in the eye of modernity

On our last full day in Singapore, I felt like visiting a museum. Father said, "What for?" But he still came with me. I was actually kind of getting fed up confused because every place that I wanted to see, he complained that it was not worth seeing, but in the morning, he'd be asking me what time we're going.

???

I'm glad we went together, though. He seemed to enjoy himself. We took a taxi from the hotel. Singapore's taxis are the best! The cabs are immaculate. The drivers are so polite (Good morning. Where can I take you today? Have a nice day, thank you. All of them said that!) and honest (They all insisted on giving me exact change).

Magazines for your reading pleasure.

Five minutes later, we were dropped off in front of the Singapore Art Museum. I chose this museum because I thought that instead of history, I wanted to learn more about Singapore's art scene. Plus, the last time I went to an art museum was when I was still in school at the Ateneo de Manila University.

People waiting at a bus stop? Or sitting in a subway car? New York through the eyes of a Taiwanese artist.

It was a Thursday, 25 Feb 2010. After paying the SGD10 per person entry fee, I found out that there would be a free tour starting in a few minutes, so I signed us up. I love museum tours because you hit the highlights of the usually very extensive exhibits, and you learn more about the artwork, the artists and even the architecture of the buildings. Our guide was quite good, and she was really passionate about the pieces that she showed us.

An installation meant to represent the Singapore River before its rehabilitation.

The museum building used to be the St. Joseph's Catholic school for boys. There was a chapel on the second floor.

It felt like a group of students would file in any minute.

The original stained glass window was removed and hidden during the war, but afterwards, nobody could find it. So they commissioned an artist to fill in the hole where the stained glass used to be. They chose Ramon Orlina, a Filipino artist who works with glass and whose most famous works include glass penises.

It's the Madonna and Child, you degenerates. No, not a penis.

By coincidence, when we were there, the Ateneo had lent some of its pieces to the Singapore Art Museum for an exhibit called "In the Eye of Modernity: Philippine Neo-Realist Masterworks from the Ateneo Art Gallery". It felt really nice watching people from other countries learning about Filipino art. I took great delight in this portion of the tour because our guide emphasized Filipino women as portrayed by Filipino artists-- who were mostly men.

Hidalgo idealized the Pinoy woman. The men's facial features are indistinct. They were just props around the women.

By National Artist Bencab who still lives and works in Baguio City. Should visit his museum there.

Other pieces that made an impression on me:

A haunting installation by an Indonesian artist.

Pop really liked these cheerful glass pieces hanging from the ceiling. Each is as big as an umbrella.

A Chinese version of a Manuel Baldemor, I thought.

This two-dimensional wavy thing was made with colored pencils. We all thought it was airbrushed.

Pop likes nudes.

The Singapore Art Museum (SAM) at 71 Bras Basah Road. Open daily from 10am to 7pm. On Fridays, until 9pm.

overheard

A couple were snuggling in bed after sex.

Woman: "Honey, do you ever have fantasies while having sex?"

Man: "Of course, all the time. I fantasize that I'm Brad Pitt!"

up in the air

Singapore is a obsessive-compulsive's wet dream. Everything is so neat and clean and organised.

The morning after we arrived, I took my progenitors to the Singapore Flyer, the largest observation wheel in the world at 165 meters above sea level.

Each capsule can fit 28 people, but since we were early, we had a capsule all to ourselves. (Father said, "How come we're the only people here? Are you sure this is the right time to go? Maybe it's still closed. Is it really worth going to?" Grrr... )

The first things you see are the Singapore River and the Formula 1 racetrack. Look at that river! Clean, clean, clean.

Make a wish when you reach the summit.

The one dollar coin is supposed to be a lucky charm, so each of us had one in our pockets.

What do the famous Esplanade Theatres By The Bay look like? Durian? Bug's eyes? Killer tortoises from outer space?

Even the construction areas are so neat. And wait! Are the ships anchored in straight lines?

It's a 30-minute ride which costs SGD29.50 per person. I asked about the Senior's Discount which was mentioned on their website, but apparently, they've discontinued it.

We had a good time. Pop hardly noticed how high we were, although he refused to stand up the whole time we were inside the capsule.

P.S. My father said, "Why are you shooting against the sun, ha? You won't see anything in your picture lah!" So I just showed him my LX3's pictures.

my feet and sting

There are some things that Chinese people do really, really well. Foot reflexology is one of them. Somehow, I can only get a proper foot reflex session in Hong Kong or Singapore. I haven't tried looking in Manila's Chinatown yet.

From Wikipedia: "Reflexology is an alternative medicine method involving the practice of massaging or applying pressure to parts of the feet, or sometimes the hands and ears, with the goal of encouraging a beneficial effect on other parts of the body, or to improve general health.

"The Reflexology Association of Canada defines reflexology as: A natural healing art based on the principle that there are reflexes in the feet, hands and ears and their referral areas within zone related areas, which correspond to every part, gland and organ of the body. Through application of pressure on these reflexes without the use of tools, crèmes or lotions, the feet being the primary area of application, reflexology relieves tension, improves circulation and helps promote the natural function of the related areas of the body."

A 30-minute session costs SGD30. That's about US$21.50. Not cheap, but very effective.

Those same hands have touched Sting's feet. Showbiz by osmosis.

They have, if I remember right, six chairs which fully recline. My father fell asleep in one of them.

Located at the basement of the Lucky Plaza on Orchard Road. Will go back someday.

the most expensive bags ever

Why Singapore? Well, last month, I was reading The Bag Hag's blog and she mentioned that Cath Kidston was having a sale. I remembered that Hot Tuna, our friend from London, was coming to Asia for a few weeks, and I thought, hmmm... I can order some bags online, have them shipped to his house and meet up with him in Singapore.

Anyway, I told my mom who told my pop who said that he had mileage that we could use. The problem was, due to flight availability, we were scheduled to arrive in Singapore the day after Hot Tuna would depart. Heh. So I never got to see him.

I took a cab to the Holiday Inn Atrium where he left my package.


This hotel reminds me of the Hyatt Hotel in Baguio which was destroyed in the great earthquake of 1990. Same kind of elevators.

I got my package from the concierge. Excited!


I bought two bags. The red one is a giant cloth sling bag which is big enough for my Macbook and cameras. The blue one is a giant PVC saddle bag which is... big enough... for my Macbook and cameras, too! I am pleased. Thank you, Hot Tuna.


The two bags with shipping within the UK cost 75 pounds sterling. The cost of the Singapore trip? Let's not talk about it.