11 Temmuz 2012 Çarşamba
10 Temmuz 2012 Salı
9 Temmuz 2012 Pazartesi
The Singapore Watercolour Society
To contact us Click HERE
I recently had an old watercolour painting framed at a shop and the owner was most curious about its origin. The painting had the artist's signature on it but I couldn't really make out what it was. Curious, I went on the web to find out more about the history of watercolour painting in Singapore.
The Singapore Watercolour Society was officially formed in 1969 but prior to that, the art of watercolour had it early roots in the 1920s during the colonial period .
This is according to an article called Early Singapore Art: 1st & 2nd Generation at www.artcommune.com.sg/resourcesthe_sunday_group_18th_mar_2012.pdf
According to the article, a group of art enthusiasts would regularly meet up on Sundays to embark on painting trips. These artists from diverse backgrounds shared a common interest in water colour art and would come together to paint the Singapore River, the Merdeka Bridge, Chinatown scenes and kampongs on stilts. They were often referred to as the Sunday Group and many first and second generation Singapore painters such as Lim Cheng Hoe, Chen Chong Swee, Chia Wai Hon, T.Y Choy, Choy Weng Yang, Ong Chye Cho, Thomas Yeo, Gog Sing Hooi, Ong Kim Sengand Loy Chye Chuan had been Sunday Group painters at different points of their career.
There were 3 schools of art in Singapore's pioneer art days -the watercolourist, traditional Chinese and the Nanyang style of art. The medium of art depended on the different education models and art trainings the artists went through. Most watercolourists were part of the British colonial education system and were exposed to British styles including charcoal and pastel. According to the article, the Sunday group consisted of different people at different times and the practice continued all the way to the 60s and 70s.
The Singapore River was one of the more popular sites where the group gathered for their painting. This place was a key trading hub in early Singapore where coolies carried bags of rice up the bum boats. From there, it was ferried along the river and I've seen scenes like this in early black and white footage on TV. I believe Victoria Memorial Hall lies in the background of this painting but I wonder what is the name of the bridge. And most of all, I wonder who painted this water colour piece.
I recently had an old watercolour painting framed at a shop and the owner was most curious about its origin. The painting had the artist's signature on it but I couldn't really make out what it was. Curious, I went on the web to find out more about the history of watercolour painting in Singapore.
The Singapore Watercolour Society was officially formed in 1969 but prior to that, the art of watercolour had it early roots in the 1920s during the colonial period .
This is according to an article called Early Singapore Art: 1st & 2nd Generation at www.artcommune.com.sg/resourcesthe_sunday_group_18th_mar_2012.pdf
According to the article, a group of art enthusiasts would regularly meet up on Sundays to embark on painting trips. These artists from diverse backgrounds shared a common interest in water colour art and would come together to paint the Singapore River, the Merdeka Bridge, Chinatown scenes and kampongs on stilts. They were often referred to as the Sunday Group and many first and second generation Singapore painters such as Lim Cheng Hoe, Chen Chong Swee, Chia Wai Hon, T.Y Choy, Choy Weng Yang, Ong Chye Cho, Thomas Yeo, Gog Sing Hooi, Ong Kim Sengand Loy Chye Chuan had been Sunday Group painters at different points of their career.
There were 3 schools of art in Singapore's pioneer art days -the watercolourist, traditional Chinese and the Nanyang style of art. The medium of art depended on the different education models and art trainings the artists went through. Most watercolourists were part of the British colonial education system and were exposed to British styles including charcoal and pastel. According to the article, the Sunday group consisted of different people at different times and the practice continued all the way to the 60s and 70s.
The Singapore River was one of the more popular sites where the group gathered for their painting. This place was a key trading hub in early Singapore where coolies carried bags of rice up the bum boats. From there, it was ferried along the river and I've seen scenes like this in early black and white footage on TV. I believe Victoria Memorial Hall lies in the background of this painting but I wonder what is the name of the bridge. And most of all, I wonder who painted this water colour piece.
Miniature English rocking horses
To contact us Click HERE
I love rocking horses and bought a pair of English vintage miniature ones from a really funny uncle who has decided to give up his hobby of collecting over the years. He then mentioned that he had a bigger one at home, similar in style to the ones I bought. But when I came to his stall the following week, I couldn't quite believe he had painted it white. Regardless of how imperfect and stained it was, I would love it in its original form but the uncle proudly said "I painted it for you." That cracked me up and I didn't know what to say. He even gave me a charming wooden horse shoe, knowing how much I love horses. There's nothing like old school.
I love rocking horses and bought a pair of English vintage miniature ones from a really funny uncle who has decided to give up his hobby of collecting over the years. He then mentioned that he had a bigger one at home, similar in style to the ones I bought. But when I came to his stall the following week, I couldn't quite believe he had painted it white. Regardless of how imperfect and stained it was, I would love it in its original form but the uncle proudly said "I painted it for you." That cracked me up and I didn't know what to say. He even gave me a charming wooden horse shoe, knowing how much I love horses. There's nothing like old school.
English porcelain
To contact us Click HERE
Bought a set of four Johnson brothers teacups and saucers today. The Johnson Brothers were a very famous tableware manufacturer and exporter which had its origins way back in 1883. It expanded rapidly in the early 20th Century and exported its tableware to all parts of the British empire. During the 1950s award-winning designs like "Old Britain Castles" and "Historic America", became very popular and the Johnson Brothers was given the Queen's award for their contribution to the British economy. However, its fortunes waned in the 1960s due to spiraling costs and competition and the company had no choice but to join the Wedgewood group in 1968. Johnson Brothers have since ceased production altogether in 2003.
Another saucer caught my eye. It was modern compared to the teacup set and at the back of the plate, it says Haddon Hall Minton bone China which is a classy modern interpretation of an English hall tapestry. Just like Spode ( another old English ceramics brand ), Minton had its origins back in the old pottery town of Stroke-upon-Trent in Straffordshire, England. Besides pottery, Minton is also famous for its art nouvea tiles such as colourful Majolica, popularly known here in Singapore as the old Peranakan tiles. It then joined the Royal Doulton Group but has since been taken over by the Waterford Wedgewood Group in 2005 which produces most of its ceramics in China today. Such is the winds of change in the old English pottery business.
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| An English vintage Johnson Brothers tea cup |
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| Haddon Hall Minton China is a classy modern interpretation of an English hall tapestry, |
Another saucer caught my eye. It was modern compared to the teacup set and at the back of the plate, it says Haddon Hall Minton bone China which is a classy modern interpretation of an English hall tapestry. Just like Spode ( another old English ceramics brand ), Minton had its origins back in the old pottery town of Stroke-upon-Trent in Straffordshire, England. Besides pottery, Minton is also famous for its art nouvea tiles such as colourful Majolica, popularly known here in Singapore as the old Peranakan tiles. It then joined the Royal Doulton Group but has since been taken over by the Waterford Wedgewood Group in 2005 which produces most of its ceramics in China today. Such is the winds of change in the old English pottery business.
QT Gold Coast, Surfer's Paradise
To contact us Click HERE
If I had a choice between a Hilton or a Marriot and a boutique hotel, I would definitely go for the latter.
Boutique hotels range from quaint to stylish but the personal touches make all the difference. From ecletic and stylish furniture to more personal touches from hotel staff, that's the reason why boutique hotels are gaining popularity with many tourists. QT Gold Coast has so many of these quirky colourful touches that I just can't stop taking a closer look and snapping away. I wonder how their rooms look like.
If I had a choice between a Hilton or a Marriot and a boutique hotel, I would definitely go for the latter.
Boutique hotels range from quaint to stylish but the personal touches make all the difference. From ecletic and stylish furniture to more personal touches from hotel staff, that's the reason why boutique hotels are gaining popularity with many tourists. QT Gold Coast has so many of these quirky colourful touches that I just can't stop taking a closer look and snapping away. I wonder how their rooms look like.
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| The exterior of QT has an interesting feature wall that reminds me of the Chinese abacus |
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| Many colours and different textures but they come together beautifully |
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| Cup cakes, rocky road, macaroons, meringues -these are a few of my favourites things |
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| Chairs that radiate the bright rays of the sun |
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| Playful patterns |
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| I love love the organic patterns of the coffee tables |
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| Vintage + surf = hip |
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| A funny guy fooling around with the bike at the entrance |
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| Old school weather board that has to be updated daily |
Peter's Fish Market - Gold Coast Australia
To contact us Click HERE
The last time I had fish and chip from a take away shop was when I was in Cornwall, England during my teen years. It was wrapped in newspapers and I gleefully headed to the beach with it so that I could enjoy the sea breeze and my hot and wonderfully smelling fish and chips.But things turned ugly as a flock of seagulls descended upon me like a group of well trained commandos. Think my fish and chips were ultimately abandoned on the beach as I made a dash.
Well that was years ago and here I was in another country where fish and chips are enjoyed with a similar gusto. The billboard at Peter's Fish Market in Gold Coast says "Fresh and cooked, straight from the trawler."
I could see a funny looking seagull at the corner of my eye but at least he was alone. According to Sun Tzu's Art of War, it is important to know your enemies. As for the fish, it was battered and fried and served with fries. The fish was fresh so it definitely tasted better than the average fish and chips served at family restaurants. But what I loved were the oysters costing only Australian $15 for a whole tray. They were fresh and succulent and ultimately, I abandoned the fish and chips midway, left them to my lunch companions while I just focused on the oysters. Perhaps fish and chips and me were never meant to be.
There are lots of seafood offered within Peter's Fish Market and I was particularly amused by the bugs , a name that locals call this clayfish looking creature as well as the spanner crabs which somehow looked too plastic to be eaten. You can choose your seafood and request it to be cooked to your liking. Battered, crumbed or grilled , seasoned with lemon pepper, spices or cajun pepper. They also do their seafood with a Thai vinegrette - with garlic, chilli and lime. The food can be enjoyed at the benches and tables outside, Alfresco style or you could take them to the beach ! Just be wary of those innocent looking seagulls. Everything is casual and relaxed at this place.
The last time I had fish and chip from a take away shop was when I was in Cornwall, England during my teen years. It was wrapped in newspapers and I gleefully headed to the beach with it so that I could enjoy the sea breeze and my hot and wonderfully smelling fish and chips.But things turned ugly as a flock of seagulls descended upon me like a group of well trained commandos. Think my fish and chips were ultimately abandoned on the beach as I made a dash.
Well that was years ago and here I was in another country where fish and chips are enjoyed with a similar gusto. The billboard at Peter's Fish Market in Gold Coast says "Fresh and cooked, straight from the trawler."
I could see a funny looking seagull at the corner of my eye but at least he was alone. According to Sun Tzu's Art of War, it is important to know your enemies. As for the fish, it was battered and fried and served with fries. The fish was fresh so it definitely tasted better than the average fish and chips served at family restaurants. But what I loved were the oysters costing only Australian $15 for a whole tray. They were fresh and succulent and ultimately, I abandoned the fish and chips midway, left them to my lunch companions while I just focused on the oysters. Perhaps fish and chips and me were never meant to be.
There are lots of seafood offered within Peter's Fish Market and I was particularly amused by the bugs , a name that locals call this clayfish looking creature as well as the spanner crabs which somehow looked too plastic to be eaten. You can choose your seafood and request it to be cooked to your liking. Battered, crumbed or grilled , seasoned with lemon pepper, spices or cajun pepper. They also do their seafood with a Thai vinegrette - with garlic, chilli and lime. The food can be enjoyed at the benches and tables outside, Alfresco style or you could take them to the beach ! Just be wary of those innocent looking seagulls. Everything is casual and relaxed at this place.
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| Tiger prawns from Australia |
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| Spanner crabs- don't they look plastic ! |
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| Australians call these bugs |
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| Fish that I don't see back in Singapore markets |
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| Fresh succulent oysters |
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| Fish and chips |
8 Temmuz 2012 Pazar
Tiong Bahru Bakery
To contact us Click HERE
I never put too much thought into how good a croissant should be or taste. Local breakfast like mee siam, chwee kueh, vegetarian bee hoon are more my kind of indulgence. Some of my bread crazy friends have been talking about Maison Kayser and Paul Boulangerie in Orchard and I listen while thinking about dry mee pok noodles with vinegar, the best places for hokkien mee etc.
So when some bread crazy friends of mine started raving about some new bread place with great croissants, I was pretty nonchalent about it. But when I heard it was in Tiong Bahru, I lit up cos that was where my grandma used to live and I visited her very often for sleep-overs when I was a kid. The place has been sold many years ago but I still cherish the memories I had there.
So, off we went. Apparently, Gontran Cherrier, one of the marquee bakery names in Paris has now set up Tiong Bahru Bakery with some Singapore investors at Eng Hoon Street.
It was a lovely cafe, too crowded at times but the croissants were indeed different. It was crispy on the outside yet not flaky and fluffy when you bit into it. And the coffee came with such special touches. Love the 3 leave patterns best. I've often seen one leaf but hardly three at one go and nice touches like these with good bread made life a little more beautiful that afternoon.
Tiong Bahru Bakery by Gontran Cherrier
#01-70, 56 Eng Hoon Street
Singapore 160056
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| Croissants that are crispy and yet not flaky |
I never put too much thought into how good a croissant should be or taste. Local breakfast like mee siam, chwee kueh, vegetarian bee hoon are more my kind of indulgence. Some of my bread crazy friends have been talking about Maison Kayser and Paul Boulangerie in Orchard and I listen while thinking about dry mee pok noodles with vinegar, the best places for hokkien mee etc.
So when some bread crazy friends of mine started raving about some new bread place with great croissants, I was pretty nonchalent about it. But when I heard it was in Tiong Bahru, I lit up cos that was where my grandma used to live and I visited her very often for sleep-overs when I was a kid. The place has been sold many years ago but I still cherish the memories I had there.
So, off we went. Apparently, Gontran Cherrier, one of the marquee bakery names in Paris has now set up Tiong Bahru Bakery with some Singapore investors at Eng Hoon Street.
It was a lovely cafe, too crowded at times but the croissants were indeed different. It was crispy on the outside yet not flaky and fluffy when you bit into it. And the coffee came with such special touches. Love the 3 leave patterns best. I've often seen one leaf but hardly three at one go and nice touches like these with good bread made life a little more beautiful that afternoon.
Tiong Bahru Bakery by Gontran Cherrier
#01-70, 56 Eng Hoon Street
Singapore 160056
QT Gold Coast, Surfer's Paradise
To contact us Click HERE
If I had a choice between a Hilton or a Marriot and a boutique hotel, I would definitely go for the latter.
Boutique hotels range from quaint to stylish but the personal touches make all the difference. From ecletic and stylish furniture to more personal touches from hotel staff, that's the reason why boutique hotels are gaining popularity with many tourists. QT Gold Coast has so many of these quirky colourful touches that I just can't stop taking a closer look and snapping away. I wonder how their rooms look like.
If I had a choice between a Hilton or a Marriot and a boutique hotel, I would definitely go for the latter.
Boutique hotels range from quaint to stylish but the personal touches make all the difference. From ecletic and stylish furniture to more personal touches from hotel staff, that's the reason why boutique hotels are gaining popularity with many tourists. QT Gold Coast has so many of these quirky colourful touches that I just can't stop taking a closer look and snapping away. I wonder how their rooms look like.
|
| The exterior of QT has an interesting feature wall that reminds me of the Chinese abacus |
|
| Many colours and different textures but they come together beautifully |
|
| Cup cakes, rocky road, macaroons, meringues -these are a few of my favourites things |
|
| Chairs that radiate the bright rays of the sun |
|
| Playful patterns |
|
| I love love the organic patterns of the coffee tables |
|
| Vintage + surf = hip |
|
| A funny guy fooling around with the bike at the entrance |
|
| Old school weather board that has to be updated daily |
Peter's Fish Market - Gold Coast Australia
To contact us Click HERE
The last time I had fish and chip from a take away shop was when I was in Cornwall, England during my teen years. It was wrapped in newspapers and I gleefully headed to the beach with it so that I could enjoy the sea breeze and my hot and wonderfully smelling fish and chips.But things turned ugly as a flock of seagulls descended upon me like a group of well trained commandos. Think my fish and chips were ultimately abandoned on the beach as I made a dash.
Well that was years ago and here I was in another country where fish and chips are enjoyed with a similar gusto. The billboard at Peter's Fish Market in Gold Coast says "Fresh and cooked, straight from the trawler."
I could see a funny looking seagull at the corner of my eye but at least he was alone. According to Sun Tzu's Art of War, it is important to know your enemies. As for the fish, it was battered and fried and served with fries. The fish was fresh so it definitely tasted better than the average fish and chips served at family restaurants. But what I loved were the oysters costing only Australian $15 for a whole tray. They were fresh and succulent and ultimately, I abandoned the fish and chips midway, left them to my lunch companions while I just focused on the oysters. Perhaps fish and chips and me were never meant to be.
There are lots of seafood offered within Peter's Fish Market and I was particularly amused by the bugs , a name that locals call this clayfish looking creature as well as the spanner crabs which somehow looked too plastic to be eaten. You can choose your seafood and request it to be cooked to your liking. Battered, crumbed or grilled , seasoned with lemon pepper, spices or cajun pepper. They also do their seafood with a Thai vinegrette - with garlic, chilli and lime. The food can be enjoyed at the benches and tables outside, Alfresco style or you could take them to the beach ! Just be wary of those innocent looking seagulls. Everything is casual and relaxed at this place.
The last time I had fish and chip from a take away shop was when I was in Cornwall, England during my teen years. It was wrapped in newspapers and I gleefully headed to the beach with it so that I could enjoy the sea breeze and my hot and wonderfully smelling fish and chips.But things turned ugly as a flock of seagulls descended upon me like a group of well trained commandos. Think my fish and chips were ultimately abandoned on the beach as I made a dash.
Well that was years ago and here I was in another country where fish and chips are enjoyed with a similar gusto. The billboard at Peter's Fish Market in Gold Coast says "Fresh and cooked, straight from the trawler."
I could see a funny looking seagull at the corner of my eye but at least he was alone. According to Sun Tzu's Art of War, it is important to know your enemies. As for the fish, it was battered and fried and served with fries. The fish was fresh so it definitely tasted better than the average fish and chips served at family restaurants. But what I loved were the oysters costing only Australian $15 for a whole tray. They were fresh and succulent and ultimately, I abandoned the fish and chips midway, left them to my lunch companions while I just focused on the oysters. Perhaps fish and chips and me were never meant to be.
There are lots of seafood offered within Peter's Fish Market and I was particularly amused by the bugs , a name that locals call this clayfish looking creature as well as the spanner crabs which somehow looked too plastic to be eaten. You can choose your seafood and request it to be cooked to your liking. Battered, crumbed or grilled , seasoned with lemon pepper, spices or cajun pepper. They also do their seafood with a Thai vinegrette - with garlic, chilli and lime. The food can be enjoyed at the benches and tables outside, Alfresco style or you could take them to the beach ! Just be wary of those innocent looking seagulls. Everything is casual and relaxed at this place.
|
| Tiger prawns from Australia |
|
| Spanner crabs- don't they look plastic ! |
|
| Australians call these bugs |
|
| Fish that I don't see back in Singapore markets |
|
| Fresh succulent oysters |
|
| Fish and chips |
Traditional candy - the Ting Ting man
To contact us Click HERE
For those old enough to remember the Ting Ting man will surely look back at those days with sweet nostalgia. He sold a kind of hardened maltose candy in an aluminium tray which had to be chipped off by a chisel and hence the sound "ting ting". Kids would run out to buy those sweet morsels as the Ting Ting man puts them into little packets. I was one of these eager kids whose eyes lit up on hearing that familiar chiselling sound.
And at the night market at Jonker Walk, Malacce last weekend, I saw a stall selling an updated version of the candy with various flavours - wheat grass, mint, gincer, sour plum and more. The ting ting man of yesteryear only had one flavour but his accompanying music had a special flavour that couldn't be replicated. I bought different types and the best was the mint. A few stalls away was an old man selling maltose candy too which looked closer to the real thing. His stall displayed a newspaper cutting that showed how he sold his ting ting sweets from house to house back in those days with his chisel, aluminium tray and stand.Today, his sweets are pre-packaged in big packets of 5 riggits. His candy tasted good and even better with an updated mint flavour. I should have bought more and taken a picture with him. Perhaps next time in my next weekend trip to Malacca.
Another favourite street snack of mine was muah chee which costs at least $3 at a stall in a mall in Singapore but here in Malacca, it costs only 2 or 3 riggits. Just as the signboard says, muah chee is made of glutinous rice pounded into a paste and coasted with sesame and peanuts. Simple yet delicious as a snack.
For those old enough to remember the Ting Ting man will surely look back at those days with sweet nostalgia. He sold a kind of hardened maltose candy in an aluminium tray which had to be chipped off by a chisel and hence the sound "ting ting". Kids would run out to buy those sweet morsels as the Ting Ting man puts them into little packets. I was one of these eager kids whose eyes lit up on hearing that familiar chiselling sound.
And at the night market at Jonker Walk, Malacce last weekend, I saw a stall selling an updated version of the candy with various flavours - wheat grass, mint, gincer, sour plum and more. The ting ting man of yesteryear only had one flavour but his accompanying music had a special flavour that couldn't be replicated. I bought different types and the best was the mint. A few stalls away was an old man selling maltose candy too which looked closer to the real thing. His stall displayed a newspaper cutting that showed how he sold his ting ting sweets from house to house back in those days with his chisel, aluminium tray and stand.Today, his sweets are pre-packaged in big packets of 5 riggits. His candy tasted good and even better with an updated mint flavour. I should have bought more and taken a picture with him. Perhaps next time in my next weekend trip to Malacca.
Another favourite street snack of mine was muah chee which costs at least $3 at a stall in a mall in Singapore but here in Malacca, it costs only 2 or 3 riggits. Just as the signboard says, muah chee is made of glutinous rice pounded into a paste and coasted with sesame and peanuts. Simple yet delicious as a snack.
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| Maltose sweets in a variety of flavours |
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| Muah chee, a family favourite ! |
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| It says on the board Hainanese mua chee. |
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