2nd Shot: A Cemetery at Bukit Timah Fifth Avenue

With the recent public surge of interest in Bukit Brown, I thought it would be appropriate to revisit some of the old cemeteries here in Singapore. Like old buildings, they are fast disappearing sights to make way for land development; because land is scarce, the younger generation - me included - did not have the chance to see the more traditional cemeteries where, unlike those at Choa Chu Kang, these graves had good fengshui and not located cheek by jowl with one another. One such example is an (ex)-cemetery at the upper-class district of Bukit Timah. Boy, you don't know how much I had to "climb" to reach this one!

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End of An Era for Borders

Borders is dead. I thought I just have to see it for myself at Orchard. Outside the covered walkway of Wheelock Place, I stared in disbelief at the slab panels, once transparent, now covered, the familiar sight of bookshelves and folks engrossed in their reading ... gone! Inside the mall, the grand entrance was not to be found. As I gazed at the shutters in its place, I wondered out loud - is this for real?

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Old Roads (2) - Start of Upper Thomson Road

You never know how much history can be "rediscovered" by walking one station-stop from Marymount to Caldecott. This I had to do at the start of the Circle Line Discovery since there was no train service to Caldecott; it was deliberate and planned, not that I refused to join the old folks in the queue for the shuttle bus service. While the two stations are quite near and connected by Marymount Road, I avoided using this road and instead skirted past Bishan Fire Station to Upper Thomson Road. Thomson Road is historical; it existed before 1850 and connects the town to suburban areas in the north. Halfway in-between the two stations, where Thomson Road meets Lornie and Braddell at the junction, is the start of Upper Thomson Road.

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What I Discovered at Circle Line Discovery Open House

Having missed the two Circle Line Open House in 2009 and 2010, I told myself not to miss the next one in October 2011. This time round, the theme is Circle Line Discovery; from Caldecott to HabourFront, 12 new stations in all. The moment I got hold of the news, my mind started churning; the places outside the staton I can visit, for free; the photos I can shoot inside the station, no holds barred; and not least a meaningful way to spend the Sunday. Creative organizers and the unpredictable human nature made it all the more interesting.

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2nd Shot: Let Your Maid Carry Your Bag

When the original photo was reposted on HWZ and STOMP from Facebook, it naturally caused an uproar among Singaporeans. Opinions were divided, with some folks giving sympathy benefit of doubt to the soldier. Perhaps he hurt his back? While citizens debate on whether soldiers nowadays have become soft, the report made its rounds overseas, and behind our back; just what would foreigners think of us? I give you some examples later. On hindsight - referring to my second shot - I should have stood a few steps behind for a more perfect shot. Well, none of my second shots is perfect … yet, just like our soldiers.

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