Today

Went to too many places today. Ann Siang, People's Park, Stamford House, National Museum, Burlington Square, Bugis Junction... Walked too much. I bitch about the sun and heat a lot but I think I actually go out into it a lot more than many people. So long as I have my anti-UV umbrella and am wearing sunscreen, and I get to keep buying icy cold drinks.

This is Stamford House windows reflected on Vanguard Building. It's prettier when you see it for yourself. Took a shot with the Holga as well, hope that turns out well.



Finally went to see the Christian Lacroix exhibition. I told myself not to wait till the end, as it would be very crowded. But I did anyway, and it was. LOTS of screaming children around the museum. I don't like that.

You see this when you enter the main entrance. I like the side view. It made me think of The Princess and the Pea. I know that doesn't make sense, but it did.


I like how the red glows softly in the dark.


Lots of people, lots of cameras. The photo-taking happening all over the gallery seemed very driven. I also heard some work discussions. I think there were many who were there for inspiration and "inspiration".


The costumes were alright. I suddenly found myself obsessively trying to catch shots of the dress shadows flitting across the giant screens.



Was amused by this. They were just sitting there. But the couch, the chandelier, the darkness and light... it was like they were part of the show.


A table in the corner had paper dolls and templates for outfits for kids to play with. Lots of mothers with their little boys busy colouring and cutting away. No, I don't know why it was mostly boys.



Stripes and dots. July issue of So-en has a very cute stripes and dots product spread. And I want his high-waist pants.


Crowd queueing outside Cathay for SG Idol auditions. Can't imagine how tired, stinky and unglam they would be when it actually gets to their turn.



Went to Muji and got these. Last pair at Bugis and it was sold out at Paragon.

Also got two soft tees.


And now for some random nonsense.

I like Muji's brown paper bags and envelopes.


Aunty gave me a harmonica today. I can't stand the sound the instrument makes, it's like nails on chalkboard to me. But it's still very cute as display.


The notebooks I carry around. I like them flat, light and black. Pink and green are pen colours I like very much.

the rest of the fuji astia roll

the rest of the pink purple red. a most random roll.

someone really wanted to get in and out of here.

these massive rolly things are lying all over tampines. "new water" is printed on them.

forest fire here.





NO ALLOW PARKING HERE





i need to go back and take a more decent shot of this



and this



and this



and this.



when this old school gate was erected at this spot, a big hoo haa was organised which included a guard-of-honour decked out in the no.1 uniform (the white, pretty one) and a may pole dance (think that's what it's called). okay, that's all i remember. i also recall someone from the goh fainting and going plop! into the longkang (drain) and thinking the may pole dance looked awfully weird/funny.

and mrs carmee lim grinning. but then again, she's always grinning so i may have it mixed up with all the other occasions.

sometimes i wish i can harry potter away the trees for a bit while i take a picture.

Saturday

1. Dark clouds loomed over most of yesterday. The only downpour I was caught in was a good one with fat, angry raindrops splatting against everything. I decided to take shelter for a while because I was getting wet despite having an umbrella. Shared a deserted corner of SMU with an Indian woman in a sari. Leaned against the wall, propped the umbrella on the ground and ate a chicken sausage pastry studying the rain.

I love rain but only of the stormy, heavy variety. I don't like feather-light rain, I don't like rain with the sun still out, I don't like drizzles. I would rather be drenched to the bone than hit with occasional drops.

Still, it was humid as hell and after an entire day of traipsing - City Hall to National Museum to The Cathay to Old School to Middle Road to Burlington Square to NAFA to Cineleisure to Lido to Kino and back to Lido - the shower was a great, great relief.

It's still raining now. But there's no wind. The air is still. I realise I hate that too.

2. I was curious about the Interior Design as a Contemporary Art Medium in Germany exhibition so decided to drop by the museum. Don't think I took away very much except that:

It would be interesting to have these iconic arches as a shelf at home.

I like the combined effect of this curtain plus shadow.



Somehow, I was way more fascinated by this listing of ingredients than the exhibit itself.

3. Cate Blanchett looks absolutely stunning in Benjamin Button.

Can't get over her wardrobe, perfect hair, perfect skin and dancer's grace.

Mm... Pouffy

Saw this in Cleo Apr - click for readable jpeg. Must say that the visual with all the pouffy, nipped in waist floral dresses used really makes me want to visit the Fashion Gallery now now now!

Never knew we had such a cool section in our National Museum. (Btw, you should watch the intro clip on the museum's website if you haven't done so before. Especially love the Prom Queen '95 and Nancy tattoo bits.)

A quick google came up with this, extracted from the reopening press release:

Shopping for Identity

The fashion gallery explores the shifting identities of Singapore women from the 1950s to the 1970s. Through a “shopping” experience, visitors will get to know more about the social, economic and political roles of women then. Costumes worn by women of that era will be on display as the exhibition traces the changing roles of women from youths, homemakers to career women. A special section of the gallery is devoted to a “Making of” set in a textile factory, allowing visitors to get a more in-depth understanding of the process of how some garments are made. Visitors will get to feel the selection of fabrics on display, explore the intricacies of the embroidery found on a sarong kebaya and learn ways of draping a sari.

Considering how this is the Spring of revolutionalised florals thanks to Balenciaga, there's no better time for some flower power retrospective.

I'll never go on the last day again

Went to the National Museum to catch the Greek Masterpieces from the Louvre exhibition. It was freaking packed. The crowd was insane, the guided tours impossible to follow, and there was so much jostling and bumping into people and prams (!) I got a mighty headache.

But still, our National Museum is real pretty after its revamp. It's not my first visit but I still love passing by and gazing at it, or strolling through the interiors to get to the ladies/galleries/theatres. The use of light and space is exceptional, and it always makes me feel so contented and serene.

I love the Greek gods because of the tales of vindictive natures, spiteful loves and glorified self-indulgences. Greek mythology is such a scintillating read. Unfortunately, because of the huge crowd, we could not tag along a guide and enjoy the storytelling as ampulets did. Nonetheless, it was a fine way to spend a weekend afternoon.

Was kind of disturbed by this emasculation of David situated at the entrance. It was nice, I suppose. But all that pink brocade wrapped around sinewy muscles... I wonder if he's offended or totally enjoying it?

I just could not stop taking pictures of these swinging chandeliers. We concluded that they were light sensitive after several observations. So gimmicky but so cool.

Spent the longest time with this statue of Aphrodite. Remarkable detail was in a lot of the works but I was completely taken by the drape of her robe. It's exactly how I want anything I want draped on to drape. The way the fabric twists and bunches is so damn perfect and this is bloody stone.

Opposite her was this guy. Sorry I can't recall who he is but I remember he was a rascal. Not at all surprising, given that petulant face. Reminds me of Joaquin Phoenix in Gladiator.

Last thing we went to was this lion which looked more like a house pet to me than a majestic animal.

The funny girl said it looks more like a sunflower. I think it's the perfect coif that makes it so wrong.