached off the tab and handed over to us to poll.

The ballots are thus traceable to the tabs as each ballot paper and its tab has a serial number. With our polling card serial numbers written on the tabs, it is no secret after all, but traceable if need be. Hopefully for "verification" purpose only.

Wify has left for her shop at 11:20am. I will be heading to my parents' place to bring them to their polling station in Marsiling.

The results will start to be announced starting 10pm tonight. My gut feeling is that there will not be any surprises specifically in my Tampines GRC - Group Representation Committee of 126,142 voters.

More to come later today.

+ GE2006 | Vote Me

2006-04-28T23:00:00.000+08:00

Coming this General Election 2006 on Saturday, 6 May 2006, I am not sure which one is more interesting... the correct political party to vote for or the fact that there are two public holidays coming real soon.

At this age, I should be serious enough to consider which party to vote as it affects directly my future, and the future of my family and nation... but I am not. I do not know why, I have been searching for that answer since I became eligible to vote.

Instead, I am more looking forward to the public holidays that are coming - one on Monday, 1st May - Labour Day and another on Friday, 12th May 2006.

I should be getting a default holiday as replacement holiday on Monday, 8th May 2006, instead the company replaces it with an annual leave.

Today, I received in my mailbox the Poll Card for Tampines GRC. This card has 2 Electors Names - my wife and myself.

Since Tampines has an Opposition Party contesting it, we have to go to the polling station to cast our votes instead of sitting at the sideline watching a default walkover.

Like the previous GE, our polling station is just beside our home - Poi Ching School. Very convenient I should say.

Just yesterday was Nomination Day for the candidates to be announced for each party in each area being contested.

On my bus ride home yesterday, People's Action Party or PAP - the government of over 20 years had already put up theirs on almost every lamp post there are along Hougang. A tough fight over there I presume.

The Worker's Party or WP was putting up their on a lamp post near the bus stop and made heads turn. Two elderly ladies who were walking past them stopped and clapped their hands in approval, I guess. I could not make out what they were saying but a lot of exchange of smiles.

Upon alighting the bus at Tampines Avenue 9, only the PAP posters were up. Singapore Democratic Alliance or SDA has yet to hang-up theirs yesterday, but were up as I got off the bus this evening.

The campaigning is getting hotter by the day, much of the news coverage were about the MPs and Candidates going around the neighbourhoods meeting the people, shaking hands for votes.

The TV has started rerunning polling guides since yesterday.

All look set, only time now we will start to hear vans and pickup trucks with party slogans going around the neighbourhood, howling on megaphones asking for vote.

Now, I know which party to vote for reasons I know in my gut that it is the right choice. Nonetheless, it is interesting to listen to what all the parties have to say, promises they wish to fulfil if elected and the bickering between parties.

All part and parcel of election, the people must decide objectively, I believe.

+ Neighbours | Cab War!

2006-03-17T22:00:00.000+08:00

It is the last day of the work week. Wonderful perspective of the weekend stuff to do. A million enjoyable things to do, so little time...

Was waiting for a cab at my usual spot this morning, saw a few people across the road far to my right and another couple my far left. Waited for about 5 to 8 minutes when two ladies came from my flat direction and uncannily stood right in front of me, not 5 feet away from me.

Talking to themselves and started flagging of a cab as if they are not doing anything wrong. Worst still regarded my as if I was invisible.

I was not particularly angry when the older lady started to use her mobile as if she was calling for a cab, but when she flagged an oncoming cab, I was burning mad!

I gave them an infuriated stare at the lack, no... total disregard of common courtesy but just cutting in on me. The older lady just continue talking on her mobile while the younger lady as if punching SMS in hers.

The most irritated thought was that they are the usual people that I sometimes see waiting for a cab. I would stand behind them and wait until they get their cab before I start to flag for mine.

A common, understood virtual "queue" system that is happening all around Singapore, but not to these 2 ladies. They believe they have the utmost right and their needs come first. They simply disregard other people and treat them as invisible.

I was fuming mad when they pretended that I was not there, standing almost an arm's length from them. Their sheer audacity of it all as they flag an incoming cab!

Out of character, I told them off...

"Excuse me! You are very rude!" I exclaimed.

"You can see that I am here waiting for a cab first, and you just cut me in? How rude!" My voice was louder.

"You live around here and we are practically neighbours, and you just cut in here as if I am invisible?!" The younger lady just looked at me... shocked.

"When you guys were here first, I gave way until you get your cab! And you cut in like this?!" The older lady did not even look at me, she just pretended to talk on her mobile.

I flagged the cab and the older lady flagged it too. The cab somehow stopped for me instead. Thank goodness!

Before I went into the cab, I gave them a piece of my mind...

"Please! We live in a society, not in a cave!" I insinuated loudly and sat in the cab, but as I was about to close the door, the older lady said something loud that I could not make out.

Rage got the better of me. Spontaneously, knowing that she would rebuff, so I went out of the cab and asked her...

"Did you say something?" and paused as I looked at both of them for an answer. Here goes nothing, no turning back now... I though.

They both looked away, so I got in and left for work.

I guess the cab driver could make out what was going on, but he kept quite and the journey to work was ragingly unpleasant.

I just could not believe rude people like them. It spoils everyone's day.

You can never judge a person with the way they are dressed. Poised, professionally looking outfit, looks and sounds educated, but not learnt - totally lack of the simplest of manners or at least a moderate regard for the next person, self-absorbed.

I hope I do not have to face them next week and the week after that. I do not know them, but I hate them already. Bumber! I know.

What I can do, is to leave home 10 minutes earlier every morning, so that I do not have to meet them and let them spoil my day.

I sense another unpleasant encounter is inevitable if I do not avoid it. I sense they are still the rude people they were this morning. I hope I am wrong. Sigh.

+ Window | Dawn Star

2006-02-21T06:00:00.000+08:00

Suddenly I woke up from my sleep.

The alarm clock showed 6:29am. 1 minute before it sounded. I was subconsciously awaiting to wake up. Did not remember if I had a dream before I woke up, but it was dawn.

Looked-over. My wife was still in slumber land beside me. As I was laying still trying to get my bearings, the cool breeze lifted the drapes up and exposed my view to the dawning sky.

A very bright star caught my eye. The only star out. Too big and too bright to be a star...

A closer look at the sultry sky revealed there were other stars, but far more faint than this particular one.

Without my pair of glasses the other stars were kind of hard to spot.

Not this one! No it did not move, so it was not an aeroplane or UFO... don't I wish.

It was too bright to miss. It was too outstanding to let it pass, it was waiting for me to take a picture of it.

So, I got up, grabbed my camera and took several pictures of it.

I have seen it many a times in the night skies during my journey home from working late at night. Outings with my family during the weekends, but never this bright, this big.

I believe it was the International Space Station. I read in NASA's website that it and 15 other countries worked together to construct the station for micro-gravity experiment as a first step to future manned space exploration.

It is just beautiful even if it man-made.

The Almighty made it all possible for humans to achieve technological breakthroughs and produce a "star" at night for simple-minded people like me to wonder and admire the determinations and their achievements.

+ Window | Sleeping Satellite

2006-02-20T21:00:00.000+08:00

It is one of those days where I have nothing to blog about. Nothing interesting happened that worth reporting.

So sifting through my photos, I stumble upon my recent photos of the full moon a week ago. It was only about 10:20pm in mid February 2006.

The moon was such a show-off that it hypnotised me to take photos of itself. It looks so mysterious yet so intriguing. Brightening up the whole island, a satellite from the Almighty to behold.

Photos after photos I tried my best to capture it with fine details. I wanted to capture its craters and crevasses as I can see it with my own eyes, but unfortunately my lack of photography technique was much more to be desired, was a let-down even for me.

It only showed a giant bulb in the photos instead. Sigh.

Nonetheless, the whole sky lit up and the streets brighter. I noticed this when I got off the bus from work. Looked up at the sky and there it was. Beautiful.

A sight you will not forget before you close your eyes to rest. Our sleeping satellite.

+ Vicinity | Tampines FireStation

2006-02-12T11:00:00.000+08:00

Tampines Fire Station taken from inside a moving cab

This is good news for the residents. Tampines now has a new Fire Station just a stone's throw away from where I live.

At first look, it is more like a modern factory or office space, until you read the prominant sign on the building - HQ 2nd CD Division Tampines Fire Station.

Anyway the bright red drill-tower behind the building is a dead giveaway. Now I can see the fire trucks are all parked inside and ready for action.

I am personally proud of the effort of our government to improve our state of living a notch higher with careful spending of our tax dollars.

Not an expert on buildings or ever went into it before, but I can see foresight, the readiness and the efficiency thought and build into it. To serve and protect the public and its properties.

It is comforting that such emergency services are available minutes away, but hopefully we never need to use it.

Will take the opportunity to attend its official opening anytime soon. It will be great to see the insides and take a glimpse of the Civil Defense life is like and the modern technology it is equipped with with a big building like this one.

I think the present operations is going to move to this building from the old Teluk Kurau Camp at Lorong J. Incidently, I noticed the present operations of HQ 2nd Division is at Teluk Kurau Lorong J as we were going to the beach along Still Road.

Seeing that building brought back memories as the building was formerly my Primary School for a few months when I was Primary 1, before my Mom moved me to Jalan Daud Primary School at Eunos which was much nearer to my then village home.

Below are photos of the different types of CD vehicles in operations here in Singapore - from safety and fire prevention education to disaster control.

These pictures are especially for Ry from Just Me and My Midnight Thots who is interested in EM in Singapore.

Civil Defense Rescue Vehicles

Civil Defense Fire Vehicles

+ Nature | Morning Song

2006-01-30T09:00:00.000+08:00

View from my bedroom window at 9:00am

Woke up this morning to the tune of birds singing their morning song.

Wonderful way of waking up.

The sun was about to break its rays above the Poi Cheng Primary School's Hall roof and into our bedroom. The clock on the bedside table displayed 7:33am. Still early.

The morning was just warming up. Full of potential.

It is a Monday, the 2nd day of Chinese New Year. The first of two public holidays to replace the actual holidays that befalls on Saturday and Sunday.

Everybody had a good celebration the last two days that most were not stirring this early morning.

The streets were deserted. No humming sound was heard from the school's air-conditioning, no music blasting from the neighbours' radios, no noise pollution.

Only just the tunes of many different types of birds were heard. Heaven! I was so delightedly I smiled before I got out of bed.

Wife was still asleep, so was my son, sprawlled in his bed. He is quite tall now, I noticed, as he has now fill the length of his bed.

Morning sun coming through my bedroom window

I stood by the window listening to the birds songs. I stood there for the longest of time.

There was a bird singing in particular that I have never heard its song before, not even when I was young, living in a kampong or village when there was nature at its best.

I do not think it came from someone's caged bird as the sound moved around from tree to tree as if. Very enchanting song, distinctive amidst all those lovely songs they sing so well.

Maybe that particular bird has been singing every morning or maybe it was a passing bird singing, or maybe I was just lucky to get to hear its song this morning.

I was blessed to hear it. It triggered the same feeling I felt when I woke up in Cairns, Australia a few years back during our family vacation.

That was the exact same, blessed feeling I felt when the scores of birds sang their versions so loudly, so close to our room that it woke us up in delight. Just pure heaven!

Everybody is awake now. The sun is casting light into my bedroom floor.

Let us see what the day holds for me and my family today...

+ Vicinity | Libraries Part2

2006-01-16T12:00:00.000+08:00

Ciku Fruits in front of Yoong Clinic along Tampines Street 32

We continued our bus journey to the doctor at Tampines Street 33.

Reached the Dr. Yoong's Clinic about 10 mintes to 9:00am. The queue number displayed was already at 289. Our number given was 101. The number will revert back to 100 after reaching 300. That many patients on Monday.

Since it would take about 30 to 40 minutes before our turn, we decided to have breakfast at McDonald's.

Danish had his default breakfast meal, the Egg McMuffin and hot Milo while I got my first ever Egg Sausage McMuffin with freshly brewed coffee.

Came back to the clinic and we had two queue numbers to go. Stayed outside the clinic for some fresh air, rather than staying indoors with all those air-borne sniffles flying about.

Notice the Ciku trees that were planted on the sides of the roads have started to bear fruits. Wow! My first touch of a Ciku fruit that was still right on the tree.

Normally you would only get it at the supermarket and would not even know how the leave of the Ciku tree looks like. Interesting.

Great that passers-by did not pick them off the tree. Well, probably it was not worth to pay a heavy fine if they were caught doing it.

As always, Dr. Yoong greeted us with a calming smile. He asked Danish all he questions and he answered him describing the symptoms he got and the difficulties he went through the last few nights.

Good news was that he has no symptom of asthma - wheezing sound and suffocating feeling, just the common flu like the many patients that he saw this morning.

The preventive asthma medication he has been taking for the last 2 months have actually worked. He had no such symptom since he started it. He is now into his 3rd month and will stop after this once he is given the green light to stop.

National Library in Victoria Street

The "Adult"

With that good news, we made our way home. We continued our talk about libraries.

He liked the National Library at Victoria Street - the newest and largest library on this island. All 13 storeys of it. Interesting, but did not really satisfy his need for certain information.

It was the first time for both. Wished my wife would join us but she had to tend to her booth at OUB Centre for the Christmas Bazaar.

It has been quite a while since I stepped into a library, but my son was as smooth as a Pro. A regular there with the library policies and procedures. He knows them like the back of his hands.

Scouted around the many levels for a while. Confidently he asked for directions of certain catagories of books and titles he would like to find with the attending librarians.

They were so polite and accommodating. Far from the cold "shhhhh..." staring librarians in my younger days. Finally settle on... yes, books on facts. Science experiments and what have you.

Pity that picture taking was not allowed. I would have taken many, but that is not to take picture, it is a place to read and do research, I know.

Anyway... would have been nice with all wide and spacious, ultra-modern yet comfortable enough to sleep in, library - almost like walking into Starbucks with the plush seats and nice decor.

He even enrolled me electronically and registered me to get a library card issued to me all in one interactive registration station. Just with my ID Card. Cool.

Got our books and off we went to have a break at Han's near the entrance to the library's foyer. Cuppocino for me. Iced Milo for him and a slice of black forest cake for each of us.

With all three libraries, Danish definitely prefers the Tampines Regional Library because of the sheer collection of books on facts of anything under the sun and beyond, I might add with lots of illustrations and pictures, unlike the ones at the National Library that caters more the adults.

"National Library is more for adults," he reminded me, "I am in my pre-teens." He stressed.

"Ah... yes" I agreed. Children grow so fast before you know it. Wow! Did not think I would ever say that.

Well, fine with me. As long as you read and the information educate you for better things, why not! I am blessed.

+ Vicinity | Libraries Part1

2006-01-16T11:00:00.000+08:00

Tampines Avenue 5 Pedestrian Walkway

On the bus with my son to his doctor. An interesting journey it was.

Yes, he caught the flu. Stuffy nose and cough kept him and well, us too, awake most of Sunday night. He kept going to the toilet to blow his nose and had to sleep propped up to keep the airway clear comfortably.

The medicine I gave him was not doing its job. So this morning, we were in bus Service 291 to Dr. Yoong at Tampines Street 32, his doctor since we shifted to Tampines, some 10 years ago.

Tampines West Children Library at Blk 938 Avenue 5

The "Child"

He pointed out to the Tampines Children's Library that he frequented almost every day after kindergarten class because he just loves reading.

"I loved to go to this library when I was small, you know" he said to me. His mother has been taking him there all the time.

"Oh, why don't you go there anymore?" I asked ignorantly.

"I've out-grown it. It's for kindergartens," he explained.

"I see..." I replied but was cut short, as if I was teasing him. He had not finish his sentence.

"The books are so childish. For little kids, not for me anymore" he stressed.

"Ah..." I replied nodding my head in agreement.

Like every child, he just wants to grow-up fast for some reasons. Unlike me, at this age, I would rather take it slow!

We continued talking other stuff and goofing-off in the bus.

Always end-up doing the re-enactment of silly scenes from Spongebob Squarepants. Somehow or rather, we did one particular scene from "Scrubs" the TV series that aired last night - when John was asked by Carla for his opinion while Carla and Chris were having a lover's spat.

John tried to get away from giving any and in turn "roped" in Laverne, to escape. Laverne was literally "dragged in", mumbling while she was roped and the ankles and dragged across the hospital floor into the conversation.

That was hilarious. We laughed out loud last night and laughed out loud in the bus too, imagining the scene playing in out heads.

Tampines Regional Library along Avenue 7

The "Pre-Teenager"

The bus stopped for a while at Tampines Bus Interchange to pick up more passengers and passed by Tampines Regional Library, his present and most favourite library because of the many interesting selection of books on facts available.

Yes, books on facts. I remember he had difficulties to write a book review when what he read were mostly not about stories, but facts... If I may list a few

A First Atlas
How Things Work
Animals & Nature
Tell Me About
Tell Me Where
Tell Me When

There are more of these kinds of books on the shelves in his room. It is not bad, it is great in fact!

From small, he would choose books on cats and fishes, just about animals - what they are and how to take care of them, and automotive - trains, cars, aeroplanes and ships - the many types and how they function.

From large colourful picture books to books that are so full of facts for children, books that even his father discovered a few cool facts and learnt a lot on facts that we use to take for granted or oblivious to for the longest time.

These libraries have always been his eyes to the world. So much information, so intriguing to him.

Yikes! The Quizzes

I would always be "put on the spot" when we travel on the bus with his "pop quiz" on facts.

It is kind of embarrassing to not know an everyday factual answer, it is even worse to be told the right answer by a 7-year-old in a crowded bus. It was interesting to listen WHY things are the way they are from him.

Now he is 10, the quizzes get tougher and yes, more embarrassing to realize that I am quite ignorant of most the basic facts and are still learning... from him.

He innocently thinks nothing of it, he just thinks that it is fun.

Well, it is worth the embarrasment as long as it sharpens his memory from what he had read and understood.

All those information, all those facts! And here I thought I knew it enough. Wow... never under-estimate the power of denial.

With the constant "quizzes on the buses" I got to re-affirm knowledge on facts and got corrected a few here and there. Thanks to my son for drilling me in preparations for "SAP of life" test.

Our journey continued on...

+ Vicinity | Trishaw Revived

2006-01-08T16:00:00.000+08:00

One of Tampines Town beautiful public housing

Read in the news a few days ago about a dying trade in Singapore - oldest of transportation using human power - the Trishaw.

Now, you would see Trishaw men plying through the tourist spots with loud disco-punk music blasting over the mini-compo strapped to it. They would move in droves in a convoy filled with happy faces tourists.

I should know the feeling of these tourists because I loved riding in one when I was in my early primary school days.

I remember that our Mom would sometimes hire a trishaw for the 3 of us - Mom, my elder sister and me who would be 7 and 6 years old respectively for rides home.

Our early school days was at Teluk Kurau Primary School.

The trishaw man would cycle from our school to Kaki Bukit Bus Depot, maneuver through potholes and dusty roads, avoided trailing behind the exhausts of trucks and busses, through rain or shine, but we would reach our destination safely anyways.

From there we would have to walk about 20 minutes into our Kampong and reach home.

Besides taking the bus, an alternative but slightly expensive "public" transport was definitely the Trishaw. Mom would have to negotiate the fare before we can hop in.

Once in, I would always get to sit at my favourite spot - on a wooden stool right in front. While my Mom and Sis would sit on the two-seater plastic-covered plush seats that had either a covered or left open-aired fan-like canopy.

I remember the rides vividly, as if it was only yesterday. The street was quiet except for the squeaking and clanking of the trishaw chains when the trishaw man peddled.

The breeze and the scenery throughout the journey. Just heavenly, as though I was flying. Many happy thoughts throughout the journey every time.

On rainy days, the trishaw man would pull down a tranparent platic shroud on all 4 sides to keep the rain out. I would hear the rain drops onto the covers and watched the drops trickle down in front of me. Stuffy at times, but defintely worth it for me.

Sometimes, the peddler would stop a while to put on a poncho. Others did not mind to drenched wet though. Tough life for these men. Tough men indeed.

My mom knew I liked the rides because my face lit up every time she told me that we would take a ride home. And sometimes, I would paster her to take one anyway.

She would also hire on for the ride home whenever after she did her shopping in the wet market called Central Market in Eunos.

That would be her treat for me to help accompany her to the market and carry the groceries back home.

We would do this over many years, until I remembered that there were not as many Trishaw or as easy to see one anymore as the public transport got more comprehensive.

Of course, I was no longer small enough to fit sitting on a stool, and became big enough that only my Mom and me would fit in one trishaw. It would be too heavy for the poor trishaw man to peddle us both, let alone going uphill.

I dwell too much in the past. Coming back after a reality check... I think the trishaw should be revived and brought back to the heartland, the HDB estates.

People can use this cheap and eco friendly tranport to get around the estates. The trishaw is also big enough for groceries. It would be ideal to use the trishaw from wet market shopping.

No potholes, no dusty roads, just a great way to get around the estate and between estates too.

It would be a great and unique addition to our local way of life again, not just for tourists, but for the younger generations too like I want my son to experience the Trishaw rides.

What say you... MPs and RCs?

+ Neighbours | Arson Again?

2006-01-05T22:00:00.000+08:00

Light Fire Truck at Carpark 730A - Photo by Danish

It was an unsettling feeling to have thought that mybe there was another case of arson around our neighbourhood.

It was an even more angry feeling to have thought that there was a serial arsonist lurking around amidst our homes! Not a great way to start a new year!

At about 9:00pm, while we were in our son's room - me busy with the new installation of Norton Antivirus 2006 to his PC while my wife was chatting with him before tucking him to bed.

We smelt a burning smell and started checking all electrical appliances and fitting just ot be sure. Sponteneously, we thought maybe the carpark was on fire AGAIN!

Looked out of the window expecting smoke out from the carpark, but none, neither was there any commotion from the neighbours, so we resumed what we were doing.

Less than 5 minutes later, we heard sirens from the fire truck. My son jumped out of his bed and looked out of the window.

The Light Attack Fire truck had just arrived and stopped where?

YES, at the carpark! Oh NO, not again!

I felt a mixed feeling of anger and anxiousness. The fact that our neighbourhood becomes a target of arson is very unsettling to me. Thousand possibilities came to mind...

Was it for revenge? Was it just for fun or dare? Even more sinister... A scare tactic to push for sales of security systems? Nah, would not work in Singapore or get away with it. Then what?

With my camera already in my son's hands, expecting me to go out with him to find out from up close. Off we went to the carpark.

There were already people standing around looking for fire. None.

There were several firemen already on different levels of the carpark searching for the fire. None.

My son went right up close to the fire truck and was clicking away like a pro photo-journalist. A while later a couple in their forties came forward to the fire truck and told them that they were the ones who called for them.

They both smelt burning smoke and saw the flickering yellow light on the top most level on the carpark from their window and thought that it was the light from a fire.

Just to be sure, the firemen checked all corners of the 4 storey carpark and went back relived I bet, just like the rest of us here.

The small crowd dispersed as well, us included.

Strangely, the couple who reported the fire went the same way back to our block and waited for the lift, while we took the stairs.

It is a good felling to know that there was not another case of arson here.

One thing still unanswered, though... Where was that strong burning smell that both our family and the couple came from?

+ Vicinity | Taxi Spot

2005-12-19T12:00:00.000+08:00

Tampines Street 71 December Moon

Mondays are the worst days of my everyday adult-working-life.

Weekends with my family is always great and I treasure them however mundane the days can get at its worst times. Being together and doing things together are always wonderful and fulfilling.

Like every "normal" working adult, I guess Mondays are always the most dreaded day of the week. For me it always begins on Sunday afternoons.

Mondays come and I have to pick up the working momentum from the lazy bones I have in my body reserved for play and doing the things I like.

A good workout on my home gym is always refreshing for the body before I hit the shower for work, but mentally I needed that extra pick-up to face the responsibilities and stresses at work that coffee cannot do... Though fellow office mates are good and definitely worth to be there anyway.

Tampines Bus Service 293 with morning sun rising

As any normal day, I would stand by the road side in front of my block to flag for a cab. Like many Mondays, the cabs are always either with its "On Call" sign on or never to be seen. Gets on my nerves every time. I will be late for work.

This counts as the start of the little bits of stresses for that make the day into one big neck throbbing migrane at the end of the day.

Then when you tell yourself to stop making yourself stress over some things that you cannot control, you begin to relax a little.

Then you get to realize how beautiful the morning was; fresh air, light breeze with the clear blue sky. The morning sun rising.

Although I would be 30 minutes late reporting to work, I got to snap some photos around me with my Sony Erricson s700i cell phone while still waiting for a cab.

Notice the moon right over the blocks of flat opposite the road where I stood. An awesome sight.

A brand new day! Not so bad after all. It is the state of mind that made me bias of Mondays.

+ Parents | Spring Time

2005-12-10T15:00:00.000+08:00

Springtime at my Parents' in Woodlands

Went to my parents' home in Woodlands alone. Sigh.

My wife had to tend to her booth in OUB Centre, while my son stayed home together with his cousin, Hakim who had stayed over for several days.

School holidays had started from 21st November 2005 till next year, 2nd January 2006. So these boys are enjoying themselves with PC and Xbox online games.

My Dad had to go for this scheduled blood test at Tampines Polyclinic, 1 week ahead of his follow-up medical appointment with the Colonary Consultant Dr. Ooi at SGH on Thurday, 15th of December 2005 at 9:20am.

My sister who lives in Woodlands Avenue 4, a few bus stops away from my Parents wished to tag along when I called her this morning.

She was the one who went with my parents, along with my 2nd eldest brother to the Polyclinic for Dad's first blood test.

While I waited for her to arrive, I enjoyed the flowers that were blooming in their corridor garden. It was like spring time in Woodlands.

Flowers of different colours bloomed brightly, facing the morning sun. The morning was sunny and breezy. A perfect opportunity for me to take pictures. A perfect day to spend it outside.

At 11:30am, we left my parents' home for Tampines Polyclinic by cab.

The morning sun shone beautifully as I looked out and enjoyed the scenery along the Seletar Expressway or SLE and then into Tampines Expressway or TPE, especially along Ponggol and Sengkang, when you could see the River and the Great Egrets along the banks of the river.

The journey took about 20 minutes. We reached Tampines Polyclinic and went straight to Laboratory Room 13 where we got a queue number 1812.

In less than 5 minutes, our queue number was called.

Another 5 minutes, my Dad was out of the lab after his blood was drawn. We sat there another 10 minutes drinking our hot Milo and coffee from the vending machine.

Tampines was my parents home for more than 20 years after we shifted from the Kampong or village in Lorong Ternak that was taken-up by the government for redevelopment.

She wanted to taste the Afganistan Restaurant food again. The food she loved so much when she lived there but had not tasted it for more than 2 years since she moved to Woodlands.

To fulfill her wish, we took a short ride in the cab from the Polyclinic to Tampines Street 21, where Tampines East Community Centre is.

Could see the gleaming faces of both my parents when we reached there for lunch.

My Mom ordered her Soto Ayam or rice dumpling in Chicken Soup, while Dad had his favourite rice with Asam Pedas Fish. My sister had her Kacang Pool with bread while I had Gado-gado.

We hunted for my Mom's shoes after that. She bought two pairs and was so satisfied with her purchase. My Dad bought some filters, water conditioner and fish food for their Parrot Fish aquarium at home.

My sister bought her monthly women's magazine and head-scarfs, while I just simply enjoying our outing together. No purchases required.

At the age of 73, I noticed my Mom, though had suffered a minor stroke a year back and had several bad falls before, was so energetic and jubilant this morning.

We went around shopping with her just having a walking stick in one hand and holding me on another. She could walk briskly now as appose to in a wheelchair a few months back. Her spirits are up and flying high, happy.

My Dad looked healthy and energetic. At the age of 78, he is awesome. After the colonary surgery to remove a small portion of his large intestine, he is a picture of joy today.

Once in a while I noticed the two of them holding hands and talking as they walked while we shop, I am just greatful to Allah for the blessings He gives us to see both parents loving each other and taking care of one another.

I wish to be that couple in front of me, I thought for a second.

Growing old together and getting to spend time together for as long as possible. I know in my heart that my son will feel this love towards us, this wonderful feeling I felt today.

+ Neighbours | Carpark Arson

2005-12-03T08:00:00.000+08:00

Court View Carpark On Fire 3-Dec-2005 3:30am

I woke up at about 3:25am this morning from the smell of burning rubber.

Quickly checked all the appliances in the kitchen, bed rooms and living room to see that these were all alright. I followed the smell and was the strongest when I opened my living room window.

From my window, I could see black smoke coming towards our block. Could not see where the smoke was coming from, but it got thicker by the minute.

My wife and son woke up and joined me at the window. Saw a couple coming out into the courtyard pointing out to the multi-storey carpark as they approached it.

Not five minutes laters, we heard sirens from the Singapore Civil Defence Force or SCDF fire truck. By then, the smoke was too thick and kind of choking when we breathe in.

My wife closed the window, while my son and I took both of our cameras and out we went to the carpark.

At the void deck on Block 728, we could see 2 police patrol cars, and two fire trucks - Fire Pumper and Light Fire Attack Vehicle already busy laying out the fire hoses, while the small fire truck went into the ground floor of the carpark and onto the 1st floor.

The fire could be seen blazing out on the 2nd floor with loud banging of metals and small explosions.

My immediate guess was the parked motobikes would be in flames as I took photos of the burning carpark.

By then there were already many residents lining up the edge of the void deck with the police cordoned the area. Good thing that it was drizzling, so many residents did not go nearer and made the policemen job alot easier.

Within 5 minutes, the fire was put out. A tribute to the SCDF Fire Fighters who keep us and our properties safe.

Many of the residents who had parked their cars had their car keys in their hands, anxious waiting to save their cars, but the policemen kept them at bay until it was safe to enter, but the lights in the carpark were off.

We went home when the "action" was over. My son suggested that we went back to the scene first thing in the morning to take a closer look and get more pictures.

His enthusiam woke him up at 7:30am this morning and he persuaded me to go along with him. We both took our cameras again, now to the 2nd floor of the carpark.

Not surprised to see a few residents, like us with cameras to take photos of the where the fire broke-out.

Many of them I think taking the photos for insurance claims purpose, but not us. We were just curious onlookers. My son had a better term for what we were doing there - "investigative jounalism".

Not surprised either that the motobikes were the victims of fire, arson may be at play here I told my son.

But it was a total surprise when my son called out to me to show another motobike parking lot not 10 metres away on the same floor was also on fire that same time too. This was a definite arson.

There were 3 men taking photos and busy talking on their cell phones, most probably from the town council and their engaged contractor to clean-up the mess and damages the fire had done.

Always seen such dreadful events on TV or read it up in newspapers, never real life and up close before until this morning.

As I am writing this now, my son is busy writing his first time experience of fire up-close in his blog too.

+ Neighbours | Act Six

2005-11-13T07:30:00.000+08:00

View from living room, contemplating my move

Got into the house and cleaned-up, but my mind was restless.

I had to follow-up on this matter and that was an apportuned time to confront her.

I had to settle it once and for all since she was caught red-handed and witnessed by all 3 of us.

With the front door opened and I kept my post, waiting to actually see our culprit throwing her trash into the chute.

ACT SIX

10 minutes passed, and she still did not come out.

I was furious and had to confront her once and for all. Prayed silently in my heart that things will go diplomatically and that I could control my anger.

Went straight to her home, but before I could knock on the door, she opened it and was surprised that I was at her front door. I was startled too.

I told her that the rubbish was still there waiting for her to throw it into the chute, and told her that, that must not continue as it was unhygienic and wrong.

She replied confidently "Oh, I normally don't do like that. Maybe you got the wrong person."

I felt my temper raging inside, "normally...?"

I told her firmly that hers was the only household with a baby on the 4th floor, and the trash she placed earlier had Drypers diapers as with trash on other days too.

Before she could open her mouth, I told her also undisputedly her name on pieces of papers we found few days before with such trash too.

She paused to search for something to say and then replied "Oh, it isn't me. It must have been my sister-in-law who did that."

OH MY GOD! What kind of being is she? Which planet did she come from?

We witnessed her placing the rubbish exactly as we found the rest of the rubbish thrown likewise, untied and placed there without a thought for anyone else. We found her notes and her name on the pieces of paper inside the opened trash bags.

And she had the audacity to deny that, and place the blame on her sister-in-law too? WOW!

At worst, maybe both of them were guilty.

I told her to spare a thought for her fellow neighbours who had to endure, the filth of the oozing fluids out from the trash bag, the scattered pieces of trash in front of our door and around the lift landing when the wind blew, and the terrible smell it generated from the baby's soiled diapers, the rotten fish guts and decomposing vegetables.

We and our next-door neighbour, as well as the other neighbours too, when when had to wait for the lift.

I told her firmly but as politely as possible to throw the rubbish straight into the chute like all well-minded Singaporean would. All neighbours do not tolerate irresponsible dumping.

Unable to give any excuse, she finally admitted and apologized but "on behalf of her sister-in-law."

I walked back to my home and she trailed behind me to throw her second bag of rubbish.

I nodded with the "I believe that when I see it" gesture, and said my last words to her that the rest of the neighbours on the 4th floor would be glad that it would end when all play their part to keep our floor clean.

I went in and paused at the door when I locked the gate, indirectly telling her that I wish to see she actually doing her part to keep clean too.

She did when I heard the chute opened and the rubbish dropped in.

Must have been a revelation to her to finally for the first time, she actually stepped on the foot paddle to latch open the chute and threw her trash down the chute.

I have been keeping virgil since, to see if the matter repeated again. She may be right. Her sister-in-law may be another culprit. You never can tell. We will see.

Please do not let there be an ACT SEVEN.

+ Neighbours | Act Five

2005-11-13T07:00:00.000+08:00

My Wife at her Chic Couture Kiosk with friend Dionne

Divine intervention was definitely at work yesterday.

Got a call from my mother-in-law on Friday night, 2nd day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri. She had arrived in Singapore from KL Malaysia with my eldest brother-in-law and two of my nephews.

They were staying in her home Singapore in Clementi West Street 2.

On my wife's last day of business at OUB Centre kiosk, my two nephews came to visit at the kiosk. They waited until the kiosk was finally closed for the year on Friday, 11th November 2005.

My side of the family had already arranged for a whole-day family house-to-house visit. We do this every year.

We would charter a coach and all 30 odd people - our Mom and Dad, my sisters' families, bothers' families, their children and their grandchildren (yes, I am already a grandfather) congregate and go visiting from one person's house to another.

All within the 10 hour "marathon." We would share the transport cost.

From home to home, each will cook-up some delicious food to eat. Each their own specialty. Everyone will bloat like a blowfish at the end of the day for sure. Yes, every year!

You fast for a month and so proud you loose a few kilos or pounds, but you get back the pounds or more in just two weeks. Sign... but the food were great indeed.

Anyway, getting back to what I wanted to say.

The visiting was long and the 3 of us were finally home 10 minutes to 1:00am in the morning. The worst and the best thing happened!

The two nephews were to shy to follow us along stayed home. We had all their lunch and dinner prepared and all the Hari Raya cakes and cookies available to them to munch in between.

We tried opening the front door, but was latched from inside. We had no choice but to wake them up to open the door from inside for us.

From outside of the front door, we could hear the TV turn on loudly, and the lights were all on.

Ringing the doorbell did wake them. Banging on the door did do any good either. Ringing our home phone was a waste of effort. Calling their cell phone was useless too.

They we dead asleep! That was the worst that could happen to these 3 tired, over-fed persons locked out of our own home!

ACT FIVE

Yes, this sucks, but then came the blessing.

Out came our neighbour, 1:30am in the wee hours of the morning, with her bag of trash.

She saw us and smiled. We reciprocated. Went to the rubbish chute and laid, yes laid her untied trash bag at the side of the chute as always.

FINALLY, CAUGHT RED-HANDED.

As she was walking back to her home, I called out to her and told her that it was unhygienic to leave her rubbish outside the chute.

Asked her nicely to throw her rubbish into the chute straight away, while controlling my disgust. Boy was I disgusted with her act.

She replied "Oh, wait first. I have some more rubbish to throw."

Duh!! She has more rubbish to bring out from her home to place it into the trash bag she just placed at the chute before throwing it into the chute? That was odd! That was a lame!

"Ok..." I said and nodded with a purposeful bewildered frown. We'll see, I said to myself.

Once she disappeared around the corner, we got back to our ordeal at hand.

We thought to ourselves that we were destined to sleep in the garden till morning, until my son had a brilliant idea. I love this kid.

He thought that if we could unscrew the peek hole off the door, we could call-out to them better. I thought that that could not be done as the peek-hole would have been built to not be able to be unscrewed from the outside.

He insisted and tried but was tough to turn it loose. He forced me to try and I did. Yes, he was right, it can be unscrewed from the outside. (Now with that, I have to think about security later, but first things first.)

With the peek hole unscrewed and the inner lens pushed out from the hole, I could see the two of them fast asleep, or rather, dead asleep on the couch. The TV was "watching" them instead.

Cupped my mouth with my hands around the hole and shouted out to them at the top of my lungs. Several times, but that did not stirred them.

One last desperate attempt altogether we thought spontaneously - my wife called and let the home telephone ring endlessly and banging on the door, while my son rang the door bell continuously. I shouted their names like crazy through the peek hole.

That morning, we set our won record for the most noise ever generated by this family, ever.

It did not stir them awake that fast, but it stirred the neighbours first. They probably thought that someone was having a family squabble or drunk or, something.

When they finally "came to" from the "sleeping dead," we were let in.

What a relief! Now where the hell is that dumper already!

+ Neighbours | Act Four

2005-11-04T20:00:00.000+08:00

Greetings & Thank You for sparing a thought

Yes. I must do something....

I must tell them that what they are doing is not acceptable. This is basic hygiene. As clean as they would want their home to be, so does the common public area we all share on the fourth floor.

ACT FOUR.

Coming back from my folks' home early evening. We saw the trash still at the same spot as before.

While my wife was opening the front gate and door, I just could not help it but went over to the rubbish chute area to take another look. My son followed me.

As I was checking the trash, my son suggested that I pick up a few crumpled papers to look for clues. Their names, etc, just like an investigator, sifting through things, looking for clues. Smart boy!

Picked-up a few and only then discovered a hospital duty roster of "Ward 55A and B" with the wife's name on one side, some writings of names like "Sejora" and "Djend.." with phone numbers on the opposite side.

My wife suggested to write a note to them. I improvised it by writing the note on that piece of paper and taped it onto the wall of the rubbish chute. I wrote:

"My dear neighbour,
Please throw your rubbish into the waste/rubbish chute. Please do not leave your rubbish outside to keep hygiene proper. Thank you."

It is my hope that:

They would notice and read my friendly reminder when they throw their trash.
The would feel embarrassed of having their personal pieces of rubbish able to be picked-up and hung on the wall;
They realise that they should throw their rubbish straight into the chute to avoid any unwanted info be read by anyone due to their own selfish act.
They amend their ways and spare a thought for the neighbours and the cleaner too.
No more scattered rubbish while upkeeping cleanliness and proper hygiene.

Last check, the cleaner had removed the scattered rubbish this evening, but left the hanging note on the wall intact.

Only one thing that bothers me.

Wonder if there is any other neighbour that may have done something to find out who the culprit was?

Will see tomorrow and the days ahead.

+ Neighbours | Act Three

2005-11-03T15:00:00.000+08:00

Family Portrait Hari Raya Aidilfitri 03 Nov 2005

Yes, I really wish I knew who it was.

Today is Hari Raya Aidilfitri. The family photo above is out of place in this blog entry.

Nonetheless, it is a triumphant day of celebrations for all Muslims over the completion of fasting for the whole month.

Got the house all cleaned-up and nicely decorated for our relations to come over for visiting later during the week.

After coming back from Morning Hari Raya Prayers, we got dressed-up in our traditional Baju Kurung Melayu, had our family photo session and off we went to my folks' home for visiting.

While waiting for the lift. My son alerted me to the rubbish chute area.

ACT THREE.

God as my witness, the "elusive dumper" strikes again.

This time, fortunately, with some "incriminating evidence:"

One, there were some soiled Drypers baby diapers;
Two, there were two empty dates boxes; and
Three, there were pieces of papers with names and phone numbers on it.

Bingo!

We found our culprits and end the years of figuring out "who done it" mystery. It was totally unexpected.

We thought it was the few guys from China who rent the flat, but it was the same couple who borrowed our ladder! Now with a baby of about five months or so.

Wow! Under which crack or cranny of Singapore did they come from? Oblivious to their surroundings and the basic social responsibilities.

The husband is a "teacher" and the wife, I presume a nurse, from the few pieces of paper showing last month's duty roster that I picked up from the blown-away pieces.

What values do they hold, when a teacher should be even more morally sensitive, imparting good values while he teaches, while the nurse, a highest standard of hygiene would be in character!

I am appalled! My wife... speechless.

It does not take much intelligence or high moral values to figure these acts as socially irresponsible.

Even my ten year old son spontaneously expressed his disgust when he saw the rubbish all over the chute area, not to mention the smell it generated.

I quickly snapped a photo with my cell phone. I had to do something.

+ Neighbours | Act Two

2005-11-03T13:00:00.000+08:00

My Garden with common rubbish chute on the left

That was that? No, not that easy.

Next came the chronic irritables!

We then suddenly had bouts of trash placed in the common rubbish chute area. Everyday, there seem to be trash in plastic bags on the floor instead of into the rubbish chute.

I would think it is common knowledge to all normal Singaporean that you would tied-up your trash in a plastic bag before throwing it INTO THE RUBBISH CHUTE!

This "elusive dumper" is so selfish that they just leave the trash bag untied with the rubbish inside spewed and spreaded over the floor when the wind blew.

Not a thought was given to cleanliness to the common area, or the well-being of the rest of their neighbours, not even sparing a thought for the cleaner. Totally aghast with such "ignorance."

It eventually angered the Bangladeshi cleaner who cleans our floor everyday.

It became his extra daily work routine apart from sweeping the floor, he had to gather-up the blown away prices of rubbish and throw it for them.

I assume he did it for some time, until one day it bothered him so much that he gathered-up courage and approached my wife while she was waiting for the lift. He asked her while showing the mess, whether we were the ones who did that.

My wife told him that we were disgusted too. We have lived here for the past ten years and only those few months that the elusive dumping started. Timely enough when the four families came to live here. She asked him to ask them instead.

He thought for a while and agreed, because he worked here for a few years now, but the last few months were the first time he had seen this irresponsible act done daily.

ACT TWO.

Unsure if it was the same person, but there was this one time that the "elusive dumper" threw a plastic bag full of yesterday's leftover meals and fish guts.

It stank the whole lift landing as it was the closest to the rubbish chute. The filth and fish blood trailed out onto the floor. It stank like a dead rat for days.

The cleaner did not clear if away. I believe he intentionally did that to "teach" that somebody a lesson, but unfortunately at the expense of us and our next door neighbour.

Our next door neighbour expressed her disgust too when we met at the common corridor. Just like us, she could not open her front door as the wind will carry the stench into her home.

I could not stand it myself. We were the worst affected as our home is the closest to the chute.

Since I had to do my gardening, the stench was unbearable. I had to force myself to gather-up the filth, tied the plastic bag and threw it into the chute for our selfish neighbour.

I had to wash the dried blood off the rubbish chute floor several times to get rid of the pungent stench. The stench lasted for several more days before it subsided. Not sure if it subsided or our noses became immune to the smell.

Anyway, hope that was that.

What went through my mind was:

Did the "elusive dumper" smell it too during this daily dumping routine?
Did they smell it too while waiting for the lift?
Would it triggered their conscience that what they did was wrong?

Well, it did not. Nope. It did not stop there.

We started to see the trash thrown at the same place over and over again daily. The thing is, I could never get to see who it was with my own eyes.

Every time I hear someone walking to the lift landing, I had to peek through the peek hole to see if anyone was throwing rubbish. I would then go out to see if the rubbish was placed there instead of thrown into the chute. I became a vigilante of trash of sort.

Strangely, the "elusive dumper" seems to throw it either late at night or very early in the morning when no one is around. Why is that? Is that guilt or just their trash throwing timings?

A day before Hari Raya, we get to witness another trash throwing session. Bulky items, like a broken down side table and planter stand with bags of rubbish all clogging the rubbish chute area.

Bulky items are suppose to be thrown at the designated area on the ground floor. Yes. That is common knowledge too.

Guess it was even a gigantic task to lug around such items all the way downstairs to throw them, when the daily ones are easily left on the floor for someone to clean-up after them.

Heard the Bangladeshi cleaner cleared the trash this afternoon, but not without the mumblings of frustration.

I hear you, man. I wish I knew who it was too. Sigh!

+ Neighbours | Act One

2005-11-02T08:00:00.000+08:00

My apartment with ironic "Social Responsibility Carnival" banner

For the last ten years we have lived here in this Tampines block with no major problems with our apartment nor our neighbours. We love this place.

Since our cluster of blocks of flats were newly built and the families were first owners when we all moved in, we see many of our neighbours moved out after the five years eligibility to sell their flats after stipulated five years by HDB.

It was a standard routine for many Singaporeans to cash in on the sale. One neighbour right at the extreme end to the left of our home, sold his 5-room flat for S$365,000.00 from about S$150,000.00 initial purchase from HDB.

We could cash-in too, but we love our home and its amenities, but most importantly our next door neighbour, who is very good.

Several new neighbours came and went and now it all seems that the new neighbours are here to stay. Most are young couples, but with them, came one with a very bad habit!

Bad I mean, not as civil-minded or neighbourly enough, rather selfish, if I can put it nicely.

ACT ONE.

I remembered my wife called me to inform that a teenage boy came to our home to borrow our aluminum ladder. My wife gave him but was uncertain which new neighbour he was, as there were two who were renovating their houses simultaneously then.

Did not think much about it then, but it was a bit strange that they did not return the ladder after a week of painting.

It was irritating that they did not return it after two weeks.

Then it was outrageously insensitive of them that they did not return it after two months!

After the fourth month, I had to go to these two homes to force myself to ask for my ladder back since I had to change the ceiling lights in my kitchen. Both had moved and settled-in more than a two months.

Not knowing which of the two homes, I went to the nearest one first. Trying to keep my frustration and disgust aside, I introduced myself and ask for my ladder if they had borrowed it.

The man said it was not them, but suggested their next door neighbour instead, who was doing the house painting themselves. He on the other hand, had their contractor painted their home during the renovation.

It was an embarrassing moment for me to actually ask him such question when I should have given him customary hellos and introduction. I felt like accusing them of being irresponsible for not returning what they borrowed. I think they felt that too.

Funny how it felt. You let person borrow your stuff, and ended up feeling guilty asking for your stuff back, as if you are now the one borrowing!

I believe they took offence because they acted as if they do not know us when we were in the same lift together. I can understand that.

I told my wife that we should forget about it and just buy ourselves another ladder.

We would not want the risk of asking the next one and ended up being enemies like the first neighbour. We had no way of identifying the teenage boy since he did not live here, but came to help out his relative paint the house.

So, we had to stack a few books onto a chair to change the lights, with my wife holding my legs for stability.

That was that. Or so we thought!

Until one day, the second neighbour came to our home to return the ladder, after they moved-in more than six months later! The first neighbour must have told him or something to that effect.

They were newly weds in their late twenties or early thirties. They introduced themselves to us and thanked us for the ladder. Could not remember if they apologized for keeping the ladder all that time without feeling guilty.

Finally, that was that! Or so I thought.

Then came the chronic irritables. Sigh.

+ Vicinity | Service 34

2005-10-17T20:00:00.000+08:00

Bus Service 34 Route from Punggol Interchange to Changi Airport

We are very delighted to learn that we have an additional convenience to get around directly without changing to other buses or trains with newly rerouted Bus Service 34.

Though a bit strange seeing a bus stopped at the traffic light at Tampines Aveune 5 junction while taking photos of the street light-up in celebration of Tampines Central Community Centre opening. It did not strike me at first, though I saw passengers inside from the rear of the bus.

I only confirmed for sure, when I waited with my son for feeder service 291, when my son pointed out to me the notice board hung on the bus stop pole stating that Service 34 began its new route since 31 July 2005.

With it brings great convenience to us since the bus route connects directly to several places that are important to us.

It starts from Punggol Bus Interchange and ends at Changi International Airport Terminal 2 after passing Terminal 1.

Changi Airport is one of our favourite family outings. We have dinners at the many food outlets there, eat sinful ice-cream at Swenson's or just stroll around the airport, just the three of us.

At the other end, Punggol Bus Interchange is near where both of my sister live. One is Punggol and the other, nearby Sengkang, which is across the road.

Along its route at Tampines Avenue 2 is where my eldest brother live. We would alight at the bus stop opposite the Holy Trinity Church to his home.

Already so happy that we have bus Service 168 that goes via the express route to Woodland Regional Bus Interchange, a walking distance to my Mom's place

We are delighted to learn of this new route as it connects my family and family outing places directly, practically right at our doorstep.

We are so fotunate to have chosen this housing estate as our home.

+ Parents | LCD TV

2005-10-11T22:00:00.000+08:00

LG 32Inch LCD TV Model: 32LZ50-L2

Went to my parents in Woodlands last Sunday, 9 Oct 05.

My parents had their Panasonic 29Inch CRT TV of more than 2 years with them not working as good anymore. It was the TV I gave them when I bought myself a Sharp 37Inch LCD.

I had that CRT TV for more than 6 years before I gave it to them. The lifespan is about close to 9 years. Not bad considering I bought for S$2,000.00 from Courts. The TV had served us well. I never regretted buying the TV at all. A 61 cent-a-day investment if my calculation is correct.

Mom decided to stay home, so I went with Dad to Courts, the biggest Electrical Superstore in Causeway Point. Courts was having a re-opening cum Hari Raya Sale, and that Sunday was the last day.

Dad comtemplating between a 26Inch and 32Inch LCD. The Korean brand LG was the obvious choice for the new technology dual-layer - a harder outer protective panel, including the fast recovery rate for the liquid crystals to stay get back into the colour mode when pressed-in as compared to the older models (that would include my Sharp LCD too.)

The resolution is the same as mine at 1366x728 pixels which is finer than the other brands of the same size. The design, as always for such TVs is slick and high-tech looking.

That weekend only, Courts had LG brand with a discounted price from S$3,299.00 to S$2,799.00 with two free gifts thrown-in. One from the manufacturer itself - an LG V-CB58HTV Vacuum Cleaner and another was from Courts - A 21Inch JVC CRT Colour TV.

Dad decided on the 32Inch model and forego the colour TV with a further reduction of S$150.00.

With all in, including an extended warranty from Courts for another 2 years to total 3, a charge of S$450.00 was added to a cool S$3,148.00 which he paid full amount in cash. Delivery on Tuesday, 11 Oct 05 after 2:00pm.

Received a call from Mom at work today. They have delivered the LCD TV to my parents home and fixed all other AV equipment to it.

My parents are delighted with the screen size and picture quality. The screen is big enough for good watching without the need for their glasses from the sofa, and visible enough further away when seated at the dining table.

Another high-tech gadget to the already impressive modern home for these two old folk to enjoy their golden years in comfort and a little more luxury. I am extremely happy that they are pleased with their choice.

+ Vicinity | Tampines Community

2005-10-02T23:00:00.000+08:00

Tampines Central Community Complex, 866 Tampines St 83

Came back home late in a cab and so beautiful street light-ups once the cab turned into Tampines Avenue 5.

So busy with everyday stuff that I did notice the efforts the Town Council put in to welcome our Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong to inaugarate the opening of the Tampines Central Community Complex that was completed months ago.

Situated off Street 83 and Avenue 5, the richly blue facade of the complex was brightly decorated with tinkering lights, just like, if not better than the Orchard Road Christmas Light-up.

The grand opening was on Saturday, 1 October 2005 at 7:00pm, complete with pyrotechnics and fireworks that was seen and heard all the way from Hougang, as one cab driver told me.

His daughter alerted him and the whole family watched it from their 12th storey HDB apartment.

Not bad for Tampines as it scored another first with this opening of a community centre housed within a complex, with complete shopping and other facilities, from an under the void deck community centre to a sprawling complex.

About 2,000m2, the club is the first to have an inline hockey court and a skate sports cafe, food court, Cold Storage supermarket and childcare centre.

The centre cost a cool S$5 million to build with the grassroots organisation raising S$1.5 million by themselves.

Also, instead of a minister, was proud and excited to have our Prime Minister to be one to come all the way to Tampines to do the honour of officially opening the complex.

As quoted by CNA news, Mr Lee said, "I envy you a little bit because your CC is much than the older ones like in Ang Mo Kio and other parts of Singapore. But slowly we will upgrade and we will build, and we will make all parts of Singapore special, and we will have a home which we can all be really proud of, which will belong to all of us."

The night celebration continued outside with people shopping at white tents Pasar Malam or night market stalls, lined with food and household items.

With the colourful lights lined the long road from either directions, the whole place was so lively and cheerful.

We have made a good decision to choose Tampines as our home.

+ Interior | Son's Aquarium

2005-09-27T20:00:00.000+08:00

This is probably the most satisfying thing I have done all week.

Free my son's fish from a small confined plastic fish tank to a 2 by 1 Foot aquarium, complete with landscape consisting of pebbles, rocks and aquatic plants. The plants cost me less than S$9.00.

In addition, a new submerged Dolpin pump costing me S$14.00 that not only does the filtering but also blows out fine bubbles to oxygenate the water, as well as a S$20.00 Jalli light-UV lamp for the fish and the plants for simulated sunshine.

His breeding programme of guppies he brought home from school has yielded more guppies, combined with the initial Tetras we purchased for his room proved too small for all the fish tank in his room.

We set the big aquarium at the service balcony of our home and fit it with a timer to automatically turn on the light for daylight and off at 8:00pm. The autofeeder with timer is set to feed small amounts of fine grains 3 times in the day.

This should take care of accidentally left the fish unfed. Tablet CO2 for the plants was purchased too at S$9.00. Advised to place a tablet weekly to keep the aquatic plants last longer and even thrive.

These small fish and the plants should self-sustain the aquarium environment for months without the need to clean up the whole tank as compared to the weekly clean-up that most times ended-up to be his Mom's chore instead of him.

Once done in the late afternoon, both of us stood there for hours admiring our masterpiece and the sheer joy to see the fish to at least be like in their natural environment.

Watching the fish makes me calm down so much, especially from a hectic and stressful day at work. This is a wonderful win-win situation. The fish have a better living space and I have a therapeutic corner to destress for the day.

+ Garden | In Bloom

2005-09-25T14:00:00.000+08:00

This is the second time that colours from the flowers captured by attention.

Was coming back in the afternoon today from being called to work for something urgent that was not my department's issues, but to find the root cause for them anyway. After a hectic fuss and done what could be done at work, I left accomplished, but was feeling kind of frustrated at the same time.

The bus number 72 journey I took from Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5 to Tampines Avenue 9 was relaxing. It was bright day, the ride was quiet with very few people on the second deck where I sat.

Along the way, I remembered the funny-looking double funnel structures along Old Tampines Road. Always wondered what it was from its building phase to until today.

Finally I got to read the signboard at its entrance when the bus passed by.

It is Tampines NeWater plant. I got to snap a photo of it when thankfully, somebody alighted off the bus stop opposite Golden Pagoda Temple.

The bus was stationary enough for me to snap a steady photo, which I could not several times with my Sony Ericsson s700i cellphone camera.

One urge to capture the unique structure in a photo done!

Got off the bus and walked home to my block. One my way, a beautiful sight captured my eye.

The whole neighbourhood was in bright vibrant green from the sunny Sunday, and splashes of violets and pink from the blooming bougeanvillas.

Here, yellow and red from the heliconias, but the one "wow" feeling I got was from these row of trees with bright purple flowers. Do not know the name of the species, but its blooming just splendidly.

From an initially thought a restful day that became a hectic and frustrating morning at work, the claming bus ride and these cheerful sight just made my day.

Now to clean the fish tank with my son this afternoon.

His guppies breeding experiment is spawing too many frys and we need to move these adult guppies to a bigger tank to protect the young ones from being eaten. Off to work at home. This time with pleasure.

+ Interior | PC Power

2005-09-05T08:00:00.000+08:00

Went to COMEX with my son last Sunday, 4 September 05.

Though it was raining heavily for the whole lot of the island, both of us the gadgets buff had to be there. I had to see a few interesting stuff like the 64bit PC from Acer and HP's Media Centre PC to replace my existing one.

Since he achieved good results for his recent exam, my son was divided between GameBoy Advance and new XBox games that are always on offer only during these computer expos.

Two floors of computer stuff and jam-packed crowd left nothing much to see actually. Spent most of the time at Microsoft Booth on 4th floor waiting for my son to decide which games to pick. The offers were - buy one for 10% discount, two for 20% and three games for 30%. Some new games had a "50% on second purchase" green tags on them.

My son was served by two teenage boys who were defintely game buffs enthusiastically. He finally settled for Mech Assault 2, Price Of Persia 2 and XMen Legend. All three for S$146.75 instead of the usual S$209.70

I found myself unresistable to Microsoft's Wireless Keyboard and Mouse set that was formerly S$129.00 months back, now reduced to S$59.00 from the usual reduced price of S$79.00.

What a wonderful feeling for me to have the cluttered wires reduced while my articulation to use the keyboard and mouse is totally unrestricted now. Cool!

Next phase already on the way. I am beefing my PC up with another set of 1GB DDR total to 2GB RAM for greater and speedier computing power, especially when I edit movies with Microsoft's Movie Maker program downloaded free off its website.

I can hear my son's laughter from his room while he attempts to master the game before he goes online to battle with other online gamers. We are giving him the freedom to play as much as he wants, since this whole week is a school holiday.

+ Garden | In Bloom

2005-09-01T20:00:00.000+08:00

After the hot and humid August weather we had to endure, intermittent rain in between days towards the end of the month brought much relief to us. With that came also flowers in blooming everywhere I saw.

I have been observing the trees planted along the centre of dividers of a two way road, while I ride SBS Bus number 72 from work in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5 to Tampines.

They are in full bloom before with bright purple flowers on some trees and white flowers on others alternating between each one. Do not know what name of the trees are or the species.

Tried looking-up on the National Parks and Recreation website, but only names of trees were mentioned, but no photos accompanying each for me to know for sure. Guess I have to look for it somewhere else in the net.

Nonetheless, the blooms are also happening right in front of my block entrance. Striking yellow and red colours set amidst its bright green leaves as brackground of Heliconia Psittacorum or simply the Parrot Flower Heliconia is beautiful.

Good as wallpaper either as original or modified Al Fresco style, the flowers are simply wonderful to look at.

+ Interior | Zen Trend

2005-08-26T22:00:00.000+08:00

We like living clean and comfortable, comparable to our earnings, nothing extravagant, just happy with what we can afford with no installment plans! Installment is a bad word in our vocabulary.

It may work with many, but not my wife and I. We will buy something that we need or desire when we have enough saved-up. It will be tough on our minds if we were to go by installments as the commitment to pay just worry us so.

For posterity, since furniture in our home is never in the same place for very long, I took the opportunity to snap some shots of our 5-room flat in Tampines, for happy memories through the years.

Our Living Room 2005

Our Dining Room 2005

Our Kitchen & Service Balcony 2005

+ Garden | Nature's Corridor

2005-08-14T16:00:00.000+08:00

Has always liked nature all my life. Born at home in a village best known as Kampong Ladang. A nice wooden house with zinc roof on stilts. I recalled the address as 30-E Lorong Ternak. Forgotten the postal code though.

I lived there until my senior year in high school before the government bought over the land for redevelopment and moved us to a flat at 275 Tampines St 22.

Have no idea why, but I did not care much about sports then. I was either studying or gardening. Yes gardening as it did not have to involve anyone else.

And yes, another favourite pass time was to day-dream up on a guava and sometime water apple tree that were in the compounds of my home.

I did this almost everyday after school. Just soaking up the afternoon tranquility, listening to the birds chirping and the sound of leaves flapping in the wind as the tree swayed from side to side.

The total relaxed feeling like I was truely in paradise was incredible.

To date, I have yet to feel exactly the same feeling even if I tried to duplicate it. Gone and covered almost half the world around.

Visited the many beautiful and interesting foreign places with my beloved wife and son - the people I treasure, but never could get that exact same feeling I had just up on a tree alone, with my thoughts and no cares in the world. True, genuine tranquility, close to nature.

Then again, I could have built-up that wonderful feeling all these years than it really was. I could never tell. All I know, I felt it so wonderfully in my mind's eye. So crisp and vivid that when I picture it in my mind, I can still sensed a tat of that feeling again.

So, as much as I want to feel that same feeling again, having nature close around me is second best. I had "green fingers" then. I could grow many vegetable plants as well as flowering plants too with no previous knowledge how.

I did get some tips from my late uncle Pak Long who lived across the street.

In fact he noticed that I liked gardening so much that he started to give me saplings of plants in pots for me to take care of.

With a flatted home I called my own at 734 Tampines Street 71, we have a "luxury" of an open corridor right at our doorstep.

It is here that I, with the help of my wife and son, recreate a small garden we call our own amidst this concrete jungle we live in.

Thank goodness so far none of the neighbours find our garden an eyesore that they would complain to the Town Council or HDB.

We just wanted to feel nature close to us, though HD and the Tampines Town Council have been doing a great job creating pockets of nature in and around our blocks of flats.

Flowering plants are my favourite because flowers makes everyone happy. They are bright, cheerful ornaments nature has to offer humans.

Yes, the insects need them the most, but us humans benefit the therapeutic feeling just by the sight it.

Sadly many a times, many people are just oo busy to just "stop and smell the roses."

Many go about in their daily routine fast in their lives, only to stop to relax during a scheduled vacation time they take off work, when the simplest form of all is the simple things we see in life daily.

I treasure the moment I see a flower bloom in my garden. Not many though, since the corridor gets minimal 2 to 3 hours of sunlight in the morning.

Not so condusive for a flowering plant since these need alot of sunlight. That is why it is even more satisfying when these plants do bear flowers and bloom happy.

I choose the plants I like, the more rugged the better, as I hate it when they die from our care, or so we think that is what we are doing.

So when they flourish, the feeling is wonderful.

My wife is a stay-home mom, so she takes the most care of the plants in our garden. She waters them every other day and with liquid fertiliser once every 2 to 3 weeks or so.

I just prune and loosen-up the soil in the pots on weekends when I get the chance. I rearrange them again from time to time to give some their turn to be in the sunlight spots.

+ Welcome | My Serenity

2005-07-01T22:00:00.000+08:00

Once married, I could not wait to have a home I could call my own.

Finally got it after a year of waiting. At a good price of S$155,000.00 for a 5i-Room flat at Tampines. 734 Tampines Street 71 is our new address.

Liked the design of the house, with the rooms away from the living room through a short corridor. The living room that is spacious separated from the dining space.

Three proper sized-bedrooms with a study room to spare. And the kitchen spacious enough for the good cooking, a service balcony that we always wanted for laundry without crowding the kitchen area.

A bonus we have that we considered too is the spacious open corridor at the entrance to our home. Not in the path for anyone on the same level to pass through to get to the lift landing or the stairs.

Like my wife, we are a bunch of house-proud family. A hormonious one is even icing on the cake. Life is good.

Thank You Allah for the blessings we receive.