Old Buildings, New Life

To preserve a historical site while demonstrating creativity in the restricted space, to me, that is living space. Some historical buildings are sited in busy financial hubs where space is a luxury item. To tear down buildings of such historical value can ignite many moral, cultural and historical debates. As such, many countries place great effort in doing something for their people and their history. Especially China.

In recent years, Beijing and Shanghai have shown signs of over-population. Sometimes when you wake up from your sleep and peer out from your window, you are unable to distinguish whether you are in America's Los Angeles or China's Beijing, or America's New York or China's Shanghai? Westerners depend on a variety of food, architectural, fashion and educational culture to capture the hearts of the world. If this carries on, will there merge another theme on globalisation?
Protecting history is the imperative of all governments, but it is a big and foolhardy project. Australia has restored many historical buildings. The one that stands out to me is a hotel owned by Singapore's GIC in Sydney, Australia. This hotel is some forty-floors high. It used to be a post office, and it has basically maintained its original look.

Fullerton hotel used to be our National Post Office Headquarters. Raffles Hotel and White Sands Square are both modeled according to historic buildings/sites.

Gold Coast

Gold Coast is a place where many tourists gather to enjoy sun, sand and the sea. I have been here numerous times, but each time it gives me a different feeling.

Gold Coast has three distinct characteristics: one, the beautiful coastline that can rival America's Hawaii; two, the uncountable shopping malls filled with a dazzling array of merchandise at affordable prices; three, a food haven where you can find cuisine from all nationalities. It is only found wanting in Chinese restaurants.

Other than this, there are many hotels here. Even the world-famous Versace designed a hotel here, with suites costing thousands to ten thousands per night. One can enjoy the splendor and extravagance of staying in such designer suites.

The hotel is built on the bay, with its halls decorated luxuriously. There is a café decked in Versace finery, from its cutlery down to its napkins. Outside the café is a swimming pool where a single waterway connects with the sea, surrounded by suites and villas, creating a pompous image.

Besides having gyms, spas and salons, the hotel also boasts of a fine gift house, which displays many of Versace's products. Versace wishes to open another ten of such hotels throughout the world, so that everyone can feel Versace's unique charm.

Sydney's Fish Market

Sydney's fish market is a favourite food hunt and attraction for many tourists. It is hard to imagine, that the crowds can throng a place as filthy and reeking of fishiness as this after renovation.

Actually, Singapore has many buildings that are under-utilised, like the vegetable and fish markets. These two markets are only busier during midnight and the wee hours of the morning. They are often deserted come noon and evening. Maybe we can consider fully utilizing it by organizing some street activities at the financial zone during the deserted Saturdays and Sundays. There is no necessity to concentrate all the colorful activities at Orchard Road.
Many times, these creative thoughts are implementable. It all depends on who is the one executing it.

Environment has its trends, and some unimpressive properties can suddenly become inflated in value. We can inject life into places by increasing their commercial viability.
Friends, should you visit Sydney, do drop by the fish market. I guarantee it will be an eye-opening experience.

Australia Free and Easy Trip

This time, I took free and easy trip with my son, wife and daughter. Out first stop was the romantic harbour city - Melbourne. We stayed at Melbourne's only casino – the Melbourne Crown Casino.

When the casino inaugurated in 1997, I was honored to be invited to the opening ceremony. It was a momentous occasion that is difficult to describe. It stood high above the world, hyped as the crown jewel of all the casinos in Asia. The casino's performance stabilised only after experiencing the Asian economic crisis. Back then, there was a highway that crossed over the middle of the casino which affected its fortunes. The year of the inauguration ceremony and the direction which the casino faced both bode misfortune, causing the business to suffer losses. Later on, the addition of new shareholders and the pointers of a wise one managed to avert the misfortune. In place was a prosperous trend that carries on even today.

Crown casino is segregated into a few main areas, one being an oval-shaped hotel that has a main entrance facing the northeast. In the northwest was the casino. The design of the casino was very luxurious. The interior was separated into a few main halls to enhance the gambler's experience. What is most mentionable is the breath-taking laser musical fountain at the entrance of the casino.

Its been ten years since. Although the interior design has aged a little, the casino remains imperious. Should you have a chance to visit Melbourne and dabble a little in gambling, do remember to adorn yourself with auspicious emblems to aid the reaping of small fortunes.