Last Sunday, on 15 Mar 09, Thian Hock Keng played host to a Liyuan Opera, titled Gao WenJu, performed by Siong Leng Musical Association. It was a unique and very atmospheric setting for an Opera performance. Even though i dont really understand Chinese Opera, i did enjoy the performance. Although the audience numbers was not big, and majority were senior citizens, a quick glance showed that they enjoyed the performance thoroughly. I spotted some expats among the audience members as well.  My companion remarked that watching the opera at this important and historical temple was almost equivalent to watching a grand performance at Tiananmen Square.

Siong Leng Musical Association was founded in 1941 to promote Nan Yin and LiYuan Opera. More information on Siong Leng and Nanyin can be found here.

Chinese Opera is still very vibrant and active in Singapore. However, i think that the art of Chinese Opera is slowly dying, due to lack of new audiences, even though most Chinese Opera companies are actively trying to recruit new and young members as well as increase their audience base. It will be a shame and a loss if this traditional art, in all its various genres, were to disappear from Singapore’s landscape.

PoMo exterior

 I was at the area recently, and checked out PoMo. Basically its a collection of restaurants, some old, some new. It was very empty the day i went (a Saturday afternoon). Maybe on a weekday, it will see more customers, what with the many schools in the vicinity.

New Mall at Selegie opposite Rochor Beancurd

Near PoMo is yet another new mall, yet to be completed. I have no idea what it would be called.

Back of Bugis Illumina

Bugis Illumina

In direct competition with Bugis Junction is Illumina, which will also have a cinema and links to the MRT.

And of course, in Orchard road, there will soon be Ion Orchard and Orchard Central.   In Tampines, Tampines 1 will soon fight it out with the existing Tampines Mall and Century Square. There might be more new malls sprouting out in the heartlands which i am not aware of.

Boom or Gloom for retailers? I really wonder.

Singapore has too many malls i think.

The Marina Barrage is a nice place, especially if the weather is good, more so if there’s a cool breeze. Much effort and $ must have been spent into creating this Barrage, and much thought and $ too must have went into the Gallery, which showcased the work of the PUB and other Government agencies in cleaning and developing our Waterways, and which also explained the purpose of the Barrage and how it works. The gallery is a high-tech place with nifty gadgets, pretty cool. Personally I think it is quite amazing to see the fruition of LKY’s vision for a clean Singapore River. How his words are like edicts that must be carried out.  Do join the guided tours if you come - the guides are friendly and personable and they do help to explain fluently the workings of the barrage. On the day that i was there, i was quite impressed at seeing them explaining fluently to the older folks who might not fully comprehend the write-ups in the gallery.

On another note, maybe im just superstitious, but somehow it feels that damming the Singapore River is like cutting off the wealth flowing into the country, since the Singapore River had a big role to play in the history of our nation.