I went to see various types of religious worship buildings. Specifically, I visited a cathedral, a Chinese temple and a Hindu temple. It’s rare to find religious buildings of different faiths so close together, but in Singapore, you can see them all at once, side by side along a single street. This is because Singapore is a diverse society, with people of different faiths who have learned to live in harmony. I think this shows how much Singaporeans respect each other’s religious and cultural traditions. People respect and accept differences. It also demonstrates how skillful the Singapore government is at managing issues when they arise. Overall, this shows that people can live peacefully and respect one another despite their differences. I hope this example spreads throughout the world, so that conflict can be avoided.
Deepening my knowledge about morality and human nature (by Angelina an Upper Intermediate EFL student)
Last Friday I visited an amazing bookstore in the heart of Singapore. I had a pleasant experience. The atmosphere was calm and cozy, with many shelves full of books, and I spent some time walking around, picking out books I liked. I have always enjoyed being in bookstores because it makes me feel motivated to read more and develop my skills in different fields.
I bought two books. The first one was Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk. I’ve already watched the movie and that’s why I decided to buy this book. I want to read the book to understand the author’s ideas more deeply and to develop my English skills. Also, I bought Crime and Punishment. This book is my favourite from school and made a big impression on me when I was a teenager. It makes me reflect on morality and human nature. This book will also help me polish my English.
Living together peacefully (by Nancy an Upper Intermediate EFL student)
In Singapore, people of different religions live together peacefully because they know religious harmony is very important for the country. Singapore is a small and diverse society, so if there is a conflict, it can easily affect everyone and have serious consequences. Religious leaders often celebrate festivals together, and this helps people understand and respect each other’s culture. Moreover, appreciating cultural traditions different from one’s own helps build mutual trust, which, in turn, helps people talk openly about sensitive topics like LGBTQ+ or inequality in society. The government also stays neutral and secular, so no religion is treated better than others. My last point is that there are clear and sometimes strict laws to prevent conflict and hate crimes. Because of these efforts, people learn to be tolerant and are careful with their words both in online as well as face-to-face conversations. Even when they disagree, they try to solve problems calmly, because they are aware that peace is important to everyone.
The dictionary is a magical book (by Takako an Upper Intermediate EFL student)
I had an exciting time at the Kinokuniya bookstore. They carry books in a variety of genres from authors all over the world. They also have anime collectibles and lots of stationery items. As far as I know, you can easily find a book by using the search system near the cashier. While there are many wonderful things to say about the store, there’s one small disadvantage – it is a huge place and sometimes I lost my way and had to walk a lot to find my way back, which made me quite tired. I found an English dictionary that my teacher recommended. It is an old-style, hardcover book with classic, traditional lettering. I felt like it was a book of Magic! In conclusion, I really like that place. It’s extraordinary atmosphere stimulated my interest and enthusiasm to enhance my knowledge. I totally recommend it to everyone.
Calm excitement in a bookstore (by Nancy an Upper Intermediate EFL student)
Kinokuniya Bookstore is on the 4th floor of Takashimaya Shopping Centre near Orchard MRT station. I heard it is a very big and famous bookstore in Singapore. I don’t know how many books there are, but I guess there may be hundreds of them from all over the world in many languages including English, Japanese and Chinese. I was able to browse fiction and non-fiction works across multiple genres ranging from literature and philosophy to cookbooks and manga. I found myself in a huge world of stories everywhere I looked. I would have loved to buy books, magazines, stationery, board games and toys, but I couldn’t because I didn’t have much time. The atmosphere is Kinokuniya filled me with a sense of calm excitement as I walked inside and explored almost every corner of the bookstore. I noticed that some people like to sit and browse books in the little quiet spots between the shelves.
I noticed an assortment of romance novels. I’m currently watching the British TV series Bridgerton which is an historical romance, so I tried to look for a book in the same genre, and chanced upon one titled: The Scandal of the Season by Michelle Kenney. It’s about a woman named Sophie who wants to find true love but ends up in a complicated situation where she has to marry someone she didn’t expect. The book shows how feelings can change and how people can learn about themselves and about love in surprising ways. The story makes you think about openness to change and could help you understand your heart more clearly than you did before.
On the Volga River (by Angelina an EFL Upper Intermediate student from Russia)
I want to write this post for people who’re interested in history, culture and good food.
Kazan is a city in Russia. It’s the capital city of Tatarstan. One of the main reasons to visit Kazan is the Kazan Kremlin which was built many years ago.
This city is on the Volga river which promises stunning views.
Also, I recommend trying Tatar food. You can find it everywhere because local people really care about their traditions.
Kazan is modern and dynamic but at the same time it is deeply connected to its history.
If, one day, you decide to visit Russia, you have two spend at least 10 days in this amazing city.
Italy teaches you how to relax and enjoy life (by Emiko and EFL Upper Intermediate student from Japan)
If you enjoy history, music and food, and have a chance to travel in Europe, I strongly recommend visiting Italy. The main reason is the variety of sights to see. There are many famous cities such as Florence, Rome, Milan, Venice, and the ancient city of Pompeii.
The highlight of Italy for me was Rome. You can truly feel a thousand years of great history right there. If you play a stringed instrument, I’d also recommend visiting Cremona. The master craftsman Stradivari was born there. There is also a museum of stringed instruments where you’ll learn a great deal and may even discover something new about music.
The food is just amazing! Everyone knows that Italy is famous for pasta and pizza, but what I’d totally recommend is having a taste of ossobuco in Milan. It’s like a beef stew and you eat it with saffron rice. The texture is so tender and it smells really good.
Also, be mindful of pickpockets while sightseeing, especially in crowded places like Piazza di Spagna and Fontana di Trevi. But, mostly, Italians are very gracious and they love their families and their freedom.
If you visit Italy, you’ll learn that life should be relaxed and that you should just enjoy everything it has to offer!
Phatthalung: The birthplace of Nora, Thailand's oldest dance drama (by Nancy an EFL Upper Intermediate student from Thailand )
Phatthalung is a southern province in Thailand. It is essentially landlocked and has a lot of adventure activities. If you love local history and have an insatiable appetite for adventure, this province awaits your visit.
Phatthalung doesn’t have its own airport so you have to land at Trang province first, which is only 40 minutes away from Phatthalung. I would highly recommend renting a car or motorbike because Phatthalung is a rural province and it’s rare to find a taxi there.
But don’t worry about accommodation, because Phatthalung has a wide range of living spaces from resort hotels to home-stays at reasonable rates.
What’s more, don’t forget to try the sago dessert made from authentic sago starch. It has a rich reddish-brown color and a smooth and chewy texture. Definitely try one if you visit.
Phatthalung is soaked with interesting local history. The main highlight is local dancing called Nora. You really must visit the Nora Sculpture Park. It’s located in Kao Chai Sun district, which is 20 minutes from the centre of Phatthalung province. This park is a popular tourist destination. It has the stunning Nora movement sculpture and characters from Nang Talung, the local name for shadow puppetry. There’s also the Takhae Temple, which is a central feature of Nora tradition. You can enjoy full performances of Nora dance and ritual, usually held once a year, in June.
Also, you should be aware that from morning till mid-day it can be quite hot and crowded, so I recommend visiting around 2-3pm.
But the biggest highlight, for me, in Phatthalung, has to be Khao Ok Thalu, a 250-meter tall limestone mountain. What makes it special is that it’s the perfect place to get some exercise and enjoy the scenery and magnificent sunset.
You can reach the summit by climbing a thousand stairs (Yup…great exercise!). There, you’ll have the rewarding experience of breathtaking views. The mountain is an important natural landmark. I’m sure it’ll be an experience worth your while.
On the last day of my vacation there, I drove up to Pa Phayom district to go rafting. Referred to as Nhan Mod Dang rafting, this part of your travel promises to be an exhilarating time of kayaking. It was fortunate that I went during the rainy season because it made the experience of being in the water absolutely thrilling—my heart rate went through the roof!
If you’re concerned about safety, don’t worry. All kayaking trips are supervised by expert guides. For those who don’t know how to kayak, staff will provide training for you. Nhan Mod Dang rafting is an amazing way to wrap up your vacation in Phatthalung.
Going somewhere different as often as I can By Angelina (English as a Foreign Language, EFL, student from Russia)
Holidays are a favorite time for many people. Lovely beaches, the sun and the sea make for unforgettable vacations. On holidays I wake up earlier than usual, because I want to enjoy the magnificent sunrise and do my morning exercises. Also, I tend to eat food I don’t usually eat for breakfast like cake or smoked salmon. I really love holidays and I hope to go somewhere different as often as I can.
Jelly and refrigerator magnets from Canterbury By In (EFL student from Thailand)
Last year, I visited the cities of London, Oxford, Canterbury, and Cambridge, in England. I loved Canterbury the most, because it wasn’t too crowded. I found a souvenir store where I purchased refrigerator magnets – too many of them actually. And then, at Marks & Spencer, I bought too much jelly. Even I, who am a big fan of jelly was absolutely stunned by how much jelly I bought. However, I found that the best thing I could do about having bought more fridge magnets and jelly than I needed, was to share them with friends. I gave away a lot of those magnets and jelly. This was my first time in Europe. I hope to explore other parts of the world. Who knows what I’ll over-buy next time. Friends, be forewarned!
Enjoy walking and talking but don’t forget to make dinner plans! By Binhua (EFL student from China)
Last month, my uncle and aunt came to Singapore. My wife and I entertained them. We took them to Sentosa island for the whole day. To give them the best view of the scenery, we walked a long distance. We could’ve taken the shuttle bus, but we didn’t. The walk was quite exhausting. We decided to have dinner on the island, but ended up at the restaurant too late and couldn’t order the main dishes. We could only order fruit, salad and snacks, which were rather expensive. Actually, we had other options. We could’ve taken a taxi to other restaurants. But we didn’t do that. Perhaps we were too focused on enjoying the scenery on foot and had assumed that basic stuff like food would always be available. Holidays are the best times to relax and go with the flow. It’s a time when we allow ourselves the liberty of not planning too much, which may also mean, eating pricey snacks and fruit for dinner when better restaurants are just a plan away.
Try something new this holiday By Hailey (EFL student from South Korea)
Get confident
So what if you’re normally not adventurous? This holiday, do something you’ve never done before. Perhaps you’d like to learn how to play the piano, make your own ice-cream, or finish reading (and understanding) a 1000-page English novel – well, as Nike says, “JUST DO IT”. A good holiday’s the best chance for you to reinvent yourself.
Don’t pack the small things
Don’t you find that whenever you’re packing for a trip, your suitcase just isn’t big enough? Well, don’t pack the small things. Toothbrush, toothpaste and sunscreen are all available at your holiday destination. People usually say, “Don’t sweat the small stuff”, which means, don’t get overly worried, anxious, or upset about minor problems or unimportant details. That’s great advice for the holidays; put away that physical and psychological baggage and just live a little!
Try a new style
The more colorful you are, the more beautiful you become. Work from the outside in. Try on clothes of a different hue and just observe how your personality changes. If you’re often wearing black clothes, try pink. Many people might stare at you but who cares. Just enjoy the new situation.
Bring a disposable film camera
The thing about cell phone cameras is that you’ll always be tempted to alter what you capture in the moment. With a disposable camera you can’t do that. What you capture through a disposable camera is pretty much fixed – it’s not so easy to snap the same moment again and again in quick succession; you can’t check, delete, and snap again like you would with your cell phone camera. This also means you’d whip out your camera only when you want to capture special moments. Then, after you finish your holiday, when you look through those photos, you’ll find that they are truly special.
Things I do only on holiday By Miki (EFL student from China)
Go on an airport shopping spree
I’ve always felt that airport retail stores (duty-free shops) are cheaper than other stores, so I tend to buy lots of stuff before leaving a country. But I’ve learnt not to do that because of an experience I had when I was travelling from Singapore to Thailand. I was in the departure area and ended up buying a selection of branded makeup that I thought would last me two years. It seemed like a brilliant idea at the time because I assumed it would save me money in the long run. What I didn’t factor in was the delivery charge; I had to spend quite a bit on getting those products delivered to me. Even if the delivery charges were manageable, there was still the problem of expiry dates on cosmetic products. Makeup can go bad, you know. Unopened mascara and lipstick, for example, can break down within two years. I wanted to save money, but ended up wasting it.
I like to bring home the free toiletries
Of course, I don’t filch the bathrobes and towels. But I do help myself to the little things – shampoo, shower gel, shower cap, comb and hotel slippers, for example. One time, my mother wore hotel slippers at home. After having a shower, she put on those slippers and, because the floor was slippery, she fell and broke her leg. She had to go to the hospital. “Free” can sometimes be very expensive.
Sleeping in the afternoon
You know, when you book a hotel with a beautiful view and a variety of local food, you don’t have to go out sightseeing every day. That would be a waste of precious resources. Just nap during the afternoons, once or twice during your holiday. This will make you feel more relaxed and comfortable and you’ll save money, too.
“But you let me buy whatever I wanted…” By Kaisuk (EFL student from Thailand)
Have you ever bought unnecessary souvenirs when you were on holiday? My family and I have done just that. When we were holidaying in Japan, my dad suddenly asked me: “Do you want to buy something? If you want anything just tell me.” His question struck me as weird – Why would he want to buy me everything I wanted? I thought to myself. Anyway, I said “OK” and we ended up buying a lot of snacks and souvenirs. When we returned home we couldn’t finish the snacks. Then my dad remarked: “You bought so much and now you can’t finish it.” I replied, “But you let me buy whatever I wanted?” I ended up having to eat way too many sweets and snacks. I’ve since made up my mind never to buy more sweets, snacks and souvenirs than I need.
A couple of reasons why Singapore was ranked the 11th most beautiful city in the world...
In my last post I showed you the quiet charms of the beauty of New Zealand’s Hamilton City. Now take a look at Singapore, coming in assuredly at number 11 in the world for comeliness among cities, after (1) Paris, France (2) New York, United States (3) London, United Kingdom (4) Venice, Italy (5) Vancouver, Canada (6) Barcelona, Spain (7) Cape Town, South Africa (8) San Francisco, United States (9) Sydney, Australia (10) Rome, Italy in a list of 50 cities compiled by Canada-based online travel agency Flight Network.
Photo by Coleen Rivas on Unsplash
In her information about this photo, Coleen Rivas writes: “I was on a layover in Singapore and decided to visit the Super Tree Grove at Gardens by the Bay. I arrived in the late afternoon and the lighting was brilliant. This is taken from the walkway connecting the trees. Just an amazing site to visit, especially at sunset.”
Photo by Guo Xin Goh on Unsplash
Sweet, eh?
Photo by Philippe Dehaye on Unsplash
A Hindu temple in Chinatown.
Photo by Lily Banse on Unsplash
Chinatown.
Photo by Teodor Kuduschiev on Unsplash
The ancient and the modern.
Photo by hannah persson on Unsplash
A biking trail.
Photo by Jonathan Khoo on Unsplash
An MRT, or Mass Rapid Transit, train in Singapore.
Photo by Jia Wei Ng on Unsplash
Inside an MRT station.
Photo by Euan Cameron on Unsplash
Inside an MRT train.
Photo by Mike Enerio on Unsplash
The Marina Bay Sands hotel.
Photo by Lily Banse on Unsplash
A beer on a weekday evening…
Photo by Lily Banse on Unsplash
or a snack at lunch…
Hamilton City, New Zealand, in brief.
My decision to pursue a Master of Arts degree gave me the opportunity to spend the last almost 3 years in Hamilton, New Zealand. Born and raised in Singapore I tend towards thinking of Singapore as the most beautiful city in the world, and a fairer survey by Flight Network, which asked over a thousand travel writers, bloggers and agencies what they thought were the best beauty spots on the globe, confirmed my belief by ranking Singapore the 11th most gorgeous city out of the 50 cities that made the 2019 list. No city in New Zealand made the list, but having been born in an Eden like Singapore I do recognise charming sights when I see them, and Hamilton had some.
Photo: Richard Philip
A morning walk in the beginning of winter at the Memorial Park in Hamilton City, Waikato, New Zealand.
It was the warmest winter ever for New Zealand this year (2021) with the average temperature being 9.8C primarily due to the La Niña effect, which is the irregular recurrence of the upwelling of unusually cold water to the ocean surface along the western coast of South America, which in turn disrupts typical regional and global weather patterns in a manner opposite to that of the El Niño effect. Add climate change to the mix and you’ll understand why winter looks like the beginning of autumn in this picture.
Photo: Richard Philip
A Tudor garden. Nobles who wanted to be in Queen Elizabeth’s good graces built gardens like these in their estates for her to enjoy when she visited them during her annual progress (yearly tour through the kingdom).
Their vying for the Virgin Queen’s attention ensured that thrifty Elizabeth could live in luxury at the expense of her nobles, who were eager to please her with the best food, entertainment and accomodation.
The design for Tudor gardens - including the knotted hedges in the four sections - were based on Thomas Hill’s gardening manual titled Gardener’s Labyrinth. Thomas Hill was an astrologer and a book translator. Besides gardening books he produced works on a range of subjects including the interpretation of dreams, arithmetic, physiognomy and astrology. He wrote the Gardener’s Labyrinth under the pseudonym Didymus Mountain.
Photo: Richard Philip
An open space with a yellow door that opens automatically and very slowly. In New Zealand everything is relaxed; including automated doors.
Photo: Richard Philip
The Huddleston Airship. It flies and delivers mulch throughout the Hamilton Gardens, when you aren’t watching. The Huddleston Airship is a nod to steampunk subculture that has its source in Victorian-era science fiction (think HG Wells and Jules Verne) and real developments in technology that were taking place during the Industrial Revolution.
Airships like these, also known as dirigible balloons, did in fact take flight during the 19th century. Non-rigid airships are called blimps, rigid ones, zeppelins.
The first steam-powered airship - built and piloted by French engineer Jules Henri Giffard - lifted off on the 24th of September 1852, fifty-one years before the Wright Brothers' first flight. Traveling at about 10km per hour, Giffard traveled almost 27km from the Paris racecourse to the French city of Élancourt in north-central France.
Photo: Richard Philip
This is the entrance of a traditional Māori garden where kumara (sweet potato) is grown, but more than that, gardens like these have deep historical meaning for the Māori.
Photo: Richard Philip
It’s the small touches that make this city beautiful. Doesn’t that little red door put a smile on your face…
Photo by Valdemaras D. on Unsplash
Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest...
Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Source: From the book of Philippians in the New Testament, and written by the Apostle Paul in his letters to people in Philippi, a city in eastern Macedon which flourished in the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine Periods.
Photo by Josh Applegate on Unsplash
Jesus said: "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
Photo by Lightscape on Unsplash
They will soar on wings like eagles
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Source: Chapter 40, verses 28-31, in the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament. The author is believed to be one of Isaiah’s disciples, writing from Babylon, the capital city of Southern Mesopotamia (Babylonia) from the early 2nd millennium to the early 1st millennium BCE.
Photo by: Tim Wright
Poem: Between skull and space
The landing smoke
A joker in waiting
Where kings and queens meet
and commence courting
The airy weight
A cobbler's mistake
Where feet meet the ground
and kisses break.
The angel in the dark
A shadow of thought
Where waiting is done
and quidnuncs are caught
The sense of the strange
arranges the mortal brain into regions of comprehension
between the skull and space.