I built a Tree House when I was 14

As a kid, I always looked for adventure. Apart from school, we were not allowed to go out of the house without permission. We need a valid reason. That didn't always come easy. So I stayed home most weekdays. To occupy time, I started many projects. One of the most memorable ones was a tree house. I built it all on my own without the use of power tools. The main tool I still remember was a hammer. I would just love nailing everything. The most valuable advice I learnt was to blunt large nails before using them, so the wood wouldn't split. It was good advice that worked like a charm. The tree was a massive Flame-of the-forest. I took a few days to built the ladder to reach the main branches a long way up.

Many year have past since the tree house was built. I had many wonderful days up on that tree. It was exciting for a kid. Today the tree has been cut down and the house I once stayed in at 8 Upper Wilkie Road has been torn down and a beautiful house built in its place by the landlord's daughter.

The tree house I built was quite similar to the one pictured. It was very simple and didn't have a roof shelter.

Looks like the roof has collapsed. Everything above the ground floor was made of wood

This was my room window on the ground floor. Its raise as a basement ran underneath the entire house

It was a 2 story colonial bungalow that my father rented for less than $100 a month since 1964 

The old house being taken over by nature

Photos Courtesy of Jerome Lim who took them just in time before the house was torn down.

Star Gemini Cruise 30 Nov 2015

My wife's birthday falls on 30  Nov. We stopped celebrating birthdays for many years now. The only symbolic act is a simple birthday cake with candles to blow out after the customary birthday song sung out of tune by my 3 sons. She doesn't want presents and I actually stopped giving them more than 10 years ago. The last present I gave my wife was a Seiko watch, which she still has but seldom wears as she can conveniently tell the time with her mobile phone. It may seem very unromantic but it works well with her.
This year however, we decided to celebrate her birthday by going on a cruise. Funnily, I brought a camera with me and thought it a novel idea to put these pictures on my blog to be enjoyed again years later. so here they are.....

  

Star Gemini is berthed at the Old Word Trade Centre, now known as Harbour Front (next to Vivo City)

Leaving Harbour Bay. Approaching Marina at Keppel Bay 

The Beli Vista Restaurant on the 9th Deck aft of the ship where food is served alacarte sytle instead of a buffett

My nephew Ferris, my mother and my wife Lynn at the dinner table

Right - Mrs & Mrs Goh my mum's neighbour who frequents the ship. They are in their early 80s.
Far left are my distant relatives. The 2 ladies are 93 & 92 years strong

The standard hallway leading to the cabins

It started to rain heavily as soon as we left Harbour Front

A Barge Crane caught in the rain storm enroute to a job perhaps 

Many hours are spent playing majong. A safer past time compare with playing at the casino on Deck 10.

The stair way coming down from the majong room. Lined with plagues from Port visits

The Theatre is situated on Deck 9. Las Vegas style Shows are scheduled nightly. Something not to be missed.

We arrived at Penang the next day at 1600 hrs. This is Swettenham Pier where the ship docks alongside.

We had booked with a local restaurant to taste the famed sucking pig. This was not that restaurant. Luckily the taxi driver was still with us and eventually brought us to the right place. Pic: My nephew & his buddy. 

The famed restaurant was along a busy street in Penang next to the SHIP Restaurant

Ah! we finally founf the place... It's called Foong Wei Heong Restaurant

There were only eight of us to a table. Grandpa is behind the camera

Absolutely delicious. all for just RM190

Back to the Port after the scrumptious meal. The clock tower makes a distinguish land mark

Always nice to be back onboard Star Gemini after a day out in Port. The gush of air-conditioned air is super refreshing

The second Port of Call is Langkawi. We decided not to go down as we've seen Langkawi more than a dozen times already

Docked just opposite Gemini was this magnificent Mega Yacht

Appropriately named Ocean Victory. She was certainly massive. My guess is she's probably over 400 feet

Expanding the berthing at RSYC

After years of leaving half the Marina's wet berths undeveloped, it was time to put in the much needed pontoon space to accommodate more yachts on the water for the Republic of Singapore Yacht Club. With Yachts getting larger nowadays, the focus was on accommodating 60 footers and larger. On the request of RSYC's new Marina Manager Pak Tasrin, I went down to assist him for a quick survey. Tasrin is an old acquaintance of mine from the Raffles Marina days. We never worked together but had always maintained a healthy respect for each other's professional competence in the Pleasure boating industry. I was all too eager to give him a helping hand as a friend.

The outer berths were never built. Perhaps due to budget constrains, perhaps waiting for demand.

Step one was to measure the existing pontoons to determine the exact measurements for the new berths

The sole Mega Yacht Sea Shaw lies alongside the outer berth exposed to the wakes of passing work boats

The entrance to the main fairway of RSYC measures 140 feet max.

There are many moorings along the main fairway leading to the Marina. Depth there averages 2.5m at low water

Opening the Indonesian Archipelago to Maritime Tourism - No more Green Book

Saturday 7th Nov 2015 will be remembered as a historical day for Mr Francis Lee, President of Raffles Marina. After 21 years of engaging the Indonesian maritime community and making friends with the likes of Dr Aji & Dr Indrojono, to name just two, Francis Lee finally broke down all immigration & custom barriers that made visiting the archipelago a pain in the butt. With immediate effect, any pleasure craft from Singapore & 90 other countries can enter Indonesia without having to first apply for a Sailing Permit. The need to purchase a Green Book is also a thing of the past. So from today I can just sail into Nongsa Point Marina unannounced and do my usual custom & immigration clearance at little or no cost.

You still have to do the usual Singapore port clearance at Sister's Island or Changi Point before sailing to Nongsa or Bintan Resort.      

Well let's see how well the new procedures are executed on the ground. ..

Francis Lee President of Raffles Marina with the Indonesian delegation from the Tourism Ministry

50 guests were invited for the historic announcement by Dr Indrojono Soesilo, Senior Advisor for Minister Tourism

The SPBA team with Dr Aji Sularso, Cruising & Fishery Consultant & Admiral Marsetyo, former Chief of Naval Staff

Mr Francis Lee, the man behind the historical announcement to open Maritime Indonesia to Pleasure Yachts

Boat Handling Training - Certificate of Competence 2

The first time I conducted boat handling training 20 years ago, I loved it. The sun, the sea and the cool breeze. The sound of the engines , the smell of sea salt and the beautiful interiors of modern yachts all add to the allure of being out on the water. It has been sometime since I conducted formal boat handling in the Marinas. Now that I've been back at it again, I fondly remember how much I miss this life and the absolute freedom being out at sea gives.

onboard a Meridian 391 preparing for alongside drills

Visual checks on the trim tabs & trim of the Meridian 341

Stamping a Buoy before practicing alongside drills

Watch keeping and Navigation

Setting up the perimeters of the Garmin Chart Plotter

Conducting engine checks before starting the propulsion engines

Picking up a buoy to hone boat handling and boat maneuvering skills

 

SPBA's Council of Experts Meet

In support of the National Maritime Safety at Sea Campaign, the SPBA took the initiative to set up the Council of Experts to promote safe & responsible boating in Singapore. These 18 men from all facets of Singapore pleasure boating came together to do their part in promoting this campaign.