Wednesday 26 August 2015
Sunday 23 August 2015
Qttie x SG50: Golden Jubilee
In
2015, we will celebrate Singapore’s 50th anniversary of independence.
It will be a momentous year, and this milestone is a timely occasion for
us to commemorate, reflect on and celebrate our journey as one people.
We have come a long way together as one people, and together, we can
achieve even more. This celebration is about you, for you - See more at:
http://www.mccy.gov.sg/Topics/National-Identity/Articles/Celebrating_Singapore_50th_Anniversary_of_Independence.aspx#sthash.vylFmRol.dpuf
In
2015, we will celebrate Singapore’s 50th anniversary of independence.
It will be a momentous year, and this milestone is a timely occasion for
us to commemorate, reflect on and celebrate our journey as one people.
We have come a long way together as one people, and together, we can
achieve even more. This celebration is about you, for you - See more at:
http://www.mccy.gov.sg/Topics/National-Identity/Articles/Celebrating_Singapore_50th_Anniversary_of_Independence.aspx#sthash.vylFmRol.dpuf
In
2015, we will celebrate Singapore’s 50th anniversary of independence.
It will be a momentous year, and this milestone is a timely occasion for
us to commemorate, reflect on and celebrate our journey as one people.
We have come a long way together as one people, and together, we can
achieve even more. This celebration is about you, for you - See more at:
http://www.mccy.gov.sg/Topics/National-Identity/Articles/Celebrating_Singapore_50th_Anniversary_of_Independence.aspx#sthash.vylFmRol.dpuf
Golden Jubilee – It’s Singapore’s 50th anniversary of
independence (a milestone for the little red dot), as Singaporean celebrates the country’s Golden Jubilee as one people.
What is SG50?
SG50 is all about us, and our opportunity to mark Singapore’s 50 years of independence together. It also represents the Singapore that we’ve come to know as home.
The logo celebrates the Singaporean spirit – signifying that our dreams are not limited by the physical size of our island nation.
Reference:
www.wikipedia.com
www.yoursingapore.com
www.singapore50.sg
Qttie x SG50: Esplanade Grey
Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay (also known as The Esplanade Theatres, or simply The Esplanade) is a 60,000 square metres (6.0 ha) performing arts center located in Marina Bay near the mouth of the Singapore River.
There are few buildings in Singapore as eye-catching as Esplanade, a world-class performing arts centre made up of two rounded frames fitted with over 7,000 triangle glass sunshades.
The unique architectural design has been said to have an appearance similar to either a durian(a spiky topical fruit) or the eyes of a fly. Hence, the building is colloquially known to locals as "the big durians".
And as with the strong, some might say pungent, smelling national fruit of Singapore, every Singaporean has an opinion about the bold design of Esplanade. Love it or not, the space has become synonymous with the country, a funky complement to the symmetry of Marina Bay Sands and the Singapore Flyer that sit near by.
The centre also houses a Recital Studio, Theatre Studio, an Outdoor Theatre and visual art exhibition spaces that round off the arts offerings. A slew of cafes, restaurants and shops support the throngs of theatre and concert goers that have made this one of the busiest, and architecturally captivating, performing arts centres in the region.
Reference:
www.wikipedia.com
www.yoursingapore.com
Qttie x SG50: Samsui Woman
This blog to express as a tribute to the Samsui women of Singapore, the silent heroine who built Singapore over five decades. The immigrant construction workers from China, the synonymous red headgear workers (all female) with tough, resilient, hardworking and weather-beaten characters who are the vanishing workers of Singapore.
The blog is created with acknowledgement of thanks to the contributors at National Archive of Singapore (NAS), YouTube and other "memory-aid" resources of the Internet fraternity to share with our bloggers.
Samsui women came to Singapore in large numbers. As many as 200,000 are
thought to have arrived between 1934 and 1938 alone. From the Sanshui
District (三水區) of Guangdong, they took a vow to never marry before
leaving China, and wore large red headdreses as a symbol and reminder of
their vow. Most found menial employment in construction or as domestic
servants and were known and respected for refusing to work as
prostitutes or opium peddlers.Many of them had taken root in Singapore as their homeland.
The modern day immigrants to Singapore and other neighbouring countries are no longer of the Samsui women breed of the past generations. However, immigrant workers have contributed to the development of Singapore, regardless of whatever roles...talented or skilled, formally educated or informally educated within the acceptable immigration requirements.
The Samsui women and other foreign immigrant workers, who travelled and contribute to their host countries in search of adventure in a place at different times for a different journey and life experiences, have changed their profiles over the several decades. Singapore is a global city today, very different from the days of the Samsui women who left their country home over five decades ago.
Mr Anthony Chen who graduated from Ngee Ann Polytechnic, produced the NDP filmlet in 2007 about Samsui women on YouTube.
Who are the Samsui women?
The brief description of the Samsui women at Wikipedia.
Where have all the Samsui women gone?
Almost all the Samsui women who left China in boatloads to Singapore in the 1950s or earlier, have retired or passed on. As the traditional sources of manpower supply in the construction industry, these Samsui women ceased to seek employment and were replaced by other younger alternative foreign immigrants or overtaken by advanced technology and mechanisation, demand of other earning of livelihood elsewhere and history of events.
Start of the day with a simple meal cooked food at the community kitchen at home.
Off the Samsui women daily in the early morning with their red headgear, symbol of the construction brigade in the days yonder.
Work, work and work...
These
Samsui women at construction sites in the Toa Payoh housing estates.
Toa Payoh was still built with toil and sweat of the Samsui women in the
early 1970s.
Meal time...food for energy
Meal taken anywhere to save time. It doesn't matter where...
A drink, a brief nap and loosen the sandals to relax the tired feet...
Small pieces of firewood (foc) for the kitchen stoves...
These Samsui women with smile of satisfaction for cleaning job completed at the Empress Place building.
Waiting by the roadside for the pickup to arrive...
At the evening of the day...returning home for rest and to sleep till the next day.
Getting ready for the National Day Parade "Samsui Women" march-past contingent as an honour and tribute...
Dr
Lien Ying Chow, Chairman of the Overseas Union Bank Ltd, hosted the
Lunar New Year luncheon to samsui women at Mandarin Hotel on January 29,
1996. "Fatt ah, fatt ah...everyone to lou hei". Cheers!
Demo of the Samsui woman's red headgear in 3 easy steps...
Step 1...
Step 2...
Step 3...Job done! Cheers!
Thank you very much. "Kong Hei Fatt Choy"...
These modern art statues of Samsui Women are located at the Urban Renewal Authority Building at Maxwell Road, Singapore.The plaque placed beside the statues reads:
SAMSUI WOMEN
"From the Samsui Province we emigrate young and frugal,
To the Lion City in Nanyang, we labour and struggle.
To seek employment and fortune for our families
We toil and sweat and witness the building
Of Singapore, our pride and future".
The figures, carved from solid dusty-pink granite with rough textured finishing, reflects the hardship and the perseverance of these tough women during the 1950s and 1960s.
Professor Liu Jilin, June 1999
Uncle Dick Yip posted this to my Facebook profile page:
Some of the best workers in S'pore were these Samsui women. My late father chose some of them to work for him. I've been and seen them at their "samsui" work...very hard, even dangerous on sloping roof tops without any safety ropes ! They were always punctual for work, worked long hours and never GRUMBLED, ate simply under the hottest sun and heat. Truly...these Samsui women are legends in their days. I knew some of them thro my father, all living in "ngau chieh soi ".
Reference: http://blogtoexpress.blogspot.sg/2010/11/tribute-to-samsui-women.html
Friday 21 August 2015
Qttie x SG50: Kopi 'C' Brown
Kopi 'C' – is hot coffee with evaporated milk and sugar. It is best enjoyed with freshly toasted bread.
What does 'C' means?
A couple of years back, it was reported in a local newspaper that 'C' refers to Carnation, which is a brand of canned evaporated milk most commonly used by coffeeshops here. Since Kopi-C is essentially a combination of coffee and evaporated milk, it seems logical.
However, when you ask the Hainanese (preferably those who are aware of their heritage) and they will have a different explanation for the word C.
'C' is a Hainanese pronunciation for xian (鲜), which means fresh in English. Xian was a short form for xian nai(鲜奶), which means fresh milk.
Mention fresh milk and people today will think of the milk cartons sold at supermarkets. But before these milks were available, evaporated milk was the freshest one could get.
Reference:
www.wikipedia.com
sg.entertainment.yahoo.com
Qttie x SG50: Bandung Pink
Bandung is a popular and well-loved beverage commonly found in Singapore and Malaysia. It consists of evaporated milk or condensed milk or condensed milk flavoured with rose cordial syrup, giving a distinctly bright pink in colour.
In the Malay language, the term bandung means "pairs", while sirap means syrup and air means "water". More broadly, bandung refers to anything that mixed from other ingredients or comes in pairs.
Bandung is a favourite beverage especially among Malay communities. It is usually served during Iftar in Ramadan month or wedding receptions with other foods such as nasi beriani or rendang.
THE ORIGIN
The origins of this drink—where it comes from, and why it is named 'Bandung', is pretty much a mystery up till today.
One story goes back to the British colonial days, centring on an Englishman in Singapore.
The character in discussion had come across an Indian drink made up of rose extracts, but found it to be 'foul-smelling'. He attempted adding black tea to the drink, but realised that the smell remained. He then tried the concoction of adding milk and sugar, and liked how the milk 'thickened' the drink and how the sugar masked the foul smell.
Upon prompts from fellow colleagues on how the drink was, he replied with 'Banned Dung', which his colleagues heard as 'Bandung'—having just listed the city in West Java.
The bright pink hue of the drink is rumoured to be a result of street vendors wanting to differentiate the drink from teh tahrik (a drink consisting of milk and tea), thus adding pink colouring to the beverage that was originally already slight pink in hue.
The stories behind the bandung drink are hitherto from lore and hearsay, and are yet to be officially verified.
Further research and inquiry by official experts with credible sources need to be made in tracing the origin of bandung drink.
Reference:
www.wikipedia.com
www.nlb.gov.sg
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