Great Inventions

You come home after a stressful day at work and head for the fridge for a cool comforting drink.
The fridge, or refrigerator was invented by the Europeans.

Next you turn on the hi-fi for some relaxing music to calm aching muscles.
The radio was invented by the Americans and Europeans.

The music is not to your taste, switch it off and turn on the television.
TV was invented by the Europeans, Germany being the first to broadcast the 1936 Olympics games.

The phone rings.
The telephone was invented by Europeans and Americans. Alexander Bell being the first to successfully transmit clear speech 1876.

After answering the call, you turn on the PC to check email inbox.
The American, namely Apple, IBM and Microsoft were pioneers.

There is a message instructing you to fly to Hongkong to meet a VIP client. You book the ticket and head to the airport the next day.
The aeroplane was first mooted by a British, then the Americans Wright Brothers

While in HK, you report the progress of the meeting by mobile phone.
The mobile phone was started by the Swedes, then Motorola of USA.

You fly home, and wanting to save money, ride the MRT.
The train was invented in 1822 by an English inventor named George Stephenson. The elevated tracks use prestressing technology invented by a Frenchman.

The next day you hop into your car to the office.
The car, the modern automobile was invented by a German.

Before you step out of the house into the harsh world, you check yourself in the mirror.
The centre of mirror production was Venice in the 1500s until the Germans perfected the making process for the mass market.

All the modern household gadgets will not work without electricity.
Electricity was discovered by the Italians, and later by Americans.

So what has Asians been doing the past 200 years ?

Queenstown MRT Kopitiam

The kopitiam at Queenstown MRT station will close in February 2011.



It is the only kopitiam which is at the gate of a MRT station.
The block was earmarked to be demolished, ending it's 30 years history.




Many will surely miss their favourite chomp when they switch off the lights for the last time.



And not forgetting the cuppa...

The Flares Burn On

The flares do not seem to be abating, in fact the intensity has increased.




This is how it look without buildings obstruction.

Kwan Im Temple

Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple was built on 28 May 1884 on Waterloo Street.
On every chinese new year eve, crowds can be expected and each and every one wants to be the first to place the joss sticks into the urn.




Kwan Im Thng Temple at Joo Chiat was built in 1919, according to the temple website, yes temples too flow with the times, the land was donated by a trustee.

Talking about being the first to place the joss on cny eve at the stroke of midnight, which is actually 11pm GMT or UT. Singapore and West Malaysia is historically +7 hours, while East Malaysia Sabah/Sarawak is +8 hour.

For political reason West Malaysia add an hour to sync with East Malaysia. Singapore for economics reasons follow suit.



So it is logically safe to be the "first" to place the joss at 1am on cny eve.

devotees returning angpow "borrowed" last year

The founder of these two temples was Master Lee Nan Shan.

the peaceful hall of the Joo Chiat temple

Refinery Gas Flares

Lately the flares originating from the refineries at the southern islands seem to be getting frequent and intense too.

taken at 2100 hr

The night skyline is deep red, reflecting the intensity of the flames.

taken at 2200 hr

without the flare

how it look in daylight

Update:

Shell announced that major construction activities at its ethylene cracker complex (ECC) have been completed and that commissioning work is underway to start up the plant.
During final preparations for start-up, flames will be visible at the top of the petrochemical plant’s chimneys. These are commonly referred to in the industry as “flares” and are a safe and routine part of commissioning a new unit, such as a cracker. The flares are likely to be seen from the last few days of February to early-March.

阿杜 Location Filming

Happen to stumble upon a location shooting.




And the male lead is Ah Du, 阿杜 as popularly known in Taiwan.




Look like filming a scene can take quite an effort, plenty of equipments and roadies.



And in an hour, they are done and off to another location.

阿杜

Male Sunbird Visit

Today the male yellow bellied Sunbird visit.




The male is identified with the chest and chin in deep blue.




And yes this male species was featured in the Singapore $20 currency note of the bird series.

A Rare Visitor

This small bird is a rare visitor and is caught, on camera that is.





Have no idea what kind of bird it is though. But thanks to the internet, it has been identified as the yellow bellied female Sunbird which is about 4 inches in length.





Originally from mangrove habitat, the Olive-backed sunbird has adapted well to humans, and is now common even in fairly densely populated areas, even building their nests in human dwellings. They seem to exploit the fact that most predatory species avoid humans and by building their nests near areas with high activity they gain some form of protection. Although primarily a nectar feeder, Sunbirds feed their young on insects.

The Cuppa

Twenty years ago almost every home, coffee shop in Costa Rica was equipped with a coffee making device called Chorreador de café. The coffee simply tastes better than modern percolators, coffee makers and Mr. Coffee machines.





Singapore heartland kopitiams use the cloth filter bag too.
Any NS soldiers will tell you horror stories of disgruntled cooks using real sweaty socks to release pent up anger when they brew a pot of kopi O for night training supper.





Malaysia uses the same cloth filter but the local Indian coffee stall operators added the "tarik" or pulled action on tea or coffee to bring out the x flavour of the addictive beverages.

Moving House

Moving into a new house, either brand new or resale is not simply carrying the luggages there.


Chinese have a list of must-do before stepping into the new abode. Many now practise the ritual when they open the door for the first time. Some may even insert the key into the main door and wait for the auspicious hour, 8.28am or 9.28am.


Throwing the pineapple. Ong Lye as it is known is thrown or rather roll into the house symbolising rolling in the wealth. It will be great if the fruit lands in the middle of the home where wealth will be spread all over the house. And yes remember to give a throaty war cry "huat ah" the same kind that is presently resonating inside the new casino in Sentosa.





Rice and green beans are mixed and scattered to every corners of every room. Toilets included. For the feng shui die hards, before they take the first step into the house they have to mutter "I am the new owner and will be living here from now onward, whoever that is staying inside please move out now, thank you"




Coins should preferably be placed at every corners of the house too.


For the actual move in day, a charcoal stove wrapped in red paper will be lighted up outside the house and the people staying there will step over the stove, then enter the house. The fire should be used to boil water and drank for luck.


For the harder than die hards, praying and burning of joss sticks and gold silver paper at all corners of the living room will complete the ritual.


There will be no need for all these hassles if you do it the American way.


Or the Indonesian way.