A Gathering at the Chinatown Point on December 29, 2017.

One of us turned up at 12 noon on 29 December 2017 at a café at the Chinatown Point to enable some seats to be reserved for the gathering of some 18 former colleagues. The cafe was unusually crowded that day. Lunchtime crowds were frantically looking for seats. Our friends came in one by one at around 2:00 pm. The seats pre-occupied by the lunch crowds did not seem to disappear after 2:00 pm. We had to make do with the limited space by adding extra chairs to accommodate all 18 persons within 3 available tables. Our friends did not mind to chat in a congested environment. Happiness remains prominent among those who came to share the joy of togetherness. Those who could not come this round also sent their regards and expressed their eagerness to meet up again. Mrs Choy, being our initiator, was happy to suggest a new date for the next gathering in time to come. Stay tuned for the announcement when everybody is available the next time. Meanwhile we wish our friends good health, good luck and happiness in the new year ahead.

(Photo Credit : Mr Tommy Tan Kah Seong)

One Bowl at Sultan Hotel

We chose Pu’ Er Tea  普洱茶 as our hot drinks before we ordered our dishes for our lunch for three persons that day.

The colorful illustrated menu gave us some ideas on what we should order for lunch at the ONE BOWL Restaurant at the Sultan Hotel at Jalan Sultan just opposite the Singapore Textile Centre. Not too far away behind the Restaurant, we were able to see the Sultan Mosque and the Heritage Centre within the Kampung Glam vicinity.

The colorful menu illustrated with images of dishes rich in local flavors made it convenient for us to order the dishes we preferred. The waiter and waitresses were keen to help us out so that we could quickly decide on the right quantity we needed.

Very quickly, the dishes were served with the excellent chilli sauces to go along.

The barbecue pork came in cubes was a special cuisine we have not tried before. It was one of the signature dishes there recommended by the chef.

The brownish crispy prawn was just the right food we chose that satisfied our palates instantly.

Not very sure of the actual name of the dish that appeared on the menu, a special pork leg was a wonderful cuisine that matched well with diners who loved that taste. Words could not describe the taste. Just imagine that.

Its black and white tiled flooring was clean and neat that gave us the good feeling just nice for dining on solid natural wood table with cushion chairs for the diners. The right atmosphere was created instantly to enable us to appreciate the suitably decorated wall with ceramic murals and soothing lightings.

The warmly illuminated walls and ceiling were pleasing to the eyes. It featured a classic look that enable diners to enjoy a lasting memory of the happy dining experience there. In such a rare opportunity, diners could feel great to invite friends for a chat over lunch or dinner there. Hope our other friends would love the place just like the way we have enjoyed spending our time together there.

Let’s find a perfect place where the best shines. ONE BOWL is a place we would recommend for the fine cuisines and the right ambience where the best ingredients were found in ONE BOWL, a restaurant we cherished. One bowl was surely not enough.

Find your own way there. That’s what we could say. Have fun with new discovery.

(As it was an impromptu visit, we did not carry our cameras for clearer pictures for this blog. My apology.)

2017 南洋书法展

Very uniquely, Chinese brush calligraphy is an amusing fusion of art and writing. Talented individuals, enthusiasts or their masters penned their crafts on rice papers carefully and patiently to showcase their calligraphic works. 

These calligraphers accumulated years upon years of practices and experiences to enhance their skills with their personal touch to reach greater heights in the art. 

欣赏李海香与全芳梅墨宝。感谢邀请观赏书法展。

They constantly devoted much of their times to practice their skills with high self-discipline and great patience to preserve the vanishing art of calligraphy. 

Aesthetically, Chinese brush calligraphy is a form of traditional culture and art expression.  Because of its aesthetical value, certainly there is no lack of followers who are still very keen to get themselves involved in the art of calligraphy. It is very expensive to put up exhibitions from time to time. However, the followers still can obtain excellent source of inspiration and motivation from their masters still practicing the craft.

欣赏吴多标老师墨宝：远山无墨千秋画，近水带弦万古琴。

I was lucky to have a chance to walk into such exhibition on 10 September 2017 one hour before its closing time. 150 calligraphers displayed their works at the largest calligraphy exhibition in Singapore so far. 

I hope that similar exhibitions of that standard can be put up again in the near future for the benefit of those who missed it this time. I had a meaningful time chatting with a few calligraphy masters and artists during the exhibition hours. 

欣赏  Victor Chan 墨宝。

They were very accommodative in extending their welcome and to explain to me their experiences, so grateful that I wanted to document the event in my record to show my appreciation to them. Special thanks to the masters, exhibitors and enthusiasts. Their undying efforts in promoting the art of calligraphy would remain fresh in my mind for a long time.

Pasir Panjang

一踏出只有一个出口的 Pasir Panjang 地铁站，

右边是一个不抢眼的熟食中心，

旁边的草坪，一直都在那里，没有人为它动过脑筋。

现在的一座大楼是60年代的 Pasir Panjang 民众联络所的原址, 当时的社会事务部长奥斯曼喔部长是选区的国会议员，

他一共有3间陆上的民众联络所：Pasir Panjang，Alexandra Terrace 和 Zehnder Road 民众联络所。 南部岸外岛屿还有4间：Pulau Sakeng (Pulau Seking), Pulau Belakang Mati, Pulau Sudong 和 Pulau Semakau 民众联络所。

70 年代，第一位获颁全国青年服务奖的就是 Pasir Panjang 民众联络所青年团的主席 TT Durai。那个年代，新加坡共有3个选区是纯讲英语的选区：Pasir Panjang, Cairnhill 和Tanglin 选区。

60 和 70 年代，Pasir Panjang 只是一间小型的民众联络所，除了电视，乒乓，篮球和藤球之外，这里还有幼儿班，缝纫班，拳击，举重和健美的常年比赛，不知情的朋友，都以为当代的民众联络所只是夜间看电视节目的消闲场所。

80 年代，由麦马得部长领导，他们也加入筹款兴建两层楼的新型民众联络所，当时须筹募建筑费的3份1，政府支助建筑费的3份2。现在就跟往年不同了。

Pasir Panjang 民众联络所已在 90 年代关闭。    

九曲十三湾，Bukit Chandu, 虎豹别墅，华桥小学，Labrador, 毛广岛，都在这个选区内。但是这里就不曾有政府组屋。

Gathering of some former colleagues

There was a chance to meet up with former colleagues on 25 July 2017. Our friends eagerly came to meet at a predetermined place beaming with joyful excitement. They exchanged greetings expressing renewed lives on their faces. All 18 of them came to meet and chat happily. With just a cup of hot drinks in front of each one of them, they engaged in conversation like no other people were around. It was supposed to be “Let’s go Dutch”, but some kind friends still preferred to buy drinks for their friends. CSM even took the trouble to self-prepare a beverage for them. She brought along her own cups and made sure everyone had a share to please their palates. It was a delightful pleasure to create such a fun-filled chit-chat. Without durians, friends still stayed on for a durable quality time together. Interestingly, the tables were cleared with no more brought-in beverage and used cups on the tables before they left the meeting place. The fun was just meeting and chatting with no agenda. Here’s wishing all our friends good health, good luck and great happiness. Hope to meet and chat again.

 

2017年7月25日的喝茶聊天雅聚：四方八面的朋友来自四面八方，他们脸上怡然的的显露出欢愉的容颜，没有那种耗时以文字和言语营造的快乐。见面的感觉真好，只看到每人桌上的那杯茶，糕点不是当日桌上的佳肴。CSM家里事先准备好香甜美味的饮品，端上了自备的杯子，分给每人一杯，有人喝了还竖起拇指，极其温馨。闲聊的乐趣飘逸在欢怡的时光中，一个没有品尝榴槤的雅聚，竟然还能享有流连忘返气氛。散会时桌上自备的杯子和杂物都清理得一干二净，真是妙不可言。祝福朋友们：健康快乐，如意吉祥，好运连连，下次再见。

A journey with an extended memory

Not knowing what to expect was the best inspiration to allow the eyes to wander in an unknown venture. The informal group comprising 8 persons met up very early in the morning to venture into a special journey via the Woodlands Causeway. There was a clear view of the reflection of the buildings that lined the coastline in the quiet Straits of Johor when the cars carefully travelled northward. Along the way, many seasoned passport holders walking swiftly passing by the left side of the cars in the opposite direction. The rush hours had not started as it was smooth going.  After clearing the Customs, they proceeded leisurely to the destination. The cars maneuvered their ways up the multi-storey car park. The first ice-breaking chat started at the breakfast.

The clouds followed them and changed colours from time to time. The eyes glowed brilliantly in the shopping mall. OTOT started from hair colouring and polishing nails to durian feast and enjoying the tickling of the toes and bodies.

Pausing once in a while and eating good food were the happy moments that warmed them up all their way into the evening that culminated into a delightful popcorn movie watching in a local cinema.

The air-conditioned blower sent the coolest air to this special group during the show.

The night ended with the desperate need to find the way back to the hotel as all doors within the multi-storey building had already been locked in the midnight. Thanks to the experienced travellers who led the group safely to the hotel rooms.

The next morning, Starbucks breakfast was chosen with the morning sun provided warm light shining brightly through the glass panel.

The fun and joy shared by the group were great all through the days and evening. They let their thoughts travel; their eyes wander in the journey but never even allowed money to travel into their minds. The car wash was a great experience as the travellers also refreshed themselves.

That was happiness in action during the overland travel in an exclusive manner. It was CHIONG all the way. That was solid and perfect. The fond memories of the journey were found only when they reached homes as if a diamond ring was found again. 

Here’s wishing one and all good luck, good health and great happiness until they meet again.

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