Old Roads (1) - North Buona Vista Road

I posted this quiz almost two weeks ago, that is to guess the old road behind the foliage. It must have been a challenging quiz as despite three mundane clues and one interesting clue - the road is still around just realigned - nobody got it right. One Anon was close ("near Dover MRT") and I almost wanted to declare a winner until I realized Dover MRT was not the MRT station I had in mind for my clue. I wrote that the road is near and within walking distance to MRT, but I deliberately omitted one crucial piece of information - the station is not functional yet. The station I had in mind was the soon-to-be-opened "One-North" Circle Line station.

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Amazing Red Dot Quiz (11) - Guess this Old Road

If you read enough of my blog posts, you'd know unlike most young heritage bloggers, I'm interested in the physical 'geographical heritage' of a place. To me, roads are one kind of landmark that may not disappear entirely after they are expunged, unlike buildings that are demolished, and this is why I find old roads fascinating. However I have not got down to blog about them due to other commitments and so today I shall start ... with a quiz first.

I shall not reveal too many hints as this may be too easy for some people.

1. The road is behind the foliage in the first photo. If I never say this, some people may just hantum the open field in front ...
2. The road is near - within walking distance - to MRT.
3. The road is not in the east of Singapore.

Have fun guessing!

After so many days, only one brave taker. Let me add one interesting clue: the road is still around today, just realigned.

Answer to Quiz (10) - A Strange Tower in Town

Quiz photo from the archives

Many took part in Quiz 10 if you count in the anonymous comments. Now, before I reveal the answer, I let you have a second shot last shot at it. Observe the second photo above carefully. Do you have the answer now?

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Amazing Red Dot Quiz (10) - Where is this tower structure in Singapore?

The other day I saw this photo of a tower in the archives. Even with the attached caption stating the street, I scratched my head over its location. The surrounding buildings were of no clue though I had my little suspicion about the tower. So I checked other photos and verified one of its neighbours, a notable landmark. I must have been unobservant every time I walk past that landmark.

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One Answer to Two Quizzes - You need to turn the house

The dessert at the end of 2010

The appetizer at the beginning of 2011

I hope the dessert and appetizer whetted your appetite. Short of time and feeling lazy with energies focused on my nine days escapade, I could only whip up simple fare. My culinary skills must have been superb because the two are essentially the same dish, a fact lost on the visitors who savoured it.

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Amazing Red Dot Quiz (9) - Where is this disused bridge in Singapore?

This post is published using Blogger scheduled posting feature.

I have scheduled this to be published exactly on the dot, or rather on the tick of the clock at 12:00 am, 1 Jan 2011.

Edit: it seems like the auto publishing has failed. As I return to work today, it is still not published!! So I'm publishing it now. :(

As you read this, I may or may not be back in Singapore. For those celebrating the New Year overseas, I hope you had a wonderful time. I checked my hotel booking for 31 Dec 2010 and realized there is "free use of Internet with WiFi Connexion [sic]". Should I spam Facebook on the eve of New Year?

My last post in 2010 was a dessert, something light to end the meal. Similarly we will begin 2011 with something light. What else but an appetizer to start the course?

You know the rules. So where is this bridge in Singapore?

Amazing Red Dot Quiz (8) - Where is this building in Singapore?

This post is automatically published using Blogger scheduled posting feature.

As you read this at the end of 2010, I will not be around in Singapore but elsewhere, doing the things I enjoy that has nothing to do with "office" or "work". With no lack of sun and sea, even mountains, at my side, not to mention opportunities for some historic "second shot" research, I will be savouring the last few days of 2010 in good company.

It is good to end the year with something light, like a dessert to mark the last course. I apologize if the main course throughout the year was too heavy, causing a little indigestion. I do hope that the food was tasty and healthy this time round. Hopefully next year it would be better.

So here is your dessert, something sweet of course.

Make a guess, where is this building in Singapore? Be specific, like name the road where the building is located. The answer will be revealed when I return in Jan 2011. I hope the leaves on the ground do not give the game away!

Enjoy yourself this holiday season guys! Thank you for all your support. Unfortunately I will not be around to blog about the countdown and fireworks this time. Do read about my experience in 2009 (here and here) and 2010 (here) watching fireworks with Ah Tiong.

Answer to Quiz (7) - A Rainforest in the Best Airport

Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards

That I found the fabled rainforest inside Changi Airport was the result of serendipity. For many years I have heard of some very unique "attractions" in our airport but never got to find out their location. Honestly, how many of us have actually made used of those world-class amenities and facilities in the best airport?

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Amazing Red Dot Quiz (7) - Where can you share a toilet with the opposite sex?

This is scandalous. Few days ago, I found a toilet that is actually .... unisex! I am not joking. Look at the photo. This is not your typical dirty kopitiam cubicle; I am talking about a first-class lavatory with showering and "business" facilities.

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Amazing Red Dot Quiz (6) - What's UOB up to?

To quote from UOB website:

United Overseas Bank (“UOB”) was incorporated on 6 August 1935 as the United Chinese Bank. Founded by Datuk Wee Kheng Chiang, the Bank catered mainly to the Fujian community in its early years. The change of name was effected in 1965. Over the past 75 years, UOB has grown from strength to strength. Through a series of acquisitions, it is now a leading bank in Asia.

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Amazing Red Dot Quiz (5) - Where is this in Singapore?

My quiz is never difficult and there is no need to cheat. So dear readers, can you answer the following questions?

1. Where was this picture taken?
2. What's the 'thing' in the foreground?

Update:

Here is a hint to make subsequent guesses more fun. This is not a polygonal quiz but a geography quiz after all. I took the photo below at .. you know where. Too bad this is not the quiz or everybody will get the correct answer.

Amazing Red Dot Quiz (4) - Where can you find this sign in Singapore?

When mountains, bridges and roads cannot stop oldies, you know it is time to find something more challenging.

The quiz today is as easy as I am busy. The Chinese has this saying if somebody is so negatively etched in your memory, you'd recognize him even if he is burnt to ashes. I may not recognize a durian tree even if it is the only tree left but the subject is [positively] etched in my memory after I seen it just once. By the way if Azmee is reading this, you are banned from the quiz ok, haha.

To turn the subject into an amazing quiz, I have digitally manipulated the picture. I will 'undo' the changes when I reveal the answer.

The quiz is divided into parts. This is to prevent the oldies from getting full marks.

1. Where can you find this sign? For example, if you think this belongs to a lamp post, you can try Civil Defense Academy or Yunnan Garden.
   
   
2. Where did I take the photo? From my understanding, this angle is quite challenging for those vertically challenged at ground level. You can try guessing 'while standing on a crate'.
   
   
3. What is another name for the subject? For example, Standard Chartered Bank is a valid guess for Sixth Battery Road, but not Fullerton Hotel or worse, One Fullerton. If you guess 'building' or 'bank', your answer is not precise enough.

Happy guessing!

(The quiz has ended. Answers here.)

Amazing Red Dot Quiz (3) - Where is this old road in Singapore?

Following the footsteps of lazy old bloggers (example and example), I am putting up a quiz because like them, I have been too busy lately to update the blog. I will use the 'sure-win' formula of plagiarizing other people's idea but will choose the category carefully. Mountains are magnificent to look at but the 'where' is hard to guess. Old roads fare significantly better as in they attract more people to anyhow whack an answer. Besides, I don't want to shamelessly run reruns.

Here is a photo taken way back in 2004. It was a memorable heritage mission because I borrowed dad's car for the trip. I had a chance to see how the old road was like out of public eyes. Look closely at the old road extending into the background and answer the following questions:


Questions

1. What is the name of this old road?

2. Where is the exact location my photo was taken?

PS: The signboards are digitally treated so as not to give the game away.

Amazing Red Dot Quiz (2) - Where can you see this mountain from Singapore?

My previous quiz on the time capsule was met with enthusiasm by fellow heritage bloggers. All of them got the answer correct by hook or by crook despite a digitally manipulated quiz photo. For quiz 2, I’m changing my strategy. The location will not be in town. I will not manipulate the quiz photo in any manner.

Since starting the blog, I’ve grown to like mountains. Thanks to blog projects like the Roger-Hatchy photo and Peter who keeps on titillating me with images of Mount Pinatubo and lady caddies. No wonder I was wild with ecstasy when the mountain appeared, like Mount Kilimanjaro, in front of me.


Now, ladies and gentlemen, where can you see this mountain from Singapore? The exact location please. Don’t say Bishan when it is in Toa Payoh, for example.

(The answer is now published in another article.)

Amazing Red Dot Quiz (1) - A Time Capsule in Singapore

I'm starting my own heritage quiz series, looking at the success the oldies have with theirs. It is never too late into the game.

The series will be entitled 'Amazing Red Dot Quiz'. Note the emphasis. Not Amazing Red Dot Quiz, but Amazing Red Dot Quiz. We know our little red dot is amazing, so I'm not stating the obvious.

Taking the cue from Victor who cheats in his quiz to prevent cheating - just look at his blinking rock - I'm going to (digitally) manipulate the quiz photo to make the quiz more 'challenging'. Like Victor, I hope you guys will be taking up the challenge.

The first quiz is on this interesting time capsule in Singapore. Where is it? What does it say?

Note the 'gone' letters are not my doing. They were already gone when I took the photo. What I did was to add noise so the smaller letters disappeared. The smaller letters contain an interesting piece of information.

**********

Update on Jan 25, 2009.

From the comments, the oldies took up the challenge and overcame it. By hook or by crook, they have gotten it right. Since Seen This Scene That revealed the 'lost letters', I shall end this quiz. This is how the photo looks like originally, without the noise:

PY is right about the capsule as "near the National Museum of Singapore". How near is near? Look at the photo to find out.

Time Capsule reads:

30 DECEMBER 1984

TIME CAPSULE

TO COMMEMORATE 25 YEARS

OF NATION BUILDING

1959-1984

TO BE OPENED IN

DECEMBER 2009