the Kampong Glam area of Singapore

The area's name is derived from two Malay words, Kampong, meaning "village" or "settlement", and Glam (or Gelam) referring to a variety of eucalyptus which grew in the area.

Its bark was used by boat builders in the village to caulk boats while its leaves provided cajuput oil which could be used to treat muscular aches and pains, as well as respiratory problems.

 

  

Today, Kampong Glam still retains strong ties to the ethnic-Malay and Muslim community, and has sometimes been termed the "Muslim Quarter" due to its history. The Muslim population still remains a significant presence in Kampong Glam, especially in Bussorah Street. The area remains a centre for Muslim activities and the Sultan Mosque remains a major landmark and congregation point for Singapore Muslims.

Kampong Glam is Singapore's Arabic/Muslim quarter and therefore is the best place in Singapore to explore bazaars and markets with an Arabic tinge to them. If you're a shisha (water pipe) fan then this is where to come. Hindi influences also exist here and you'll find an impressive-looking Hindu temple. Also in the area, the Singapore Bazaar and Flea Market both sell cheap attire and are fun places to visit.

 

 

 

Kampong Glam's restaurants stand out from the rest of Singapore's with their exotic menus and eastern influences.

On Friday we had lunch with friends at Amirah's Grill, but there are many wonderful restaurants and cafes in and around Arab St or Bussorah St.

For the blog posting on our lunch, click HERE

after our lunch we wandered around the area taking loads of photos of the Shop houses and all the colourful products that are on sale!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love the Shop houses of Singapore, there are so many. But equally there are many that are not 'cared for' which really is a shame as these can also be a 'tourist attraction' for these area's.

The maintenance costs must be fairly sizable, but I still think a coat of paint, a few bits of timber and maybe a few nails ... shouldn't cost too much, but the result would certainly brighten up some of these shop houses that are in desperate need.

I will have to do another blog post I think just on the Shop Houses of Singapore!!

enjoy your wander around the Arab Quarters, there is much to experience.

memories of Oscar

 

above: Janine took this image of Oscar on 7th Oct 2006

memories of Oscar

our very special little boy

28 March 1998 - 23 May 2012


We lost a special friend today
the kind you can't replace,
and looking at his empty bed
We still can see his smiling face.

  We see the endless energy
the sparkling puppy eyes,
Not the tired, fragile friend
we had to bid goodbye.

  We know he's in a special place
our Lord has for such friends,
Where meadows, fields & flowers
help make them strong and whole again.

We will remember how he'd run to us
to play his favorite puppy game,
And how his ears would perk right up
When he heard us call his name.

But as those precious years went by
And we all aged and grew,
  we found him often slowing down
But we had still so much to do.

We have noticed in the recent times
His ears were not as sharp,
Where is that running ball of fur
The years have shown their mark.

He started sleeping next to us
Was this his special clue,
Because he felt the end was near
We certainly feel that it was very true

  Our Oscar was a special boy
  We know he gave his best,
But as we looked deep into his eyes
  we knew it was the time for him to rest.

It will truly be a struggle
  we don't know how we will face each day,
  we have to let him go - we know
But in our hearts he'll always stay.

This special place our Lord has made
Health and strength, wait for him there,
So with our very special friend
  we are sending all our prayers.

For we  know he's watching over us
and he'll be with us when we cry,
So with one more kiss on his beloved head
  we told our darling boy 

goodbye.

the above is very much the same I wrote out for Zac and also for Pokey.

 

above: when Oscar was just a tiny little puppy

Oscars brother – Pokey - was born in January 1997. 

Then in March 1998, along came Oscar. But sadly 5 days after he and his 3 siblings were born, their mother – Sugar - passed away. Oscar was 55 grams in weight ....that is the weight of one medium sized egg! 

These four little five day old puppies ......  what to do? Even the Vet said they would not survive.  But with the love and care devoted upon them, they survived ... each and everyone of them.

Yes, Oscar is a fighter, his true name is Sugar Ray Robinson (one of the great boxers of all time [1921-1989]) and as with all four puppies, they were named after a famous 'fighter'.

In 1999 both Pokey and Oscar were sterilized

In 2002 we took Oscar and Pokey on a 12 mths holiday traveling all over Australia.

 
above: in 2002, he used Pokey when he needed some extra height  to see outside the motorhome 
 

In 2005 he had an eye infection and had to have major surgery to have the lens replaced in his eye.

In 2007 both Pokey and Oscar flew to Singapore.

In 2009 he pulled one of his nails out when it caught in his collar, more surgery!

In 2011 he lost his brother Pokey on 7th July and he grieved more than we thought was possible.

Two weeks later we took him to the vet and he was diagnosed with Pituatary Dependent Hyperadrenocorticism. (Cushings Disease) and a month later they found he also had Congestive Heart Failure.

He started off on his medication twice a day, but over the past month it was increased to three times a day. 

In December 2011 we applied for a permit for his re entry into Australia and this was declined due to his health and age.

We wrote a long letter to AQIS (Australian Quarantine) explaining a bit more about Oscar and that he was a fighter and that he would survive the flight, but could possible struggle with the 30 days of Quarantine. But we were willing to take the risk as we felt he would be OK.

30 minutes later, we rec'd the permit and he was allowed to return to Australia!

He left Singapore on 21st February 2012 and arrived the following morning at the AQIS station in Spotswood where he stayed for the full 30 days.

above: running around while in Quarantine at Spotswood.

above: with John when he was in Quarantine

He was very happy to be back with us and settled in very well. We knew we wouldn't have him forever and the vet thought he might survive till mid April .... but we managed to have him for a full two months at home.
We brought him home to Ballan on 23 March.

above: last month he got to go to Blackwood again where he used to chase lizards 

with his brother Pokey.

One of his favourite things to do was "get in the car". It was such a novelty for him to be able to travel around and he loved it. The minute we picked up the keys, he was waiting at the front door!

On Sunday (20 May) he was chasing the Magpies outside, on Monday (21 May) he traveled with us in the car to Bendigo for the day. On Monday evening his breathing became erratic and through the course of the night we realised his time was coming to an end.

above: photo taken yesterday at 12 noon as he lay in the lounge room in the sunshine

Yesterday (22 May) he really struggled with his breathing, one minute hyperventilating and the next 'shallow breathing'. I was too selfish to take him to the vet after what we went though with Pokey, but at 3.15am this morning while I was nursing him in the lounge ..... I knew we had no choice but to call the vet as soon as we got up.

We took him back to bed with us and we held him till he closed his eyes at 6:10am this morning.

Letting him go was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, unbearably difficult. He was my friend. A special friend I will never forget.  I know we were really lucky to have had him for so long, possibly more than his fair share of life expectancy.

above: John took this photo yesterday - Tuesday 22 May 2012

Rest in Peace Oscar 

(Sugar Ray Robinson), 

you fought the good fight right till the end.

we all loved you so much

you were one very special little dog

there will never be another like you.

Art at the Merrill Lynch HarbourFront Place, Singapore

On our walk towards HarbourFront ... we came across the Bank of America Merrill Lynch building. At the base there is a delightful 'set of glass, steel flowers' in a reflective pool all completely lit by natural light.

I often see photographic opportunities when I don't have the camera - as we all do - which is rather frustrating, but did have it with me this time .... then wished I had the tripod as these 'glass flowers' were swaying in the breeze. I still managed to capture a few of them though.

It is an art glass installation consisting of large glass flower forms supported on metal stems that grace an office building’s reflection pond. The flowers stand more than two meters high, are 80cm in diameter and exposed to the equatorial weather conditions.

 

 

Pipes and services were effectively concealed below the raised pavers installed beneath water level. The unbroken mirror images in the water of colourful glass sculptures lit only by natural light from the glass ceiling above create an attractive reflective pool.

 

 

 

The glass and stainless steel flowers installation at the Merrill Lynch HarbourFront Place, Singapore were created by Art Glass Solutions Pte Ltd

Art at the Merrill Lynch HarbourFront Place, Singapore

**     **     **

life is about trust

Life is all about Trust

TRUST 

in relationships

TRUST 

in people

TRUST 

in business

it's sad when others don't abide by this

and some don't even deserve to be in business

“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

                                                         

our visit to Olympia - Ancient Greece

appropriate to re-post this as the Olympic Torch left Olympia yesterday on its way to London .....

Olympia Greece was the site of the ancient Olympic Games, which were celebrated every four years by the Greeks. Olympia was situated in a valley in Elis, in western Peloponnisos (Peloponnesus), through which runs the Alpheus River.

It was not a town, but only a sanctuary with buildings associated with games and the worship of the gods. Olympia was a national shrine of the Greeks and contained many treasures of Greek art, such as temples, monuments, altars, theaters, statues, and votive offerings of brass and marble. The Altis, or sacred precinct, enclosed a level space about 200 m (about 660 ft) long by nearly 177 m (nearly 580 ft) broad. In this were the chief centers of religious worship, the votive buildings, and buildings associated with the administration of the games.

Katakolon - where our ship docked -  is the gateway to Olympia, where the ancient Greeks flocked every four years for more than a millennium to celebrate the sacred games dedicated to Zeus.

 

 

 

 

We arrived there on April 1st ..... and drove through the town - of Katakolon - to reach Olympia on a rather wet Friday morning. But it did not last long and the rest of the day was beautiful, though cool.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

  

The French began excavations here in 1829. German explorations of 1875-81 threw much light upon the plans of the buildings; they were resumed in 1936, 1952, and 1960-61. Many valuable objects were discovered, the most important of which was a statue of Hermes, the messenger of the gods, by Praxiteles.

 

 

it was a perfect time of year to visit as it was not too crowded and there was evidence that spring had arrived!

 

 

 

more on Olympia in the next blog post.

This blog post HERE is of our arrival 

into Katakolon in Greece.

stay tuned as I have many more blog posts on our 

recent 22 day cruise of the Mediterranean!

"""""""""""""""""""""""""