Sensoryscape at Sentosa

During this trip to Singapore, we revisited Sentosa Island, this time specifically to explore its newest attraction - the Sentosa Sensoryscape. This immersive experience now occupies the site where the iconic 37m-tall Merlion statue once stood. The Merlion, a beloved symbol unveiled in 1995, was officially closed and dismantled in October 2019 to pave the way for this redevelopment.

The removal of the Merlion statue stirred a wave of nostalgia and disappointment among both Singaporeans and tourists. Many questioned the rationale behind eliminating such a well-recognized landmark that had become synonymous with Sentosa’s identity. However, others viewed the change as a bold and necessary step toward revitalizing the island, embracing progress, and keeping pace with evolving tourism trends. The Sentosa Sensoryscape, with its focus on multisensory experiences and nature-inspired design, represents this new chapter - an effort to blend innovation with immersive storytelling for future generations of visitors.

It was truly a pleasant experience to stroll through the thoughtfully designed landscape and beautifully curated man-made forest, all conveniently located within walking distance from the nearest public transport station. The harmonious blend of nature, art, and architecture creates a refreshing escape from the city’s bustle.

I believe the Sentosa Sensoryscape definitely warrants a second visit - this time after sunset. As night falls, the entire space transforms with captivating light displays that bring the landscape to life, enhanced by a symphony of ambient music. The nighttime atmosphere promises a more magical and immersive experience, offering a different perspective of this innovative attraction.

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An afterthought following my visit to the Sentosa Sensoryscape - Sabah is incredibly blessed with vast natural resources, sprawling virgin forests, rich biodiversity, and some of the most breathtaking landscapes in Southeast Asia. Yet, it has not fully harnessed this natural wealth, especially when compared to an island city-state like Singapore. Ironically, thousands of tourists travel to Singapore each year to visit its man-made forests and wildlife habitats - ingeniously crafted urban ecosystems that have become global attractions.

The key difference likely lies in Singapore’s world-class infrastructure, which is designed to attract and accommodate large numbers of high-end tourists. Its urban attractions are not only accessible but also seamlessly integrated into a well-connected transport network. More importantly, Singapore excels at branding itself and executing global marketing campaigns with precision - even with relatively limited natural assets.

Sabah, on the other hand, can take pride in possessing what Singapore does not - authentic, untouched natural beauty. What it lacks in infrastructure and promotion, it more than makes up for in raw ecological richness. If Sabah were to invest strategically in sustainable tourism, improve accessibility, and build a globally recognizable brand, it has the potential to become a world-class destination - without the need for artificial attractions. But, that may not be in my lifetime!

A Peep at Singapore Work Places

Finally, I had the opportunity to visit the workplace of both Paul and Sam. One striking difference compared to my own office was the open-concept layout, where even senior management sat side by side with other team members. The workspace felt modern and uncluttered - noticeably absent were the file cabinets and shelves that typically accumulate over time in more traditional offices. I was told that nearly all communication, documentation, and file sharing are handled digitally through emails and internal systems, greatly reducing the need for physical storage.

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A family chat earlier this year revealed an exciting instance of professional collaboration between Paul and Sam that yielded positive and encouraging results. In a design competition jointly organized by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and the Singapore Institute of Architects, Sam’s architectural firm, Designshop, was awarded First Prize for its conceptual design proposal for the New Community Spaces along the Rail Corridor at Queensway and Stagmont Ring (Read here) and (Read here). This is truly a commendable achievement, and a proud moment for the family!

Abstract of the news!

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On another note, I have just put up a proposal to a client for a structural engineering endeavour for a KK project. If successful, this will be a collaborative effort involving the structural expertise of Paul's engineering consultancy practice. We are keeping our fingers crossed and are hoping for a positive outcome!

Another Brief Family Reunion in Singapore

We last met our grandchildren residing in Singapore barely three months ago (Read here). This round, they were not aware of our time of arrival because their parents kept this as a secret. When we turned up at Livvie's school to pick her up after school, she was very surprised to see us inside the car. By the time we reached their home, Maddie was equally ecstatic to see us.

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Finally, we met the new addition to Sam's family - Newton, a fluffy Cavapoo (I believe that's the name!). This canine interestingly is "noiseless" and I have not heard any audible noise or barking from him throughout our stay. My wife however said that she heard a very faint barking by Newton once! His quietness is probably why it's attractive to keep such a breed that doesn't cause annoyance to the house occupants and the neighbours!

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In all such family reunion, it's always a time for bonding between the grandparents and the grandchildren. One of our morning routines was to accompany our granddaughter, Maddie to and back from her school which is within walking distance from the house.

Grandpa and grandma are not always the favoured one to do this chore. Occasionally, she would insist, "This morning, I want my mom to accompany me!".

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My wife was particularly adamant to leave behind a grandpa/grandma's hand-made toy for the pair of girls. After much effort including sourcing necessary small items at supermarket, the little hand-pulled cart incorporated with wheels was finally completed!

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Sharing meals both at home and at outside food outlets with family members are another favourite moments. We enjoyed savouring the numerous varieties of food available in Singapore. This time, Rachel and Sam took us to a Thai food outlet - Warm Up Cafe at Mackenzie Road. The great varieties of dishes ordered literally pumped up my tummy beyond its capacity :)

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On 01.03.2025, Paul and Junshi took us to have ramen for lunch at Sanpoutei Ramen at Shaw House. Sanpoutei is known for its classic and authentic shoyu ramen which originates from Niigata, Japan. 

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The last day (02.03.2025) before we flew back was packed with activities. We had lunch at Old Hen Kitchen - a cozy outlet known for its inventive food and artisanal beverages.

After the lunch, we had a separate exclusive time with Livvie. Before going to the National Gallery, she had ice cream at the Bird of Paradise at Holland Village.

Livvie is an avid reader. For a solid one hour at the National Gallery, she spent all that time reading! With her devotion in reading, our plan to actually going inside the Gallery had to be aborted!

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The dinner we had at the final evening was joined by Paul, Junshi and Rachel's brother and his wife. It's a meal of pizza from Pizza Keenway.

Eating Out in BP

BP is another town in West Malaysia known for all kinds of delicious food. With our short stay in BP this time, we did manage to savour some of the famous food in this town. One particular outlet where we went twice is Swee Kee Tonic Soup.

Tonic soup served with yam rice.

In that outlet, I was drawn to one framed traditional Chinese calligraphy short poem hung on one of the walls. The theme is "Shě dé" or 捨得 which means "Willing to Share".

小捨小得,大捨大得.

有捨有得,智慧人生.

Share little gain little, share more gain more.

You gain only if you share, wise living.

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At our second day at BP, we had lunch at SanYuan Gourmet. Shortly after our lunch at this cafe, I received a WhatsApp message from an old church friend sent from KK and attached with a photo of my wife and I eating at SanYuan. She posted: "Are you in BP? My daughter spotted you having lunch. My daughter said the face looked familiar but she was not 100% sure! That's why she dared not go and say hello to you!"

Her daughter used to be classmate of my son Paul at Yuk Yu Kindergarten way back in 1990 and 1991. Later on, she graduated as a medical doctor and married another medical doctor. The husband was posted to work at the BP government hospital. The family moved to BP and eventually decided to settle down in a small town, Sri Gading in BP after buying a house at a new housing estate there called Pura Kencana. Coincidentally, Sri Gading is the home town of my wife.

Short Trip to Batu Pahat

It was about eight months ago that my wife and I took my MIL for a short driving tour to a few towns in Johor, Seremban and Malacca (Read here). Though aged 92, she was then able to move around unaided.

In early January 2025, news came that my MIL had a fall and broke her hip bone. To facilitate better care and recovery, she was checked into a Care Home soon after.

We flew to JB on 16.02.2025 and proceeded to BP and spent the next five days visiting and spending time with her. She was indeed very pleased to see us.

Her best time was probably to be massaged by her favourite masseuse who happens to be my wife!

Coffee break at one of BP's popular food outlet - Local Aroma Cafe soon after visiting my MIL. Joined by my wife's cousin Meng Kwong.

Another surprise during our short stay in BP was meeting my BIL, his wife and my SIL. They came all the way from KL for a 2D1N stay in BP. I guess our presence in BP gave them an incentive to make this special trip.

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There was concern whether she is able to sit up again. That day came sooner than we expected. On 01.03.2025, news came that she was able to sit up again. 

My MIL is indeed a strong oldest-old ( a new term given to people aged over 85 years old), a cancer survivor and a widow of 10 years after her husband passed away in February 2015 (Read here).