Singapore - SG50 Golden Jubilee

Wherever I may roam

Singapore, you are home.

Here's wishing my beautiful nation, Happy 50th birthday! :o)

Singapore - The Projector Cinema : Silver Screens from a Golden Era

Date of Exploration : 9 Apr 2015

Lights, Camera, Retrospection!

It's showtime for the last remaining "old face" of Singapore's cinematic history through The Projector, an independent movie house that has resurrected the defunct Golden Cinema into a hipster-approved entertainment joint.

With over 230 state-of-the-art cinemas from 8 movie theatre operators on our tiny red dot, we are spoilt for choices of convenience and comfort to escape into a celluloid world. But for a truly unique movie-going experience, The Projector is the place to be. Watching a show here feels like walking onto a life-size movie set of a 1970s cinema!

Lock, stock and barrel is how The Projector has restored the theatre halls of the former Golden Cinema. As new developments and re-developments have brought on urban amnesia, there are not many places like The Projector left in Singapore to frolic with nostalgia.

Getting to The Projector

Housed within the front annexe building of Golden Mile Tower (not to be confused with Golden Mile Complex next to it), you can get here...

By Bus - Hop on bus numbers 100, 961 or 980 headed in the direction of Beach Road.

By MRT (the nearest MRT stations are Nicoll Highway and Lavender)

1) From Nicoll Highway MRT Station (Circle Line), walk towards The Concourse building. Golden Mile Tower is across the street next to The Concourse along Beach Road. Walking time is approximately 5 minutes.

2) From Lavender MRT Station (East-West Line), take the exit of the Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA). Walk towards the North Beach Road HDB housing estate across the river and cut through the HDB flats in the direction of Beach Road. Cross an overhead bridge near Golden Mile Hawker Centre to Golden Mile Tower. Walking time is approximately 8 minutes.

Top Left : Bridge-way leading from Nicoll Highway MRT Station at Republic Avenue to The Concourse. Top Right : Snapshot of Golden Mile Tower from the bridge-way. Bottom Right : Golden Mile Tower is across a side street from The Concourse and next to St John Headquarters along Beach Road. Bottom Right : View of Golden Mile Tower from ground level.

Designed by pioneer architect Goh Hock Guan and completed in 1975, Golden Mile Tower is fashioned after the béton-brut French architectural style popular between the 1950s to the 1970s. Béton-brut means "raw concrete" and this genre of design concept is known as Brutalist Architecture.  

Golden Mile Tower counts its heydays as being home to Golden Cinema, which was the biggest cinema in Singapore and Malaysia during the yester-years with a seating capacity of 1,500. It screened mostly Chinese movies until the 1990s when the theatre was split to showcase Hindi and Tamil films.

Today, Golden Cinema comprises The Projector that showcases Indie films on level 5 and the original Golden Cinema that continues to screen Hindi/Tamil movies on level 3.

Rewind to Yesterday

The Projector is conceived through a collaboration between Pocket Projects, a creative development consultancy and management company, and FARM, a cross disciplinary design practice, architecture atelier, and community-centered arts organization. More than just preserving a piece of Singapore's history, the creators hope that The Projector will serve as a creative platform for the local arts scene as well as an alternative to mainstream cinema.

Movies screened here have been carefully curated by film consultancy firm Luna Films, who widens the entertainment choice by bringing in Indie movies and controversial titles worldwide that otherwise won't make it to conventional local cinemas.

Lift foyer on ground level of Golden Mile Tower. To get to The Projector, take either lift to level 5.

I thought the logo simulating a projection is very apt and creative.

A roof of old movie posters makes the lift feel like a time machine of sorts. But if you really want that extra old-world feel...

... take the retro-classic spiral staircase that's opposite the lifts. It's pretty captivating to look up the swirls from the bottom of the stairs.

Feels like I'm winding my way through the intestine of time with the helical climb up.

Though simple and plain, the stairwell is one of the last places in Singapore to admire the beauty of a logarithmic spiral. I would suggest taking the lift up and then going down by the stairs.

As the lift door opens or coming atop the stairway, you will be greeted by the entrance hall of The Projector where modernist furnishings try not to interfere with the period ambience.

Box office is a small counter at a corner. Full-price tickets cost about S$13 and you can check for shows that are screening at The Projector website. The cool thing about The Projector is that you can swig a beer (S$10) while enjoying a movie! I washed my tongue with Dream Machine (S$10). I wondered what kind of machine made the dream a wet one...

Tidbits are on sale and the low tech way of displaying show posters brought back lost memories.

This door knob looks like it survived the 70s to this day.

Before we have more font faces than there are words, a simple directory found along the stairway replicated font types used in the yester years. Meanwhile, a comic artist injected modern funk on the wall outside The Projector's cinematic halls.

With all those shades on, it seems odd that the characters are queuing up to watch a movie. I'm all for updating an old space with contemporary pizzazz but this feels a tad 勉强 (trying too hard). Golden Cinema should be allowed to bask in the allure of its age.

There are 2 cinematic halls at The Projector - the Red Room (pictured here) and the Green Room.

I immediately felt a rush of familiarity when I saw these folding cinema chairs. I could almost see my 9-year-old self sitting in one of them. Back then, there were no 3D screens, neither the 5.1 or 7.1 Surround Sound, nor the DTS audio system.

While the seats have been upholstered for comfort, the hand rails and floorings remained as they are originally. The Red Room is generally reserved for private event bookings.

Why sit back and relax when you can lean back and enjoy the show on these beanies? Cool idea... yes?

The Green Room is where most of the public movie screenings take places.

The cinematic halls may be vintage but the entertainment is state-of-the-art. We caught The Birdman in the Green Room and although the seats weren't as comfortable, the movie somehow felt closer without the heavily cushioned seatings of today's cinemas.

There are many things we can find easily in Singapore, but the opportunity to immerse in authentic sentimentality is like searching for a needle in the haystack. While catching a movie in the old cinema of The Projector is an unusual experience, the novelty worn out pretty quickly for me. So would I come back again?

Yes. Borrowing a phrase from Terminator, "I would be back". But not for the antiqued charm. I'll come back again because of the air of casualness that comes with going back to basics. And also because I can drink beer while watching a movie!

The Projector

Address : 6001 Beach Rd, Golden Mile Tower, #05-00, Singapore 199589

Website : theprojector.sg

Alive Museum Singapore - A Twist at Every Turn

Date of Exploration : 5 Aug 2014

Featuring over 80 illusionary artworks and installations, Alive Museum is an optical playground that conceals and reveals one surprise after another! It's an action-packed gallery where you get to complete the art by being a part of it while adding your touch of creativity.

Before visiting the 'museum' (it is more of a fun-house really), I thought it was just about posing with 2D painted art that looks 3D on photo so I was pleasantly surprised by the number of actual 3D sets and props to complete the illusion that I am a mermaidman, a daredevil canoeist, a circus acrobat and lots more. The pieces fire the imagination and unleashes one's personality to create a truly unique masterpiece!

Take a moment to do some warm-up exercises to loosen those jaw muscles and stretch out the body because it's about to get physical inside Alive Museum.

A good place to start getting those vogue juices flowing is the entrance where you can come out of your shell and de-froze that inner child. What do you think of my Birth of Venus rendition? LOL.

One of my favourite pieces is this mesmerising portrait of Vincent Van Gogh with his gaze following you wherever you go! Play the video above and tell me you're not freaked out by it.

2D and 3D blending creates sensational works that offer numerous pose points. There are pictorial suggestions and indications on the best spot to pose as well as shoot a scene posted on the walls and floors so no worries about getting the best shot. But of course, don't be restricted by the suggestions and let your imagination run free!

In this ah-quatic scene from The Little Mermaid, I paid tribute to Ariel singing "Part of Your World"... but with more hiao-ness.

I probably won't survive this in real life. If I survived, my mum's unrelenting nagging for participating in extreme sports would do me in. She still wants to hold my hand while crossing the road. But that's just sweet :)

Do wear dark-coloured (preferably black) pants when visiting Alive Museum. In this photo, I'm actually sitting on the floor but my black pants merged with the dark vortex and the illusion of being sucked into an abyss is perfect. It is also a good idea for ladies to don pants for more freedom while posing.

In addition to this localised artwork depicting Marina Bay Sands, there are 8 other pieces specially customised for Singapore. See if you can identify them throughout the gallery.

Alive Museum has a stable of experimental artists and designers who constantly conceptualise new and novel exhibits such as this chamber of mirrors. Discovering this room was a surprise as throughout the gallery, there were no directional signs and we had to push camouflaged doors to exit from one exhibition space into another.

There's a twist at every turn and the mysterious journey was pretty thrilling as you never know what you will encounter next!

Shhh... Don't tell Mary Jane about this sticky affair.

Wanted to do splits but don't have the time to train? Alive Museum has an instant solution!

Believe it or not, the bench is actually painted on the wall and I'm half-squatting in mid-air but the illusion of me sitting on it is just unbelieveable!

Alive Museum has artworks with multiple themes that ranged from European art, popular culture icons, superheroes, sports, fantasy, doomsday, humour to animals.

It had been a magical ride at Alive Museum.

Because you need someone to take photos with the exhibits, Alive Museum should be visited with a friend/s, love one or family. Do note that there are no toilets withing the gallery and once you exit to use the washroom next to its entrance, you cannot re-enter again. We spent about 3 hours here so by the end of it, my bladder was almost bursting.

30% of the exhibits get refreshed every 12 - 18 months and festive works (eg. New Year, Christmas, etc) make it a good reason to come back again to create new personal illusions!

Address : Suntec City Mall #03-372 (between Towers 3 & 4), Singapore 038983

Opening Hours : 10am - 10pm daily (opening times may vary due to private events. Check http://alivemuseum.sg/information/opening-times/ for notices of early closure before visiting)

Entrance Fees : $25 (Adults), $20 (Children 3-12 yrs)

Getting There : Take the MRT (Circle Line) to Esplanade Station or Promenade Station. Or take the MRT to City Hall Station and walk to Suntec City

Singapore's Best Kept Secret - Lazarus Island

Date of Exploration : 9 Mar 2014

Translucent turquoise waters, inviting foamy surf and an unspoilt powdery beach... I've never dreamed of using those adjectives on Singapore's beaches but a virgin trip to Lazarus Island had filled my vocabulary with praises for this little known piece of paradise!

Singapore is a nation of beach lovers starved of charming coast to chill. Not anymore. Lazarus Island has all the makings of a lost beach Eden that can rival some of the most popular beaches around Asia. The only thing missing is a so-spectacular-you-want-to-cry sunset view that would be the icing on this most handsome beach of our tiny red dot.

Exploring the beach of Lazarus Island for the first time and I liked what I saw.

While the seawater here is not crystal clear and the absence of marine life won't delight snorkel fans, the island's pristine coastline trumps that of East Coast Park, West Coast Park, Pasir Ris and the highly commercialised Sentosa beaches.

The appeal of Lazarus beach lies in its underdevelopment and anonymity. For now. So before the island gets turned into another money-maker with hordes of beach-goers jostling for space, hop over to this best kept secret of Singapore beaches and have your Blue Lagoon moment under the tropical sun!

Getting to Lazarus Island

Lazarus Island is part of a group of 8 islets collectively known as Singapore's Southern Islands which include Sentosa, St. John's Island, Kusu Island, Pulau Seringat, Pulau Tekukor and the two Sisters' Islands.

Currently, there are no direct ferries to Lazarus Island and getting there involves either chartering a private yacht (costing about S$400 for half a day) or taking a ferry to St. John's Island and walking over to Lazarus via a link bridge. The ferry serving St. John's Island can be boarded at Marina South Pier. You can get to the pier either by taxi or public transport.

Here's how to visit Lazarus on a budget...

1. Take the MRT to Marina Bay Station and use Exit B.

2. Go to the bus-stop (no. 03531) near the exit and take bus no. 402. The bus operates at a frequency of between 15 - 25 minutes depending on time of day. Check the bus' schedule here. It's 2 stops from Marina Bay MRT Station to Marina South Pier.

3. At Marina South Pier, look for the Singapore Island Cruise and Services counter (pictured below). A round-trip ferry ticket to St. John's Island then to Kusu Island and back to mainland costs S$18 (adult) and S$12 (child). Check the ferry's schedule here.

Marina South Pier... The orange stand is the Singapore Island Cruise and Ferry Services counter. No pre-booking or reservations of tickets allowed so you'll have to purchase on the spot. We arrived at 10.30am to board the 11:00am ferry.

Pictured is the ferry that took us to St. John's Island, Kusu Island, and back to mainland. There are toilets onboard and it takes 30 minutes from the pier to St. John's Island.

Tips when visiting :

- It is best to visit the islands on Sundays and public holidays as the ferry service operates till later compared to other days.

- Stock up on drinks and food before going as there are no shops on St. John's and Lazarus Island. There's a provision shop and small eatery at Marina South Pier where you can purchase supplies and pack meals.

Singapore Maritime Gallery

If you arrive early at Marina South Pier and have time to spare, check out the cool Singapore Maritime Gallery on level 2. The gallery is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 9:00am to 5:30pm. Admission is FREE.

I love the creative conversion of 'A' in Singapore into a directional arrow. The gallery features some pretty cool exhibits although I felt rather overpowered by the amount of information to read.

The innovative staging that featured containers, crates, oceanic waves and textures added life to a subject matter that doesn't have a natural audience. In addition to static ship model displays, there are also a couple of experiential exhibits where you can pretend to be a cargo controller at the maritime command center.

St. John's Island

A former island used to quarantine population with infectious diseases such as cholera, beri-beri and leprosy in the late 19th century, Saint John's Island was converted into a jail and drug rehab centre during the middle of the 20th century. Today, the island offers refuge from Singapore's hyper urbanity with tranquil greens for picnic or a frolic in its saltwater lagoons.

The last time I stepped on St. John's Island, I was listening to a cassette of Debbie Gibson's Out of the Blue album in a walkman. That's a loooog time ago! 

From St John's Island's jetty, turn left to Lazarus Island. If you turn right, you'll head towards the lodges and lagoon of St John's Island. As Lazarus Island is still not ready to receive visitors, there are no directional signs pointing the way at the moment.

Facing the end of the jetty were remnant fences and structures of St John's sentinel past. Instead of heading straight to Lazarus Island, we couldn't resist snapping the peculiars at our docking island. 

Thought the perspective would make for an 'artful' shot so got Siow Har to lie down on the ground for this pic...

... we were actually cam whoring at the ex-prison's toilet! LOL.

On foot to Lazarus Island, we passed by this piece of heavy machinery and decided to pose as Tractor Trash.

Low tide at St. John's Island exposes a mess network of sculptural mangrove roots that made for an interesting backdrop for narcissicsm. This photo brought 3 letters to mind... C. M. I.

Lots of cats lounging on St John's. If you have food in hand, you'll find fast feline friends. Okay, this cat was obviously not into pork coz it ignored me.

View of Lazarus Island from St John's Island. The two islands are linked by a bridge (mid right of the photo behind the breakwater).

Toeing the breakwater for a shot...

... of Singapore's commercial skyline.

Bridge to Lazarus Island from St John's Island.

Lazarus Island

Sandwiched between St John's Island and Kusu Island, Lazarus Island is also linked at one end to Pulau Seringat. Recreational developments are currently underway by Sentosa Leisure Group to possibly turn Lazarus into a resort.

Camping is not allowed on St John's, Lazarus or Kusu islands and the islands are fast becoming favourite spots for anglers to hook up fresh catch such as selars, tambans, groupers, squids, etc.

Upon stepping on Lazarus Island, we saw this tiny stretch of beach. We weren't impressed. And disappointed that we made the effort to see something this nondescript.

Dismayed that Lazarus Island had nothing more than a puny coast of sand, we decided to settle for a picnic in front of the beach, unglamorously next to a construction site.

After some food, we decided to explore more of Lazarus Island and were faced with devastations of the recent drought. For the first time in more than 150 years, rain hadn't fall for over 2 months in our rainforest climate.

Our aimless wander brought us to the other side of Lazarus Island. The side that took our breath away. It was one of those eureka moments!

Compared to all the beaches in Singapore, Lazarus Island has the most gorgeous beach I've ever seen locally. I couldn't believe I'm in Singapore!

The beach is unknown and undeveloped so visitors are few and it is devoid of amenities. Except for a few private yachts and beachgoers, the beach was practically empty. And surprisingly, most of the visitors seemed to be non-Singaporeans. Such an irony that foreigners know better than the locals to sniff out such a hidden gem.

Totally loving it here with the clean and green waters! Better come soon before it gets populated. My only grouse was that although human presence was minimal, flotsam and jetsam weren't scarce. I cleared out a square of drift-wood with rusty nails, styrofoam meal boxes and an empty water bottle with cigarette butts in them from the sea and beach. 

I'm not trying to interview for a job with NEA (National Environment Agency) but I hate to see such a beautiful place marred by inconsiderate litter. If you visit, please keep the place clean as no one picks up after you since the island is kind of ulu.

Kusu Island

The last stop of our three-island excursion ended at Kusu Island. If you do not wish to visit Kusu, don't get off the boat and take it back to mainland.

According to legend, a tortoise turned itself into an island to save two shipwrecked sailors - one Malay and a Chinese. That's why this island is affectionately known as Tortoise / Turtle Island and there's a Chinese temple (大伯公) as well as Muslim shrine on it.

Trees on Kusu Island were not spared the effects of the drought.

Religious harmony... a Catholic umbrella sheltering a Taoist altar at a Muslim Shrine. Only in Singapore!

Three Malay kramats (holy shrine) sit at the top of a jagged low hill at Kusu Island.

Glad for a wonderful exploration of Singapore's little known Southern Islands! If the lobster red of Jeffrey, our friend visiting from Hawaii was any indication, sunblock is a must and love for adventure is a plus!

Maritime Sunset

Back at Marina South Pier, our haste to find comfort after a long day was postponed by the beautiful sun setting over PSA (Port of Singapore Authority). On your return from visiting the Southern Islands in the evening, don't be in a hurry to leave. Head up to the rooftop of Marina South Pier and take in the sunset view.

The rooftop on level 3 of Marina South Pier offers a 360-degree lookout of the surrounding.

6:45pm... I'd seen many breathtaking sunsets over beaches but this unobstructed appreciation of an urban sunset over our port was an equal spectacle in wonder and grandeur!

I've read about Lazarus Island for quite some time and finally got to check out the place for myself. Personally, I think it was well worth the effort to visit and get lost in one of those last few deserted spots left in Singapore.

I truly enjoyed this hard-to-come-by pristine stretch of shoreline and urge you to contribute towards its conservation by keeping it clean when you visit. Happy splashing!