Big Cats and a Jazzy Jam

We visited the Singapore Pinacotheque de Paris, a local offshoot of the renowned private art museum in Paris, which opened at the end of May in the newly-refurbished Fort Canning Arts Centre.  This former barracks of the British Army is a building we have admired many times as we have wandered past. It has been under renovation for years but now holds more than 40 rare masterpieces from artists like Rembrandt, Picasso and Monet on permanent show in the Collections gallery. 

The larger Features Gallery is currently showcasing 'The Myth of Cleopatra' which had almost 200 artefacts and artworks including frescos from Pompeii, an Egyptian sarcophagus and resplendent costumes from the Cleopatra movies.

We met for dinner with a few other friends at Glutton's Corner, right on the waterfront of Marina Bay and indulged in a variety of local street food such as kway teow, chicken rice, spring rolls and murtabak. Then we all went to see Steve Winter's 'My Nine Lives' at the Esplanade Concert Hall. It is the first time I have actually been to see a performance at this venue which many of you would recognise as there are few buildings in Singapore as eye-catching as the two domes that make up the complex. They are fondly referred to as 'the big durians'  by locals as they resemble the spiky tropical fruit that is unique to this part of the world. 

Steve is an extraordinary wildlife photographer who has developed a passion for the big cats. His images were amazing, but just as interesting was to learn what it takes to get those amazing shots of (clockwise from top left) tigers in northern India, lions in South Africa, snow leopards at high altitude in India and a curious tiger with a camera mounted on a robotic car. The shots below are all courtesy of National Geographic.

After the show we walked to Clarke Quay to collect a package for Richard from John Chee at the Crazy Elephant. On the train coming home I discovered Adrian had been trying to get in touch. He gave up and left this short video for us instead. I trust he doesn't mind me sharing

The Hungry Ghost Festival passed the halfway point on Wednesday night and there was a big concert at the HDB across the street for all the residents to enjoy and help to entertain the wandering spirits. 

On Thursday morning we met up with June to explore a new walk from Marsiling MRTvia the Woodlands Town Park East to Woodlands Town Garden and on to the new Woodlands Waterfront overlooking the Strait of Johor. From there we walked through Admiralty Park and on to Woodlands MRT. It mostly worked as I had planned but sometimes it was guess and go, then backtrack. We were happy with the loop and will include it in next term's walking schedule for the Monday walkers.  We saw a number of birds including kingfishers, orioles and the less common pied triller. Below you can see the Woodlands Checkpoint at immigration through which everyone must pass to cross between Johore and Woodlands and the traffic jam it causes. the waterfront looking to Johore Barhru and bottom left the more tranquil Woodlands Town Garden.

The rest of the week disappeared in a daze, they are flying through now. 
We met some of the other MAE staff for end of term drinks at Wala Wala in Holland Village on Sunday night as next weekend most will be flying off to all points of the compass again. The good thing was not having to get up early for a walk as this week it was scheduled for the evening. After a lovely sleep-in, I got the sewing machine out and got started on a new project and Eric went off to have his ears syringed. Thank goodness he can hear again after complaining ever since we flew home that he felt he had a bubble in his left ear. We joined the walkers at Sengkang and walked out to Punggol Point in the cool of the evening which everyone enjoyed. It finished with dinner at Georges By the Bay and then we caught a bus back to Punggol then train home. 

On Tuesday I decided I was disappointed with the state of the sewing project so it was back to Spotlight and also to Kinakunya, the best bookstore in the country in Orchard Rd as Eric was after a new release for friend Peter (who he will be visiting next week in Ballarat). After several purchases I no longer need the sewing project! What do you know! But I will anyway. Then we walked on by ION Orchard and the colourful, larger-than-life  "Urban People" sculptures, created by Swiss sculptor Kurt Laurenz Metzleron to Jamie's Italian (Jamie Oliver) at the Forum. The decor is rustic and cozy and the service spot on. It was so good to both be served our meals at the same time! Such simple pleasures we crave here! We both enjoyed our meals and I think Eric may be planning to purchase yet another recipe book. Apparently you can never have too many. 

So now its back to the sewing project and unpicking those puckered seams.