Ann Siang Hill and its Treasures

                                                Taken from the top of Ann Siang Hill 
                                                                10th Oct 2015 

       After such a hefty breakfast of chicken rice at Maxwell Road Hawker Center, what better way to burn off the excess calories than to take a stroll up the Ann Siang Hill ? I decided to do just that and round out that the Hill was named after a famous Businessman philantropist, Chia Ann Siang. He was one of the most successful Hokkien traders of the early 20th century and bought the entire hill from the then Governor of Singapore.

       The roads surrounding Ann Siang hIll are peppered with small shophouse style establishments featuring many Food and Beverage outlets with fanciful names such as L Angelus (French fine food), Los Primos (Spanish tapas and drinks) and Gugini (Italian trappatoria) all lined side by side.

3 Fine Restaurants Side by Side.  

Gugini Trattoria and Pizzeria 

L Angelus - Fine French Dining 

                          Los Primos Restaurant and Tapas Bar ; try the Iberico Ham with Sangria

                                     At the Top of Ann Siang Hill 10th Oct 2015 

      Where else in the world would you find culinary establishments from easily 10 countries from UK, Germany, Continental Europe, Middle Eastern and Asia all within a 5 minute walk from each other ? None other than Club Street and Ann Siang Hill !! 

     

Maxwell Road's Hawker Centre Tian Tian Chicken Rice

                       S$ 3. 50 for a small plate ; $ 5.00 for Medium and S$ 7.00 for Large

        The Maxwell Road Hawker Centre is a magnet for tourists from all over the world ; In it there are world famous hawkers such as Tian Tian Chicken Rice which has been featured in Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations" as well as Gordon Ramsey's famous Hawker Center Cook - Off (taking a leaf from the famous Dance - Off in Hip Hop).

         Somewhere in the center of the Hawker Center, the Tian Tian stall always attracts queues from lots of tourists and some locals daily. They are open from 10.00 am till the chicken runs out ; the famous boiled Hainanese Chicken rice is the "piece de la resistance"
so to speak.

         Living in Singapore surely has its upsides, one of which is that it is a food lover's paradise. Here you can buy a meal for only $3.00 which is described by many food afficiandos as "world class". 

        Coming back to the plate of chicken rice, I feel the rice was especially fragrant, the grains were separate and nice texture, but the chicken in my opinion was a let down.  The boiled chicken (without the chicken sauce) just "so - so" ; there was no fragrance or much taste, though it was tender and succulent. I would give it at best a 6.5 upon 10. The chicken was drowned in the gravy which was thick and most people would find it appealing, but true chicken rice does not come with the sauce. 

        The real test is in the chicken. I personally prefer the Boon Tong Kee chicken at United Square or even the Big Bird at Balmoral Plaza for their  flavourful chicken but at Big Bird's, their rice is rather clumpy and not as good as Tien Tien's. 

       I ordered a separate plate of stir fried bean sprouts with some challots ; that was OK,
for S$ 2.00

      Verdict : Tien Tien well, if you want to try authentic Hainanese Chicken Rice, it is good for first time starters.   

The Case for Karate

Just a gimmick ; breaking bricks 

      Karate is a self defence martial art, originating from Okinawa island in the late 1800s, it has been around for about 150 years and there are 4 main schools, Shotokan, GoJyun, Shitoryu and Wadoryu. The discipline which I have been practising for the last 12 - 13 years and the also for 7 years in chilhhood is the Shitoryu, namely from the master Kenwa Mabuni.

       Our chief instructor is Sensei Chia Kwek Fah, an 8th dan Hanshi who has over 50 years of karate training.He is in his late 60s is as fit as a fiddle and as flexible as a gymnast. He is the technical consultant, founder and sensei of our Ken Shin Kai club since 1997 based in Tanglin CC and with a subsidiary dojo at the National University of S'pore Alumni Club at Kent Ridge Guild House.  

Idoshigyi or movement 

         Karate is more than a martial art, to differentiate it from the new more 'sexy' sports like kickboxing and Mixed Martial Arts which is nothing more than trained street fighting, karate is a way of life, and the actual translation means 'empty hand fighting'. 

          The development of karate has seen much evolution of the martial art but the true essence of the art is about discipline, form, function and self defence. No karateka goes out to make trouble, and we have very strict codes of conduct from the 'rei' bowing to seniors and the 'moksuk' or meditation which also delves into the spirit of the karateka.

        The training 'gi' or uniform harks back to the old days of feudal Japan where each school trained the students to fight to the death, hence the wearing of while 'funeral clothes' in the event of death - with honour of course.   

                                            Teaching the dojo at Tanglin CC Sept 2015 

        I am taking the 2nd dan exam in a couple of months time, so I hope to understand more about this centuries old art and the philosophy and way of life which is still being practised by millions around the world today, 

My Saints 'Boys' from Class of '78 (Sec 4)

      From Left to Right round the table : Specs Pang Seng Meng, White shirt : Albert Heng, Apparoo Surendran, Me, Michael Tan Joo Liang (specs), Chew Ping Nan (white shirt and organiser), Dr. Jeffrey Kuan, Andrew Lee, Kenneth Fong, Chandrakanth Mahawar, S. Thulasidas, unknown, Paul James Ezekiel.  

      As I hit my '50s ; there is a more urgent need to reconnect with the friends of my youth, which are the 'boys' from St Andrew's Primary and Secondary. So every year (or 2), my friend Ping Nan, faithfully rounds up the Usual Gang of Suspects (who are the 'boys' of the class of '78 Sec 4 Saint Andrews) and we make every effort to go Back to School and reacquaint ourselves with teachers of old, the classrooms and of course our long lost 'band of brothers' whom we played marbles with at the school yard, swung by the Banyan tree beside the school, played truant with the then discipline master Mr. Victor Wee, played mid afternoon soccer in the school field and coming in to class stinking to high heaven.

     These are what our collective memories were made of. We cannot go back but we can always reconnect and have a laugh about the 'good old times'. While some people think aging and growing old is scary, it is a rite of passage of life, so we need to accept life, as well as death and the ups and downs which we are given in heaps and doses.

      Are there 'winners' in life ? Or are there 'losers' ?  I am still pondering that question today. But in the meantime I cherish every meeting with my old 'bros' of yesteryear. 

More on Egypt - 25 Jan 2017 Update

The Sun setting on the River Nile

      One of the most fascinating places I have visited is Egypt ; The Nile is called the Giver of Life and the Country is split into the north and the south by the river Nile. There are numerous cruise ships (mostly European run like the Movenpick brand name) which ply the Nile and the best time to visit is in Winter. The weather is cool (something like 17 - 20 deg C in the daytime) and the ancient structures are simply stunning. I would visit this place again in no time !

     There is a great opportunity for me this year 2017 as we have some business in the Middle East and since Egypt is in the vicinity, I might just go back for one more unforgettable visit. The must visit places are :

The God Ra with Ramses II

a) Luxor - so many temples are located there.
b) Alexandria
c) Cario - the National Museum housing the Rosetta Stone is there
d) Abu Simbel
e) Aswan - Dam
f) Hapshetshut - the one and only time Egypt was ruled by a Queen
g) Valley of the Kings

May at Luxor

The last 6 years since the start of the "Arab Spring" has led to some instability and insecurity in the region, however, I believe that tourism is an important aspect of many a country's GDP so there should be ample avenues to pay this magnificent country a visit ; just to see the once in a lifetime pyramids and amazingly built temples.

A relief on the side of a column

Consort serving the god with some earthly food

Ramses II and one of his wives

Greek influence can be seen on the column

Unforgettable Egypt

Trick Photo at a vantage point about 500 m from the pyramids

One of the most unforgettable countries I have visited must be Egypt, straddling Africa and the Middle East, it is dominated by the amazing river Nile which stretches from practically North to South of this country. Home of close to 70 million Egytians, Egypt is a country of many wonders and in particular the gods of the past which many people speculate were from another planet ; such was Egypt's sophisticated calculations in building the pyramids, the Valley of the Kings and all the wonderful temples which have withstood thousands of years, it is indeed an amazing country.  

The coronation of Ramses II with 2 gods front and back 

Our family took the 10 day tour of Egypt in 2009, and we started at the city of Luxor where the great temples of Ramses I, II and others were all situated. They believed in many gods, in particular Osiris and Ra being the 2 most important ones. The sense of grandeur is still present today even though present day Egypt is still struggling to come to terms with a democracy after many years under the rule of Hosni Mubarak and Anwar Sadat. 

Unforgettable Nile river in the evening, with the sailboats at left 

                                       The boys at the Aswan dam on a sunny day 

How to Live to be 100 Years Young ? Keep mentally and physically Active.

                                                  My Uncle N. Vaithinathan turned 100 in August 
                                        (Center picture with my brother John and his family)

My uncle Vaithinathan turned 100 recently, and the family of whom he married my father's younger sister Esther Abisheganaden, had a big dinner to celebrate it with about 60 of his closest family and friends. It was held at the NUSS Guild House and true to his humble nature, he was his ascerbic self.

A very humble and devout man, my uncle Vaithi and my aunt Esther are the perfect couple soulmates, so to speak. They were teenage lovebirds and he was formerly the principal of Tanjung Katong Primary school. He retired at age 55, then studied law (!) and practised for 17 years. At 73, he took up linguistics and learnt and is still studying to this day ! He is a master of 5 languages, and never lost his faculties or wit as was apparent on the day of his birthday. He was known to bother his grandchildren about the intricacies of the computer usage, and the various types of Microsoft Office software, something I am ashamed to say I am lagging in that department.

He also would take daily 5km walks and is an avowed non smoker. He does drink the occasional whisky I believe. The secret to his logevity ? Keeping mentally and physically active and interact with as many young people as possible. Be needed by the community.

We are indeed blessed to be part of his family, and wish him many many more years of good health and joy.