南洋雅集

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.