Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
A Wonderful Memory of Mrs. Earth Singapore
Last Year, December 2007 is X'mas Month, everyone is busy preparing for each of their own celebration, gift exchanges, etc, me/ I'm busy fidgeting on something else.............I'm thinking, how can I, in my own motherly way show my own tykes what's the real meaning of Christmas; you see, my family is as diverse & multiracial as my country, Singapore......My husband is of Chinese origin but was born & raised in Medan, Indonesia;schooled,work & lived 1/2 his life in Singapore and whose family speaks English, Mandarin, Hokkien (Chinese dialect), Cantonese (Chinese Dialect), Bahasa Indonesia at home & not lagging behind is my lineage that can be traced from the Malays (Filipino's Forefathers) from my late dad, the Spanish from my mum,The Paezes; English,Tagalog & Visayans/Spanish is the staple of our communication (I stop communicating in Spanish way back in college & solely speak the dialect and the local slangs). it's the same with my husband & my religion..
The answer to my "worry" came on the 7th of December last year at Blk.345,Care Corner, Woodlands St. 32 Singapore. I had the opportunity to some what "give back' to society by mingling, chatting & just purely spending and enjoying my time with the underprivileged children who graced the pre-X'mas party that Mrs. United Nation Singapore'07 help organised. I've volunteer to do extend a x'mas gifts to 35 children attendees & their family........prior to the event itself, I was accompanied by my eldest son, Darren to choose & pick up the said gifts & from there, accompanied with all the "whys", I've seen excitement from my son, even though that he was shy to give out the present, as it is his 1st time to such event, i just let him see & witnessed the going on.....
SHOPPING IN SINGAPORE
Shopping in Singapore
Shopping is one of the greatest pleasures in Singapore. Part of the fun is the excellent buys and great variety of shops all over the island. Delight in a bargain at a little neighbourhood shop, pick up a quaint item or two as you stroll through colourful ethnic quarters, discover favourite buys of the droves who flock to our modern malls or be enthralled by the splendour of whole shopping "cities" selling everything under the sun.
Many top hotels also have an attached shopping arcade with fine boutiques specialising in designer fashion, accessories, jewellery and watches.
And designer brands from the fashion runways of the world can be affordable - if you know where to look. Find them at the growing number of discount shops around the city. The magic is affordable in Singapore.
Central Shopping Belt
Singapore's Central Shopping Belt extending from Tanglin Road all the way down Orchard Road and Bras Basah Road to Marina Bay has been tagged Fifth Avenue, Regent Street, Champs-Elysees, Via Veneto and Ginza for good reason.
This is where world-class shopping abounds. A day spent browsing and buying turns into an unforgettable experience as theme designer boutiques, local and international department stores, speciality shops and bargain counters compete with outdoor cafes and gourmet restaurants for your attention.
City & Fringe Shopping
Great shopping in Singapore isn't confined to just Orchard Road and its surroundings. Quality goods at prices that won't burn a hole in your pocket can be found in lots of places around the city centre. The Riverside area by River Valley Road is home to both some of the newest as well as the oldest shops in Singapore. Look in the heart of the financial district around Raffles Place and Shenton Way where the office crowd throngs the shops for a surprising variety of goodies.
Suburban Shopping
If you're prepared to venture further afield, you can combine shopping with a little off-the-beaten track sightseeing as well. In fact, you'll discover some of the best bargains where most Singaporeans live, eat and shop - out in the heartlands of Singapore.These suburban shopping centres offer a surprisingly comprehensive range of items from branded to electronic goods at prices to delight the value-conscious and determined bargain hunter. Business hours vary from shop to shop but as a general guide, most shops are open from 11am to 9pm.Town centres in the larger estates of Tampines and Bishan are easily accessible by MRT. Shopping at these bustling town centres is a fascinating experience, providing insight into the local lifestyle and a chance to mingle with Singaporeans at their most comfortable. You also reap another benefit - the opportunity to tuck in "local style" at the numerous food centres and informal coffee shops.
VISITING SINGAPORE:TRAVELLERS ESSENTIALS
Airport Tax
A passenger service charge of SGD21 should be incorporated in the air ticket (including tickets issued outside of Singapore). If this has not been done, you may be required to pay the SGD21 during check-in. In some cases, the airline may absorb the service charge. Passengers who are in transit for less than 24 hours may leave the airport without having to pay the service charge upon departure from Singapore. For more, visit Singapore Immigration and Customs.
Baby-sitting
Baby-sitting services are provided in most hotels.
Banking
The local currency is Singapore dollars and cents. Notes come in denominations of SGD 2, SGD 5, SGD 10, SGD 20, SGD 50, SGD 100, SGD 500, SGD 1,000, and SGD 10,000. Coins come in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and SGD 1. Banking hours are Monday to Friday: 10 am to 3 pm, and Saturday: 9.30 am to 1 pm (some banks are open until 3 pm). Sunday, 9.30 am to 3 pm (some banks in Orchard Road). Most banks handle travellers' cheques and change foreign currencies. However, some banks do not have foreign exchange dealings on Saturday. Passports are required when cashing travellers' cheques. A nominal commission may be charged.
Credit/Charge Cards
Major cards are widely accepted by establishments in Singapore. Should any shop insist on adding a surcharge, contact the respective card company to report the errant shop-owner. American ExpressTel: (65) 6880 1111 Diners CardTel: (65) 6416 0800 JCBTel: (65) 6734 0096 MasterCardTel: 800 - 110 0113 (toll-free in Singapore only) VisaTel: 800 - 448 1250 (toll-free in Singapore only)
Currency
Other than the Singapore Dollar, the US and Australian Dollars, Yen and British Pound are also accepted in most major shopping centres and big departmental stores.
Drinking Water
It is perfectly safe to drink water straight from the tap in Singapore. However, for those who prefer bottled mineral water, local supermarkets and grocers always have ample stocks.
Drug Abuse
Drug abuse is viewed seriously in Singapore. Illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances is strictly prohibited.
Electricity
Singapore voltage is 220-240 volts AC, 50 cycles per second. On request, most hotels will provide transformers to visitors with electrical appliances of a different voltage, such as 110-120 volts, 60 cycles per second. When shopping for electrical appliances, do remember to check the voltage of the item against the acceptable voltage in your home country. The power plugs used in Singapore are of the three-pin, square-shaped type.
Fireworks
Any individual found keeping, possessing, having under his control, discharging or letting off dangerous fireworks (including firecrackers, rocket fireworks, sandcrackers and such other fireworks) is liable to a fine not exceeding SGD 5,000 or imprisonment for up to 2 years or both.
Gambling
Charity draws, Toto and Singapore Sweep lotteries, and on-course betting at the Singapore Turf Club on horse races are the only authorised forms of gambling in Singapore. All other gambling activities are illegal in Singapore.
Hair salon
Most major hotels provide hairstylists offering a full range of services. Hair salons are also found in shopping centres, offering standard haircuts as well as more elaborate services like hair perms, facial treatment, manicure and pedicure services.
Hotel Phone Services
Most hotels offer in-room international direct dial (IDD) telephone services. However, some hotels may charge a minimal 30 cents successful call transaction surcharge. As there are different IDD service providers in Singapore, rates and access codes are dependent on the service provider used by the hotel. Generally, local calls are charged at 10 cents for every 3 minutes.
Laundry
Same-day laundry service is available in most hotels. Typically, it costs SGD 5 for a laundered shirt, SGD 10 for a dress and SGD 14 for a dry-cleaned suit.
Medical Facilities
Singapore's medical facilities are among the finest in the world, with well-qualified doctors and dental surgeons. Pharmaceuticals are available from numerous outlets, including supermarkets, department stores, hotels and shopping centres. Registered pharmacists work from 9 am to 6 pm. Most hotels have their own doctor on-call around the clock. For an ambulance, dial 995. Visitors could also contact the following hospitals' International Patient Service Centres:
Parkway Group Healthcare Pte Ltd83 Clemenceau Avenue#10-05/06/07, UE SquareSingapore 239920Local toll-free (SG): 1800 735 5000Tel: (65) 6735 5000Fax: (65) 6732
Raffles International Patients CentreRaffles Hospital585 North Bridge RoadSingapore 1889770Tel: (65) 6311 1666Fax: (65) 6311 2333Email:
Website: http://www.raffleshospital.com/index.html
24-hour Appointments HotlineTel: (65) 6311 1222Fax: (65) 6311 2136Email:
specialist@raffleshospital.com
National Healthcare Group International Patient Liaison CentreNational University Hospital5 Lower Kent Ridge RoadSingapore 119074Tel: (65) 6779 2777 (24-hour hotline)Fax: (65) 6777 8065Email:
Website: http://www.nuh.com.sg/
Singapore Health Services (SingHealth) International Medical ServiceSingapore General HospitalBlock 6 Level 1Outram RoadSingapore 169608Tel: (65) 6326 5656Fax: (65) 6326 5900Email:
Website: http://www.sgh.com.sg/
Mobile Phones
There are two mobile phone networks - GSM900 and GSM1800 - and three mobile telephone service providers - SingTel, M1 and StarHub. To make international calls, the access codes are 001, 013, 0r 019 for SingTel, 002 0r 021 for M1 and 008 or 018 for StarHub.
Money Changers
Apart from banks and hotels, money can be changed wherever the sign "Licensed Money Changer" is displayed. Most shopping complexes have a licensed money changer. Visitors are discouraged from changing money with unlicensed money changers. Euro BanknotesAs of 1 January 2002, the euro banknotes have been introduced in 12 member states of the European Union (Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland), replacing the 12 legacy national currencies. If you still hold banknotes of the legacy national currencies, these currencies may be exchanged at: the Changi Airport money exchange counters (American Express Foreign Exchange Services Tel: (65) 6543 2580 and United Overseas Bank Tel: (65) 6542 0388) and most money changers. However, a lower price may be quoted in view of the additional cost incurred for redeeming the legacy national currencies at the respective issuing central banks. If you hold travellers cheques denominated in the legacy national currencies, they can be encashed or exchanged at:
Travelex (S) Pte LtdSingapore Land Tower #01-02A/B Tel:(65)6535 0111(for Thomas Cook Travellers Cheques only)Please note that processing will take one monthChangi Airport - American Express Foreign Exchange Services Pte Ltd Tel: (65) 6543 2580(for American Express Travellers Cheques only) For more information, including how to recognise the new euro banknotes and coins and their security features, visit website at http://www.ecb.int/bc/euro/html/index.en.html
Payphone Services
Public payphones operated by credit card and/or stored-value phonecards can be used to make both local and international calls. Public payphones can be found in most shopping complexes and MRT stations. Local calls are charged at 10 cents per 3 minutes. Stored-value phonecards in denominations of SGD2, SGD5, SGD10, SGD20 and SGD50 can be purchased from post offices and phonecard agents. To make an international call, dial the access code followed by the country code, area code & telephone number. Different telephone companies use different access codes - 001 for SingTel, 002 for M1 and 008 for Starhub. International Calling Cards in denominations of SGD10, SGD20 and SGD50 are also available at all post offices including Changi Airport, 7-Eleven stores and other retail outlets.
Postal Services
Singapore Post operates a network of more than 1,300 postal outlets conveniently located throughout the island. These outlets offer a wide range of postal, telecommunication and agency services. Most postal outlets are open Monday through Friday, from 8.30 am to 5 pm and until 1 pm on Saturday. Post service is also available at:
Singapore Post Pte Ltd.10 Eunos Road 8Singapore Post CentreSingapore 408600Open: 8.00 am - 9 pm (Mon - Fri), 8.00 am - 6 pm (Sat),10.00am - 4.00pm (Sun and Public Holidays)Tel: (65) 6741 8857Fax: (65) 6841 6085Internet: http://www.singpost.com.sg/
Safety
Travellers across the world are understandably more concerned about personal safety and security issues today than ever before. The Singapore Tourism Board would like to assure all our visitors that the situation in Singapore remains calm and stable and it is business as usual. The Singapore Government has and will continue to be vigilant in ensuring that Singapore remains safe. It has stepped up security measures at key installations and other sensitive places. The Government has also made it known that extremism originating from religion or race has no place in Singapore and it will not hesitate to take action against any extremist or terrorist groups or individuals. The swift and definite actions of the Singapore Internal Security Department over the recent arrests of the 15 terrorists in January 2002 is testimony to this.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted in public service vehicles, museums, libraries, lifts, theatres, cinemas, air-conditioned restaurants, hair salons, supermarkets, department stores and government offices. Offenders can be fined up to SGD 1,000. While it is an offence to smoke in air-conditioned eating places, smoking is permitted in air-conditioned pubs, discos, karaoke bars and nightspots.
Spitting
Spitting in public places is an offence.
Time Differences
City Hours Behind/Ahead of Singapore
Amsterdam -7
Athens -6
Auckland +4
Bahrain -5
Bandar Seri Begawan none
Bangkok -1
Beijin none
Beirut -6
Brisbane +2
Brussels -7
Cairo -6
Calcutta -2.5
Chicago -14
Colombo -2.5
Copenhagen -7
Darwin +1.5
Dublin -8
Frankfurt -7
Geneva -7
Hanoi -1
Helsinki -6
Hong Kong none
Honolulu -18
Jakarta -1
Johannesburg -6
Karachi -3
Kuala Lumpur none
Lisbon -8
London -7
Los Angeles -16
Madrid -7
Manila none
Melbourne +2
Montreal -13
Moscow -5
Mumbai -2.5
Nairobi -5
New Delhi -2.5
New York -13
Osaka +1
Oslo -7
Paris -6
Perth none
Prague -7
Rio de Janeiro -11
Rome -6
San Francisco -16
Seoul +1
Stockholm -7
Sydney +2
Taipei none
Tehran -4.5
Tel Aviv -6
Tokyo +1
Toronto -13
Vancouver -16
Vienna -7
Yangon -1.5
Zurich -7
Tipping
Tipping is not mandatory although it is often appreciated. Most hotel and restaurant bills come with a 10% service charge.
Touting and Soliciting
While shopping in Singapore is a hassle-free and pleasurable experience, there have been incidents of touting and soliciting. There have also been occasions where visitors felt pressured into buying products or services from vendors who approached them on the streets. Please keep in mind your right as a consumer not to go into any transaction with any of these vendors. If you are not interested, ignore the touts or tell them firmly you are not interested and then walk away. Here is a short list of what to be wary of:
- representatives from companies selling timeshare programmes, promising freebies or deals if you fill in a survey form, visit their showroom or attend a briefing at their office. - representatives claiming to be from reputable department stores selling premium products like perfume or watches at attractive prices.
Transit Passengers
Passengers who are in transit for less than 24 hours and holding valid travel documents may leave the airport without having to pay the passenger service charge of SGD 21 upon departure from Singapore.
Trishaws
An interesting way to tour the streets of Singapore is to take a trishaw ride. We recommend that you avoid hailing a trishaw off the road. If you do, make sure that you agree on the fare to your destination before the trip commences. However, there are many trishaw tours that you can join that are run by some of the major tour operators.
Visa and Entry Facilities
Generally, foreigners who do not require visas for entry and are visiting Singapore as tourists, may be given up to 30-day social visit passes upon their arrival in Singapore. For more please visit Singapore Immigration and Customs.
Useful Telephone Numbers
Here is a list of useful telephone numbers.
Police999 (toll-free) Emergencies/Ambulance/Fire Brigade995 (toll-free)
STB Touristline (24-hr automated tourist information system)Tel: 1800 736 2000 (toll-free in Singapore only)
CitySearch (operator-assisted Yellow Pages)Tel: (65) 1900 777 7777
International CallsTel: 104
Time of dayTel: 1711
Trunk Calls to MalaysiaDial 109 for operator assistance or 02 for direct dial.
Toll-free linesDial 1800 followed by the toll-free line number (in Singapore only).
WeatherTel: (65) 6542 7788
What to Wear
Singapore has a warm and humid climate throughout the year with a daily average temperature range of 24 degrees Celsius to 32 degrees Celsius. Light and summer clothing made from natural fabrics like cotton is best for everyday wear. Casual dress is acceptable for most situations and occasions but some establishments may require a more formal dress code. It is always advisable to check beforehand on dress regulations, if any.
SINGAPORE ENGLISH
The English of Singapore (SingEng or Singlish) is the common language of Singapore's multiethnic population and one of the four official languages that also include Malay, Mandarin Chinese and Tamil. The Standard Singaporean English reflects a certain amount of influence from Chinese.
Through the years, Singaporeans have developed their own brand of English fondly referred to as 'Singlish'. Here's a collection of 'Singlish' terms which you might find handy on your visit to Singapore.
Action (verb)Derived from the English language meaning to show off.Example: That fellow always like to action, walking around with his Rolex over his shirt sleeves.
Arrow (verb)Derived from the English language meaning to be given a task that you don't want to do.Example: I was arrowed to paint this wall.Blur (adj)Derived from the English language meaning does not know what is going on.Example: He hasn't read up on the background to this project and was very blur at the meeting.Boh-Chup (adj)Derived from the Hokkien dialect meaning couldn't care less.Example: Ah, boh-chup, I'm not going to hand in my assignmentChim (adj)Pronounced 'cheem'.Derived from the Hokkien dialect meaning profound.Example: The professor's lecture was very chim.Chope (verb)Derived from the English language meaning to reserve.Example: It's free seating at the concert, we need to get there early to chope seats for our group.Gostun (verb)Derived from the English language (go stern) meaning to reverse.Example: He overshot the turning so had to gostun back up the road.Havoc (adj)Derived from the English language meaning wild and uncontrollable.Example: That person is very havoc, always out late every night.Kayu (adj)Pronounced 'kah-yoo'.Derived from the Malay language meaning dumb or stupid.Example: How come he is so kayu? Teach him so many times and he still cannot do it.Kiasu (adj)Pronounced 'kee-a-soo'.Derived from the Hokkien dialect meaning afraid to lose out to others or not to lose face.Example: He sent his family to line up in different queues for the same item, so kiasu.LahThe most famous of Singaporean expressions used at the end of sentences for emphasis.Example: Very funny, lah!Langgar (verb)Derived from the Malay language meaning to collide.Example: This van suddenly pulled out and langgar my car.Obiang (adj)Derived from the Hokkien dialect meaning ugly or outdated.Example: This dress is so obiang! Who is going to buy it?Pai seh (adj)Pronounced 'pie-say'.Derived from the Hokkien dialect meaning embarrassed or shy.Example: That's the third time I've forgotten her name. So pai seh.Shiok (adj)Pronounced 'shee-oak'Derived from the Malay language (Straits Chinese) meaning fantastic or marvellous.Example: That prawn mee soup was shiok!"SekaliA word meaning suddenly.Example: "I was about to make a right turn. Sekali this car appears from nowhere and nearly langgar me!"Solid (adj)Derived from the English language meaning great or superb.Example: Did you see how he scored the goal? Solid, man!Sotong (adj)Derived from the Malay language meaning does not know what is going on. Similar meaning to 'blur'. (Sotong is the Malay word for octopus which squirts ink and clouds everything.)Example: This has been going on for months, didn't you know? Sotong!Suaku (noun)Pronounced 'soo-ah-koo'.Derived from the Hokkien dialect meaning country bumpkin.Example: Don't be so suaku lah, don't you know what a VCD player is?Terok (adj)Derived from the Malay language meaning troublesome or difficult.Example: That customer was very terok.Tompang (verb)Pronounced 'tome-pang'.Derived from the Malay language meaning to ride on or request a favour.Example: You're going to the post office? Can I tompang some letters to be mailed?Ulu (adj)Pronounced 'oo-loo'.Derived from Malay language meaning rural or a deserted place.Example: This place is so ulu, you hardly see a single soul around even on weekends.Ya Ya (adj)An expression meaning boastful or arrogant.
Example: Wah, he's so ya ya.
Singapore Facts
Singapore consists only of one main island and 63 other tiny islands. Most of these islands are uninhabited.
Singapore is among the 20 smallest countries in the world, with a total land area of only 682.7 square kilometres. The USA is about 15,000 times bigger.
Apart from Monaco, Singapore is the most densely populated country in the world, with 6,430 people per square kilometre.
Singapore became the 117th member of the United Nations on 21 September 1965.
Symbolism of the National Flag: Red symbolises universal brotherhood and equality of man while white signifies purity and virtue. The crescent moon represents a young nation on the rise and the five stars signify the ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality.
The national flower of Singapore, Vanda Miss Joaquim, was first discovered in 1893 by Agnes Joaquim, an Armenian. The orchid is a natural hybrid between V. teres and V. hookeriana.
The Merlion, a half-fish, half-lion beast, is a fitting symbol of Singapore. The "Singa" or lion represents the animal that a Sumatran prince saw which resembled a lion, and the fish is a tribute to Singapore's history as "Temasek", the ancient sea town.
Singlish, a Singaporean patois mixing English with the odd phrase of Chinese, Malay and even Tamil, has two entries - lah and sinseh - in the online version of the Oxford English Dictionary.
Although English is the official working language and the most widely used language in Singapore, the national anthem 'Majulah Singapura' is actually sung in Malay.
The flying fox, the world's largest bat with a wingspan of up to 1.5 metres, can be found on Pulau Ubin, one of the islands off mainland Singapore.
Singapore is a stopover point for thousands of migratory birds travelling the East Asian Flyway.
The world's first night zoo, The Night Safari, is located in Singapore.
Despite being largely urbanised, Singapore is the largest exporter of ornamental fish (25% of the world market).
The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve in Singapore contains more species of trees than the entire North American continent.
The highest natural point in Singapore is Bukit Timah Hill, which is only 164 metres tall (Singapore has a very flat terrain).
Buildings in Singapore cannot be higher than 280 metres. There are presently three buildings of that height: OUB Centre, UOB Plaza and Republic Plaza.
The world's highest man-made waterfall, standing at 30 metres, is located at the Jurong Bird Park.
The largest fountain in the world is located in Singapore at Suntec City. Made of cast bronze, it cost an estimated US$6 million to build in 1997.
The buildings of Suntec City have been built in the shape of a palm of a hand symbolising good "feng shui".
In 2003, Singapore's Changi Airport won the award for "Best Airport Worldwide" for the 16th consecutive year from the UK/Europe edition of the Business Traveller magazine.
The Guinness book record for the longest human domino chain was set in Singapore on 30th September 2000. Formed by 9,234 students, it measured 4.2km.
The world domino topple record (303,621 men) was set in Singapore on 18th August 2003 by a 24-year-old woman from China.
The record for the biggest ever game of pass-the-parcel was set in Singapore on 28 February 1998. It involved 3,918 students removing 2,200 wrappers from a 1.5 x 1.5 x 0.5 m parcel.
The record for the most number of people participating in line dancing was set in Singapore in May 2002 with 11,967 dancers.
The Great Singapore Duck Race, an annual event that raises funds for charity, set a new world record in 2002 when more than 123,000 toy ducks took to the Singapore River.
Russell Lee, a pseudonym for a team of ghost-writers, is the hottest-selling local author in Singapore. His 11 volumes of True Singapore Ghost Stories have sold more than 600,000 copies to date.
The fastest selling book of all time in Singapore is Hello Chok Tong, Goodbye Kuan Yew: The Untold Story. Written and drawn by political cartoonist George Nonis, it sold 40,000 copies in two months.
The highest grossing movie of all time in Singapore is Titanic, raking in S$6.65 million in 1997.
The highest grossing locally made movie of all time is Money No Enough, raking in S$6.02 million in 1998.
The first Singaporean film to be shown at the Cannes Film Festival was director Eric Khoo's 12 Storeys in 1997.
British pop violinist Vanessa Mae Nicholson was born in Singapore and moved to England when she was four.
More Singaporeans are born in the month of October than any other month of the year.
The first population census taken in 1824 revealed that the total population was 10,683. The 2000 census showed that the population of Singapore is 4.2 million.
Nearly 9 out of 10 Singaporeans live in public housing flats.
The most common Chinese surnames in Singapore are Tan, Lim and Lee.
Singapore has more than 3,000 kilometres of roads. Stretched end to end, they can cover the distance from Singapore to Hong Kong.
8 in 10 people in Singapore own cell phones. In fact, telecom companies issue new numbers at the rate of 30,000 to 40,000 per month.
Singapore's best showing in the Olympic Games ever was a silver medal won by weightlifter Tan Howe Liang in Rome in 1960.
Swimmer Ang Peng Siong was ranked world number one in the 50m Freestyle in 1982.
The Singapore Sling was first served in 1915 at the Long Bar of the Raffles Hotel. The ingredients are gin, Cointreau, cherry brandy, Dom Benedictine, pineapple juice, Grenadine, Angoustura bitters and limes.
Singapore: History & Origin
Its First home
The Merlion and the Cub were originally located by the Esplanade Bridge, just 120 metres from their present location. Also called the Merlion Park, the area soon became a popular tourist attraction and took its place among the famous landmarks of great cities of the world. Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the then Prime Minister of Singapore, officiated the installation ceremony of the Merlion on 15 September 1972. A bronze plaque commemorated the auspicious occasion with the inscription, "The Merlion has been erected as a symbol to welcome all visitors to Singapore".Today, the Merlion attracts more than one million visitors a year who make the trip to the Merlion Park to photograph this world famous icon at her new home, at the adjacent to One Fullerton.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
TOGETHER WE BREASTFEED
This is my personall take on breastfeeding....and boy was I glad that I was a part & got invited by the BreastFeeding Mother Support Group Singapore celebrate the World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) 2007 by making history with a Guinness World Record feat. Together with the other 2 title holders, I've witnessed & helped assist one of the participating group in Singapore attempt a Synchronised Breastfeeding Worldwide Record where participants from different country will breastfeed at exactly the same time. It started here at our local time and at 10 am in their Time Zone. The event was originally Initiated by the Children for Breastfeeding Inc. of the Philippines and BMSG(S) is representing Singapore for that World Record feat and at the same time, BMSG(S) organised the event together with the Macpherson Community Centre Family Life Champions and the current winners of the Mrs. Earth Singapore; myself who is also a member of BMSG(S) & Mrs. & Elite International World Singapore. Also in the event is Mrs. Doris Fok, Lactation Consultant, who gave a talk and answers questions about breastfeeding. her chosen topic was "Why breastfeed for so long?".
A Mother's Love
I meet people and they tell me. “Nimfa, you are so strong.” I’m really not that strong. I’m a descendant of many strong women before me. If I’m strong - I received it by default. It’s in my DNA. I am fortunate – no – I am blessed to have been raised by a woman who never showed fear. She never backed down from anything or anyone and she gave me more than a hot cooked meal and sweet potato pie. She gave me an identity, pride, and the ability to survive in a world that might not always be kind to me. She went without many times so I could have. Growing up, there were times when we bumped heads. It wasn’t until I had children of my own that I realized the true sacrifices she made, and like so many of you, I was the one who said, “I’m not going to raise my child the way I was raised.” How quickly we eat our words. (LOL)
There is no greater love than the love of a Mother. There are times, even now, when I don’t feel well and I pick up the phone and call my Mother. As soon as I hear her voice I revert to a child, “Mama, I don’t feel good.” And in her loving fashion, she makes everything alright for me with her love. She has been the stronghold of my life and in some strange way I just always expect her to be here. My mind knows that is not reality, but my heart doesn’t want to accept it.
I realize that one day in the future she is going to go to sleep on this side and wake up in paradise. It is that reality that I struggle with these days.
The Intruders said it best…..
“I’ll ALWAYS LOVE MY MAMA – YOU ONLY GET ONE”
To Darren & Desmund There Are No Words to Say How Much I Love You
Now my hopes are reconfigured for you:In me there's no bright dream for which I long,Nor measure of my pride as I beholdEach day the grace your childhood foretold
