Ballet.

Three modern/contemporary ballets by the Singapore Dance Theatre. A couple of weeks ago we went to an introduction to the pieces given by the artistic director, Janek Schergen. His explanation and the accompanying demonstrations of the dances was really illuminating. So we went back for more!!!!!

Glow-Stop was our favorite dance work. 

Ion

Orchard Road has new shopping malls.........like it needs more!!!!  ION........"An ion is an atom or molecule where the total number of electrons is not equal to the total number of protons, giving it a net positive or negative electrical charge." Nice.....but what has that got to do with a Cathederal to the new religion.......consumerism?

Frankly I found it mind numbing, a net negative electrical charge for me then. Where are the shops, you might ask.  Lurking!!!

More void than substance.

There are tens of escalators.  This has to be the longest one in Singapore.  Takes you down 3 floors down to B4.

Book - The Great Wall

Well,  I am going to have to read all John Man's books.  They are all conjoined!!!  So far read Ghengis Khan, Kublai Khan and the Terracotta Army. So readable.  Have to be, to keep my attention!!!!  And as usually, John goes myth busting. When you look at  maps of Mongolia, walls are shown practically on the Russian border.  I had wondered how  this could be if the walls were meant to keep out the Mongol raiders and thier kin from China?  Attila The Hun next!!!!!

Lion Dance Competition.

Held annually at Ngee Ann City. 

Three troupes competed this night.  But first the resident Lions must be appeased!!!

Cute...... with menace!!!

Then the serious business begins.  Don't try this at home.........the last troupe had to abandon thier dance on their third fall.  The lads really hurt themselves.  Needed attention.

And really edge of your seat stuff, leaping around as one.  The audience were absolutely silent throughout each performance.

Of course there was the moment of clowning.  How do they do that????

There are two guys in there, really.  Loved it.  Going back on Saturday to watch the finals.  Still feeling for the lads who had to withdraw gutted.

Film - Coco avant Chanel

Lovely film. By the end , I didn't even notice the subtitles.  An extraordinary story of rags to riches. And to think an Englishman figured in her story..........!.  4 a must, nicely French.

Gek's Art

A large swooping eagle is now coming out of our wall.

With evil intent.

We have currently over 40 oil paintings around the apartment.  This is one of Gek's latest.  Check out others at Gek-Art. She is also painting to support Lotus children's Centre in Mongolia.  Check out our fund raising blog.  All donations gratefully received.

Film - Proposal.

A feel good movie.  It made me feel good......so it works.  Bit wooden in parts and the best scene IS the naked bump.  More to do with Sandra's curvaseous lines than two people trying to occupy the same space at the same time.  So only 2.5 for this one.

Book - High Road to China.

A book I couldn't put down.  Check out the Telegraph review.  Why I am using the Telegraph...no idea!!!  Reading this book it dawns on you where the story lines for Kipling's Kim and the Man Who Would be King  came from.  Interest!!!

Book - On Roads

Very readably written.  Check this review in the Telegraph.  Couple of pieces that made me chuckle.

Lord Byron writing to Thomas Moore in 1817.

"Last week I had a row on the road....with a fellow in a carriage, who was impudent to my horse....I wheeled round,  rode up to the window, and asked him what he meant.  He grinned, and said some foolery, which produced him an immediate slap in the face, to his utter discomfiture.  Much blasphemy ensued, and some memace, which I stopped by dismounting and opening the carriage door, and intimating an intention of mending the road with his immediate remains, if he did not hold his tongue.  He did it."

Much, much later in 1994, involves

an elder from a London Synagogue getting out of his Mercedes and punching a Buddhist monk sitting in a Nissan Micra.

Why do I find that absolutely hillarious???

Boston Brass

B B have been in Singapore to run classes with local students. Last night was a end of session concert involving themselves and the students. Brilliant. Singapore has talent.

Film - Management

Management. Funny.  Once you get beyond....is this a stalker movie?  Jenifer still has the perfect bottom lip biting action on the big screen.  3 stars seems fair.

Steve McCurry

A photo journalist with a great eye. We caught a small exhibition of his pictures at the Asian Museum. Check out http://www.stevemccurry.com/main.php.

Now and Then

From David

The TODAY free newspaper invited it's readers to submit photos of now and then. It being 50 years since Sinapore became self governing. This picture was taken in 1965 and shows Gek and extended family going on holiday. Gek is some where hidden but her father is standing on the running board.

From David

Compare and contrast!!!! A few weeks ago returning from Penang.

A visit to the Cantonese Opera - in English

Photo from web publicty site.

This opera tells the life story of Emperor Guang Xu, the eighth (or second last) Emperor of the Qing Dynasty (AD1654 - 1911) and the power struggle between him and the Empress Dowager during his reign from AD 1875 - 1908 as well as the political intrigues in the Qing Imperial Court during this epoch.

What a revelation. Chinese Opera made accessible for the foreigner!!! Sung in English and performed by the Chinese Theatre Circle to a packed house. A story line of corrupting power and delusion told in words, song and dance with drama and some humour. Loved it. And the costumes were stunning. I am now a fan.

Malihom

Malihom is a retreat atop a ridge on the Southern tip of Penang. Takes a 4x4 to get up there. Stunning views to the west towards the bridge,

and on the other side, over Balik Pulau. For details and more pics of the facilities, click

http://www.malihom.com/gallery/. Fab place.

Apart from lunch my companions were after durians, aided by these very able Burmese chaps.

Gek, Linden and Judy were intent on tasting the durians from the surrounding plantation. Yuk. For those interested in durian info, click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durian

Suited me. Had a whole load of mangosteens to myself!!!! Yum.

Film - Miss Pettigrew Lives for a day.

Well, a good farce, if you like that sort of thing. Nothing to say really, 2.5 I think.

Polly in Penang.

Well, this trip was about eating, at 'coffee shops'

E and O, and Coffee Bean.

Not only brilliant food but very reasonably priced too!!!!!

But all good things must come to an end. Glum now that Polly's gone!!!!

1st Aniversary

Lunch at the Keppel revolving restaurant. Peking Duck.

Very skillfully packaged.
Lucky to have Polly with us.
The venue over looks the container port and revolves 360 deg in about 90 mins.

VIVO City in the foreground and Sentosa beyond with the cable car.

Integrated Resort Revisited.

Photo by Polly Whitworth

Watching Singapore grow. There will be 20,000 new jobs created when the IR's are fully operational. LA on an island!!!

Now, did the architects plan this? As the sun sets, sunlight is reflected from the concave glass walls into the bay. When the towers are complete the effect will be an attraction!!!

Film- Duplicity.

Complex ploy. But if you can follow it, not bad. Do people like this exist? I wonder. Anyway, dialog a bit flat at times and not totally convincing but still worth 3 out of 5 for effort!!!!!

DH update

Stairs and air well screens partially competed. The detail is taking for ever!!!

Film - I love you Man

Another chick flick. A funny story with the message for women that all boys will grow up eventually. Problem is, I came away thinking women are frivolous and men are creative. Opps!!!! And mind the language....would make a trouper blush!!! Anyway, did make me laugh so 3 out of 5.

7th Singapore Special Olympics

Football photographer for the day.

Venue, the University sports fields. Participants, local schools catering for kids with special needs.

Result, some exciting, fast five-a-side football played in a hectic 15 minutes.

T'was very hot. We bought a silver umbrella specially for the day.

Lotus Children's Centre.

A small group of young Singaporean women have been to Lotus during the Summer months, 2007 and 2008. They want to return next year, 2010, with enough money to take a group of the teenagers to China. The girls will fund their own costs entirely. The idea, suggested by Didi the Director seen in the Tube Video, is to broaden the participants horizons by showing them another environment. (Also click here for pictures from last winter)

Together we have created a blog for the project. If you would like to help, please visit our blog at http://lotuschild2010.blogspot.com/ . Thanks..

Balik Pulau

Balik Pulau means the other side of the island, apparently. Well the bus trip of 40 mins on the 401E, (plug for Rapid-Penang), up and over the hills is quite something and gives you the feeling of going over to the other side!!! It is Durian time and they are everywhere at the moment. I didn't realise how many grew on one branch, never mind on the whole tree. A walk in the forest becomes very hazardous with Durian trees a round. Nice Church too.

Photo from B P Blog at http://blog.balikpulau.org

We also met Mr Fong Ten Sent a silversmith. He is 68 years young. I bought a couple of silver miniatures from him. See http://david-dollhouse.blogspot.com/. He has a miniature wok and burner in silver which I will get on our next trip.

Penang flat - the finish

With the instalation of the kitchen sink, the flat can be considered.....finished. We do need a coffee table and a couple of chairs for guest would be nice, but hey, there is always next time.

Building work has started across the way, but unlike Singapore, work stops before dusk and nothing happens on Sunday. The boards show a low rise development with a mix of shops and houses. This area is really on the up. The north of the island is running out of flat land to build on so the centre of the island seems to be moving south. Out of the 11 bus routes that serve the South, 10 place our place. And the wonderful Rapid-Penang bus company has just taken delivery of 200 new buses!!! Sorted.

Christian Lacroix

The National Museum of Singapore has a couple of exhibitions on at the moment. We went to see the Christian Lacroix collection of theater, mainly opera, costumes. Just a little bit over the top. His concept sketches are displayed along side the finished works. Loved those.

And for something completely different....furniture. From the exhibition blurb..."As a child, Danish designer and architect Verner Panton (1926–1998) had always dreamt of a large room full of colourful cushions. His designs reveal that love for bold colours and his preference for spatial harmony and comfort." And did he do just that! Eat your heart out IKEA. Like our Penang flat, red is the new black!!!