New Hawker Centre.

 I may have just mentioned, not just a few times, about the number of food opportunities on offer here in Penang.  Well,  that number just increased by 50 or more. A new HC on our door step.  Our block is the one on the right in the back ground.

And practically no over lap.  Each hawker offers something different.  5 mutton + 5 chicken satay....9 RM (2 GBP)

Char Kway Chow.......4 RM (1 GBP).  And really good.  I guess Penang apartments are going to evolve without kitchens!!!!!!  who needs them?

Singapore River, dusk

After Dali, dinner.  But first, chill by the river.

with Linden

and dinner with Toby at an interesting Indian place he knows.

Dusk over the old business district. 

and interesting perspectives on iconic buildings.

Dali Exhibition - Distortions

D'surreal 1

In the spirit of DIY,  curved mirrors, a wall of clocks and Dali piece.

D'surreal 2

D'Surreal 3

Dali Exhibition - Other stuff.

I confess to being lost in all this symbolism.  "There is more method in my madness than there is madness in my method."  Hummmmm?

But you do get the opportunity to play with Dali.  Hit the plungers and you create.

Not sure what Gek was signaling but fitted in with the place well!!!

Dali Exhibition - Sculptures, Part 2.

The curating of the exhibits was exceptionally good.  This gal has drawers by the way.

Here you have bronze, glass and photographes, but it worked some how.

I was first drawn to serealism by Dali's oil paintings.  Saw those at the Tate in Liverpool some years ago now.  So this is like a new discovery for me. Sculptures.

Furniture or art?

Singapore Stop Over

A few days stop over in Singapore gave us a chance to check out the estate.  With Linden, our lovely hostess,  we made for the new exhibition centre on the Marine Bay,  the Arts and Science Museum.

 

The building that looks like an up turned hand houses the exhibits. Makes the hotel behind it look like a miniature.

The helix pedestrian bridge has a few panels added,  but you still need to carry your own shade.

ArtScience Museum.

The architectics 'pub' sketches.  Amazing to think this evolved into this extraordinary building.

 We decided to start at the top and work our way down. And what a start.  Visual  and sound feast.

 Multi screen, covering multi topics, across multi centuries,

across multi cultures. 

Dali Exhibition - Sculptures, Part 1.

For the uninitiated, here is a list of Dali keys to understanding his work.  Also for your information,

1. A soft clock cannot work and refers to eternity:
2. Ants symbolise death, decay and an immense sexual desire.   

The exhibition at the ArtScience Museum is of Dali's sculpture and water colours. 

most of the pieces were cast in 1984 but conceived years earlier.

  

Of course,  you can view a piece of sculpture from an infinite number of angles.   These are my 2 angles.  Egg, soft clock and ant,  not seen in the photograph complete the nude.

On the way to see Dali.

The walk from city Hall to the Esplanade can be done completely underground.

Anyway,  I have no idea what these are all about.

But they did set us in the right mood for Mr. Dali.

The stretch from the Esplanade to the ArtScience Museum is an above ground walk....and it is hot out there.  Time to cool off. 

Sarong Kebaya at the Peranakan.

Lady Peranakans wore and some still wear this distinctive form of dress.

Very lacy and see through.

Some Batik was also on display.

Shophouse revisited.

 Singapore's Peranakan Museum have used the shophouse to demonstrate the original use of the house as part of an educational programme the museum runs in the school holidays.

 Seems it was a hit with boys and girls,

and their mums!!!!  The house will  also be doing a tour of Singapore's regional libraries, starting next month, October, at the Central library.  Result!!!!  Photos thanks to Cherry and Michelle.

Penang Hill Fenicular Railway

The new carrages.  Airconned and everything.

The 1 km journey now takes 10 mins as opposed to the previous 30 mins.  A bit too quick for some.  But must say it looks all very smart now.

Penang visit.

Our party numbered 11.  Hire 2 cars or 1 big van?  The van option turned out to be a brilliant choice.  First day we did the round island tour...in the rain.

 But the islands lush flora was shown off at its best.

 Tropical island style.

 The last evening of the visit was spent on Penang Hill watching the sunset show over dinner on the terrace.

And this is the sunset looking East.

Big Bro' and familly visit.

 A gathering of the clan in Penang.  Here at one of our favorite eateries,  Old Town Coffee in town...for breakfast.

Schumacher trying to avoid the camera, our youngest visitor this trip.  And yes, Schumacher's dad follows F1 and loves Ferrari

 Of course, food was high on the must do itinerary!!  We did all sorts including a seafood lunch.

Three generations.  Niece, sister and auntie.

And todays job is...

We have been back from our Australia trip just over 4 weeks now.   So what have I  been up to since?  Painting the floor of course!!!  Well that and cracking on with the B & W model house http://david-dollhouse.blogspot.com/.

Book - In Search of Myths and Heros

So,  Jason and the Argo was a very early Cook and the Endeavour journey of exploration/colonial expansion: the Queen of Sheba was a promoter of interstate trade:  Shangri-la is really a place call Shambla which is where Buddhism went after India turned it's back on it as life guide:  and, well, King Arthur, Camelot etc, was a tale told by Geoffrey of Monmouth - bit like Tolkien and Lord of the Rings.

Interesting.  Or did I miss something?