Sembawang Hot Spring Park

Sembawang Hot Spring Park is a natural hot spring and a public park in Singapore. It is located beside a military camp about 100 metres off the main road, Gambas Avenue in the northern part of Singapore; very far from my home which is in the east. Its natural spring water had once been bottled commercially by Fraser and Neave, under the brand name of Seletaris. You can find out more about the park here.

One of the special features is to collect hot spring water at 70°C in your own buckets or cook eggs using the hot spring water at the egg cooking station. Sangmi, our sketcher brought 6 eggs and cooked the eggs at the egg cooking station and it really worked!

Arches Watercolour Paper
Size: 630 x 220mm

Central Fire Station

The Central Fire Station, also known as the Hill Street Fire Station, is Singapore’s oldest surviving fire station. Completed in 1909, the distinctive red-and-white brick building at 62 Hill Street was gazetted as a national monument by the Preservation of Monuments Board on 18 December 1998. Today, it is still an active station serving an area covering the central business district and Chinatown. It also houses the Civil Defence Heritage Gallery, which showcases the firefighting history of Singapore. The gallery was opened to the public in 2001.

Arches Watercolour Paper
Size: 630 x 220mm

Central Johor Railway Sketching Excursion

It was not easy to arrange for a trip for about 50 people; it was not a sightseeing trip, also not a shopping trip but a sketching trip with an aim to sketch and record what we see, eat and do in big and small towns along the railway in Central Johor. What make it even more challenging is that there was no one tour agency to plan and arrange for the trip; there was a bus driver, a guide and two Singapore registered SUVs with Chankerk driving one and the other driver, Mr Bian, a photographer on his first trip to Kluang to do what we do but with his camera.

With such limited resources, the entire trip was well executed with so much fun sketching together in full 3 days! The immersion in Festival Bunga Nanas provides a unique cultural and educational experience for all.  Another takeaway is the friendship we forged with the local sketchers in Kluang. The impromptu exhibition on the final day also brought the participants together for art exchange, sharing stories, make connections and suggest ideas.

Day 1 - 17 Jan 2025

Unlike most of the trips that I went, we did not arrive at the hotel but we went straight to Fang Hui, a traditional coffee shop inside a huge pineapple plantation at Simpang Renggam. Fang Hui (芳园)suggested that I should speak Hainanese to the boss after having my much-needed black coffee and old school butter and kaya toasts named the Six Heavenly Kings (六大天王) which consist of six different types of breads. I sketched the big Planta Margarine can in my sketchbook to rekindle my childhood memories. I shared tips and tricks with the participants when they came to speak with me, they watched as I sketched and I often showed how I build the techniques from simple textures and patterns create shapes and volumes.

After the sketch, we asked for a shop stamp to chop on the sketch and I let the boss signed on my sketch. He had the most unusual name translated as Wee Swee Huan (王绥寰) as his father was a learned man so his given name had a scholarly feel. Other participants were sketching outdoor and some had tutored workshop with Chankerk. Bian, also an accomplished Chinese opera singer was singing an opera tune while tutoring his student over the phone. Such random and relaxing vibes in the air.

Etchr Square Sketchbook, size: 420 x 210mm

We had lunch at a quiet small neighbourhood in Renggam where we saw two painters working on the tiger mural near the bus station. There were not many choices for food but the noodles we had was delicious. Here we met the local sketchers and since there was nothing much happening in the small serene town, it was good we could split and choose the spots we wanted to sketch. I chose to sketch on the loose long format. This was the view from the bus station and the corner shop next to the tiger mural wall in the middle of the sketch was the iconic Chinese restaurant that was closed when we arrived. We took the KTM train from Renggam to Kluang in the evening arriving at Starz Hotel. Dinner was very good at Star Restaurant followed by night sketching at the Chinese New Year night market in the drizzling rain near Kluang Days, a nice modern café. I did a sketch in the sketchbook to capture the night activity.

Arches Watercolour Paper, size: 630 x 220mm

 

Etchr Square Sketchbook, size: 420 x 210mm

Day 2 - 18 Jan 2025

Breakfast was at Kluang Little India and I had the delicious pratas and curries. It was not my habit to sketch during a meal as I like my food to be hot and warm. I sketched the iconic Taman Medeka instead. Knowing it would rain; I sat at the five-foot way in front of a shop displaying a “FOR SALE or RENT” banner so no one will open the gate for business. We later took the 10:45am train from Kluang to Bekok. I really liked the train ride albeit it was only a very short journey.

Arches Watercolour Paper, size: 630 x 220mm

 

Sketching in a small town called Bekok was like going back to the 60s in Singapore. We all loved the wooden shophouses flanking the main road and many of us chose to sketch these shophouses focusing on the round windows and the surroundings. I was enjoying my pen and ink techniques after watercolour washes to the surprise of a few sketchers in terms of speed and variations in thick and thin lines, solid and dashed strokes as I move from left to right on the paper. One question was on the lamp posts and vertical elements how and when I decided to exercise the artistic licence not to make them straight.

Arches Watercolour Paper, size: 630 x 220mm

 

This was the smaller sketch I had ever done thus far. William Sim handed me with a name card size paper to sketch Paloh when we arrived by Serene’s car from Bekok to Paloh.

  Name Card Paper, size: 100 x 55mm

 Day 3 - 19 Jan 2025

The highlight of the trip was to leave the hotel at 4:30am on the last day and drove for about 2 hours when the sky was still pitch dark to attend the 6th annual Festival Bunga Nanas at a pineapple plantation in Simpang Renggam. I understood every single word of the poem recited in Mandarin by the young performers on the stage. The harvest might not be great this year but the sweat and love showering the pineapples would be rewarded handsomely one fine day. The ceremony was meaningful as we raised the reddish pineapple flowers in the air joining the prayers in four directions wishing for prosperity, fruition, blessing and bumper harvest.

I was so immersed in the sequence of the ceremony that I only managed to sketch before the event started in the dark. It put blind drawing technique in good use as I pushed my fountain pen across the paper in the sketchbook.

Etchr Square Sketchbook, size: 420 x 210mm

First Sketch of 2025 in Singapore

First Sketchwalk of 2025 at Chinatown also my first long sketch of the new year in Singapore. I have other long sketches done in Kluang, Simpang Reggam and Bekok during the recent sketch trip to Malaysia. I also have smaller sketches in my small square muji sketchbook. I was so busy this weekend and I have yet to prepare for reunion dinner on Tuesday and Chinese New Year on Wednesday but this is the first Sketchwalk for this year organised by Urban Sketchers Singapore which I started in 2009 so I tell myself I must attend to continue to build new memories with like-minded sketchers in Singapore.

Daler Rowney Watercolour Paper
Size: 680 x 240mm

What a HUGE turnout!

January Sketchwalk at Chinatown

Hi Sketchers!
This month, we're heading to Chinatown to bask in the festive mood of Lunar New Year! Feel free to explore the streets of Chinatown, sketch the decorations, pop up stalls around Chinatown.

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𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀:
Date: 28th Dec 2024
Time: 9.30am - 12.30pm
Nearest MRT station: Chinatown MRT
Meeting point: Open area at Chinatown Complex main entrance
Address: https://maps.app.goo.gl/sWcvt2LyNTZVHmQBA
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𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆:
9.30am: Briefing at meeting point.
9.40am: Free and easy sketch
12pm: Start packing your things and make your way for Show & Tell
12.15pm: Show and Tell at meeting point.

*Please note that location of Briefing and Show and Tell may subject to change, depending weather. Admin will edit location on this post if any changes. Check back if you're lost.
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𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲:
By participating this Event, you agree with the followings:
1. My participation in this Event is entirely voluntary.
2. I am aware of and agree to assume any and all risks which might be associated with the Event and I will not hold Urban Sketchers Singapore (USkSG) and any admin/organiser responsible or liable in any way for and will not commence any action arising from the Event, or claim for any loss and/or damage (including, without limitation, personal injury and/or property damage) caused by or sustained as a result of my participation in the Event.
3. I will indemnify USkSG and keep USkSG indemnified against all losses, claims, demands, actions, proceedings, damages, costs, expenses, and any other liability arising in any way from my participation in the above Event.
4. For participant under 18 years old, his/her parent/guardian are aware and agree to the above clauses.
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𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆:
1. Make your way to the location, be aware of surroundings, and maintain necessary distancing.
2. Challenge yourself to explore hidden corners that hasn't been seen/drawn yet; this will also help prevent too many of us crowding the same perching points.
3. Post your sketches, snapshots and videos online — 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐬 #𝐮𝐬𝐤𝐬𝐠 — so everyone can easily find the day's artistic output.
4. Some sketch leaders will go around to catch you in action for posts on Facebook and Instagram, so look out for them!
5. Happy sketching!! 
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𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝘀:
Event banner by Patrick Ng

Central Johor Railway Sketching Excursion

These are taken in our hotel call Starz Hotel in Kluang. We heard the owner is Anson, the lady who also runs Kluang Days and Star Restaurant. We are on a Central Johor Railway Sketching Excursion from 17 - 19 Jan 2025. Here are the loose long format sketches and a few more in the sketchbook after visiting Kluang, Renggam, Simpang Reggam, Bekok and Paloh. There is even one tiny one on the right.

Tomorrow we will be leaving at 4:30am to an event "Festival Bunga Nanas" in Simpang Renggam.

Year of the Snake

Decluttering before CNY

So busy as Chinese New Year is around the corner. I have not done any CNY shopping yet and there will be at least 30 people coming to my house on first day of Chinese New Year for lunch probably another group from my hubby side for dinner. Being the elderest child in my family, it will be the second year as a new tradition for CNY day one visitation after my father passed on in Jun 2023. The worst part of this is that I have yet to declutter all the stuff in my house. The stuff from my grown up children and from our offices after retirement. Last year we discarded our grandpiano of 30 years! This year we will get rid of the 4 violins before CNY. There are three in my house and one from my elder son's house to be sent over. All these years we were waiting for new owners for some valuable stuff but we are not good at selling so they might be thrown away eventually despite their values. These stuff had served us well so we are very thankful.

Our daughter's family is now clearing the Korean cabinet from their small living room in our house. That huge and heavy Korean cabinet will be discarded but not sure she can get it done before CNY.

Bring it on year of the snake!

A Sad Day

Perhaps the reason for my recent depressed mood is because of a young death in my family 5 years ago on 2 Jan 2020. I really wished the lock-down was earlier so he did not have to step out of the house. It was the first day of School and my only nephew was only 15 years old then.

Please be nice, 2025

I don't normally reflect or set goals for new year after retirement. However, on top of my head, I am really bored these past weeks after returning from a family cruise trip in mid-Decemeber. I did not travel much in 2024 and felt that I didn't take advantage of the good exchange rates to visit places like Japan or Europe. I blame that on my husband who is only interested to stay home and watch TV and not planning any trips. I am tired of being the one who always book air tickets and hotels for all our trips together. I also feel a little depressed for no reason and don't want to think and continue walking to improve my mobility. Now my right leg is giving me problem since September, both in joints and topical steriod withdrawl annual flare on my right foot. I have decided not to continue treatment at Skin Health Centre.

I am really bored but I need to cheer myself up! So first thing that I want to do is to embark on a journey of DECLUTTERING MY HOUSE!

My mental and physical health is nothing compared to the messed-up world with wars, natural disasters and so many recent air tragedies, I look forward to peace, health and happiness. Please be nice, 2025.

Heritage Bayfront

https://tiastudio.blogspot.com/2018/09/marina-bay.html
Source: old photos from URA and NHB

This sketch is a repost on Customs House, OUE Tower and Clifford Pier. I am following the development of "Heritage Bayfront" as I called it. OUE called it "OUE Bayfront" and Fullerton Group or Sino Group from Hong Kong which is also a sister company of Far East Organization, called it "Fullerton Heritage".

Part of the "Singapore’s downtown necklace of heritage gems", Heritage Bayfront stretches from Collyer Quay to Shenton Way, encapsulating the rich history and cultural significance of these heritage buildings now house mainly hotels and restaurants. Public can still walk along the bayfront and many big and small events are planned around the year for the public to enjoy.

Customs House:
Super Loco, a Mexican resaturant now occupied the Customs House with a view of the Marina Bay, is part of OUE Bayfront and Fullerton Heritage. OUE was established as part of Overseas Union Bank, one of Singapore’s leading financial institutions at the time, which sought to enter the hotel industry. Customs House, a public building built by Public Works Department in the late 60s, used to house the Singapore Customs Police, which was responsible for watching over one of the world’s busiest harbours as Singapore’s trade and shipping thrived from the 1960s onwards.

OUE Tower:
I remember watching and dinning at a restaurant called Neptune Theatre Restaurant on top that staged topless cabaret shows. Now it is called OUE Tower along OUE Bayfront and houses the Tong Le Private Dinning with a stunning panoramic view on top."OUE was incorporated in Singapore on 8 February 1964, the year before Singapore’s independence. The company was established as part of Overseas Union Bank, one of Singapore’s leading financial institutions at the time, which sought to enter the hotel industry"
Source: https://oue.com.sg/60years/milestones

Clifford Pier:
Clifford Pier was the arrival point of our forefathers in 1933. It was widely and affectionately known in Chinese as ‘Red Lamp Pier’ (红灯码头). It now stands elegantly at our historic waterfront that began as a bustling trading port in those days. Clifford Pier as part of the Fullerton Heritage managed by Fullerton Bay Hotel is now a up-market restaurant and venue for wedding banquets and events.

Last Sketchwalk of the Year

Whenever I sketch at Marina Bay looking at the skyscrapers mushroomed behind those low-rise heritage buildings along the bay, I feel very proud of the achievement of Singapore that ever-changing skyline is formed in just one generation of Singaporeans. The heritage buildings are so well preserved like the charming old dames protecting her people with grace and elegance.

The heritage buildings are:
The Custom House,
OUE Tower,
The Clifford Pier,
The Fullerton Hotel
The Merlion Park and
The Fullerton Waterboat House behind Merlion Park across the road.

The newer buildings directly fronting the Marina Bay from the left are:
Fullerton Bay Hotel
Fullerton Pavillion and
One Fullerton