Basil Fusion Bistro on Clearwater

Clearwater, Florida - I found this Vietnamese restaurant along Cleveland road called ' Basil Fusion Bistro' managed by young Vietnamese family.   The menu was a simple list of Vietnamese specialities and I order straight away fresh spring rolls and a bowl of Pho Bo (Vietnamese beef soup noodles).

Vietnamese fresh spring rolls

As you can see from the pics, it does not have the usually Vietnamese standard of having the rolls tightly wrapped neatly.   It was loosely wrapped that when I dipped into the sauce bowl, the fillings kept falling into the sauce.

Pho Bo

This bowl of Pho was not tasty but it felt good as it reminds me of home.  It was expensive at USD 8.25 with little thin slices of beef.

Cafe Alfresco on Dunedin

Dunedin, Florida - After my exercise workout, I took a short walk down main street for dinner.   Came across this restaurant - Cafe Alfresco.  I ordered the Monday's special which was a roasted half chicken and it came with a medium size bowl of salad.

Roast chicken special

I just ate the roasted chicken which was tender and savoury and left out the mashed potatoes.   The American portions are always big for me.  I just could not finish the mashed potatoes.

Tony's Pizza on Clearwater

Clearwater, Florida - I walked down a few blocks to an Italian restaurant, Tony's Pizza.  I ordered Hawaiian  pizza and it took a while to arrive.  In the meantime, the waitress brought me a plate of caesar salad which I did not order.   So, I asked whether it came with the Pizza and she said yes.  So, I ate it till the manager came and said 'hey...you did not order it, you shouldn't eat it'.   I told him that I asked the waitress whether the salad came with the Pizza and she said yes.  A very rude manager and I will not be coming to this pizza joint again.

Hawaiian Pizza

I could only eat 2 slices out of 4 as it was too much for me.

                                                                         

Jim Thompson House & Museum

Bangkok - As I stepped off the plane, the sudden gust of warm air hit my face made me realise it was going to be a very hot and humid day.   It was a public holiday in Thailand and so too in Singapore - Vesak Day; so no alcohol was served in Bangkok as a respect to Buddha in a majority Buddhist country.  It did not bother me much as I rarely consume but notices were on many outlets and hotels.

The traffic seems clear on the highway until we hit Sukhumvit Road, the traffic came to a crawl.

I decided to go to Jim Thompson Museum and it was just 2 BTS station away at National Stadium BTS; and a short walk down a alley.

After paying the entrance fee which came with the guided tour. There were many tourist waiting around in the garden for the guided tour in their language.   I hang around till the 4.40pm English tour and it was very educational.

Beautiful gardens

Beautiful manicured gardens surrounded the houses.   Jim Thompson being an architect he took great pain to combined six teak building, some were 200 years old, dismantle and brought it to this current site.  Unfortunately, he did not live a ripe old age as he disappeared on 26th March 1967 while on a visit to the Cameron Highlands.

The red paint on the outside walls is a preservative often found on many old Thai buildings.  As we proceed into his main house, unfortunately no photo taking was allowed except 2 small houses that was not connected to the main house.

One of the small houses with exhibits

Another house with porcelain items

small pond

It was a good short tour of Jim Thompson house and worth my time spending here.

Asian Civilisations Museum

Singapore - The Asian Civilisation Museum is about 10 minutes walk from Cathedral but it was pouring cats and dogs.   It cost $12 to enter the special exhibits on Angkor, but was allowed to enter free of charge.  The Asian Civilisations Museum is devoted to the rich artistic heritage of Asia, especially the ancestral cultures of Singaporeans.  

Angkor Exhibition

Picture of Angkor Wat

Collections

Elephant sculpture 

Asian Performing Arts Gallery

Chinese Ceramics Gallery

Types of Ceramics

Contemporary Art by Pich

Sopheap Pich is a Cambodian artist that created this outdoor exhibit of the Cambodian Beng Tree and Ordeal Tree.

Tang Shipwreak exhibits

National Museum of Singapore - another day @ the museum

Singapore -  The National Museum of Singapore is just a short stroll along Stamford, passed SMU school of accountancy.    I went to register to enter the museum and was told that today is free for all visitors.   "What's the occasion?" I asked and was told "It is the opening ceremony of the children's corner.

I started off at Level 1 which housed the "Singapore History Gallery" - the exhibits starts from pre-colony era, The British colony times, WW2 under the Japanese occupation, Singapore today.

Sir Stamford Raffles

Village theme

The Rickshaw

Bust of Lim Bo Seng

Japanese tank

S Rajaratnam arm chair, table and specs

Another exhibition on 2nd floor is "Story of the Forest" -  I entered 2 dark curtains into a kaleidoscope of objects and animals moving with sounds as I walked down a winding Rotunda to the 1st floor.

Story of the Forest

Looking up to the dome

Children was spread lying on every corner of the floor looking up this spectacle of brilliant play of colours and creativity.

It was well worth my time @ this museum.  

National Gallery Singapore

Singapore - Just across my Cathedral is this beautiful restored City hall and Supreme Court transformed into a National Gallery Singapore.   This museum housed mainly visual arts from Singapore and around Southeast Asia.  

Governor of the Straits Settlements, Sir Thomas Shenton Whitelegge Thomas, laid the foundation stone of the Supreme Court building on 1 April 1937. Underneath it is a time capsule containing newspapers dated 31 March 1937 and currency from the Straits Settlements. It is due to be retrieved in the year 3000.

The Keppel Centre for Art Education on level 1 caters to mainly youth and children with the Children museum workshop, art corridor, Children museum and many galleries for them.

Glass panel from a height

Scare of heights?

It is an illusion of clear lights and placement which gives you a feeling of staring down from great heights.

Chair in a corner

This chair in the corner is in fact another illusion at the DBS gallery.   Cleverly placed pieces of artwork to create tricks to the eye.

Actual display

Rotunda

One the 3rd floor, The Rotunda was part of the Supreme court building which houses the law library.   On the 4th floor, I was able to see the uppermost top of the Rotunda.

Rotunda dome

The City Hall and Supreme court was beautifully transformed allowing a play of light and colour.

Corridor of the former Supreme court

Listening to Architecture

This exhibit at the ArchiGallery offers insight into the enduring histories and architectural designs of the two national monuments and their dramatic transformations into a home for Southeast Asian art.

Beautiful artwork 

Bamboo artwork

This artwork consist of bamboo maze structure was designed by Rirkrit Tiravanija on the 5th floor at Ng Teng Fong Roof Garden gallery.  Within the center of the bamboo structure sits a Japanese tea house.   I walked halfway through the maze and turned back.

On the 5th and 6th floor has 4  restaurants with a very nice view of Singapore skylight and I think it would look amazing at night.

Esplande and Marina Bay Sands

Sofitel Hotel

Central business district

It was a well spent afternoon at the National Gallery.