Olive-backed Sunbird

Three sunbird species are said to be common here. They are the Olive-backed (which is the commonest species of sunbird in Singapore), the Crimson (the island’s national bird), and the Brown-throated (the largest of the three and also known as Plain-throated).

The sunbirds are a group of very small birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding their young. Their flight is fast and direct on their short wings.

Click on the above photo for high-res image This is a female Olive-backed Sunbird. I was lucky that she perched there long enough for me to get a close-up shot. And she's got some nectar at the tip of her beak.
This bird is also known as Yellow-bellied Sunbird, 
and its scientific name is Cinnyris jugularis (formerly Nectarinia jugularis). 
The Olive-backed Sunbirds in this blog were spotted at Sengkang Riverside.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageIt is really interesting to watch these little sunbirds visiting flowering plants to drink the nectar and forage for insects - they are a real jewel in a concrete jungle.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageA female Olive-backed seen sipping nectar from the flowers of the Water Canna plant (Thalia geniculata).

Click on the above photo for high-res image Most species can take nectar by hovering, but usually perch to feed most of the time.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageOlive-backed Sunbirds are fun to watch whilst feeding.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageThe non-native Water Canna is a favourite of the Sunbirds at Sengkang Riverside.

The forgotten Railway Line.

How many of you do remember the old Jurong railway line? This line was actually part of what was called the Bukit Timah Siding. It was on 11 November 1965, when a six mile-long extension line was added to the Singapore main line branching out from the Bukit Timah railway station to Jurong Port via Clementi, Ulu Pandan and Teban Gardens. This railway extension was intended for goods transportation as Jurong lacked good roads during that time. Unfortunately, it failed to generate satisfactory traffic and was consequently closed in the early 1990s. Parts of the railway had since been partially dismantled.
It has been roughly 20 years since the line's closure but most of it are still around. Old rail bridges, tunnels, crossing arms, tracks, and even railway signs are still out there albeit some are becoming obscured due to overgrown thick vegetation. I have managed to take some pictures of them for posterity.

A bird's eye view of the railway bridge over Sungei Ulu Pandan.Click on the above photo for high-res image

Click on the above photo for high-res imageAt a quick glance, the railway crossing that spans Sungei Ulu Pandan has an uncanny resemblance to the bridge in the 1957 movie, “Bridge On The River Kwai”. Close your eyes, and maybe you can hear the sound of POWs marching and whistling to the “Colonel Bogey” tune.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageThe view of the railway track just before crossing the bridge. Below it flows the Sungei Ulu Pandan.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageThis photo shows the remnants of the railway track that runs over the now disused bridge.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageThe railway crossing over Sunset Way.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageRemnants of the railway track at Sunset Way now covered with thick vegetation.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageI have no idea what this is. Found it on one of the concrete piers supporting the railway bridge spanning the Sungei Ulu Pandan. Does anyone have any clue?

Bukit Timah Railway Station

History has forgotten about Bukit Timah railway station. Constructed between 1900 and 1902, it was opened in 1915 as part of the Singapore-Kranji Railway.
Today, Bukit Timah Railway Station is just a passing loop railway station used for train crossings and there are no longer boarding/alighting of passengers or collection of cargo.

Click on the above photo for high-res image Directional sign pointing the way to the Railway Station, in case you forgot to bring along your GPS.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageJust to remind you that you are standing on KTMB property.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageThe signbnoard tells passengers that they have reached Bukit Timah. For south bound trains, the next station is "Singapura" (Tanjong Pagar). North bound would be Woodlands.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageThe Bukit Timah Railway Station was once a place where trains used to stop for passengers to board or alight. After the Malaysian Immigration decided to move to Tanjong Pagar station, the Bukit Timah station now serves as an interchange for trains that are meant to cross with each other. Besides this function, it also carries out an interesting daily routine which is the exchange of "key tokens", a traffic management system to prevent collisions on single-track lines.
There are three lines at the station. The first, nearest to the station platform is the mainline. The middle line is called the loop line and is used to keep a train waiting for a crossing. Crossing means two trains crosses with each other at the station. One of the trains will proceed into the loop line and wait till the train occupying the main line is cleared. The last line is for emergency purposes such as to keep defective wagons or to unload cargo.

Click on the above photo for high-res image(KTMB) Trolley P0206 passing by Bukit Timah Railway Station

Click on the above photo for high-res imageA south bound train slows down for the "key token" passing ritual as it approaches Bukit Timah Station. The engine driver would place the "key token" on to a pole for the Station Master to pick it up. In return, he will be given a new "key token" before proceeding to the next station.
Gaining the "key token" signifies permission to proceed, based on security and traffic conditions.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageHaving collected the "key token", the Station Master returns to his office.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageA railroad switch.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageThe truss bridge across Bukit Timah Road

Click on the above photo for high-res image

Click on the above photo for high-res image

Click on the above photo for high-res image

Click on the above photo for high-res imageIn Singapore, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) operates the narrow "metre gauge" tracks (1000mm).

Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) Tanjong Pagar Railway Station to close by July 2011.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageThe Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) railway station currently in operation at Tanjong Pagar will be relocated to the Woodlands Train Checkpoint by 1st July, 2011. Designed by D.S. Petrovich of Finland, it was built by Swan & McLaren in 1932.
We have only a few months left to take photos of the KTM Stesen area before having to bid farewell to another old friend.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageThis picture shows the train stopper. Singapore has KTM's only hydraulic buffer stops made by Ransomes & Rapier.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageThis is the termination point for both "Arrival" and "Departure" platforms. On the right is the "Arrival" platform.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageThe Railway Yard.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageHigh up on a wall in the lobby are the antiquated initials for the Federated Malay States Railway, (the original operator) and the FMSR's crests.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageThe ticketing booth at KTM Tanjong Pagar

Click on the above photo for high-res imageThe Eastern & Oriental Express (E&O) is a luxury tourist train for holiday and sightseeing trips. It plies the route between Singapore and Thailand and is operated by the legendary Venice Simplon Orient-Express Limited.

Click on the above photo for high-res image

Click on the above photo for high-res imageThe Malayan Railways Limited (KTMB) Auxiliary Police
Click on the above photo for high-res image

Click on the above photo for high-res imageThe entrance to Tanjong Pagar Railway Station with the four pillars of Malaya's economy, Agriculture, Commerce, Transport and Industry.

The Tigers in HortPark

These photos of the Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus chrysippus) were taken at the HortPark this morning. Outside Asia, this butterfly is also known as the African Monarch. It belongs to the Danainae (“Milkweed butterflies”) subfamily of the brush-footed butterfly family, Nymphalidae.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageThe Plain Tiger is rather local in Singapore, where it generally stays within the vicinity of its caterpillar host plants, Asclepias curassavica or Calotropis gigantea both of which are not commonly cultivated in Singapore.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageThe butterfly has a rich fulvous orange forewings with a broad black apical border bearing a series of white spots. It occurs in two forms - form chrysippus which has orange hindwings, and form alcippoides which has white hindwings. Males can be distinguished by an additional brand on the hindwing.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageSingapore is host to both forms of the Plain Tiger with the white-hindwinged form-alcippoides being the more common of the two forms. The species is distasteful to birds.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageA male Plain Tiger attracted to the developing fruits of the Heliotropium indicum, commonly known as Indian heliotrope.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageThe male Plain Tigers are irresistibly attracted to the Heliotropium indicum.

Do you remember AKC "REGAL" Cinema ?

Click on the above photo for high-res imageIt's hard to imagine that this building at Gillman Village was once a cinema in the 1950s. Yes, you are looking at the former REGAL Cinema. If you look closely, you can still see the AKC (Army Kinema Corporation) logo proudly displayed on the wall.
After the Second World War, the British War Office in London established the Army Kinema Corporation (AKC) and set up cinemas for the entertainment of their soldiers stationed in the various army bases around the world. The REGAL Cinema at the former Gillman Barracks was just one of them. Today this building has been converted into an eatery.
In 1965, The Royal Air Force Cinema Corporation merged with The Army Kinema Corporation (A.K.C). and formed The Services Kinema Corporation (S.K.C.)

Chinatown celebrates Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is a major highlight on Singapore’s cultural calendar. In the Chinese lunar calendar, each year is represented by one of twelve animals from the Chinese zodiac. This year, Chinese New Year falls on February 14 and will usher in the Tiger.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageWelcome to the Year of the Tiger! Here are some pics taken from Singapore Chinatown just before Chinese New Year. These cute Tigers are just located at Chinatown Point.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageRows of lap cheong (Chinese dried sausages) and waxed ducks in Chinatown. Basically, there are 2 types of lap cheong. One is what you normally see - red and made purely out of pork. The other is darker in colour which is made out of liver, usually duck liver.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageWaxed delicacies still remain a must-have food item for the upcoming Chinese New Year. Waxed duck or lap ngap in Cantonese, is made by preserving a flattened, deboned bird in salt, spices and fat.
Extremely salty and leathery in texture, the duck is cut into bite-size pieces, steamed and eaten with rice congee or porridge.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageCookies for Chinese New Year selling for five jars for $6. Come Chinese New Year's Eve, the price will be slashed to about fifty cents per jar.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageGroundnuts and melon seeds in different flavours. . .Groundnut is one of the popular or hot items during Chinese New Year. It symbolises longevity. The word 生 in 花生 (groundnuts in Chinese language) means life. Eating melon seeds suggest proliferation of offspring. Chinese like to play with words and symbols.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageLim Chee Guan is the most popular bak kwa (barbecued dried pork) shop in Singapore. During the run up to Chinese New Year, be prepared to queue for long hours.

Farewell to the Aussie Pig at the Singapore Airshow 2010.

In Australian military and aviation circles, the F-111 Aardvark is affectionately known as the "Pig", due to its "Terrain Following" ability,
Singapore was privileged that the RAAF’s F-111C commemorated its last flight at the Singapore Airshow 2010 before flying into the sunset. The F-111C lighted up the skies above Changi Exhibition Centre (CEC), when it performed the trail-blazing “Dump and Burn” fuel dump, a procedure where the fuel is intentionally ignited using the aircraft's afterburner. This was awesome !



Click on the above photo for high-res imageThe RAAF is the sole remaining operator of the F-111C Aardvark strike aircraft. This Aardvark is from No 6 Squadron and flew in from RAAF Base Amberley, outside Ipswich, Queensland.
I am glad I had the chance to bid farewell to A8-138.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageClose-up view of the F-111C twin-engine swing-wing aircraft. It can take off and land at relatively low speeds with the wings swept forward, then fly at more than twice the speed of sound with its wings tucked back. It can fly close to the ground at supersonic speeds, following the terrain to avoid detection.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageYou are looking at the business office of the Aardvark.

Click on the above photo for high-res imageThis is the hot end of the F-111C. Note the Aardvark's fuel vent (between the two exhaust nozzles).
More pictures taken at the Airshow can be viewed HERE.