曲终人散

Singapore - Sentosa (Underwater World)

新加坡 － 圣淘沙（海底世界）

二十五年，至少九千一百二十五天的陪伴，终于也要落幕了。

当年的婴孩也已成年，可能还已经成家了吧。

记忆的片段也随着年龄的增长，而经年累月的增加着。

今天又有一个熟悉的“老朋友”谢幕了！

日新月异，还有什么是永恒的？

在这曲终人散之际，回顾它精彩的一生。

海底隧道 － 多少旱鸭子窥视奇妙海洋生物。

幻影大白鲨 － 多少人心甘情愿的被吓。

垂直的鱼缸 － 多少小孩和大人的惊艳。

海龙 － 多少人被其曼妙舞姿给迷倒。

2002年 拍的录像，影像不是很清晰。（当年的科技）

今天之后，就真的再也不见了我的最爱 － 海龙。

Express 快捷

Malaysia & Singapore - Johor Bahru Checkpoint & Woodlands Checkpoint

马来西亚 和 新加坡 － 新山关卡 及 兀兰关卡

Q: When travelling between Singapore and Malaysia, what is most annoying?

A: Traffic jam.

Travellers will agree that travelling between both countries need super patience.

By car: Jam in traffic for an hour, consider one's luckiest day. (My friend's record was eight hours)

By bus: Traffic flow is relatively smooth. (Around half an hour)

By train: Blink of an eye, even before sits firm, one is already in Singapore. (Five minutes)

问：在新加坡和马来西亚（柔佛）之间旅行，什么最烦人？

答：交通堵塞。

游客应该会同意，在两国之间旅行需要超强的耐性。

开车：堵车一小时，可算是幸运了。 （我朋友的记录是八小时）

公车：交通流量相对平稳。 （大概半小时）

火车：眨眼的功夫，甚至还没坐稳，人已经在新加坡了。 （五分钟）

As stated on the ticket, do arrive at the train station half an hour before departure.

Bear in mind that you still have to clear custom before allow on the train.

就如车票上所写的，在指定的时间的半小时前到达火车站。

切记，你还是要通过海关才被允许上火车。

After getting down the escalator, proceed to either side (left or right) to clear custom.

下了电动扶梯后，继续向两侧（左或右）去通海关。

After passport stamped by the custom officer, proceed to the train cabin.

护照被海关官员盖章后，前往火车厢。

Seriously if you asked me, is there a necessity to sit?

My answer is simple, if you want to experience "taking train", then sit; if you are in a rush then stand near the exit.

说真的，如果你问我有必要坐吗？

我的答案很简单，如果你想体验“搭火车”，那就坐呗；但如果你赶时间，就站靠近出口处吧。

After clearing custom, outside the station there are taxi-stand and bus-stop for travellers to choose to continue their journey.

通过海关后，火车站外有出租车站和公车站供游客选择以继续其行程。

父亲节

Singapore

新加坡

知道106年前的今天，世界第一次庆祝父亲节吗？

杜德夫人十三岁的那一年，母亲在生产时不幸去世，遗留下六名子女。

杜德夫人的父亲威廉‧史马特在成为为鳏夫后，立志不再续弦，父兼母职地栽培养育他的六名儿女。

1909年，杜德夫人在参加教会母亲节礼拜后心想：“世上为什么没有一个类似母亲节的纪念父亲的节日？”

于是她提出了设立父亲节的建议，期盼世上也有一个对父亲纪念感恩的节日。

在1910年的春天，杜德夫人开始推动成立父亲节的运动，随即得到各教会组织的支持。

随后士波肯市市长与华盛顿州州长也公开表示赞成。

于是美国华盛顿州便在1910年6月19日，举行了全世界第一次的父亲节聚会。

1924年，美国总统凯文·柯立芝支持父亲节成为全美节日。

1966年，美国总统林登·詹森选用史马特先生的生辰月份，宣布当年六月，为美国父亲节之月。

1972年，美国总统尼克森正式签署文件，将每年六月的第三个星期日，定为全美国的父亲节，从此成为美国永久性的国定纪念日。

父亲的称呼繁多，与“父”字相关的也不少。

“普通”派：爸、爸爸、老爸

“古墓”派：阿爸、爹、老爹、阿爹

“潮流”派：爹地

“广东”派：老窦

“文雅”派：家父、家严

“没大没小”派：老子、老头

“还珠格格”派：阿玛

别人的称：令尊

亲生的称：生父

领养的称：养父

再婚的称：继父、后父、异父

上契的称：干爹、宜父、义父

爸爸的爸爸称：祖父、阿公、爷爷

妈妈的爸爸称：外祖父、外公、姥爷

爸爸的大弟称：仲父

妈妈的兄弟称：舅父

老公的爸爸称：家公

妻子的爸爸称：岳父、外父

收徒的称：师父

国家的称：国父

上苍的称：天父、圣父

宗教的称：神父

死去的称：亡父、先父、先严、先考

就如这张网上下载的照片所说的 － “喜欢与否，我们都是相连的”。

虽然觉得有点矫情，但不能免俗的也祝我爸爸：

父亲节快乐！

World Blood Donor Day 世界捐血者日

Singapore - Health Sciences Authority (HSA)

新加坡 － 卫生科学局

June 14, is World Blood Donor Day.

It is established in 2004.

World Blood Donor Day serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products.

It is also to thank blood donors for their voluntary and selfless dedication, life-saving gifts of blood.

World Blood Donor Day is celebrated every year on the day of birthday anniversary of Karl Landsteiner on 14 June in 1868.

Karl Landsteiner was a great scientist who won the Nobel Prize for his great discovery of the ABO blood group system.

6月14日是世界捐血者日。

它成立于2004年。

世界捐血者日起到着提高需要安全的血液和血液制品的意识。

这也是感谢自愿捐血者无私的奉献，所给予拯救生命的礼物。

世界捐血者日是以卡尔·兰德斯泰纳的诞辰（1868年6月14日）纪念日当天一同庆祝。

卡尔·兰德斯泰纳是一名伟大的科学家，他的ABO血型系统的重大发现使他赢得了诺贝尔奖。

Every hour of the day, 15 units of blood are used in Singapore.

More than 100,000 units of blood are needed to meet the transfusion needs of patients every year, equivalent to more than 400 units of blood a day.

There are some basic requirements need to fulfill in order to become a blood donor.

Donor must be:

1) Aged between 16 and 60 (Youths 16 and 17 will need to complete and bring a signed parental consent form)

2) Weigh at least 45kg

3) In good health

4) Do not have any symptoms of infection (e.g. sore throat, cough, runny nose, diarrhoea) for at least one week

5) Did not have fever in the last three weeks

6) Have a haemoglobin level of at least 12.5g/dl (Tests will be administered by trained nurses at the donation site)

在新加坡，每一天、每一个小时，都在使用15个单位的血液。

每年需要的血液超过10万单位，以满足患者的输血需求，相当于每天400多个单位的血液。

要成为一个捐血者，必须履行一些基本的要求。

捐血者必须是：

1）年龄介于16岁至60岁之间（ 16岁及17岁青年将需要完成并带来家长同意签订书）

2）体重至少45公斤

3）身体健康

4）至少一周不要有任何感染症状（如咽喉肿痛、咳嗽、流涕、腹泻）

5）在过去的三个星期没有发烧

6）具有至少 12.5克/dl 的血红蛋白水平（测试将由受过训练的护士在捐赠现场执行）

Qu Yuan 屈原

Singapore - Bugis

新加坡 － 武吉士

Every year the fifth day of the fifth lunar month is the Dragon Boat Festival, people eat dumplings, race dragon boat to commemorate the great patriotic poet Qu Yuan.

How many people really know who Qu Yuan was?

Since it is the Dragon Boat Festival, let's talk about Qu Yuan.

Qu Yuan's surname Mi, clan name Qu, given name Ping, posthumous name Yuan, a Chu during the Warring States period.

During the early days of Emperor Huai's reign, Qu Yuan was serving the State of Chu as its Left Minister.

He was sent on a diplomatic mission to the State of Qi to resume relations between Chu and Qi.

With his effort, Chu had become stronger.

However, due to Qu Yuan's pride and upright character, coupled with the exclusion of others calumny, Emperor Huai gradually alienated him.

He was against the idea of Emperor Huai signing the union with Qin, but Chu was completely into the arms of Qin.

He angrily resigned, left the state's capital, Ying, lived in the north of the Han.

In his exile, he created a large number of literary works filled with love and passion for Chu.

Qu Yuan was also regarded as one of the most prominent figures of Romanticism in Chinese classical literature.

Learning of the capture of his state's capital, Ying, by General Bai Qi of the state of Qin, in desperation and grief Qu Yuan held a rock in order to commit ritual suicide into the Miluo river as a form of protest against the corruption of the era.

The local people dropped rice dumplings to feed the fish in order to prevent the fish from eating Qu Yuan's body.

In 1953, Qu Yuan's 2230th death anniversary, the World Peace Council passed a resolution and confirmed Qu Yuan as one of the world cultural celebrities for that year's commemoration.

每年的农历五月初五端午节，人们吃粽子、划龙舟以纪念屈原这位伟大的爱国诗人。

大家又对他有多了解呢？

趁端午节，就给大家介绍屈原。

屈原是战国时期楚国人，芈（mi）姓，屈氏，名平，死后谥号原，以字行。

屈原早年受楚怀王信任，先后任三闾大夫、左徒，常与怀王商议国事，参与法律的制定。

他也同时主持外交事务，并主张楚国与齐国联合，共同抗衡秦国。

在屈原努力下，楚国国力有所增强。

但由于自身性格耿直骄傲，加之他人谗言与排挤，屈原逐渐被楚怀王疏远。

屈原反对楚怀王与秦国订立黄棘之盟，但是楚国还是彻底投入了秦的怀抱。

他愤而辞官自疏，离开郢都，流落到汉北。

屈原流放期间，创作了大量文学作品，在作品中洋溢着对楚地楚风的眷恋和为民报国的热情。

其作品文字华丽，想像奇特，比喻新奇，内涵深刻，成为中国文学的起源之一。

秦国太尉白起挥兵南下，攻破了郢都，屈原在绝望和悲愤之下怀大石投汨罗江而死。

当地百姓投下粽子喂鱼以此防止屈原遗体被鱼所食。

1953年是屈原逝世2230周年，世界和平理事会通过决议确定屈原为当年纪念的世界文化名人之一。

Ramaḍān 斋戒月

Ramaḍān is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.

It is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad according to Islamic belief.

This annual observance is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

The month lasts 29 to 30 days based on the visual sightings of the crescent moon, according to numerous biographical accounts compiled in the hadiths.

The word Ramaḍān comes from the Arabic which means scorching heat or dryness.

Fasting is fardh (obligatory) for adult Muslims, except those who are suffering from an illness, travelling, are elderly, pregnant, breastfeeding, diabetic or going through menstrual bleeding.

Fasting the month of Ramaḍān was made obligatory (wājib) during the month of Shaʿbān (eighth month of the Islamic calendar),  in the second year after the Muslims migrated from Mecca to Medina.

Fatwas have been issued declaring that Muslims who live in regions with natural phenomenon such as the midnight sun or polar night should follow the timetable of Mecca.

While fasting from dawn until sunset, Muslims refrain from consuming food, drinking liquids, smoking, and engaging in sexual relations with one's spouse.

Muslims are also instructed to refrain from sinful behavior that may negate the reward of fasting, such as false speech (insulting, backbiting, cursing, lying, etc.) and fighting.

Food and drink is served daily, before dawn and after sunset.

Spiritual rewards (thawab) for fasting are also believed to be multiplied within the month of Ramaḍān.

Fasting for Muslims during Ramaḍān typically includes the increased offering of salat (prayers) and recitation of the Quran.

斋戒月是回教的一个习俗，是在回历的第九个月。

根据伊斯兰信仰，世界各地的穆斯林在一个月的斋戒里，是为纪念可兰经里穆罕默德的第一个启示。

这一年一度的纪念活动被认为是伊斯兰教的五大支柱之一。

根据圣训编译的众多传记斋戒月持续29日至30日，视弯月的能见度。

拉麦丹（Ramaḍān）一词来自阿拉伯语，意思是炎热或干燥。

禁食是强制性的（fardh）每名成年穆斯林，除了那些病人、旅人、老人、孕妇、哺乳、糖尿病患、经历月经出血妇女，都需禁食。

在穆斯林从麦加迁到麦地那的第二年后，在 Shaʿbān（回历的八月）斋戒就便是强制性（wājib）的。

教令也指导那些生活在自然现象地区，如午夜的太阳或极夜的穆斯林应该遵循麦加的时间表。

在黎明禁食到日落期间，穆斯林不得进食、喝饮料、吸烟、与自己的配偶发生性关系等的行为。

穆斯林也被指示切莫做出罪恶行为，如秽言污语（侮辱、诽谤、诅咒、欺骗等）和战斗，以免损了禁食得来的福祉。

黎明前和日落后，穆斯林则可自由吃喝。

在斋戒月内禁食所的到的福祉（thawab）也被认为会成倍增加。

穆斯林在禁食的斋戒月期间通常会增加包括祈祷（salat）和背诵可兰经的次数。

Dim Sum 点心

Thailand - Bangkok (The Canton House)

泰国 － 曼谷 （羊城点心轩）

The Canton House is famous for its cheap dim sum.

羊城点心轩著名因该店的便宜点心。

The Canton House located at Yaowarat Road (Chinatown) served dim sum at 20Baht per basket.

位于瑶瓦拉路（中国城）的羊城点心轩供应的点心每笼为20泰铢。

The service was just so-so and the taste of the dim sum was acceptable.

其服务只能说马马虎虎而点心的味道还算可以接受。

Whenever my friends wanted to eat dim sum, I would bring them to The Canton House at Chinatown. 

每当朋友要吃点心，我都会带他们到中国城的羊城点心轩。 

The reason was because it felt more authentic.

其原因是因为感觉比较道地。

Sadly The Canton House that was located at Yaowarat Road was burnt down on February 25, 2016.

可惜的是位于瑶瓦拉路的羊城点心轩在 2016年2月25日 被烧毁。

Eaters want to savour the cheap dim sum, do not have to feel too sad.

想吃便宜点心的吃货们也不必感到太难过。

You can now go to the Terminal 21 Mall, to continue enjoy the cheap dim sum.

现在可以去 Terminal 21 商场，继续享用价廉物美的点心。

Alight at Asok BTS Station, go to Terminal 21 Mall via link bridge.

在 Asok BTS 站下车，通过连接桥抵达 Terminal 21 商场。

Go up to the fourth floor, San Francisco Zone, there you can find The Canton House.

上到四楼，旧金山区，在那里你可以找到羊城点心轩。

Open daily from 10am to 10pm.

每天营业时间从上午10点至晚上10点。

Each basket of dim sum is sold at 16Baht.

每笼点心售价为16泰铢。

P/S: For more information on Terminal 21 Mall, can read my previous blog 'Terminal Lavatory'.

注：欲知更多 Terminal 21 商场的资料，可以读我之前写的《Terminal Lavatory》。