Seen in Singapore: Green Rooftop And Rainbow

Singapore flag.

The Rainbow
I took this photo from the window of a bus. I wanted the rainbow.

I always envied pictures of rainbows. I wanted one of my own. At last I saw one.

In a shaking bus! I took dozens. Sometimes we went over a bump and it was all out of focus. Sometimes a lamp post in the way was distracting. I had some photos over cranes and building sites.

This picture was the best. The rainbow frames the building and adds a comment on it, nature in sympathy, in harmony. I liked the building.

The Building
When I looked back at the photo a day later, I noticed the trees on the rooftop of the building, and did not notice the rainbow until a moment later.

Singapore is very green. It does not get that way by accident. Many years I have driven across to nearby Johor Bahru in Malaysia and the change is remarkable. Singapore invests a lot of time and effort in planting and maintaining the plants along the highways and the housing estates, the vast majority of which are publicly owned or managed HDBs.

The private developments also compete for customers with feng shui, harmony with surroundings, supposed to provide an attractive atmosphere conducive to the well-being of the inhabitants and visitors and to attract customers and wealth.


Travel Tips

travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com

australia.com

visitbritain.com

visitbritain.shop.com

visitbritain.org

visittheusa.co.uk

visitsingapore.com

Singapore Airlines: 

singaporeair.com

Author

Angela Lansbury, BA Hons, ACG, ALB. Travel writer and photographer, author, speaker, trainer specialising in the English language, etiquette and communication.

More Durian McFlurry At Anchorvale Community Club In An Inspiring Building With A Swimming Pool Please Copy

Durian McFlurry ice cream in a pot with a handy plastic spoon from McDonalds at Anchorvale Community Club, Singapore. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Problem
Where was I going to find my next Durian McFlurry?

Answer
In the new Anchorvale Community Club near Changi Airport.  Our driver was busy parking and a friend and I were waiting in the large void deck. I ran over to take a picture of the super swimming pool which had coloured slides. My friend told me, "All the new Community Clubs in Singapore have swimming pools."

I am so pleased. Private condos have had swimming pools for years for expats and the better paid. The HDB flats which house the majority don't have swimming pools. the residents are expected to use the public swimming pools, most of which have simply oblong conventional swimming pools. As the newly-built condos have added water slides, curves and water features, so the public pools have now caught up.

Not only does this provide families with entertainment and exercise, it makes the community clubs more of an attraction, which provides more cohesiveness in the community, and makes the community club more profitable, so that other activities such as small meetings for minorities in meeting rooms can be subsidised by the paid for swimming pool.

The Anchorvale Community Club was a great success, if you were to judge by numbers of people. Parking places were in short supply. The McDonalds was thriving and had a busy indoor seating area and a quick-service window in the main hall.

At the quick window I saw a sign for a card to sign up for. I decided I should do this, as it was my second day running visiting a McDonalds. Their choice of foods is much greater than in the old days: fish, vegetarian - and durian (fruit) ice cream.

Unfortunately, downloading the app was a problem. I never made it.

However, I can tell you that the swimming pool in Anchorvale looks great. If you are anywhere else in the world (such as Asia, the UK now that global warming will be making longer summers) and the southern area of the USA, look at the Singaporean Community Centres which are built in every government housing estate, a model for the world to copy.

Please Copy Community Centres
The community centres provide central parks watched by the surrounding buildings. Ground floor shops and doctors and dentists and pre-school so the elderly and pregnant women and young mothers and fathers don't need to travel with low budgets and toddlers. Schemes offer housing swaps so that the elderly on high floors oe people with inclined to climb children can swap with those on ground or lower floors (who get kudos and/or awards, or rewards).

Community Housing
 The housing estates, built and maintained by the governments Housing Development Board (HDB) to provide affordable housing for all citizens.  Basic upgrades such as repainting outside walls and repairing paths and installing covered walkways to keep off the sunshine and rain are funded by the government.

Upgrades To Housing
Extras such as designing and installing gardens, gazebos, fountains and fish pools and sculpture and arches and more shops are chosen and half-funded by residents. Their ideas and imput of money means that they feel responsible for keeping the new facilities in good condition.

Anchorvale Community Centre is already up and running successfully. Next year we anticipate that the new MRT (mass transit) underground railway station will be completed.
(photos and websites being added shortly)

Useful Websites
SINGAPORE TOURISM
visitsingapore.com
singaporeair.com
HDB

McDONALDS
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonald
mcdonalds.com.sg/locate-us
mcdelivery.com.sg

To view this website post:

http://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2018/09/more-durian-mcflurry-at-anchorvale.html

Previous post on durian:
http://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2018/09/durian-delight-at-macdonalds.html

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
Please share links to your favourite posts. 

Moon cake festival dinner in Singapore - what are you missing?

Singapore flag.

Problem
I am either away the night of the moon cake festival dinner or away at the time they are selling advance tickets. So every year I miss it and vow, next year I will attend.

Awnings around the swimming pool. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

 I see the awnings going up around the swimming pool for days in advance. The tickets are not sold by the swimming pool attendant but in the office. Residents are allowed to invite guests, eg visiting grandparents from overseas, former residents who have moved away, friends who live in the same street or nearby.

The tickets this year were modestly priced, about $5, but it was a pot luck supper. I love pot luck. (Apparently pot luck started in the USA with native americans who threw all their vegetables into a big pot for everybody to share. What you pulled out to fill your bowl was pot luck. At least that's one story. I'm sure there are several others.

I spoke to some friends from the complex (which has about six skyscrapers around the pool, 598 flats, with at least two people on average that is 1000 potential people). I reckon it means at least 1001, because the guests of honour is a government minister. I could go to the office and ask, or phone or email. Never mind. You get the picture. This will be happening all over Singapore.

Toastmasters Meeting Comments
At Toastmasters International evenings for several weeks we were starting the evening going around everybody answering the question,' what will you do for Chinese moon cake festival?'' or, 'what does it mean to you? Many people answered, 'It's for family and friends to gather together'.

Big Events
So, if it's a festival for families to gather together, why go to the big events? Firstly, to save organizing at home.

Secondly, the more the merrier. Convivial.

Thirdly, as an additional event. Your overseas visitors or returning family can have one family meal, another out meeting neighbours, distant friends, making new friends.

Children's Festivals
My Chinese Singaporeans also said, 'The Autumn Harvest Festival party is for children'. Like Halloween and Christmas: games, guessing games, contests and gifts.

Sound in Singapore
Finally, the sound of these large events echoes around the voids between the skyscrapers. All around the complex, the public arena, the HDB (Housing Development Board - Singapore equivalent of the UK's council housing), and the private estates. You listen to the cheers and laughter and wonder what you are missing.

You can't hear exactly what they are saying. But you can hear them all evening. Any other activity, such as reading or watching TV or talking, is punctuated by the sounds.

Notting Hill Carnival Sounds
It's a bit like the Notting Hill Carnival in London, as I learned from somebody who lived alongside. For many years she joined in. Then when she got older she went away for the weekend. She told me that if you live alongside, no point staying home trying to read or sleep with all that racket outside or bands, applause, cheering, announcements. Either go and join in or go away for the weekend.

Singapore's Mooncake Festival Prices
In Singapore at this year's Mooncake festival, or Autumn Festival, I was told,
your ticket either includes the price of a piece of mooncake or just the table and chairs (according to whether you bought a ticket in advance or just bought on the night. Presumably they need to know numbers in advance for catering, but you can turn up with an extra guest on the night so long as they only occupy a chair and don't need the free food included in the other price. The advance ticket will include a voucher for a slice of mooncake or other food.

Some places it's the other way round. At many Toastmasters events, paying in advance means a reduction.

Stalls around offer snacks you can buy.

Regrets and Plans
This year my family heard the sound of the festival and instead of regretting not going, my family, members, who are into classical music and singing in tune and vocal variety at Toastmasters, grumbled, "Dreadful noise. Nonstop cheerleading and shouting into the microphone. You couldn't talk to anybody. Glad we didn't go."

All the same, next year, I must go to the mooncake festival! I love mooncakes!

Mooncake for the Chinese autumn harvest festival in Singapore. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Where To Exercise Outdoors In Singapore and Worldwide

Photo of children's playground and exercise area for adults near Little India MRT. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Problem
Where can you exercise for free if you haven't the time and money for an indoor gym? Or maybe you just want a change? Or maybe you ate too much and feel the need for some exercise?

Around the world, the trend is to add exercise areas for adults.

For example, in London's parks in England, exercise equipment is in places such as Harrow.

In Singapore, I recently saw a man exercising on equipment near Little India MRT station. The MRT has numerous exits. You'd get some exercise marching from one exit to the next.

However, if you want outdoor exercise with a view of the sky and street, this one is on Buffalo Road.
The children's area is colourful, like the old renovated shophouses behind.

Your choices are:
Public parks and spaces
HDB (public housing blocks if you or a friend live in one).
Private housing complexes. (We were in a block several weeks before we discovered an exercise area the other end of our large complex - and another in an HDB complex which was on the way to the MRT and to which we had access.)

Useful Websites
http://www.shape.com.sg/fitness/5-good-outdoor-workout-spots-singapore/

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
Please look at my other blog, luxurytravelforless.co.uk

The cost of buying a condo (flat in block with pool) in Singapore

I've been to several talks on making money and saving money. The general consensus of opinion (general or majority view) is that you should spread your money over different types of saving and investment, not only money in banks, building societies or shares, but also property. Like people who invest in both ice cream and umbrellas, whatever the weather, your gains offset your losses.

The money you spend on rent could be used to pay off a mortgage.

Problem 1
What if you want to live in the centre but can only afford to buy in the distant suburbs? I have friends who bought a property in a cheaper area out of town. The rental income pays their own rent to live in the city centre.

Problem 2
Whenever I tell somebody that I or my friends are renting in Singapore I get asked, "Why don't you buy?'

Answers
Many people who come to Singapore don't expect to stay more than two years. No guarantee of longer employment. The company might move them on. The company will pay rental. I'm not sure you can use the money for a mortgage instead.

Profiting From Inflation
Normally a property owners gains from inflation, having money in property which increases in value, whilst money in the bank would be worth less.

Negative Equity
Another worry might be negative equity. That means that you buy at the top of the book and then prices tumble.

However the reverse happens in negative equity. Your property is worth less. You sell at a loss. If you can't repay the mortgage, when the loans company repossess, the property is sold at lower than it cost to buy, so you owe the loans company more.

Tip
Before making a decision, check out the figures.

Take into account, cost of buying ready-built new, second -hand, from a plan, government property. Note your income, ability to pay down payment, costs of any stamp duty or government tax, and legal fees for the transfer and searches and property agent fees. You also need to consider:
whether you can get insurance to cover loss of income yet without losing the property, and the cost of this insurance;
and the maintenance costs of the building admin
plus what you need to pay to redecorate, furnish, and repair the property.
Do you need to pay an agent to rent out and look after the property if you are overseas.

HDB
HDB are government dwellings, subsidised for those on lower income. You can use your government scheme mention savings (CPF) to buy property if allowed. However, I was told I would not be eligible if I had property overseas.

Website Tip
http://sgyounginvestment.blogspot.sg/2014/02/how-much-money-do-you-need-to-own.html

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, has lived in the UK, Spain, USA and Singapore.
I have another profiles and posts on blogger.com and Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram. Look at my books on Amazon.com and Lulu.com
Please like, follow and share my posts.

Doorways, balconies and corridors in condos and HDB flats

Whether you are in an HDB or an affluent condo with four rooms and plentiful built-in wardrobes, you will see in corridors a constant entertainment and amazement. Wardrobes of shoes. Bicycles. Balls. Pairs of china elephants guarding against theft. Small shrines to Chinese ancestors with the remains of joss sticks. Small plants and large plants.

It's feast or famine. People who grow one plant have a garden centre around the door. A miniature jungle surrounds the door frame, hanging from ropes, a cluster of plant pots, wall mounted half moon containers, a dinner service of plant pots, a kitchen garden invading the steps, growing over the balcony like hanging gardens obscuring or providing the view.

Looking out of the living room onto the corridor of an HDB flat. You can see the plant on the left and a small diamond shaped hanging attached by a hook to the horizontal slat of the ventilation grille secondary outer door. 

I have even seen a collection of umbrellas hung from the horizontal slats, I presume not as decoration but to avoid cluttering the tiny flat and convenient fro grabbing when you get to the door and think, I should take my umbrella.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

House hunting in Singapore for Expats - top tips

What is the difference between an apartment and a condo?
In Singapore flat, apartment and condo are used as technical terms. A flat is basic and small. An apartment is larger.

A condo, usually occupied by more affluent ex-pats has facilities socialising and sports facilities such as a swimming pool, sauna, spa bath, squash courts, tennis courts, a gym, an outdoor children's playground, a waterfall and landscaping in modern blocks. Indoors are meeting rooms or function rooms for parties and entertaining.

An HDB is near an MRT because the residents are less likely to have cars. Also a hawker centre is likely to be nearby to provide cheap eating. A hawker centre has stall around communal tables and mostly stools rather than chairs, often outdoors or in an open-sided area in clusters on the ground floor of the housing blocks.

What affects price, facilities and size?

Price
High floors with better views and less traffic noise are likely to be more expensive. Completely redecorated will be more expensive. Swimming pool is likely to mean more expensive.

Size
Older buildings are likely to have bigger rooms and a maid's room (a box room off the kitchen or scullery, with an adjacent toilet, small basin and shower.

A 'walk-up' flat has an outside staircase and no lift. This will be less expensive. So if you are young and fit and like exercise, that is a good option for saving money. However, a fit, young friend of mine warns, what seems an easy climb on a sunny day carrying nothing, is less fun on a regular basis during rain with two bag of shopping or a big box of equipment.

Also harder to bring in a pram, bicycle, toddler, or elderly relative. Another hazard if somebody likes a drink. Or might develop an injury such as twisting on ankle, pulling a hamstring, getting a hernia.

Pool pleasures and problems
My list n/f plus points inc dudes swimming pool. The perfect pool for me has waterfalls and trees. Steps you can walk down, instead of metal ladders, are convenient as well as attractive to look at. Some shade is good.

Negative Windows
Obscured view from windows - too narrow, darkened by an overlay designed to cut heat and stop light fading furnishings. Light obscured by nearby buildings feed away, or large block which blocks your view.

I like balconies to be protected. Other members of my family don't mind railings so long as the metal is painted white.

The other great problem is noise. Traffic from roads can be noisy on floors lower than 6 or 7. Up on floor 8 you might get a better view across the treetops and city.

The biggest problem is buildings sites which spoil the view and create dust and noise. Pile drivers are worst. A nearly finished building could mean shops and restaurants nearby. But check the dat when building works are likely to end.