Ending

Ending.(j.tembling)
I tire. The darkening clouds weigh heavy on my soul.
I see less than i used to and have seen more then is fair....darkness envelopes me.
The time has come when time must end and my life feels all too brief.
I breathe. Air fills my lungs but i feel no relief.
I sense fear but fear does not hold me....a shadow falls in front of my eyes and i see
impending grief. The time has come when time must end and my life feels all too brief.
My days have been numbered and my journey is at an end, time has held no answers. Time is no friend. The time has come when time must end, do not my brother feel sadness for me for soon we will be together at journey's bitter end.

Hmm

"A friend will run into a burning building to save you while everyone else runs out." Unknown.

Ama Keng, Woodnuek, Lau Pa Sat, FMSR Trainyards

To say i had a busy couple of days would be an understatement. Got back home around 330am on Saturday morning up and out with the moo and doo at 730am, breakfast at Jalan Kayu then on to Sungei Buloh followed by Istana Woodnuek which was before we went to Dempsey road for lunch got dropped off by the doo at Raffles Place to meet the boys at Lau Pa Sat and from there a long walk in the blazing afternoon sun to the Malayan railway yards. Back home, showed changed and out again for dinner at the airport followed by the longest train ride ever to Clarke quay which involved me getting off at the wrong station. Twice.
And that was just Saturday. Right now i feel very much like the road kill the crow is feasting on.

Ama/h Keng

I love intricate metal lattice work and these are some good example of colonial metal work.

Buloh.

Ah for want of a macro lens. Couldn't decide which one i liked the best so i post all of them.

A Song.

You know they say that music is the background to our lives like the paint on walls ..in some way shape or form its always there. Music that makes us smile as we remember times gone by or even people that have passed. Music that moves us to tears or music that comforts us or music that keeps us sane. Today at this time, for now this is the song i hear in my head.

Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground
If you had not have fallen
Then I would not have found you
Angel flying too close to the ground
And I patched up your broken wing
And hung around a while
Tried to keep your spirits up
While you were feelin' down
I knew someday that you would fly away
For love's the greatest healer to be found
So leave me if you need to
I will still remember
Angel flying too close to the ground
Fly on, fly on past the speed of sound
I'd rather see you up
Than see you down
Leave me if you need to
I will still remember
Angel flying too close to the ground

deja vu.

Some really good people were down from perth this week and i popped down to Sacred Heart Church to meet up with them and as it turned out some old friends.

Above, a new friend..Josh Sebastian, the son of another old buddy and his great wife Andrew and Katrina...and Josh is also the grandson of Benny and Anna two of the nicest people you will ever meet! Looking at the picture below it could have been Trinity anytime from 1989 onwards.

The proud new Grandpa(on guitar) and our resident steel guitar man Fr.Paul Tay.

And here out of the blue. Caitlin.

Istana.

The Istana

Changing of the guard(below pic is edited)

I reckon this looks more like the esplanade then a durian does.

Mac Donald House.

Happy May Day, WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE!.
Went to the Istana this morning, can you imagine it was my first time. It was not what i expected but only because i had no expectations. It was tough taking photographs because of the crowds and i think i was off my game today as far as photography is concerned but anyway here is another Istana.

Istana Woodneuk

A couple of us took a walk around Istana Woodneuk, a beautiful building located right next to the Botanical Gardens. It belongs to the sultan of Johore and has been abandoned for some years. Just a couple of months ago the building looked alot better but alas vandals have struck. I will definitely go back there as i think i really haven't done justice to this grand old building. i found this little video on youtube
http://youtube.com/watch?v=SHw6NhfXDWQ

As anyone who knows this blog is aware i have an immense affinity for old buildings, i find the architecture and design aspects to be very pleasing to the eye, from shop houses in joo chiat to 70's style seaside bungalows in Mountbatten there is just something that appeals to me. From a practical standpoint the high ceilings and plantation style windows of these older buildings really make sense in the pre-aircon era as did barred vents that allowed air to circulate without hindering the security of your home(especially true of old shophouses)In most older colonial style buildings you will note a complete lack of glass windows, this is because they were both expensive and unnecessary, if you wanted a view you would open your windows and if you didn't you closed them, simpler times eh lol and i suppose the air was much fresher back then. Today most house have lower ceilings in order to make them easier to cool with an air conditioner, in fact if you look at a number of restored buildings they too have lower ceilings and glass windows in order to make it easier to cool, while i acknowledge the importance of restoring old buildings instead of tearing them down sometimes i do feel the restoration causes the building to lose its original identity
Sidebar example clarke quay and boat quay no where can you see of feel a link with the past it just happens to be old buildings with the insides gutted to suit the current use, pub, restaurants.. This line is a test to see if you read this post which i doubt anyone does.. The wrap around balcony or even the individual room balcony meant that you could open your full length plantation style doors without having to have glass in between you and the outside world. The main building below is located at the top of a hill within its own grounds and surrounded by what once must have been rather lovely gardens. It would have been a wonderful place i am sure.

Anyhow this is rather a large post with 35pictures. I took almost 300 pictures and i think i need to go back and focus abit more on the things i like as opposed to shooting everything in sight.
Viewed From the Driveway

A Series On Doorways Of Woodneuk

Alcoves found mainly on the first floor.

Corridor Leading to staff quarters, kitchen and pantry

Bathroom on the first floor. I love the colours

The decorative iron work is i think my favorite part of the building.

I took a couple of shots of one of the balcony's.

The above photograph is my favorite of the day, its in the staff kitchen, abit of light pouring in from a hole in the roof.

The main kitchen

Pantry

The inside of one of the roof tiles. It must have been a magnificent sight in its heyday.

Collectors Item...

Singapore Phone book 1975.

Leak.

I think the center piece of this house must have been the grand staircase, wooden floor and fantastic metalwork it is a sight to behold. I found it very difficult to photograph and i do not think i did it justice. I shall return.

sidebar-Pardon the typo's. if you don't too bad.