Sunday, May 31, 2009

National University of Singapore (NUS) Law Faculty

These premises were formerly the University of Singapore campus. I walked its corridors, went to its library (main and red-spot), attended numerous lectures, ate at the Union House cafeteria and walked that narrow path from the Union House to the bus stop along Bukit Timah Road daily. Lower Quad where student protest rallies (happened those days) were held and Upper Quad where the 'whispering pines' (tall casuarina trees) stood guard on opposite sides of the quadrangle. The lovely trees are gone now and in their place are tall Tembusu trees. What led me there today was the quest to check out the Guild House. We came by chance to know that there is also a Western Restauarant occupying the building that used to house the Staff Canteen here:The NUSS Guild House is in the background. We decided to see what Upper and Lower Quads look like today. Heading towards what was formerly the English Department. There were lots of Tembusu trees

Entering Upper Quad, we were pleasantly surprised at the upgraded image. Back when I was a student, the buildings were old and scruffy-looking.
The beautiful arches are reminders of a time in our youth when our sole responsibility was to study and pass examinations. I am just glad that those days are gone for me because real learning takes place when one gets into the business of living life.

The Science Block that was the highest building on campus.

The Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. This was the Administrative Block.

Blue sky and white clouds always brighten up a photo.
Young Tembusu Trees.

To the left was the University Band room where a friend of mine could be found there almost all the time.
You are looking at the Main Library of our University then.


Arch facing the entrance to the Main Library. There was another huge Banyan tree like this one to the left of this arch. There were wooden benches below these trees and we students liked to use it as a meeting place.
We did not have any vending machines then because there was always the Union House to cater to our needs for food and drink.











Remember LT1, 2 3 and 4 - Lecture Theatres! Now this looks like an auditorium.










Wednesday, May 20, 2009

MacRitchie Reservoir

The bandstand and the wooden bridge define my visits to MacRitchie Resevoir eversince I was a kid the way the peanut-snatching monkeys of the Botanic Gardens made an imprint on my childhood.
Trees frame the reflection of other trees and bring peace to my view.
Three memorable scenes captured during our walk in the late afternoon.
This structure has a sibling in Lower Peirce Reservoir.
When I was young, they were not so tall.
I am not sure but I think this tree could be the bearer of the Cananga odorata or Ylang Ylang flowers that are used in the making of perfumes in tropical Asia.
Never seen fruits like these and yes, they belong to the tree above.
More fruits, small golden ones that I think belong to a specie of fig trees. A costume that would make a superhero proud even though it is an insect.
Spider Lily stealing the limelight from the bandstand.
Golden sun rays make pictures glow.
Like this Heliconia flower, set alight by the sun's rays.
Tembusu tree, one of many in the park, blooming like there was no tomorrow.
Surprise! A very tall mango tree dripping with round mangoes that were bright yellow in colour inside.
Stroll down the path amid lush greenery.
A couple of spider lilies warming up in the light of the setting sun.
The garden is landscaped but you don't get the feeling that it is.
I like long shadows because they make things more dramatic.
Trying to get that shot that I will make me stop.


The flowering tembusu trees are everywhere filling the air with a sweet fragrance.


Tiny pink mushrooms, so enthralling.
The boardwalk on the fringe of the reservoir...
...allows me to look into the clear water and what lies beneath it. The sunset is not spectacular but it does signify the passing of another day.