Best friends are a source of constant support in our lives. Be it sharing secrets, advices, planning the future or just killing time doing nothing – every moment spent with them is a memory to be cherished forever. People hear what we say. Friends will listen to what we say. But best friends will not only listen to what we say, they will listen to what we are trying to say, but can’t. Best friends are people who understand us a bit more than we understand ourselves.
It always feels great to have our best friends around since they make life worthwhile just by being a part of it. But a best friend isn’t someone who’s just always there for us. They’re someone who make our problems their problems just so we don’t have to go through them alone.
If good friends are hard to come by, finding that one best friend, or best friends is even harder. So, cherish your best friends and let them know how special they are.
That was the thing about best friends. Like sisters and mothers, they could piss you off and make you cry and break your heart, but in the end, when the chips were down, they were there, making you laugh even in your darkest hours. - Kristin Hannah
A best friend is like a four-leaf clover; hard to find, lucky to have. - Unknown
Best friend, my well-spring in the wilderness! - George Eliot
When it hurts to look back, and you are scared to look ahead, you can look beside you and your best friend will be there. - Unknown
My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me. - Henry Ford
Life is an awful, ugly place to not have a best friend. - Sarah Dessen
Things are never quite as scary when you’ve got a best friend. - Bill Watterson
A man is only complete when he has a best friend to understand him; to share all his passions and sorrows with and to stand by him throughout his life. - Unknown
My best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time. - Unknown
Employ your time well. Live not as though there were a thousand years ahead of you. Begin, at once, to live while you are still healthy and have all your faculties intact.
We live, a brief moment in time; like the passing cloud, here one moment, gone the next. We do not know what tomorrow will bring, and the only time we really have is right now. Enjoy your life before it is too late.
Gardens by the Bay is a nature park spanning 101 hectares (250 acres) of reclaimed land in the Central region of Singapore. It is part of the nation’s plans to transform its “Garden City” to a “City in a Garden”, with the aim of raising the quality of life by enhancing greenery and flora in the city. It was intended to be Singapore’s premier urban outdoor recreation space, and a national icon. As such it is the most popular tourist attraction in Singapore. The garden is really impressive. Words will not be enough to describe the awe you experience when you visit the gardens. You have to visit it to understand why the place is so popular.
Dragonfly Lake and Kingfisher Lake
Beyond their beauty, the lakes are teeming with aquatic life. Reed beds are planted along the lakes to act as natural filters, ensuring better water quality. The plants along the lakes also provide a habitat for wildlife such as birds, dragonflies and damselflies.
On festive occasions, there are installations in the lake.
Supertrees
One of the iconic features of the Gardens that you should not miss is the unique towering structures known as ‘Supertrees’. They are an example of vertical gardening. They are home to enclaves of unique and exotic ferns, vines, orchids and also a vast collection of airplants, and perennial flowering plants.
Solar panels are fixed to the top of some of the Supertrees, capturing solar energy that is converted to electricity that supplements the energy required to light up the Supertrees at night.
They are fitted with environmental technologies that mimic the ecological function of trees: Photovoltaic cells that harness solar energy which can be used for some of the functions of the Supertrees (such as lighting), similar to how trees photosynthesize, and collection of rainwater for use in irrigation and fountain displays, similar to how trees absorb rainwater for growth. The Supertrees also serve air intake and exhaust functions as part of the conservatories' cooling systems. - Wikipedia
It's early evening and the lights are coming on.
What the trees look like in the evening.
There is an elevated walkway, the OCBC Skyway, between two of the larger Supertrees for visitors to enjoy a panoramic aerial view of the Gardens. Every night, at 7:45pm and 8:45pm, the Supertree Grove comes alive with a coordinated light and music show known as the Garden Rhapsody. - Wikipedia
Flower Dome
The Flower Dome is an awe-inspiring part of Gardens by the Bay. Covering 1.2 hectares, it is the largest ‘greenhouse’ in the world as listed in the 2015 Guinness Book of World Records. It features a changing display of nine gardens that exhibit exotic flowers and plants from the Mediterranean and semi-arid regions from five different continents.
The spectacular display of beautiful flowers and plants sourced from different regions makes for a unique experience. Every couple of months, part of the dome undergoes a change of theme, making it worth a visit every couple of months.
A section of the Flower Dome. Exhibits in this section changes quarterly.
Some installations in the Dome.
The Cloud Forest
The Cloud Forest replicates the cool moist conditions found in tropical mountain regions. It features a 42-metre (138 ft) "Cloud Mountain", accessible by an elevator, and visitors will be able to descend the mountain via a circular path where a 35-metre (115 ft) waterfall provides visitors with refreshing cool air.
The "Cloud Mountain" itself is an intricate structure completely clad in epiphytes such as orchids, ferns, peacock ferns, spike - and a vast collection of perennial flowering plants.
Floral Fantasy
This is quite new and I haven't been to have a look yet. But apparently, this indoor conservatory delves into realms of both history and fantasy. Each of its four distinct zones taking inspiration from fairy tales and the storied Hanging Gardens of Babylon, with cavernous spaces, dramatic driftwood sculptures and works of floral.
Round off your visit to Gardens by the Bay with an unforgettable sunset at Bay East Garden. The lush open lawns and beautiful waterfront will give you an unobscured view of Singapore’s skyline.
Entry to the Gardens by the bay is free. But for the conversatories, and some of the other attractions you need to pay an entrance fee. You can check their website for deals before visiting. If you don’t like to pay, the Gardens by the Bay is still worth a visit. Remember, it is 101 hectares in total. There is plenty to see.
If you are into gardens and photography, be prepared to spend an entire day, or two at the Gardens. You will understand why it is the most popular attraction in Singapore.
Laughter translates into any language and is contagious. I am sure you have smiled involuntarily after seeing people laugh, or you feel more relaxed when you see people laughing. So, laugh, your laughter might be the only ray of sunshine some people see for the day.
Have a great weekend. May it be filled with laughter.
Alcohol removes inhibitions – like that scared little mouse who got drunk and shook his whiskers and shouted: “Now bring on that damn cat!” - Eleanor Early
Sometimes, I lie awake at night, and ask, ‘Where have I gone wrong?’ Then a voice says to me, ‘This is going to take more than one night. - Charles M. Schulz
A foolish man tells a woman to stop talking, but a wise man tells her that her mouth is extremely beautiful when her lips are closed. - Unknown
Some people claim that marriage interferes with romance. There’s no doubt about it. Anytime you have a romance, your wife is bound to interfere. - Groucho Marx
At my age I do what Mark Twain did. I get my daily paper, look at the obituaries page and if I'm not there I carry on as usual. - Patrick Moore
I was born at home on newspapers ... I still have a story on my butt, although now the print is much larger. - Phyllis Diller
Save a boyfriend for a rainy day – and another, in case it doesn’t rain. - Mae West
The Post Office just recalled their newest stamps: They had a picture of lawyers on them ... and people couldn't figure out which side to spit on. - Marvin Lebman
At the cocktail party, one woman said to another, “Aren’t you wearing your wedding ring on the wrong finger?” The other replied, “Yes, I am, I married the wrong man.”
Feeling cold? Stand in the corner for a bit. They’re usually 90 degrees. - Unknown
Once I pulled a job, I was so stupid. I picked a guy’s pocket on an airplane and made a run for it. - Rodney Dangerfield
I want to get the words “Courage” and “Bravery” tattooed across my back, so people could associate me with those things as they read them while they chase me. - Jarod Kintz
Our lives might not have come with a manual, or an instruction booklet to tell us what to do, or how to live our lives. But if we are willing to listen to our elders, to learn from the sages, and wise men before us, we will be able to get a pretty good start on life, avoiding all the portholes that are dotted along life’s journey.
The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism. - Norman Vincent Peale
When the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, it may be that they take better care of it there. - Cecil Selig
Everything of importance has been said before by somebody who did not discover it. - Alfred Whitehead
The truly innocent are those who not only are guiltless themselves, but who think others are. - Josh Billings
A man’s felicity consists not in the outward and visible blessing of fortune, but in the inward and unseen perfections and riches of the mind. - Thomas Carlyle
There are many paths to the top of the mountain, but the view is always the same. - Confucius
We need not worry so much about what man descends from – it’s what he descends to that shames the human race. - Hal Boyle
You can‘t have an omelet without breaking the egg. - Unknown
We need society, and we need solitude also, as we need summer and winter, day and night, exercise and rest. - Philip Gilbert Hamerton
Brevity is a great charm of eloquence. - Marcus Tullius Cicero
There are many sides to almost every story – you can never get the full picture from just one party to the problem. - Unknown
Everything is worth what its purchaser will pay for it. - Publilius Syrus
My friend and I were out wandering when we chanced upon this place called Bristo @ Duo. Their menu looks interesting, so we thought we would give it a try.
Bristo @ Duo offers Western cuisine serving a tantalising selection of dishes. The restaurant is quite big and therefore suitable for family, or large groups. They also accept corporate bookings.
We tried the...
Kurobuta Pork Sampler - it is marinated and grilled pork. This was very nice. I enjoyed it very much.
Nachos Con Carne - Nachos topped with minced chicken, melted mozzarella cheese, jalapeno and homemade salsa on the side.
Crispy chicken with sour cream and chives.
The restaurant also has a pool table, and karaoke services.
And it's Happy Hour all day!
For a restaurant in a place like 'Duo', I guess their prices are reasonable. DUO is a two-tower project which contains a residential part (DUO Residences), and offices (DUO Tower). It is a very upmarket project in a upmarket part of town.
Little India Station. You come out of the train station, and you are in Little India.
Little India is a buzzing ethnic district and historic area that shows off the best of Singapore’s Indian community, from vibrant culture to incredible shopping.
Little India starts at the Tekka Centre, a traditional wet market and food court where fresh meat, seafood, vegetables, fruits and dry goods are sold.
Cruising down the road one finds more groceries, restaurants, teahouses, tailors... and then there is Mustafa Centre, a massive 24-hour shopping mall that offers almost anything and everything.
In the early days, Little India had a racecourse, cattle herders and brick kilns. But while these places and people are gone, time stands still in pockets of this historic district. In the 1840s, Europeans lived here mainly for the racecourse, where they met and mingled. That is why there is a Racecourse Road.
When cattle trading took root, it became a mostly Indian trade, as traders hired Indian migrant workers. Certain goods and services took off, and mosques and Hindu temples were built.
The central streets of Little India are packed with stalls selling all sorts of Indian goods. Olden-day trades sit next to newer businesses: flower-garland vendors, goldsmith shops, sari stores, and modern eateries.
When it comes to food, the thing to eat in Little India is obviously Indian food. Both southern and northern cuisines are well represented. I didn’t realize there are many vegetarian restaurants.
There are also many backpacker hostels, as well as some of the most affordable hotels in town. There are also many boutique hotels.
Little India today is one of Singapore’s most vibrant districts. It has a colourful past, and a buzzing culture. As you wander along you will find a mix of Hindu and Chinese temples, mosques and churches. With its close proximity to the city and a bohemian vibe, many artists also call Little India home.
Yesterday is past. It is over, finished. You cannot go back. But you can put what you learned yesterday to good use today. You can make your life from this point on, the best that it can be. Let go of yesterday, because it has let go of you.
Tomorrow is not here yet. Who knows if there is a tomorrow. Will the world, or rather, your world end tonight while you sleep? Nobody knows anything about tomorrow, because tomorrow is yet to come. So, don’t worry about something you have no control over, something which you don’t even know will happen. Save tomorrow's troubles for tomorrow. You can deal with it when it comes. Today, we enjoy. Tomorrow will be a new day.
All you have is today. Today is all there is. Today is a new day with new possibilities – more possibilities than any day that you’ve ever known in the past. Today is your opportunity, here and now, real and ready. You are in the right spot, at the right time, to make a real, positive difference in your life, and in the world around you. Today is when you make your mark. Make it the best day ever!
Never let yesterday use up too much of today. What happens today is up to you. Today, you make your tomorrow.
Tomorrows come unnoticed. Todays slip by unheeded. More and more you become a creature of Yesterdays. - Frank Crane
Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose. - Lyndon B. Johnson
You cannot rewrite yesterday’s news, but you can create tomorrow’s headline. - Unknown
Our achievements of today are but the sum total of our thoughts of yesterday. - Blaise Pascal
Today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness. - Kalidasa
Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. - Unknown
Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day. - Samuel Butler
The man least dependent upon the morrow goes to meet the morrow most cheerfully. - Epicurus
The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith. - Franklin Roosevelt
You can’t have a better tomorrow if you are thinking about yesterday all the time. - Charles F. Kettering
