Me in my Museum

To celebrate the International Museum Day, the International Council of Museums has organised a contest titled "Me in my Museum". The ten best entries will win the following prizes – Made for SAM Piggy Bank, Walter Plush Toy, Walter Stationery Set, Shoulder Gusset Bag, Medium Gusset Bag, Liu Kang Abstract Fish Tie Gift Box, Vincent Leow Postcards Set of 6, Patterns of Trade Dual Print Tee, SYSNMH Plushie, ACM Plushie and SAM Plushie.

For more information, check out this site: http://yesterday.sg/announcements/me-in-my-museum-photo-contest/

Hurry! The contest runs till 3 June 2012 15 Jul 2012 only.

Cheongsam and the changing roles of Singapore women

In the Mood for Cheongsam: Modernity and Singapore Women is one of the latest exhibitions at the National Museum of Singapore. Through the display of various cheongsam, visitors can learn about the changing social roles of Singapore women from the turn of the 20th century to present day.

From this exhibition, I learnt that the origins of modern cheongsam can be traced back to 1920s, China. I have also caught a glimpse of how a cheongsam is being made from one of the video presentations. It was interesting to gain an appreciation of how the design of cheongsam has changed over time.

At this exhibition, I have the privilege to view a number of cheongsam which belonged to the wives of Singapore's political leaders of yesterday, including Mrs Benjamin Sheares, Mrs Wee Kim Wee and the late Mrs Lee Kuan Yew.

There were a few other cheongsam worn by other famous personalities that were on display at this exhibition. I was rather intrigued by the cheongsam that was worn by Elizabeth Choy, a war-time heroine. She wore that cheongsam to attend Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation.

Cheongsam is not a regular item in my wardrobe. Yet, I have to confess that this exhibition has nudged me to wonder if the design of the school uniform that I have worn as a Secondary School student could have been inspired by the cheongsam.

For visitors who would like some fun and tactile engagement, there is an interactive space just outside the exhibition gallery of this exhibition. Visitors can create their own fabric patterns and also be introduced to various fabrics used in making cheongsam.

Even though this is a rather modest scale exhibition, it is worth a visit especially if you are visiting the National Museum of Singapore, or have an interest in cheongsam.

In the Mood for Cheongsam: Modernity and Singapore Women
From 28 Mar - 27 Jun 2012, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Exhibition Gallery 1, Basement
National Museum of Singapore
93 Stamford Road
Singapore 178897

Visitors' information: http://www.nationalmuseum.sg/Page.aspx?id=89

Eastern and Oriental Express

This post is overdue.
Then again, memories stay in our minds.
So what was yesterday's memories
Could seem very present
As if these have taken place today.

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5 Jun 2011 shall be remembered as the date of the final departure of the luxury Eastern and Oriental Express train service from the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station.

On a rainy and tearful day, many people visited the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station to have a good glimpse of the final departure of the beautifully romantic Eastern and Oriental Express from the Art-Deco style Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. This railway station is no longer in operation after 30 Jun 2011.

Thanks to a lift from Jerome, after the Eastern and Oriental Express had departed, there was enough time to witness the Eastern and Oriental Express train travelling past the Bukit Timah Station which is no longer in operation.

Jerome has written a very nostalgic blog-post on this final departure of the Eastern and Oriental Express from the Tanjong Pagar Railway station. Please find his post here: Amidst the rising tide, a tearful farewell to Romance.

That day was a rainy and melancholic day. Perhaps the rain was shedding the tears of sadness to bid farewell to the last Eastern and Oriental Express train that had departed from the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station?

***
Please also read:
Amidst the rising tide, a tearful farewell to Romance.

Bukit Brown Family Day 18 March 2012

Enjoy a special part of Singapore that is a treasure land if we look deeper. SOS Bukit Brown and Nature Society Singapore are co-organizing the Bukit Brown Family Day event on 18 Mar 2012.

Activities include special guided tours:

9.00 a.m. at Sikh Station - Introduction by Catherine (Second tour starts at 9.30 a.m. if there are more than 10 people and follows the same schedule as tour 1)
a) 9.15 a.m.  at group 1 – by Peter (second tour eta 9.45)
b) 9.50 a.m. at group 3 – by Raymond (second tour eta 10.20)
c).10.30 a.m. at group 2 – by Yik Han (second tour 11.00)
d) 11.10 a.m. at group 12 – by Charles, this last station will be capped by a short uphill (easy) to the jewel in crown Ong Sam Leong’s family grave site and group photo. ( the second tour eta 11.50 will be led Catherine and Peter )

For more information, please visit: http://bukitbrown.com/main/?p=2199