84. BLOCKAGE

I'm suffering from Writer's Block and its side effect, Mental Block, or is it the other way round - diagnosed as 'Laziness Personified Syndrome.'

The photos are piling up, I'm too darn sluggish to want to write too much and instead, just post them as miscellaneous, as loyal fans are asking when's the next post...















Don't poop on my parade!

The Thais are terribly entrepreneurial. This kiddo probably goes to school during weekdays and is a street performer on weekends in this weekend market. He does a pretty good job too, smartly dressed in crisp white

 











In the malls, this is a common sight. Young people starting early to become rich and famous. Fresh face young girls wait their turn as they are transformed into little women, complete with false eyelashes. 

The competition can lead some into the big time and their parents turn up in droves to support them wholeheartedly.
I like it that there's so much importance placed on their cultural dances and music and they've not been taken over completely by westernised music and dance.

Apsaras - my favourite angels

 





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Tiffany wannabes - an important competition for would be lady boys, very likely their first contest for they were tacky but hilarious. Looks like they have potential to be entertainers in their many transvestite shows.

The Thais seem tolerant and quite accepting of such lady boys in their midst but the successful ones work and save very hard for surgery to carve a niche for themselves in their society. To prove themselves, a minority do go on to higher education and eventually a good job but encounter many obstacles along the way

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Bet you didn't know a Jewish Quarter exists in Singapore. Not exactly a Quarter but more a corner in a quiet part of the civic district. I stumbled across it on one of my walkabouts. 

There's a synagogue and a community multi purpose building comprising 2 large buildings for a growing Jewish community, mainly from outside Singapore who have moved here to work and those who have chosen to sink roots here

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Festival colours - in Geylang Serai during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, followed by their New Year, Eid

..and during Diwali (Deepavali) - the Hindu Festival of Lights... down in Little India.. a riot of colours in the lanes

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The Istana - the official residence of Singapore's President which is opened to the public on certain public holidays when the President mingles with visitors.

School bands perform throughout the day, giving the students a platform to play in public in an important location, which makes them feel so proud, even more so when the President stops by to talk to them.

The Istana, by comparison to many other official residences elsewhere, is small and humble. It was used by British bigshots during colonial days and the Singapore Government, being so darn pragmatic and frugal, uses it as the President's office and as a conference venue for visiting dignitaries.
No need to impress lah. Nothing to prove.




















Landscaped and manicured to perfection, the grounds has some beautiful old trees and colonial buildings


 





 










Queen Victoria, erected by the Brits when they lived here, has her own corner in the spacious grounds

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 As my camera goes with me everywhere, I keep spotting lovely old buildings and can't help taking their pictures as they have so much character, history and identity. Spanking shiny new buildings leave me cold, precisely because they are cold and impersonal.
Notice how in the malls, the folks who work in them are cold, distant and impersonal, like the buildings......

In 'old' Lucky Plaza in busy Orchard Rd., in 'older' Queensway Shopping Center and Katong Shopping Center - to name 3 - the shopkeepers are friends, there is much warmth and camaraderie among themselves and their customers...who come around bearing food and drinks and stay to chat...

Demolish these buildings at the country's own risk. Erect in its place, a spanking shiny new mall and you take away the soul of its people.
































































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Korean Sonata - this Korean family invited me to their church's concert (Ah Oh!)  I knew what to expect - they'll be lots of praising, fire and brimstone, hand-raising, emotional sharing...

I was curious to see how an ancient Buddhist society has turned its back on an important part of their cultural heritage to become so fanatically westernised Christian - because, their clergy are trained in the US. When it comes to rhetoric, the Americans are No. 1

It's sad to see this change in the way they worship. As a people, they are gentle, polite, thoughtful and considerate but are closed to differing opinions on religion and worship. As with Christians in Singapore, it's about the bottomline for their church - so if I give up my worldly treasures (read: donations) I ensure a place in 'heaven' by paying 'god' this bribe? If it's this easy, I'll convert tomorrow.

 






 













 






















Trying hard to be cool.

As in Singapore, the Korean churches target their youngsters. When the glass is empty you can fill it to the brim.
The Islamists in certain countries do the same with their boys, plant the seeds of hatred towards the Americans/whites and when the opportunity arises, kill the infidels without conscience

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Wood Nymph...

only an Englishwoman can sit under a tree and read while waiting for me.
Only in Singapore can you sit on the grass without fear of a poisonous spider nesting in your fanny.

We are 'protected' (by sprays) from poisonous creepy crawlies, from earthquakes, typhoons and devastating floods, from landslides and volcanic eruptions - is it any wonder we are so terribly complacent and totally ignorant should a disaster of some magnitude occur?

We are rid of rats big as cats. This island garden has no bees/hornets nor their nests, no butterflies flit among our flowers, no moths or termites around our light bulbs, no caterpillars in our numerous trees, the leaves and fruits have no holes in them, no nests of any kind, no worms in the earth or the beach, no bats at night. Carrion birds are aplenty but they eat food wastes now and where are the little brown sparrows? Is this real? The only places I've seen Mother Nature in action are in Ubin Island, Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve and Pasir Ris Park. The pic on top of this post shows birds do inhabit busy cities, that was taken in busy Bangkok.

 






The only animal in my home, which at Twilight on a New Moon night, the eyes flash red........ before turning into a pumpkin in a housecoat....