Staircase to Heaven

Another capture of a spiral staircase for the collection.

Tanjong Pagar Railway Station (7)

A shot of the facade of the building to close the series.

Tanjong Pagar Railway Station (6)

Malaysian customs through the gate. In two months, trains will no longer circulate on these tracks.

Tanjong Pagar Railway Station (5)

Waiting for the next train or enjoying the cool air of the station?

On the side of the track

A decrepit wooden house along the track. These couches do look almost comfortable (from a distance!).

Tanjong Pagar Railway Station (4)

The switcher up close.

Tanjong Pagar Railway Station (3)

Last train circulating on these tracks should be in June/July of this year.

Tanjong Pagar Railway Station (2)

This shunting locomotive is used for assembling and disassembling train in the goods yard as well as moving empty passenger cars destined to travel to Malaysia into position on the station tracks

Tanjong Pagar Railway Station (1)

The Tanjong Pagar Railway Station was completed in 1932 to receive the KTM passenger trains from Malaysia.

Until today, the land on which the railway tracks and the station are located have belonged to Malaysia. In May 2010, both Malaysian and Singaporean government agreed to have the station relocated to Woodland and the railway land returned to Singapore. In compensation, Malaysia will be granted a majority ownership in a company that will be holding several plots of prime land in Singapore.

While the track land will be redevelopped, the building of the railway station will be preserved by the National Heritage Board.

Street Photography (11)

And a detour by Little India where this shop front caught my eyes.

Street Photography (10)

A challenging game of Chinese chess attracts a number of spectators.

Street Photography (9)

A group of older folks seem to gather everyday around the entrance of Chinatown Complex. Some play Chinese chess and other are entertained by ladies singing their favourite tunes in Hokkien and other dialects. This player attracted my attention as the game board was reflecting in his glasses.

Street Photography (8)

When sold in cold storage this fruit has a relatively repulsive smell for the neophyte. I never understood why the counters selling it are usually placed at the entrance of the supermarkets...

However, outdoor and by this stall, I almost found the fragrance sweet and appealing... Could it be that the fruits were exceptionally fresh? or this was a different species bred for its friendlier scent?

Street Photography (7)

Durian. The most exotic Asian fruit, recognisable for its particular ... shape... and, should it be mentioned, somewhat disturbing aroma.

Street Photography (6)

Side street shop offering Bhuddist paraphernalia to the devotees of the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple.

Street Photography (5)

All images of this series were taken using the 70-300mm VR lens and often at ISO of 800. Interestingly enough, Jay Maisel uses ISO of up to 1200 and above same lens on a Nikon D3 in his street photography. Additionally, he never uses the hood as he prefer the lower profile of the lens without it.

Street Photography (4)

The old man is cutting used soft drink and beer cans to make baskets and other items out of this recycled material.

Street Photography (3)

Lady selling incense sticks and flowers to the devotees.

Street Photography (2)

Same individual, different expression, black & white treatment.

Street Photography (1)

Street photography is somewhat outside my level of comfort. Inspired by a video of a photography walk by Jay Maisel (a famous New York based photographer), I decided to try it out and assess the results... The few images that follows were taken around Chinatown Complex and on Waterloo Street (by the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple).

E - SPIRITuality

A Prayer At The Buddhist Temple

A pause for a prayer - Within a Buddhist temple in Singapore.

Escaping from the Rain

Dashing across the street to escape from the starting rain.

Pimp My Ride (2)

The bike and its owner.

Pimp My Ride (1)

Fancy deco on a motorbike parked in Chinatown.

Singapore Buddha Tooth Relic Temple - Chinatown

Singapore Buddha Tooth Relic Temple - Chinatown

Offerings at the entrance of the temple.

Singapore Buddha Tooth Relic Temple - Chinatown

It is claimed that the relic of Buddha from which the temple gained its name was found in 1980 in a collapsed stupa in Myanmar.

Singapore Buddha Tooth Relic Temple - Chinatown

The construction of the temple was completed in 2007 at a cost of SGD 62mio. Its architecture is based on the Chinese Tang Dynasty style.

Singapore Buddah Tooth Relic Temple - Chinatown

The Buddha Tooth Relic temple is the largest Buddhist temple in Singapore. The temple is dedicated to Maitreya Buddha and it houses the sacred Buddha tooth relic.