singapore scenery - Oil Painting

The Queen Street bus terminal and the Tanjong Pagar railway station used to be a key stop for people traveling between Singapore and Johor Bahru; to work in Singapore and unwind in Johore Bahru are the two most popular reasons for taking the bus there and back. It is thus normal that before and after work, in the morning and at dusk, the bus terminal, the Singapore and Johore Bahru checkpoints are constantly crowded. During the height of the pandemic, the process of entering and leaving the country was a waiting game and a true endurance test; the near empty bus terminal was shocking and disheartening. Although it was inconvenient not to be able to travel as freely as before, what could we complain about when compared to others who were unable to go home whenever they wished? Thankfully, everything seems to be back to normal now, so I can't really grumble too much about the crowds during peak hours. Now, though the Tanjong Pagar railway station no longer exists, the bus terminal’s ...

The island is small and densely populated, covered in steel and concrete, and its roads are always congested. It would be much more enjoyable to run in the woods than on a paved surface if I could. However, I unintentionally learned more about the island's tiny corners on these runs. Living in Selegie, on the island's south side, we could run five kilometers east to Geylang, west to Red Hill, south to Marina, and north to Toa Payoh. Other than sports, it's always exciting to discover new towns, riversides, parks, playgrounds, and even food outlets. The chances of finding a sculpture, much less a masterpiece, in a residential area are slim; I don't go looking for artwork; rather, I occasionally notice it when passing by. Inevitably, I took pictures and looked around. Despite being part of permanent collections, these works of art have been relocated at least once, proving that nothing in the world is everlasting.

I need to walk 4 kilometers in the morning if I want to get breakfast in Chinatown. The walk, which passes Prinsep Street, Bencoolen Street, Stamford Road, and so on, never disappoints. Pre-war buildings such as churches and museums line the route, providing a glimpse into the island’s past. In addition to the blue skies and white clouds that characterize a good day, the sun enhances the landscape along the road without taking away its subtle layers, making it perfect for photography or painting. At the base of Fort Canning, after passing the Central Fire Station and the Old Hill Street Police Station, we made a right turn, arriving at the lovely Singapore River. After crossing the North Canal Road, you will find the Old Thong Chai Medical Institution on your right, and the "controversial" Hong Lim Park on your left. Then there is Chinatown, where I can hear the bustle of the food district and smell the aroma of breakfast in my mind.

When the pandemic is present and you are unable to leave the country or want to exercise, I opt to climb higher. You can either walk up towering buildings or climb mountains. The island doesn’t have significant mountains, but it does have a few hilltops that can be used as a workout to raise your heart rate, like the Mount Faber. Mount Faber is located on the south side of the island, opposite Sentosa Island, and is also accessible by cable car. In fact, this is the only hill top from which you can see the entire landscape. It takes roughly ten minutes to climb the slope. On the hill, a smaller “Merlion” stands, surrounded by the southern blue sky, the ocean, the sea, the boats, the island, the cable car, and so on. The city’s tall buildings can be seen to the north, and on a clear day, the mountains of Johor Kulai can be made out in the distance. Instead of climbing to the mountain’s summit, I observed that many people prefer to continue their exercise by taking the Mount Faber Loop t...

This year is the Year of the Tiger, and I wanted to do a “Tiger painting” for Chinese New Year, so I went to the “Haw Par Villa”, which I hadn’t been to for some time. According to what I’ve heard, most of my peers visited the villa at least once when they were younger but have not done so since they became adult. Every few years, I would go to Haw Par Villa to seek ideas for my art; it used to take me a long time to go there, but now the MRT makes it easier. Even though the park’s statues are decades old, their colors and facial expressions remain vibrant and lifelike. I had forgotten about the sculpture for a while, but now I remember them with wonderful memories of how fascinated I was with them as a child that I used to just stand and stare at them. The didactic presentation, which focuses on Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, is presented in the form of simple stories that are both entertaining to read and watch. It is certainly a priceless cultural resource, much like a mentor w...

As kids, we called the Botanical Garden an "ang-mo" garden because of the flowers and trees. We had not gone there because "Botanical Garden" seemed like only a landmark and that it appeared to be in a very remote location. The biggest barrier to getting there would be transportation; it might be simpler for people to see the green trees near to their house. And the garden used to be a place I could only visit when our art teacher took us outside to sketch when I was a young adult, but now I can go there whenever I like, thanks to improved transportation. Due to my obsession with running, I used to run from my house to Bukit Timah, crossing the park at the north gate. From the south gate, I then ran through Orchard Road to get home, covering around 10 kilometers. Despite moving quickly across the 3 km garden, it was the favourite part of my day. After a few visits, I had a pretty good idea of the garden many scenic spots, including some of its more iconic sights, su...

Buildings found in a city and the surrounding landscape both qualify as landmarks. I can see these high-rise “landmarks” of the financial district, which includes banks, offices, and hotels to the south of where I live. People are inspired to improve even if they already lead comfortable lives because the nation is constantly saving for a rainy day. As a result, these massive buildings are not only becoming taller than they were ten years before, but also becoming more crowded. In other words, when you are going through the city, you will be able to see these high-rise buildings if there are no obstructions when looking up. In addition to finding restored historic buildings, contemporary storefront designs, and sculptures tucked away in quiet spots, it is interesting to note that many views taken from varied angles and locations all feature the same "Bank" structure in the background.

The Singapore River, which is home to many historical places, well-known monuments, and landmarks, and many peoples’ memories, is not far from where I now live; I used to look enviously at people running alongside the river. Numerous nostalgic sights can also be found along the Singapore River, which is around 3 kilometers long and runs from Alexandra Road to Robertson Quay, Clark Quay, and Boat Quay. The Marina Lake, Marina Gardens, and the dam that connects the river were also constructed using reclaimed ground. Since moving to my current home, I have occasionally been able to exercise by the river, which is a dream come true for me. And I like to run on the Queen Elizabeth Walk, which is located under the Anderson Bridge. Going in and out of the walkway was always a fresh and mysterious experience to me when I was a kid; I thought I could go back in time by going through the "tunnel" .

During the “Circuit-Breaker Period”, I would go out for my morning walk and photo taking at 7am or 8am; at this time, the sunlight is just right, the light and shadows are sharp and clear, and the photos taken are better. I choose my route randomly every day, so my destination changes. Sometimes I just climb up any of the tall HDB buildings in the area, other times I walk around the park. I like to go to the park on Sunday mornings because it’s great to watch dogs running or playing on the grass. But I had to cut down on time spent outside as all F&B dine-in was suspended, thus I always established a return time. For instance, if I have an hour to go out, I must return within half an hour in time for breakfast.

Back in 2010, we decided to move to our current house in Selegie to save time traveling to and from school, as at that time, I had classes at Nafa almost every day; Nafa is five minutes’ walk away and LaSalle is just beside the flat. From Selegie to Nafa, you could take the left or the right turn; I preferred to take the left longer route into Albert Street, circle around to Waterloo Street, passing by the Kuan Yin Temple and Sri Krishnan Temple, and then take Middle Road to Nafa. We enjoy staying here not only because it is convenient to get to and from work, but we also get to see and experience the hustling and bustle of the surrounding food vendors, stores, and temples.

We live in the Selegie area, which is densely populated with residential and commercial units. Fortunately, there are two large parks not far away, one of which is Fort Canning Hill. In fact, Fort Canning Hill is only a short walk from our house, but the buildings that have been built since then prevent you from seeing it. Today you can still see the trees on higher ground and the taller buildings behind it. Perhaps because of the historical background of the place, it always feels like a mysterious place. I like to go hiking on the hills to see the heights and to be close to the endless number of big trees. Sometimes there are little surprises, such as encounters with squirrels or the wild Fowl. Occasionally, we deliberately go up and down the hill to “Chinatown” for breakfast and shopping, which is also a pleasure.

My house is right next to La Salle College of Arts, one street away. If you turn left and walk down Albert Street, you can reach the busy and lively Bugis. I have moved here for more than ten years. I sold my flat in the east and moved to my current house to shorten my commute to school. Now, I no longer teach at the college. However, I can still remember all the things I used to do in class. Sometimes, when I pass by the campus, I still see familiar faces, former colleagues, students and so on. After exchanging pleasantries for a while, we go on with our own lives.