Skyhelix Sentosa - Nice Views at 80 m above ground.

 

A couple of days ago, an associate of ours came to Singapore and I had the pleasure of showing him around a little part of Singapore. As a first time visitor, I took to Sentosa via the Cable Car and we tried the SkyHelix. 

This was the first time for me and it was rather a scary experience sitting some 80m above a high point in the island, with only a seat belt for safety. So what you see behind us is the actual skyline of the port of Singapore. No glass, no netting, nothing. 

We had bought the SGD 50 (each) ticket which entitled us to the glass booth premium cable cars and another 2 rides, a free ride up the Skyhelix and another ride to and from Palawan beach on the Western part of Sentosa.

For all new visitors, this SkyHelix is a must try. Just for the novelty of sitting at 80 m with your feet dangling into nothingness. 

I may be considered too old for the roller coaster rides (55 is the age limit I believe) but I can still try Base Camp Everest trekking and a few more skiing sessions in the near future.

Transport Ministry - some suggestions for improvement

 

A long trailer transporter at AYE yesterday afternoon. 

As a dedicated taxpayer for both personal and road tax, I am disappointed at the frequent road works in practically many roads and expressways in Singapore taking place in the last 3 years. 

True, we need to develop the island in terms of building new infrastructure, buildings, flats, MRT lines and so on. However, the use of all these heavy vehicles on our roads is very irritating.Not to mention, that there are severe injuries or even death if any vehicle or motorcycle gets hit. It will be a nasty sight.

In Europe, in Germany for example, the heavy vehicles are only allowed on the expressways after midnight and till 5.59 am in the morning.

Here are a few suggestions for our LTA folks to consider :

a) Only allow heavy vehicles (those above say 1 tons and not transporting workers) on the expressways on the expressways from 12.01 am to 5.59 am.

b) Allow ample distance ahead of the vehicles doing road works so that cars and other vehicles can change lanes. Sometimes, these workers put traffic cones up as close at 20 meters from the oncoming vehicles. Very frustrating.

c) For goodness sake, monitor the traffic situation for a few weeks before agreeing use of the lane for road or cable improvements. Then, only allow the actual works to be carried out at NON PEAK HOURS.

This will at least lessen the frustrations of commuters going to work in very congested roads all over the island.

Carpe Diem. 

2 Million Views !

 

                                                             In Philippines in 1975 

Thank you readers ! I am thoroughly humbled and awed by the reach of this blog. I will continue to scribe and curate my life experiences as long and as best as I can.

2,000,000 views.

I am slowly letting this number sink in. 

Carpe Diem. 

Are we a bunch of 'Karens" ? Too many foreigners in our midst ?

                                   With a school mate Faizal in Shenzhen recently.

This is the question I want to ask, in the wake of the incident whereby an enraged parent roughly pushed an old man to the ground when he merely patted the little girl's head. The old gent meant no harm, and he was the proprietor of the stall and had trouble walking as was shown by the CCTV video slowly making his way across the coffeeshop, and needed to hold on to the tables for balance.

When he walked by the little girl, all he did was pat her head, as is wont of many people of my era (above 50 years of age). First the mother got all protective and rushed to hug her 'baby', and then the father walked over, got all angry and shoved the old man to the ground.

True, the video only cut off at that juncture, but the father realized he overreacted, and helped the old man up and offered to buy him a drink.  

The fact of the issue that the father or the angry perpetrator was from Australia, had led me to question this basic behavior. Maybe in Australia, it is not 'on' to pat children on the head ? Or are the current crop of Singaporean parents too overprotective of their princes and princesses ?

Perhaps in many countries outside of Asia, it is rather rude or dangerous to touch children anywhere unless the adults happen to be kindergarten teachers, maids or trained child minders. 

So it begs the question, are there more and more foreign born people in our midst ? The sheer numbers of people of Asian origin who are here either as permanent residents, and natuzalised citizens are in the millions. The Singapore 'core' is fast shrinking as Singaporeans are reproducing themselves only 0.87 or less than 1 per Singaporean. Hence the need for immigrants, that we are fully aware of. 

A large percentage of them assimilate  into Singapore society and try to integrate. However, there is a significant minority who live and socialize in expatriate bubbles. Many different cultures coming and residing so close to each other, something will bound to happen and people with differences in child raising, social behavior and practices will always challenge the norm and incidents and misunderstandings like these will continue to happen.

What is the solution ?

 

 

Athletic Chamber Details - proudly presented by QRA International

 

Tong Shian Frog Porridge Chinatown - So Good.

 

I recently ate one of my all time Singapore created foods at the Kheong Saik Coffeeshop alongside Kheong Saik street in Chinatown.

For 10.50 SGD, I get a claypot of steaming boiled frog in black sauce, with ginger and garlic.

Together with porridge, fired dough fritters or You Tiao, this forms my essential breakfast at least once a month.

It is really something of a treat and not expensive too.

Frog or Tian Ju (padi chicken) is reared in farms in Malaysia and then shipped to Singapore. It is a delicacy of the Chinese citizenry in both Singapore and Malaysia.

One day when i get around it, I must do a piece on my all time top 10 or 20 Singaporean food dishes. That will take some time as there is always a debate within my mind and my choices changes on my mood, the weather sometimes and also whether I am mildly hungry or very hungry.

Tong Shian Porridge

265 New Birdge Road (junction with Kheong Siak Street)

S'pore 088745

(serves all kinds of porridge from claypots and some other Chinese cuisine)

Food : 5 / 5

Ambience : 3 / 5 (its by the roadside, so bear with the fumes if cars pass by)

Value  : 5 / 5

Service : 4 / 5 (no fuss, prompt if you go in the mornings). 

Seize the Day. 

Heading for 2 Million Views Total in August 2026

 

                                                                     Seriously ? 

In July I had indicated that this blog had hit 1,000,000 views. Now barely a month has passed and we are on the cusp of 2,000,000 views. A total of 1,000,000 views per month.

I am mystified, exhilerated and grateful for attention and interest and will continue to post meaningful content on this page.

Thank you readers and friends.

Carpe Diem. 

15th August 2026