I have a strong penchant for music. It's one of my greatest passion. Although i love all genre of music, it's definitely rock music that has always been a great influence on me. I like to give a list of albums that have left a great impression on me during my formative years appreciating music and they are ranked in no order of preference as they are all considered classics. The list is definitely longer but i will crop it to 25 most influential to me.
1. NIRVANA - SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT
2. HELLOWEEN - KEEPERS OF THE SEVEN KEYS 2
3. METALLICA - MASTER OF PUPPETS
4. PANTERA - VULGAR DISPLAY OF POWER
5. FEAR FACTORY - DEMANUFACTURE
6. KORN - KORN (1st Album)
7. LIMP BIZKIT - SIGNIFICANT OTHER
8. PANTERA - FAR BEYOND DRIVEN
9. HELLOWEEN - LIVE IN THE UK
10. GUNS N ROSES - USE YOUR ILLUSIONS 2
11. MACHINE HEAD - BURN MY EYES
12. SEPULTURA - CHAOS A.D
13. DEFTONES - AROUND THE FUR
14. BIOHAZARD - STATE OF THE WORLD ADDRESS
15. METALLICA - BLACK ALBUM
16. RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE - EVIL EMPIRE
17. PEARL JAM - TEN
18. KORN - FOLLOW THE LEADER
19. GREEN DAY - DOOKIE
20. SOUNDGARDEN - SUPERUNKNOWN
21. SLAYER - DIVINE INTERVENTION
22. STABBING WESTWARDS - DARKEST DAY
23. BLINK 182 - ENEMA OF THE STATE
24. ALICE IN CHAINS - DIRT
25. FOO FIGHTERS - THE COLOUR AND THE SHAPE
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Pasir Panjang Ice Bandung - Must Try !
It's a well kept secret for many years but i'm gonna spill the beans on where to find a fabulous drink in singapore. The Pasir Panjang Food Court has been home to a drink that's only known to long time residents nearby and ex-students from the now defunct Pasir Panjang Seondary School. The drink is sold by an ice kacang stall which has been around for over 15 years and it's one of their specialty drinks. It's simply called ICE BANDUNG.
It's a refreshing bandung drink (rose milk) but what sets it apart from other similar drinks is that this bandung comes with crushed ice and added condensed milk. I'm not sure if there's a secret recipe that's included because i've tried many times to replicate this drink at home but the taste is nowhere near the original one in Pasir Panjang. I think it's the only place in singapore where you can find this drink and it is a must try. The drink itself is so filling that it's advisable to come on an empty stomach. It goes down well with spicy food or satay which can be bought from the neighboring stalls. So what are you waiting for... Go try it ! I
It's a refreshing bandung drink (rose milk) but what sets it apart from other similar drinks is that this bandung comes with crushed ice and added condensed milk. I'm not sure if there's a secret recipe that's included because i've tried many times to replicate this drink at home but the taste is nowhere near the original one in Pasir Panjang. I think it's the only place in singapore where you can find this drink and it is a must try. The drink itself is so filling that it's advisable to come on an empty stomach. It goes down well with spicy food or satay which can be bought from the neighboring stalls. So what are you waiting for... Go try it ! I
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Make Every Word Count
I'm quite happy that many of my views are constantly being re-published on the Straits Times Forum Page. It gives me a sense of satisfaction that whatever i write is being appreciated and worthy of reproduction by the local media. It certainly gives me the encouragement to write more often on issues that i feel need to be addressed in singapore and the world. It gives my blog a reason to be updated more often if i had the time. I think that's the whole idea of keeping a blog in the first place. To build your own platform to express yourself and eventually to share your views with the rest of the world.
Singapore science centre needs a makeover
A recent visit with my family to watch an imax movie at the singapore Omni theatre left me with quite a disappointed experience. Firstly i noticed there were not many other attractions at the Omni theatre apart from the Morphis movie ride , a couple of retail stores and uninteresting exhibits. I think it's about time that the Omni Theatre underwent a major revamp. The last time i visited the theatre was somewhere in the early nineties and i had expected some significant changes with the advancement of technology but my experience of the omni theatre gave me an impression that i was right back in the nineties. The theatre seat cushions were in bad condition and the seats were smelly. What kind of impression are we giving to our foreign visitors ? Apart from the movie ride nothing much has changed there significantly and it is quite embaressing.
Apart from the Omni Theatre, serious considerations must also be taken into replacing the old science centre building to make way for a new state of the art science park cum entertainment facility. I believe that the new science centre must be reflective of the progress science has made in the 21st century and what science can offer in the future. In this spectacular age of science advancements, there should be no place for nostalgia and i believe the science centre management must take immediate significant steps to rejuvenate the science centre by replacing the 70's archiecture of the main science centre building with a futuristic 21st century architecture that will have a strong iconic image to help make the singapore science centre not just a regional attraction but a global one as well.
The old science centre building looks outdated in the 21st century modern architectural age. I think it's about time we have a new state of the art building complex that has a planetarium,library cum museum, science exhibit hall,omni-theatre and many more state of the art facilities all under one roof. A more bolder plan would be to construct a long futuristic suspension bridge linking the nearby chinese gardens to the science centre. This would be beneficial for the two places of attraction in the long run. The new developments of the science centre would also be beneficial for the nearby jurong west housing estate which continues to remain in a property slump.
I urge the current science centre management to take example from the iconic Pyramide du Louvre in France. Spectacular in concept and form, they provide a startling reminder of the audacious ability of modern architects to invigorate and re-circulate traditional architectural forms. This is exactly what the new science centre should attempt to recreate and or at least try to imulate. It would be fantastic to have our very own glass pyramid structure bigger and more spectacular than the one in france. It would be a first in asia. There's not a better timing than this year to make announcements since it's the 30th anniversary of the science centre and not many singaporeans are even aware of that.
Apart from the Omni Theatre, serious considerations must also be taken into replacing the old science centre building to make way for a new state of the art science park cum entertainment facility. I believe that the new science centre must be reflective of the progress science has made in the 21st century and what science can offer in the future. In this spectacular age of science advancements, there should be no place for nostalgia and i believe the science centre management must take immediate significant steps to rejuvenate the science centre by replacing the 70's archiecture of the main science centre building with a futuristic 21st century architecture that will have a strong iconic image to help make the singapore science centre not just a regional attraction but a global one as well.
The old science centre building looks outdated in the 21st century modern architectural age. I think it's about time we have a new state of the art building complex that has a planetarium,library cum museum, science exhibit hall,omni-theatre and many more state of the art facilities all under one roof. A more bolder plan would be to construct a long futuristic suspension bridge linking the nearby chinese gardens to the science centre. This would be beneficial for the two places of attraction in the long run. The new developments of the science centre would also be beneficial for the nearby jurong west housing estate which continues to remain in a property slump.
I urge the current science centre management to take example from the iconic Pyramide du Louvre in France. Spectacular in concept and form, they provide a startling reminder of the audacious ability of modern architects to invigorate and re-circulate traditional architectural forms. This is exactly what the new science centre should attempt to recreate and or at least try to imulate. It would be fantastic to have our very own glass pyramid structure bigger and more spectacular than the one in france. It would be a first in asia. There's not a better timing than this year to make announcements since it's the 30th anniversary of the science centre and not many singaporeans are even aware of that.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Put Emphasis On Education
The recent report card on the progress of the malay community in singapore released by the government has revealed that although the community has made marked improvements compared to 20 years ago, it also shows that compared to the improvements made by the Indian and other minority communities, they are still far behind in the progress ladder.
I would like to cite the remarkable performances of Indian students in local schools. The Indian students have made great improvement in all academic areas especially in the past 10 years. Ever since SINDA launched it’s highly successful STEP program, Indian students have been constantly doing better than malay students and the percentage of Indian students going on to post secondary education like polytechnic and university is much higher compared to malay students. In a 2005 report, 70 per cent of working Malays had secondary or higher qualifications, compared to just 19 per cent in 1980. However the vast majority who received higher education had in fact only obtained either ITE certificates or private diplomas.
The Mendaki have had their own tuition programs for malay students but it lacked the direction and focus that SINDA had achieved with it’s step program. One of the reasons why Mendaki tuition programs were not as much successful was because the tuition classes were only held once every weekends while the SINDA STEP tuition are held during weekdays after school hours in the evening for as many as three times a week. There is a wider pool of teachers and professionals extending their voluntary services for SINDA and as a result STEP programs are conducted in many schools for the convenience of it’s students.
It is very important that the malay community put more emphasis in the education of malay youths. Parents must be responsible in ensuring their children get the best education and assistance if they need any. The malay community must realize that the only assured path to success is a sound education and in a competitive society like Singapore, the minimum guarantee for a stable future is a polytechnic diploma or university degree. Mendaki must immediately revamp it’s tuition program and organize it aggressively in the way SINDA has structured it’s tuition programs. If we can keep the youths longer in the classrooms rather than on the streets, it’s only going to yield beneficial results to the community.
I would like to cite the remarkable performances of Indian students in local schools. The Indian students have made great improvement in all academic areas especially in the past 10 years. Ever since SINDA launched it’s highly successful STEP program, Indian students have been constantly doing better than malay students and the percentage of Indian students going on to post secondary education like polytechnic and university is much higher compared to malay students. In a 2005 report, 70 per cent of working Malays had secondary or higher qualifications, compared to just 19 per cent in 1980. However the vast majority who received higher education had in fact only obtained either ITE certificates or private diplomas.
The Mendaki have had their own tuition programs for malay students but it lacked the direction and focus that SINDA had achieved with it’s step program. One of the reasons why Mendaki tuition programs were not as much successful was because the tuition classes were only held once every weekends while the SINDA STEP tuition are held during weekdays after school hours in the evening for as many as three times a week. There is a wider pool of teachers and professionals extending their voluntary services for SINDA and as a result STEP programs are conducted in many schools for the convenience of it’s students.
It is very important that the malay community put more emphasis in the education of malay youths. Parents must be responsible in ensuring their children get the best education and assistance if they need any. The malay community must realize that the only assured path to success is a sound education and in a competitive society like Singapore, the minimum guarantee for a stable future is a polytechnic diploma or university degree. Mendaki must immediately revamp it’s tuition program and organize it aggressively in the way SINDA has structured it’s tuition programs. If we can keep the youths longer in the classrooms rather than on the streets, it’s only going to yield beneficial results to the community.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
This beautiful photo captures the early morning tranquility of Seletar Resevoir. This is proof that there are
still untouched gems in some parts of singapore where we can enjoy the sights of mother nature. Photo was taken using a Canon 1D MKII camera with Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM lenses.
still untouched gems in some parts of singapore where we can enjoy the sights of mother nature. Photo was taken using a Canon 1D MKII camera with Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM lenses.
Monday, September 03, 2007
Public Housing in Singapore no longer relevant to the Public
I am appalled by the escalated prices of the new flats for the recent HDB Walk-In selection in mature estates. The HDB has very much inflated the prices of the flats in such a way that is virtually out of reach for almost all middle income new couples or upgrading families. I reckon even with the increase in additional housing grants, the new pricing by HDB for 4 room flats effectively shuts out a large proportion of new couples from owning property in matured estates.
Almost all the 4 room flats in the popular sectors on the current HDB walk in selection are being sold at a whopping price of not less than 300k and 5 rooms flats are being sold at not less than 400k. It is extremely impossible to consider that public housing is cheap and affordable to average Singaporeans anymore with such exaggerated prices.
I hope the government immediately starts curbing the inflated pricing of HDB flats or else we would be faced with many people committing themselves helplessly to exorbitant mortgage loans and eventually ending up not able to cope financially. If public housing becomes too expensive for the average Singaporean, then in no time we might find ourselves in a similar mortgage crisis like that in the united states now. That’s not the only problem which will surface. A lot of financial stress would definitely strain many families emotionally as well and this could lead to a snowballing effect with even more divorces as it becomes too expensive to remain as a family in Singapore.
The basic element or foundation to starting a family is having a shelter over their heads and being able to financially cope with other demands in a fast paced society like Singapore. If HDB keeps implementing such anti-family policies by inflating prices for new houses which is definitely not within the reach of the average Singaporean, most couples of families would be spending more of their time worrying about their mortgage loans and neglecting their family altogether. I strongly believe we could soon be faced with a lot of other social problems as well like vagrancy. I hope the government intervenes before it is too late. We are talking about keeping public housing relevant to the public.
Almost all the 4 room flats in the popular sectors on the current HDB walk in selection are being sold at a whopping price of not less than 300k and 5 rooms flats are being sold at not less than 400k. It is extremely impossible to consider that public housing is cheap and affordable to average Singaporeans anymore with such exaggerated prices.
I hope the government immediately starts curbing the inflated pricing of HDB flats or else we would be faced with many people committing themselves helplessly to exorbitant mortgage loans and eventually ending up not able to cope financially. If public housing becomes too expensive for the average Singaporean, then in no time we might find ourselves in a similar mortgage crisis like that in the united states now. That’s not the only problem which will surface. A lot of financial stress would definitely strain many families emotionally as well and this could lead to a snowballing effect with even more divorces as it becomes too expensive to remain as a family in Singapore.
The basic element or foundation to starting a family is having a shelter over their heads and being able to financially cope with other demands in a fast paced society like Singapore. If HDB keeps implementing such anti-family policies by inflating prices for new houses which is definitely not within the reach of the average Singaporean, most couples of families would be spending more of their time worrying about their mortgage loans and neglecting their family altogether. I strongly believe we could soon be faced with a lot of other social problems as well like vagrancy. I hope the government intervenes before it is too late. We are talking about keeping public housing relevant to the public.
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