My whole night crashes on me in the early hours of today. Following a talk with her in the car. Seeing her cry and the things that I do make her cry, I feel not worthy of myself, sad with pitifulness of myself on the situation. The wordings of "My business" or "Your business" is causing me pain and self inflicting sadness. The holidays is also causing troubles of not able to travel because of peak fares. But what can I do when she can only take a combine leave is during a holiday so that she won't spend enough all her leave. From now onwards, I have to be very caution on the words that came out of my mouth.

Follow that, when I reach home, my parents were not asleep. My father the worried one, lie on the sofa reading a magazine. He gave a huge sigh suddenly which shocked me, making me think that something terrible wrong has happened. He always think one of this day when I'm riding outside, something is going to happen to me. My mom say he can't sleep when I came home late. I noticed that this always happened when somebody died in an road accident and is reported killed. I'm sick and tried of this. My parents of all people just don't understand me. They keep thinking I'm like a dare devil racer or something, not cherishing my life at all and I go out at night and race. I'm utterly disappointed with them. I think is time for me to moved out and be independent for myself. In fact I did not ride tonight, because my Vespa couldn't start. And further more I seldom ride in rainy weather. I do cherished my own life, they don't have to remind me of that.

After living with my parents for my entire life, I'm sick and tired of their every day worries. Because they do not understand me at all. How I have grown up and be very independent of myself. They don't understand why I went backpacking for four months to suffer. They don't understand why I don't want to find a regular job but instead I need to start a business of my own. They don't understand about the feeling of riding a bike, but only the stigma that is attached to it. My paranoia father is driving me crazy with sadness.

All I want is to live in peace and be able to do things I wanted to do. Is that so hard to understand ? If push come to shove one day, I might just pack my bag and called it a day. A day I hope not to see.

She

I was very proud and happy when She pass her riding test. She has finally achieve her long time dream. It was perfect, an almost perfect day before everything crumbles down like sandcastle on a high tide. She lost her cool with the money changer and releases all onto me. I felt crap, disappointed and sad. This is not the first time. This is one of her many outburst where she can't control. The rushing, the cramping of every to-do-thing in one go, the impatient-ness, is part and parcel of her daily life. No time to stop and smell the flowers. An almost perfect human being living in a imperfect world.

Imperfection is everywhere, living and surrounding us. We live in an imperfect world where there is a red light stop whenever you are rushing, a heavy downpour when you wanted to go for a run, planning to watch a favourite movie when all seats are sold out, a imperfect day when the rude hawker dampens it, the list goes so long that even this blog can't handle. The truth is, we cannot expect everything to run smoothly or without problems. The world is full of problems, and that is a real fact and reality.

How should I describe ? Its like a vitamin supplement that you only take when you need it and when its unnecessary you throw it aside or sometimes even forget about it. That is how I felt. How would you feel if every now and then somebody just release their outburst onto you? Naturally you will ask yourself question ? Why is this happening ? Is the threshold of tolerance over the limit ? Can I still take one more punch in the ring? Is it just Her? Every human being experience wear and tear as well, and become very weary and torn in times such as these.

It is about understanding. Understanding yourself ? and understanding your partner. She mention every time to me that, why I don't understand her? but did she try and understand herself in the first place? Why she got an uncontrollable anger ? and why ? and how it affects the people around her ? If she truly understand herself, the outburst wouldn't have occur, because She would have understand the repercussion of what will happen if she simply let off the outburst. So did she think 10 steps in front this time ?

Please help you to help me. I am trying my best dearie.

The journey that we are undertaking to Europe is full of imperfection. We will meet with unexpected situations and maybe experience we never thought we will meet and surely, experience that will dampens our spirits. What if we were to meet another slow money changer in Russia when our train is about to leave? Another outburst? Surely it will destroy the true meaning of this journey of why we set out to do and us.

I hope that She will understand why I wrote this entry. Its one of my way of expressing to her so that she can understand how I feel sometimes. This is what the blog was created in the first place. A place of expression and understanding for both of us.

I Love you dearie. . . . . .

The Standard Charted Marathon

One word - Pain. Its all about Pain.

But please understand that I'm not a crazy person seeking pain. It is about understanding yourself, your body, your well-being and ultimately - your life. Its official for me that I finished the half marathon in three hours. Not the ideal finishing time but I'm still glad I made it through the finishing line. Because of my poor preparation in managing my diet, training and pre-stretching towards race day, I ended up acquiring an injury and a poor finishing. I truly deserve it as I show no respect for the route and the pain my body have to endure.

My last 5 km was the most difficult and enlightening. Every thumping step I took with every heart beat, I could feel the road (the friend) and my whole leg! I have never felt more alive with the pain. It increase my awareness physically that my heel and knee-caps are enduring 64kg of my weight each time I pound. With the sweat dripping all over my body, aches and pain screaming throughout my body. It is all about pain I say. It make you realize you're human, a person capable to love, to hate and to forgive, And a person capable of doing a million other things as well - such as finishing the race. Impossible is nothing, that I agree with Adidas.

My next goal will be the real marathon, the marathon of 42,000 steps. The journey of how I'm going to reach there is in question. But you see it is not even a question when you have strong believes in yourself that you can make it. Your heart your mind your soul your determination and your friend (road) will conspire with you to achieve what you are set out to do. Impossible is nothing, that I agree with Adidas.

Till the next race, we will be in touch.

IPPT Revolutions

A Challenge

It is Done. I have clear my IPPT test and have another year to relax (But not too relax). In my previous entry, I was late for my test thus I was not allowed to take. Very disappointed back then as I was about to depart to India for my reservist training. I knew that during this absence, with no regular running, I will lose my stamina- A runner greatest fear. And it happened to me last Saturday as I attempted a second try for my IPPT! I flung my 2.4 timing. It was enlightening that a short break of 1 month can cause a lost of stamina. But I knew that the fault lies in myself and on nobody. Today with determination and some preparation on the previous night of a light run, I nail the 2.4 bugger today and got $100 as a incentive. As I grow older I wonder if I could maintain this standard? Today the speed running during IPPT will also help in my preparation for this upcoming Sunday 10k 2nd Link Bridge Run. I do hope that I will get enough rest and sufficient energy before race day.

Over the years, I learned that to compete & complete any race, an athlete must know this- RPGN. Rest, Preparation, Gear and Nutrition.

Rest - Not sufficient rest from training days will delay the recovery of your body thus affecting performance.

Preparation - Imagine that you went to sit for an examination without preparation. What do you think the outcome will be? But of course unless you are Albert Einstein. Preparation will consist such as route, speed training, cross training, over running and many others. Prepare, prepare and prepare. Enuf said.

Nutrition - Proper meals which consist of high nutritional values. Avoid high fat, sugar and salt. High in fiber, protein and good carbohydrates (e.g. banana) is better. Why you need nutrition? Imagine a car engine that uses third graded oil and another uses first grade oil. Which one will go faster and last longer? Carbo-loading is necessary especially for athletes running long distance.

Gear - Go figure yourself : P

Every year without fail, IPPT would continue to be A challenge for me. A challenge that always needs preparation and preparation. Period.

Running

I have to admit, running was not my forte when I was serving my national service. I have big problems when running the 2.4km. Without fail, it always inflict a devastating blow in my IPPT results no matter how well I do in other station. Everything changes when I was out of the army.

It was insomnia that cause me to begin my run at wee hours of the night. Never did I thought it would be one of best runs I ever did in my whole life. There was no one on the street. It was peaceful and serene. The cool air of the night that brushes through my skin makes the run even more enjoyable. It was just me and the road. Nobody else. In the wind, I felt my whole body working together to tackle the challenging road, blood circulating, heart pumping, sweat pouring out of every pores. I never felt more alive. It was in that period of time that I begin my love affair with running.

From there I started out as leisure runs on alternate days of the week, which total up to 4 times a week. I try to varied the running time and route for variety. After doing my weekly runs, I realized that doing just a single sport would not help me in strengthening different parts of the muscle groups, thus I infuse leisure swimming into my rest days.

As they say, "The rest is history". Till today my love affair with the road continues. Taking part in triathlon, marathon and cross terrain run have push my running to a different level. One day I hope I can participate in adventure racing to see where my limits are. I hope the day will come. In my experience, running alone cures many ailments. Not only does it beat stress, it also make your mind focus and clear. If that is not enough, it also makes your heart stronger and determine to finish what you are out to do (endurance).

This year06, I'm looking forward to the Standard Charted half Marathon run in December. I hope that not only can I put my best foot forward, I will clock my personal best time as well! See you there !!

Starting of an Enterprise

From Times Chamber English Dictionary
Enterprise:-
1. An undertaking esp if risky or difficult,
2. Boldness in trying new things,
3. A business concern enterprising.

Now I fully understand why the explorer ship in Star Trek was named "Entreprise".

Two business ideas in mind, which is weddings favors and a juice shop, but today will only touch on the first.

Weddings favors

From my observation of the local market, I ask myself a few question on the viability of the business. Firstly I look at current business cap in the market that provide this product for Malay weddings. A building that I survey near a frequent hang out place for the Malays made me realize that at least 10 - 15 shops are providing this favors and related services. So with this size, I concluded that demand is strong and so is competition.

Secondly, for the business to be successful, do I copy others by opening a shop? I think not because a retail outlet can only justify that you have credits but not necessary means that you have great products. I believe that the success of the business start off from the products it sells. From the shops that I observe many of them sell other things such as clothes and party wares. It shows that relying on just selling wedding favors is tough. But not impossible if the formula is correct. So opening a shop doesn't necessary translate success. If circumstances permit, maybe somewhere else then the building I survey, where there is no such shop nearby, the ideas and creativity of the favors could blossom independently and less readily copy by competitors. This idea might also not worked because couples who are out sourcing for favors might not want limited choice. A good concept employ by the landlord is the Sim Lim square. This huge IT building is a consolidation of every IT products and services in the market which could give consumer unlimited choices and more bang for their buck. If I can't find it in this shop, I just move to the next one. Simple.

Thirdly. Thus I believe the way to start it off is by word of mouth and through retailing catalogue. The concept very similar to Tupper Ware. Shop can only be decide later if the business environment paved positive and demands continues to increase.

Fourthly. By embarking into this business the profit lies in Wholesale buying and bulk selling. An example of an estimate calculation for a photoframe. Bulk buying of 2000 pieces for 50cents a piece which total up to $1k. A customer order 500 pieces of photoframe which I'm selling at $1 per piece gives me a profit of $250. Sales Target for a start is to sell at least 1 product per weekend to hit 1K per month after talking out cost. Tough business to maintain but good for side business. Thus, marketing awareness of our existence to our market is very important.

Fifth. To touch a bit more on point four, a website is a must! In this 21st century era of e-commerce, not knowing how to do business on the web means an illiterate business enterprise.

Sixth. So what do we do now ? Buy items that couples would want to give to their guests as gifts ! Start the designing process of the catalogue and print it!

Seven. Where do we go from here? Only God knows . . .

Psychological benefits of playing squash (Extract from Psychology Today 1996)

Okay, so maybe playing squash falls short of being a scientifically proven psychotherapy But who can deny the emotional satisfaction that comes from smashing a small black ball as hard as humanly possible?

"It's great stress relief," says Ellie Pierce. And she should know: Pierce is currently the top-ranked female squash player in the United States.

What makes squash an ideal psychological vacation is that it's simply impossible to mull over the day's problems at the same time you're following the bouncing ball. "The game's so quick that there's no time to think about other things," notes Pierce.

And as an added challenge, you have to avoid colliding with your opponent as the two of you maneuver frantically around what is basically a 20-foot box. No wonder Pierce calls the sport "a combination of physical chess boxing, and ballet."

Given its reputation as a pastime of the elite - something to do between polo matches and yachting - it's ironic that squash was likely invented by the destitute denizens of a 19th century debtor's prison. But the sport is finally making inroads among average Americans, and the number of U.S. courts has increased fivefold in less than a decade.

In Europe. squash is even becoming something of a spectator sport. At the British Open, some 4,500 fans watched the championship match played in what was essentially a giant fishbowl: a court with four glass walls.

Pierce cites the following among squash's psychological rewards and advantages:

* Variety. With four walls to play off, the ball may never bounce the same way twice. That unpredictability keeps the game from growing stale. Says Pierce: "How many times can you do step aerobics, no matter how often they change the music?"

* Personal expression. Adjust your playing style to suit your mood or personality. Pierce: "If you want to make it boxing, you can be that physical. If you want to make it ballet, you can. It's up to your creative abilities."

* The ball always comes back. Hit a tennis ball off-kilter and it veers into the next court - or over the fence. The beauty of squash, says Pierce, is that no matter how hard you hit the ball, it comes to rest within a few feet of you.

IPPT Reloaded

When the day comes for me to go for my IPPT, butterflies always hit my stomach. Not sure why I have such reactions, maybe because its after all a "TEST". For the past few years, I able to maintain my level by passing with a incentive. I'm glad that I'm able to achieve that despite my progressive age. On the other hand, taking a physical fitness test every year helps me to assess my fitness level. The thought of failing and going back to camp for a retake just enforce my determination to pass. In a few hours time I'll be taking my IPPT for this year. I can't wait to hit the tracks !

Take business as a dance, Let's dance !

"When you reach an obstacle, turn it into an opportunity. You have the choice. You can overcome and be a winner, or you can allow it to overcome you and be a loser. The choice is yours and yours alone. Refuse to throw in the towel. Go that extra mile that failures refuse to travel. It is far better to be exhausted from success than to be rested from failure." - Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics

"The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It's as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today. The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer." - Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese's

Every new business venture is block by unlimited problems. It could be the lack of capital, viability of the product or service, suppliers' discounts, manufacturer defects, high operation cost, shortages of manpower and the list goes as long as the Amazon river. So what can an entrepreneur do to overcome this? And how can an entrepreneur kick start a profitable business successfully? Does success lies in the product? A new concept or a new services? Looking around us from supermarkets to malls, It could be anything under the sun. From selling a pen to providing a painting service. This enormousity and expulsion of goods & services makes it even harder to enterprise. With so much of factors to look into & risk to calculate, the odds to success is like the odds of winning a lottery. So why do it? Why go through the hassle of this physical and head-ache when following and working for others its a no brainier and a easier solution?

The way I see it, it's for a better quality of life for my family, loved ones and having the means to do what I'm passionate about with freedom. It is also a challenge for me to achieve & strive for something good in life. From there on, if the business is successful & profitable, it will begin its humanistic enterprise by giving back what it has reaped to the community and the needy.

The business challenge will keep me in "discomfort" metaphorically and urged me to continue innovating or face elimination in the globalize & competitive world. In this protective and comforting environment of my country, it is easy to be contended and a dogma follower. I don't wish that to happen to me. When I mean "discomfort" it does not mean physically, in another way of phrasing, it means - "Surviving the turbulence of the corporate world".

Therefore the five statements below will constitute to my plan.

1. No ideas is a bad idea.
2. Start small and expand later.
3. Always keep reality in check.
4. Keep an open mind.
5. Start doing it !

Business Idea humblebee.

a. Selling T-shirts
b. Giving free T-shirts
c. Importing merchandise from aboard

Our 1st anniversary

Our first anniversary was a beautiful and weather perfect day. Instead of going through complexicity, we decided to celebrate our anniversary in simple and unforgettable ways. Because of our savings plan, I request not to exchange gifts on this special day, but somehow I knew she got something for me, and its hidden somewhere. My naughty gerl " )

Boy was I surprised ! It was a handmade card with our pictures and poems written & specially design by her. It is the best gift I ever received in my life. It touches my heart for the efforts she put into. Most of her time after work were spend with me. To make the card in time, she had to sacrifice her dreaming time in dreamland. The card means a lot to me, and reminds me of how special she is to me. My most dear person beside my parents.

We spend the day by watching 2 Imax movie in Singapore Science Centre (I hope she is not bored by the movie cum documentry)and followed by a romantic dinner on a cable car, theme Skydine.

The experience was amazing and unforgettable. Now Mount Faber holds a speical memory in my heart that I will not forget.

It has been a wonderful journey since we started. With hurdles inbetween, I'm glad we are able to overcome as each one passes through our daily life. Thank you for being here with me and for me. Lets look forward to a good year full of happiness and joy. Till our next anniversary, Happy Anniversary NG ; )

Iter itineris penetralis Medius Humus - Equipment Checklist

After coming back from my travel, I realize that below are some of the essential items and upgrades I need for our next journey. It will be my first of many post to come and will be updated regularly till D-Day.

Equipment Checklist

1. Millet backpack 90L to 100L, cost, availability unknown ?
2. Binoculars - make and availability? Budget below $100.
3. Sleeping Bags - make and availability? Budget around $100+
4. Wind and water proof Jackets - Either Gortex or Millet. The jacket must keep me warm at the same time. Still surveying for other brands. Budget $200+
5. Walking shoe - Have to be water proof. Maybe Grotex? Budget $100+
6. Zip lockbags - Good ones that can be really air tight and compressed. Around $20
7. Headlight - instead of using a torchlight, I saw travellers using headlights because it makes your pair of hands free. The headlights can also be use as a torchlight. Below $10
8. Music player - Ipod, Creative, Samsung, iriver or brandless, it doesn't matter. As long as it can hold about 20gigs of song for the journey and its hardy. Budget between $150 - $200
9. Disk storage for photos - make, cost and availability? Budget between $150 - $200
10. Tent - Have to be wind, water and dust proof. Have to be small to fit into my backpack and easy to setup with miniumiun hassle. make, cost and availability unknown ?
11. Digital SLR camera - Nikon or Canon. Budget below $2K
12. Camera bag (optional) - Could also be my daypack, but the real use will be storing of my carmera with a seperate compartment for my misc things. I'm still unsure. Not yet make up my mind.
13. Foldable hangers - I pair. Below $20
14. Language translator - Casio? Still looking at other makes. Must have LCD lighting, to enable reading in the dark. Budget around $150 -$200
15. Hiking Sticks - make and availability? Below $50

Olympic Squash a dream ?

Squash is my favorite racquet sport. I love squash for its agility, speed, skills, fitness and tactics. My first exposure to squash was through my father. During his days, Squash was a national sport and passion. It was easy to spot squash courts around Singapore at that time. As I can recall, most of my dad's friends was in the Police squash club, thus my dad join for socializing and fitness. I believe he got hooked too. During the early 80's, Singapore was among the top 10 world contenders in Squash competitions. National players like Zainal Abidin, Peter Hill, Mah Li Lian inspire many singaporeans to take up the sports and play competitively in clubs. But surprisingly as time goes by, the popularity of tennis took over and squash took a hard fall till today. Gone are the days when Singapore was a force in Asian squash. I first took up a racquet seriously when I was in my first year of poly. It was during the poly orientation that I came upon the squash courts and knew immediately it was a game I wanted to learn. Without hesitating, I signed up as a beginner and already eager for my first lesson.

To my wonderful surprise, the coach of the team was actually Zainal! What a coincidence. A respectable coach and an ex-national player very well known in the Squash scene locally and regionally. The beginning was very tough, as I have to learn basics like not hitting the ball with a badminton stroke, half bending (like a squat position) to hit the ball and the worse of all, running and positioning in the court. After 3 years of going through the squash school of hard knocks, I can say that now I play decent squash games. I still loved a spar with other players that I never encounter before. The only problem is that it is difficult to find sparing partners to play and train with these days. Most of my kakis now have either lost interest in the sport (as squash requires skills and physical maintenance) or too busy with their work. That was the case for my dad. When he left the police force, there was no one he could play with, because not everybody can play the game, and he had to work to provide for the family.

By the time I catch up in time and could play decent games, his age was catching up too and had problems running in the court when I play with him. We have to stop because squash is a vigorous sports, and could easily cause cardiac problems in older people. Every now and then, we still play but less vigorously. We will stroke the ball around the court and fine tune our skills. In retrospect, he took up another exercise for compensation - walking. Everyday without fail, rain or shine, he will walk through the nature trail in MacRitchie Reservoir after work. A true fitness buff by heart. I salute him.

Recently, there was a summit in Singapore for the Olympic committee to choose the sports participating in the up coming Beijing Olympic 2008. Squash communities around the world wrote in and lobby for squash to be included in the 2008 Olympic games, but it was a lost cause due to the low amount of votes from the panels. I'm sure squash fan around the world was disappointed by the outcome.

During my final year in Poly, I was very fortunate to represent SP to play in the IVP. It was exhilarating and challenging. Till today, my hand will still itch, whenever I pass through the courts in Kallang, eager and ready for a challenger. I could still see Zainal there, teaching, training and mentoring the next generation of squash players. I sincerely hope that all this effort of grooming the sports and talents will not be wasted (Malaysia have successfully groom many players, over taking Singapore and a force to reckon with in the region). In the next few years to the Beijing Olympic and after, I'm crossing my fingers hard that squash would once again rise up in the sporting arena and relive its glorious days.

Pearl's Hill

Going back to Pearl's Hill last weekend really bring back the happy memories of my childhood. My dad was then a police constable at the Police HQ located along Eu Tong Sen street. My family stay at the police hostel which was at Pearl's Hill Terrace.

It was one of the best times I ever had when I was a kid. I remember playing with my neighbors at the old OG. At that time, OG was consider one of the best shopping malls around. Just ask any aunties today and they will vouch for it; I still vividly recall buying a pair of wooden swords from an old lady at the old rundown bridge that connects OG building to the opposite side of People's Park Centre. Strangely, it continues to linger in my memory to this day. I wonder why? Naturally, since I'm a Pearl Hillen, like many other kids I study at Pearl's Hill School. I believe it was the first primary school in Singapore to have a lift at that time that could fit an entire class. Till today it continues to amaze me. The lift was necessary because we have 12 storeys, quite high for primary school children. During those days, my dad will accompany me to school every morning and we will have to take the route passing through the forest. We saw squirrels running across our path, big lizards laying lazily on a tree branch, the accompany of cool fragrant fresh air swamp us from the surroundings and big old trees providing the shade from the sun. It was incredible and mesmerizing. Unknowingly, the experience have probably make me fall in love with nature and the creatures of the forest ever since. I suspect my father suffer the same fate.

I have lost contact with most of my primary school mates when I moved to Serangoon. I sometimes do wonder about them. When I visited my old school last weekend, it was rundown and vacant. I think it is now use as a hostel? (Maybe somebody can enlighten me on this?) Just by walking around Pearl's Hill I can recall post war ruins around the police hostel, eerie locations that still dwells in the era of Japanese occupation, days of my parents wearing bell bottom trousers and the original Chinatown before it was fully developed for tourist. Never did I thought my own country's history could be so fascinating. Thus, being curious and mystified about Pearl's Hill since I was a child, I have decided to find out more about the history of this unique hill right in the heart of Chinatown.

The history of Pearl's Hill

Pearl's Hill a.k.a. Mount Stamford hill, located in the Central Region of Singapore and at 56.4 ha, is the largest sub-zone of the Outram area. Initially the location of Chinese-owned spice plantations, the hill was first called Mount Stamford, after Sir Stamford Raffles. Institutional buildings located here have included the Seaman's Hospital, Tan Tock Seng's Pauper Hospital, and Pearl's Hill Prison a.k.a Outram Road Gaol or H. M. Prisons. Its current name is taken from Lieutenant James Pearl, Royal Navy owner and commander of the ship "Indiana" which brought Stamford Raffles to Singapore in 1819.

In the early days of Singapore, the yet unnamed hill was the location for spice plantations owned by the Chinese, some of whom must have occupied and settled here before the arrival of Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819. In May 1822, Lt. James Pearl, Captain and owner of the Indiana, began acquiring several plots on the hill from certain Chinese gambier planters until he owned the entire hill. His house was built on top of the hill and Chinese and Malay workmen cleared the slopes and grew pepper vines for him. He called his hill Mount Stamford as a compliment to Sir Stamford Raffles. Lt. Pearl's agents sold it back to the Government in 1828, for Rs 10,000 (Indian Rupees), after he had retired to Europe, but the name Pearl's Hill continued to be used. Before that, some of the soil from this hill was used to fill the mudflats of Commercial Square in 1825, with the help of the first batch of convict labourers transported to Singapore. Government Surveyor, John Turnbull Thomson, in the mid-1850s estimated that Pearl's Hill was 170 ft high.

When Fort Canning was completed in 1861, it was discovered that the height of Pearl's Hill was higher, and stood in the trajectory of the guns mounted at Fort Canning. To correct this, a military engineer simply cut off the top of Pearl's Hill. In 1889, the Municipality took over Pearl's Hill.

The first Tan Tock Seng Hospital

The first Tan Tock Seng Hospital, the fourth Pauper's Hospital established in Singapore, had its foundation stone laid on 25 July 1844 in the presence of Resident Councillor, Thomas Church. It was not used until 1849. By 1854, the building had extensions for the Hospital Surgery or Apothecary's House, designed by John Turnbull Thomson, the architect of the original Tan Tock Seng Hospital building. In 1857, the Government acquired the building, and in 1860, the hospital moved to Balestier Plain. The Seaman's Hospital was completed in 1845, also designed and built by John Turnbull Thomson. Both hospitals of classical designs with imposing facades of columns rising the height of the buildings, were erected side by side at the base of the hill. In 1857, after the Indian Mutiny, the colonial government took over the buildings and Pearl's Hill. For military purposes the hospitals were transferred to other locations.

Apart from spice plantations on the hill, sago factories were situated on the flat ground near the base of Pearl's Hill. The first factories were small rough sheds, processing raw material imported mainly from Sumatra. In 1849, there were fifteen Chinese and two European sago factories in Singapore. There was much money to be made from this trade, so many sago factories became permanent brick structures, employing twenty to thirty men. The processed sago was exported to Europe or India and commanded a high price.

At the foot of the hill, on Eu Tong Sen Street, was an open public park. It later became the People's or Pearl's Market with outdoor stalls. Unfortunately it was destroyed by fire in 1966. The People's Park Complex stands on this site today. Pearl's Hill Reservoir, then known as a 'High Service Reservoir', built in 1898 and completed in 1904, with a water storage capacity of 6 million gallons, is still the main source of fresh water supply to Chinatown today. In the recent past, the Police Operational Headquarters was located at Pearl's Hill Terrace. This had also housed the Operations Command, Radio Division, Criminal Investigation Department, Public Affairs, and Police National Service Headquarters. For a while the Ministry of Interior and Defence (today's Ministry of Defence) was located here, after Singapore became a Republic in 1965. The Central Narcotics Bureau have their own building behind Pearl's Centre on Eu Tong Sen Street.

Bank Apartments

build by Archurban Architects Planners


Completed in 1976, the impressive and imposing Pearl Bank Apartments may have been the tallest residential building in Singapore and possibly Southeast Asia. The 38-storey hollow, horse shoe shaped, 3/4 cylindrical tower has the largest density for a private residential development. The 272-unit apartment block comprises three types of split-level units. Each unit is further zoned into "public" and "private" areas to offer maximum exclusivity and views to the occupants. The opening in the circular structure faces west and minimises direct penetration of heat and light from the afternoon sun into the building. Located in Pearl's Hill Road, this is the first all-housing project in the Urban Renewal Department of the Housing and Development Board's (HDB) 'Sale of Sites' programme, carried out in 1969. Pearl Bank Apartments is one of the pioneers of high-rise, high-density living in Singapore, and continues to act as a landmark in the Outram area.

Pearl's Hill Primary School

Formerly known as the Singapore Chinese Branch School, it was established in 1876 at Cross Street. Pearl's Hill Primary School was among the pioneer batch of Government Schools set up by the colonial government.

The PHPS role in early 1906

Outram School functioned as a Primary School. Acting as feeder school, Pearl's Hill Standard One proceeded to Standard Two at Outram. Likewise, Outram was the feeder school to Raffles Institution. The working arrangement between Pearl's Hill School and Outram School continued up to January 1953 whereas the working agreement between Outram and Raffles Institution ceased with the fall of Singapore in February 1942. After the war, Outram boys competed with other Government Primary School pupils in securing places in Government Secondary Schools. PHPS ceased operations at its Pearl's Hill site on 31 Dec 2001.

Pearl's Hill surrounding buildings

On the Chin Swee Road foot of Pearl's Hill, are Pearl's Hill School, Landmark Tower, San Centre and Manhattan House. In the midst of all this, on top of the hill, stands 8.4 ha Pearl's Hill City Park, the 'green lung' of the area. Pearl's Hill is today part of Outram Estate.

My first post

Starting this blog was something completely new and exciting for me. Eversince I came back from Tibet, techonlogy seems to be like a complete stranger passing by. The main reason why I decided to write this blog, is to let my gerl and love ones in understanding me better of who I really am. I sincerely hope that my posting will help them in some way discover my unique personality and the passions I had in life. In additional, all posting are personal with my thoughts, feelings and ideas on certain subject matters. In return for a up-close personal blog written to me from my gerl, this blog is dedicate to her in return for her efforts and love she had put into. There you go dearie, it is for you " ) . . . . . . . .