Friday, October 10th, 2003 – Day 234
I was up late last night. I was having a beer in the hawker food court. A guy came up to me with an IKEA catalog. It turned out he was a bankrupt furniture designer who has taken the beer. He goes around the area asking foreigners about their taste in bedroom furniture and what was of importance to them. He was OK, but annoying. I made my excuses around 1.00am and went back tot he hostel.
There is a good time server here. I often want to know what time its at home or if there is a match on in a certain country, I can add that time to see what it would be in the country I am traveling in. Check it out.
It is so difficult in a room with no windows. No matter what time you wake up, its always pitch dark. I find it hard to know the time in the morning and you are generally disoriented. I was up at 9.00am to have breakfast but went back to bed until 11.30am.
I decided to go to the underground operations rooms (bunkers) of the Far East Command Centre. Here, in this “Battle Box” was where Lt-Gen Percival made the decision to surrender to the Japanese in 1942.
Twenty-four silicone, wax and fibreglass figures of allied soldiers, some pneumatic animatronics (robotic) illuminate with digital audio narration in six languages. The Battle Box is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 6 pm Last admission is at 5 PM Admission is SGD8 for adults and SGD5 for children of 12 years and below.
It was good. There were only two other tourists. They had been there before. We watched a good 15 minute video before hand and we had a guide. The use of robotic soldiers and displays were good. The sound effects really brought it to life. One robotic Soldier even picked up a telephone, spoke into it and put it back down!!! Amazing. I spent about 2 hours there.
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Singapore – Battle Box (09-10-2003)
I saw a website advertised there on a poster for the National Archives of Singapore. They have set up another sub site sealing with the fall of Singapore in 1942. This an excellent site about the fall of Singapore and the occupation by Japan. As was the first major British defeat in the 20th century and over 120,000 troops surrendered. Many blamed General Percival, General Officer Commanding Malaya. Others blamed the mass Australians desertions during battle. Both are mentioned as reasons in the museum.
Book on this period include:
- Operation Matador: World War II: Britain’s Attempt to Foil the Japanese Invasion of Malaya and Singapore.
- The killer they called a god
- Fortress Singapore : the battlefield guide.
- Singapore : the pregnable fortress : a study in deception, discord and desertion
For a list of historical sites relating to Singapore, visit HERE and HERE.
I later watched the Australia 24-8 Argentina game in Molly Malones on circular Road. It was busy with the after work crowds (the game began at 6.30pm local time) and beer was expensive (as it is all over Singapore). It was 8.50 SGD. It was a poor game.
After that I headed back to the FOUNTAIN OF WEALTH. I had been the day before but it was closed. There were big crowds there waiting there turn to venture out and walk around the fountain 3 times clockwise and make a silent wish. Most were local with a few besumed tourists. It was built especially on Feng Shui principles. There were many hundreds there. I decided as when tin Rime etc, so I waited my turn. They allowed a dozen people out at a time to circle the fountain three times………….
FENG SHUI means “Wind, Water” and traditionally symbolises the space between heaven and earth – the environment where we live.
The underlying philosophy recognises that we and our environment are sustained by an invisible, yet tangible, energy called chi. It moves like wind, but can eddy and become trapped like water and stagnate.
The skill of a Feng Shui consultant lies in recognizing where chi is flowing freely, where it may be trapped and stagnant, or where it may be excessive. The work of an occupier is to create space for chi to flow and activate the opportunities that may be frustrated by obstacles.
These skills and work are applied together with a harmonious re-balancing of yin and yang, the dark and light of all situations. The principles may be applied geo-physically as well as superficially to placement, design and decoration. House and garden should work together relative to life, health, wealth and happiness. Every aspect of home, life, career and relationships is open to enhancement.
Anyway, it is meant to the biggest fountain in the World. All I know that is I was there ………. You can use computers to add a request. They played a request for the Irish soccer and rugby teams who both play tomorrow.
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Singapore – Fountain of Wealth (10-10-2003)
It was now 11.00pm and I headed back to Little India for a bite to eat and then back to the hostel for bed.