Mugging at Starbucks.

There are always people mugging at Starbucks. Doesn't exam season ever end?

MacRitchie Reservoir

I've always loved bodies of water. They are so delightful and tranquil. And capturing them in watercolour is just divine.

These two paintings also mark my first 410 x 310 works. They couldn't go into the scanner and hence the weird colouration.

Ichiban Sushi is a brand of sushi.

They've always been delightfully affordable. Now with stiffer competition, their quality has gone up too.

Here's their concept:

At Ichiban Sushi, you will discover an attractive combination of price and quality. From a wide range of conveyor belt sushi and sashimi to udon and more, it is an ideal place for food lovers to enjoy traditional Japanese food at affordable prices, and with personal and sincere service.

Select from our extensive range of set meals that are all-time favourites. Besides an amazing array of freshly made sushi, a variety of homemade pastries and desserts are also available on our conveyor belts and takeaway counters. Try the delicious mochi, coronets, cheesecake, mango pudding and chocolate mousse. 

Visit Ichiban Sushi and experience the casual and friendly atmosphere, equally comfortable for a quick office lunch or dinner, gathering of friends, a celebration or family meal.

At Ichiban Sushi, there is always something for everyone.

Bored Morning Board Meeting

Mid-year conference in the office. A little picnic to console ourselves.

Toa Payoh Town Park

Toa Payoh Town Park is located at the junction of Toa Payoh Lor 2 and Toa Payoh Lor 6.

History
The park, previously known as Toa Payoh Town Garden, was completed in 1973. Its main features are an observation tower and a landscaped pond with willowing trees.

In the seventies, the town garden was a favored venue for outdoor wedding photography. It was popular with visitors who came from near and far to enjoy the display of willows, bamboos and the brilliant reds and yellows of the Delonix regia trees. At the heart of the garden is a 0.8 ha pond which contains a small waterfall and a cluster of artificial islands linked by bridges. Fishes and tortoises populate the pond, and the islands are arranged to provide a sequence of delightful walking experiences.

The observation tower is now not open to the public and there has been no plans announced by the National Parks Board to reopen it (as of 1 Sep 2011). There is a fountain pool installed around the tower.

The Toa Payoh Town Garden was partially closed in 1999 to make way for a temporary bus interchange. After the new Toa Payoh Bus Interchange at the HDB Hub was completed in June 2002, the temporary bus interchange was converted to a landscaped park. Toa Payoh Town Garden was subsequently renamed Toa Payoh Town Park.

Visitor Info
Toa Payoh Town Park is located directly opposite the Toa Payoh Bus Interchange and Toa Payoh MRT Station. The park has limited parking space, which is only available to patrons of the Chinese restaurant operating inside the park.

The park has no gates and is open to the public at all times. It is equipped with open-concept restrooms, a large pavilion with a stage for organised activities, gazebos, foot reflexology footpaths and a jogging path.

The Chinese restaurant operating inside the park specializes in Taiwan porridge (congee), and is located in a building beside the pond. Near this building is an overhead bridge that connects Toa Payoh Town Park to Jalan Rajah.

SKETCHWALK MAY- TOA PAYOH

DATE: 26th MAY 2012
TIME: 930AM - 1230PM
MEETING POINT: Old Chang Kee outside the Toa Payoh MRT station (see map)
END POINT: Same as meeting point at 12.30pm for show and tell.

This sketchwalk will be a bit special.

Epigram, a really good design company, will be working with us to come up with a series of books written/designed by them and drawn entirely by us. These books will focus on various neighbourhoods in Singapore. One book for each neighbourhood. In a way, it will be a sequel to our Urbansketchers Singapore book with URA. This first book by Epigram will be about Toa Payoh. We will hand out a map to you this Saturday morning with target spots marked. You will have to split yourselves up, treat it like a scavenger hunt, go out and find those spots, and draw them the best you can.

Only the best drawings will be featured in the book. Epigram will be curating and deciding what goes in. If your drawing makes it into the book, you will be given 1 complimentary copy + 40% off if you buy an additional book from them. If they pick 3 or more drawing from you, you will get 2 complimentary copies. That is all. No royalties, just to be clear. You will be credited. And you will keep the full copyrights to your own work. Epigram will bear the full cost of the printing and distribution, as well as handle the writing, designing, and researching the good locations to cover in each neighbourhood. Our part is to just do what we do best, sketching on location.

If your drawing does not make it into the book, no stress, you can always try again the next month. If you don't wish to submit your work, it is fine too. Just join us for sketchwalk as per normal and enjoy yourself.

We will need 50-60 drawings for each book. And we will have about 50 spots to cover so we will be splitting the Toa Payoh into 2 sessions. This Saturday, we will be covering the Toa Payoh central area, the Sports complex and some other areas nearby. Spots to cover may include famous stalls, buildings, and other iconic locations in the neighbourhood. It will be clearer when you get the map.

We don't want all of you drawing the same angle and same scene. So please spread out and capture fresh angles that others are not doing. 2 or 3 sketchers can do the same scene but that will mean only 1 or 2 will get chosen.

We want a book that captures the feel and essence of Toa Payoh. It's an intimate look at Toa Payoh, so we encourage you to capture people, cats, dogs, signboards, views from higher levels, an old keymaker, ANYTHING that captures the life in Toa Payoh and what makes Toa Payoh, Toa Payoh. We are not restricted to buildings since this is not a URA book. You are also welcomed to come down between sketchwalks to cover more spots on your own time.

Oh, if you are new to the group, yes, you can submit your work just like the rest of us.

All pictures need to be scanned hi-res 350dpi (for A5 and bigger drawings). If your picture is smaller (eg.A6), scan it at 600dpi so it can be blown up further. Save them in .jpg format. Or if you don't own a scanner, you can hand us the originals. We will scan them and return them to you. Me or Zaihan will let you know where you can email the drawings to after you have scanned them.  



If you have any questions, you can call, Andrew at 91070735.
Let's do our best, have fun and get this book series going! See you this Saturday!

Singapore Arts Festival 2012 - 18 May - 2 June 2012

Our Lost Poems is the Singapore Arts Festival 2012's invitation to discover stories, myths and legends from local, Asian and international artists. From 18 May to 2 June, the city comes alive with a selection of diverse performances at the Festival Village @ Esplanade Park and other key venues. There is something for everyone over these 16 days of captivating arts infusion.

Thanks to Belinda, one of the associates of the Arts Festival 2012, Urban Sketchers Singapore got a special invite to the village and a wonderful time immersing in the atmosphere and enjoying the mesmerising fringe performances.

View of the Singapore CBD skyline from the al fresco seats atop the Festival Village Cafe

Chilling out inside the Festival Village Cafe

The Repossession of Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital

The authorities are repossessing a large parcel of land from this charity-hospital. It's really sad.

Ward 6

Ward 5 with the beautiful Doric columns

Pavilion outside ward 5 with the weeping willows.

Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital (Chinese: 廣惠肇留医院; pinyin: Guǎng Huì Zhào liú yīyuàn) is a private hospital in Singapore. It opened in 1910.

Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital (KWSH) is a charitable organization committed to providing quality healthcare to the sick and needy in Singapore. With a staff strength of more than 200 employees, KWSH occupies 14 blocks in a 6-acre (24,000 m²) compound. Their facilities include an In-patient Department (IPD), an Out-patient Department (OPD), a Day Rehabilitation Centre (DRC) and a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Centre.

Most of their patients come from the lower-income families whose hospital charges are subsidized by KWSH. They are therefore heavily dependent on the public's support and donations to meet their annual operating expenses of about S$16 Million. Therefore, donations are greatly appreciated.

To serve their clients better, they have adopted Total Quality Management (TQM) to improve their standards of care and customer service. In May 2006, they were awarded ISO 9001:2008 accreditation in areas of provision of In-patient Care, Out-patient care and Day Rehabilitation including Medical Services, Nursing Services and Para-medical Services.

French Pastries Fabulous Pals!

Yes! Bring your friends! Food tastes better that way!

Gontran Cherrier creates Lemon Tart

This tart lives up to its name. It's a tart tart.

Tiong Bahru Bakery's Fantastic Offerings.

You must try their brownies, blueberry crumble, chocolate croissant and signature layered croissant.

Care Concocting Cuppa Coffee

Appreciate the care and attention given to create every latte art.

Rest. Rejuvenate. Revive. Refresh. These "R" The Facts of Life.

Went over to Sungei Buloh to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and the noisy drone of the apartment upgrading. Spotted this beauty at a perch overlooking lake at Sungei Buloh.

New Eatery at Wheelock. Ho hum.

New Thai eatery, Bangkok Jam at Wheelock Place. The ambience is interesting. The food is passable. The service is forgetful.

The Junk that fills your ga-dunk ga-dunk.

How many of us have succumbed to the guilt-fully delicious confectioneries of this delightful kiosk outside Wheelock Place?

Bombarded By Blindingly Beautiful Blooms!

The recent hot and wet weather has been a hothouse for the plants in the school's eco-garden. The torch gingers are now in full Technicolor blooms!

Lovely Lingering Lunch

Had a lovely lunch at Tiong Bahru Bakery with a buddy. We lingered as the fresh bakes kept streaming from the kitchen. I couldn't resist the temptation and kept ordering the freshly baked goods as the arrive at the counter.

People Watching at Starbucks Liat.

Travellers chilling out. Students mugging. Friends catching up. It's always fun to people-watch at my favourite Starbucks.