Masjid Sultan Singapura

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Curious Cat

Sultan Mosque, Singapore

The Sultan Mosque is located in Kampung Glam next to the Malaysia Heritage Center. The mosque was gazetted as a national monument in 1975.

The current structure was built in the 1920s. An annex building, in a similar style was added in 1993. The site originally had a mosque built in 1826 by Sultan Hussain with funds from the East India Company. I found it interesting the architect for the mosque in the 1920s was Irish.

I am guessing that the building on the right of this photo is the annex, but that is just my guess. All photos by John Hunter – see more of my Singapore photos.

The area around the Mosque is interesting. This street had several shops and restaurants. It is a nice area to walk around, very near Arab street. Little India and Little China are also nearby. The closest metro station is Bungis: East-West (green) and DownTown (blue) lines – use exit E).

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Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

Posted on August 2, 2014 by Curious Cat

Nature parks are usually not the first thing that comes to mind when people think of Singapore. But Singapore actually has several excellent parks including the Sungei Buloh Nature Park.

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is located on the North of Singapore bordered by the Johor Strait, with a view to Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The reserve, covers an area of 130 hectares, was designated as a nature park in 1989 and gazetted (with an expanded size of 40 hectares greater than the original area) in 2002 and listed as an ASEAN Heritage Park in 2003 (Singapore’s first such park).

Milky Stork at the Sungei Buhlu Wetlands Reserve, Singapore

Milky Stork – they are classified as endangered and are also found in Malaysia, Cambodia and Indonesia.

I actually see these fly over Johor Bahru fairly often in the morning or evening. They mirror the commuters going and returning from work each day.

Malayan water monitor lizard

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Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

Posted on March 8, 2014 by Curious Cat

The Gardens by the Bay consist of two large buildings and fairly small outdoor gardens. The flower dome includes a wide variety of flowers from regions around the globe. Both buildings are glass bubbles providing a view of downtown Singapore.

view of the interior of Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands is visible in the background.

An audio tour is available which plays short clips of information on numerous plants found in the gardens. I thought it was worthwhile.

photo of deep redish-purple flower

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Photos of Little India

Posted on December 23, 2013 by Curious Cat

Here are some photos from a walk I took in the Little India area in Singapore when I had visitors.

Masjid Abdul Gaffoor

photo of a Colorful Building in Little India

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Asian Civilizations Museum

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Curious Cat

exterior of the Asian Civilization Museum in Singapore

The Asian Civilizations Museum in Singapore is packed with great artworks. See a few photos in this post.

Illustration of Rustam defeating Afrasiyab, 1560, Iran

This museum is definitely worth a visit for those who enjoy museums. The Asian Civilisations Museum’s flagship at Empress Place opened in 2003. Occupying over 14,000 square metres at the newly-restored Empress Place Building, it houses 11 galleries which showcase over 1300 artefacts from the Museum’s growing collections on the civilisations of China, Southeast Asia, South Asia and West Asia/ Islamic. These collections include recent acquisitions as well as artefacts inherited from the historic Southeast Asian ethnographic collection of the former Raffles Museum.

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Buddha Tooth Temple

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Curious Cat

Front of main hall, Buddha Tooth Temple, Singapore

The Buddha Tooth Temple is one of the more popular tourist destinations in Singapore. I enjoyed visiting. If you like temples, history and art it is definitely worth a visit. The site includes a museum as well as an operating temple.

The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum is a Buddhist temple and museum complex located in the Chinatown district of Singapore.

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Paintings From the Museum D’Orsay at the National Museum of Singapore

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Curious Cat

As I wrote previously the Dreams and Reality exhibit from the Museum D’Orsay at the National Museum of Singapore is excellent. Here are some more photos of a few of the paintings included in the exhibit.

photo of paining by Paul Cézanne: The Bay of Marseille seen from L'Estaque

The Bay of Marseille seen from L'Estaque by Paul Cézanne, 1879

photo of painting by Paul Gauguin: Les Alyscamps

Les Alyscamps by Paul Gauguin, 1888

There is an interesting story behind this painting by Guaguin. Following months of correspondence, Paul Gauguin joined Van Gogh in Arles, France in October 1888. Both were intent on depicting a non-naturalist landscape. The two artists painted some identical subjects to compare their work with each other and chose the site of the Alyscamps to paint and compare.

The painting portrays an ancient Roman cemetery, “Les Alyscamps” or “Elysian Fields” which were located south east of the Roman city walls. It appears that the two men worked together at Les Alyscamps between October 28 and 31, 1888. Van Gogh painted four views, the Les Alyscamps pair and the pair of Falling Autumn Leaves paintings. Gauguin produced two paintings.

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Dreams and Reality: Museum D’Orsay Exhibit at the National Museum of Singapore

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Curious Cat

photo of gallery in the Singapore Art Museum, temporary D'Orsay exhibit

Room in the Singapore Art Museum D'Orsay exhibit. All photos are by John Hunter.

The Dreams and Reality exhibit at the National Museum of Singapore (now until 5 February 2012, it opened a few weeks ago) is excellent. Musee D’Orsay is one of my favorite museums; it is located in Paris, with many other great museums including the Louvre.

photo of Edgar Degas painting showing dancers climbing a staircase

Dancers Climbing a Staircase (1886-1890) by Edgar Degas, one of my favorites.

The exhibit includes many exceptional paintings by artists including Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, Degas, Rousseau, Pissarro, Mondrian, Cézanne, Gauguin and Renior (multiple paintings by many of them). I must say I don’t think the Monet and Manet paintings are their best work, but really who am I to judge them. This exhibit is definitely worth a visit for any art lovers in Singapore. If you are traveling to Singapore before February 2012, plan on stoping by to enjoy the paintings.

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Singapore Marina Bay Sands Skypark

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Curious Cat

I just realized I can see Marina Bay Sands Skypark from my condo in Johor Bahru. Yes, it is basically a tiny image in the distance still I think it is funny I didn’t notice it until now. It is true when the air quality is not great or heavy rain showers are underway it isn’t visible.

view of the Singapore Sands Skypark in the distance

Distant, 30 km, view of the Singapore Marina Bay Sands Skypark

Since the photo is not exactly perfectly illuminating I’ll add that the skypark is shaped like a giant ship sitting atop 3, 55 story sky scrappers. It tops the Marina Bay Casino in Singapore. Less than 2 years ago Singapore opened 2 casinos (the other is the Resort World Sentosa Casino), those 2 casinos already are more profitable (I believe, if not they are close) than Las Vegas and Macao making it the most profitable gambling mecca in the world.

The skypark costs S$20 to visit. The 340 meter long SkyPark with a capacity of 3,900 people. There is a 150 meter infinity swimming pool pool but it is only available to hotel guests.

Singapore Light Rail from the Airport

Posted on July 31, 2011 by Curious Cat

photo inside Singapore subway car at the airport

Photo by John Hunter of a Singapore subway car at the airport.

I took the light rail from Changi Airport to downtown last time I was in town and it was very easy. The subway was crowded (eventually – the photo is at the airport stop, where it was not crowded). Getting down town was quick, easy and cheap (S$2 versus $30 for a taxi).