Friday 23 November 2007

Tropical paradise

We stuffed ourselves with delicious food and dessert at the international buffet spread at Carlton Hotel's Café Vic last night. It's our excuse to carbo-load for the half marathon next weekend. After the heavy dinner, we took a walk around the city which was ablazed with glittering lights and a kaleidoscope of colours from the Christmas Light-up. The old and new buildings were bathed in warm orange lights.

Wow, Singapore has transformed into a tropical paradise...
At 119 years old, the National Museum of Singapore is Singapore's biggest and oldest museum.

Designed in Neo-Palladian and Renaissance style, it consists of two rectangular parallel blocks, with a dome at the front of the building. It's a sight to behold in the night!


Singapore's newest university, the Singapore Management University, is located in the heart of our historic area in the Bras Basah Park district. The new state-of-the-art 4.5 hectare campus makes a striking impression in the city.

Another view of the SMU. Looking at the beautiful campus makes me want to study again!

It's impossible to miss this huge ball sculpture outside the imposing Singapore Art Museum (SAM). Housed in a restored 19th-century old St Joseph's Institution (SJI) building , the museum owns the largest public collection of over 7,500 20th century Singapore and Southeast Asian artworks in the world.

Another view of the museum on this full moon night.

Cats are drawn to C.H like a magnet wherever he goes.

Wesley Methodist Church is the oldest Methodist church with an English-speaking congregation in Singapore. The architecture of the Church features a broad triangular top borne by noble pillars. It is 'toned down, Gothic Revival' with red bricks, Gothic tracery mullion details in white stone or stucco with impressive wooden cross beams.

Where is Wally?

Now in its 22nd year, the Christmas Light-Up is a glittering tradition. The theme this year is “A Fairytale Christmas”. The streets in the city are transformed into a bewitching Crystal Forest decked with chandeliers, magic harps, glittering jewels, dazzling lights in red, gold and white, and even a magical carousel.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

those photos make me wanna go back to SQ!

WaterLearner said...

I had only taken the hi-tea buffet at Carlton once. I found it quite ok. What kind of diet is good for runners? Actually I am not very sure how I should be eating to optimize my performance (for a fact that I am a vegetarian, I think I might have to pay more attention).

Also, how fast do you run regularly to build up stamina and speed and at the same time not strain yourself too much?

Amel said...

I LOVE cats!!! ;-D

FABULOUS pics!!! I agree with Jyankee. The pics make me wanna visit Singapore again. Well, I've always wanted to go back...now I have a stronger reason to go back: to meet my blogging friends there HE HE HE HE HE HE HE HE HE HE...;-D

GOOD LUCK at the marathon!!!

SOUL said...

very cool pics- - and architecture....
and food!

Blur Ting said...

Haha, I should plan a big party for all the blogger buddies to meet in Singapore!

Water - The buffet at Vic's Cafe is sponsored by our friend who held his wedding there recently. He received some vouchers from Carlton. I'm not much of a meat eater myself but I thoroughly enjoyed the cakes. You would too.

Actually we've never paid any special attention to our diet in preparation for the runs. That's becos we've always done the 10k. Ever since we signed up for 21k, we've been hearing alot about carbo loading. For the full-marathoners, they start carbo loading a week before the run, eating more pasta and starchy food. They also start hydrating the day before the run, following a guide on how much to drink hours before the run, during the run and after.

For a vegetarian, do you drink milk? If not, you've got to eat more soy products, beans and buts. Dried fruit wll priovide you with lots of energy. I always eat banana for energy. I find it's the most convenient food.

The best speed is one that allows you to breathe and talk comfortably while running. On the treadmill, I find that the most comfy pace is when I set to 8. For long runs, we're advised to start slowly. If you run too fast at the start, you'll burn out quickly.

Unknown said...

awesome nighttime shots! I don't think my little camera can do that...time to write Santa a letter ^_^

Blur Ting said...

Actually the night shots were taken using CH's Fuji camera. He chose this camera for its ability to take great night shots without flash.

My camera can't even come close! WHen you write to Santa, please ask him to send me one too :-)

WaterLearner said...

If you plan a party, I would sure be happy to turn up!

Anyway, I do take eggs and drink milk although I am a vegetarian. I find that I don't usually have much appetite after my work out or running. And I usually take very light meals before I exercise also.

When you train on the threadmill do you run at constant speed? I suspected that I would have to slow down to be able to cover greater distance. At this moment, I alway cover about 8 to 9km at a speed of 9 to 9.5. I do realize that this speed would burn me out before I stretch the distance lor

Blur Ting said...

Karen - Maybe I'll start with a party for our local bloggers first!

I am actually a small eater. On most days, I eat 2 bananas + a cup of coffee for b'fast, a banana or cup of oats for lunch, Meiji cracker + coffee at 3pm and then simple home cooked dinner. I don't snack in between. Still I am quite big built!

When I first started running on the treadmill, I used to set at 10. No wonder my timing in the previous Standchart runs (2 yrs ago) was better. Nowadays I usually set at 8-8.5 and my timing had worsened (by 5 minutes).

Your stamina looks really good. In a real race, you'll always do better than on normal days. I don't think you'll have any problems running at that speed for 10k. However, for 21k, you may need to go abit slower in the beginning cos your legs can get really tired after 10k. That's when stamina comes in. I tend to pick up speed after the 10k mark cos the legs go into auto mode.

Somehow running in a race or group/clinic makes you inspired to do better. You should try it sometime soon.

The World According To Me said...

I love the pictures, especially the fairy tale Christmas one!

My camera can't do night time shots very well either! I am impressed at these pics.

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