This morning, I checked out the Circle Line Discovery event, ahead of the opening of the long-overdue Stage 1 & 2 of the CCL.

If I were Darth Vader, surveying the new stations, I would say (in my wannabe-James Earl Jones voice), “Impressive… Most impressive.”

And which station gives me the greatest sense of awe?

Stadium Station.

It is simply magnificent.

The skylight takes full advantage of natural light. Yet it does not end up roasting the station because it is placed high up.

Very high up.

The station is big.

It is one of the few stations that allows you to look from one end to the other. There are no obstructions. Just massive space.

The only similar station is Changi Airport. But that’s the thing, Changi Airport station is so large that you lose perspective. I’m not sure how to explain this.

Sometimes, something is so big that you don’t know the scale of it. A good example is the ground we stand on – Earth. We rarely get to see the horizon. And even when we do, there is no frame of reference. We know it is big, but we can’t put it in perspective.

Stadium Station is big enough let you feel that sense of size, yet small enough for you to put it in context.

Step outside and you’ll get a real feel for the scale. On either end of the station are two cavernous entrances.

I can imagine a match day. People streaming out of that station. Thousands of supporters decked in red disgorging from this massive structure.

And thousands of people heading into the station once the game is over.

Which leads to my only criticism of the station.

Two escalators at each entrance? (And there are only two entrances, not including the elevator access.)

Let’s do the math. About 50,000 people pack the stadium. Assuming only half are taking the train from Stadium Station, that’s 25,000 people who are going to cram onto four escalators – further assuming that all four will be down-riding after a big game – and the central staircase on either end.

Not a pretty sight.

In a strange way, this may be the intention. I am not sure how frequent the trains will be after a big game, but even at 2 minute intervals, it will take time to clear the platform of passengers. So, the bottleneck will be at the escalator instead – in order not to overcrowd the platform. (Remember that the CCL trains are only 3 cars long, not 6 like those on the NSL, EWL and NEL, so they have only half the carrying capacity.)

But all this is speculation. We will not know for sure until our next big game at the National Stadium our Sports Hub is finally ready.

In the interim, you can use Stadium Station to get to Singapore Indoor Stadium (and the Brewerkz located there) and… err… Kallang Leisure Park.

More photos of the Circle Line Discovery (mostly of Stadium Station)

Scene City: Singapore – Promo

Description from YouTube:
A BRAND NEW photographic & cultural series that checks out the less explored & undiscovered Singapore, follow TOM ANG – as he leads 2 guests photographers each week as they visit places less known!

Lineup

19th August – Resorts World & School of the Arts
 
26th August – Singapore Dance Theatre & Timbre
 
2nd September – Semakau Landfill & Pulau Ubin
 
9th September – Kim Keat Lane Bakery & Changi Fishery
 
16th September – PSA & Print Dynamics
 
23rd September – Pearl Bank Apartments & Margaret Drive
 
30th September – Southern Ridges & Sungei Buloh
 
7th October – Star Cruises

Scene City: Singapore
Channel News Asia
Wednesdays, 8.30pm to 9pm

Some of you might have seen this in my Flickr photostream months ago.

I noticed that several local hawkers had stickers proclaiming that Obama is President.

Mind you, at that point in time, he hadn’t even secured Democratic nomination yet.

On Saturday, I went on a mini shopping spree. I came back with a few treasures – books and DVDs about Singapore.

None of these are likely to become required reading or viewing as part of National Indoctrination Education. Nevertheless (or is it ‘Because of’?), this unlikely quintet are more authentic than most of what you see on Channel 5 and 8.

Ah, actually, there is something to be said about that – the Channel 8 reference – particularly regarding The Resident Tourist series. I think the graphic novels will strike a chord with many English-educated Chinese here. Troy Chin’s observations, experiences and asides about Singapore will have you nodding and laughing in agreement.

Troy is The Resident Tourist. He details his return to Singapore from New York, where he worked as a music executive. Having been away, he plays tourist in Singapore since he is busy being a bum illustrating and writing a comic about himself – The Resident Tourist.

Very meta.

I read Part 1 online, after finding out about it via Tomorrow.sg. Even before I was halfway through, I decided to buy the book. Troy (and Adrian Teo, the publisher), if you are reading this, please publish Part 3!

Moving on to the DVDs.

Remember Chek Jawa, by Eric Lin, documents the journey of ordinary Singaporeans in their valiant effort to survey and ultimately save Chek Jawa from the threat of destruction. If you believe our gahmen doesn’t listen – and I often do – then this documentary will at least make you think twice about that sentiment. Though I still think that on balance, the gahmen generally doesn’t. Think IR and others.

The documentary reveals that we do have natural resources. Perhaps non-exploitable, but they exist.

The Tan Pin Pin Collection is a compilation of three documentaries by Tan Pin Pin – Moving House, Singapore GaGa and Invisible City.

Moving House explores the theme of displacement and development through the exhumation of the director’s great grandfather’s grave.

Singapore GaGa is a documentary about the sounds that make up Singapore. Sounds that we take for granted. Sounds that we might not even notice. There is an interview with the Old Voice of MRT. And you’ll discover why you had to learn to play the recorder in school.

Finally, there is Invisible City, a study of the hidden histories of our land. If Remember Chek Jawa reminds us that we have natural heritage, Invisible City highlights that we have many alternative historical narratives besides the grand story of how we got kicked out of Malaysia and eventually made good.

The common thread that binds these books and DVDs is that they all touch on our identity as Singaporeans. None provide answers. What they serve to do is to make us reflect and to question truisms. The books and DVDs open our eyes to different and sometimes hidden aspects of our existence as Singaporeans.

Let it not be said that the Miss Earth Singapore contestants are all talk and no action.

From what Siva observed, the girls were not afraid to get their hands dirty.

and London is to UK,

is Singapore to Malaysia?

Sorry, Metblogs, not since 1965. Or do the people at Metblogs know something that we don’t? Hmmm…

Thankfully, it’s not Singapore — China!

UPDATE 18 April Micamonkey highlighted this to the powers-that-be at Metblog. It’s rectified!

She’s almost gone.

The lady who announces which station you are approaching.

Her voice is commanding yet soft.

Never intrusive.

Informing passengers when they should prepare to alight.

Warning them not to get caught in the gap between train and platform.

SMRT, in all their wisdom, have decided to update the announcements.
In her place, a younger voice.

One that has strange enunciation, intonation and rhythm.

One that grates the ears.

An announcer that makes me want to reach into the speakers and yank the wires out.

There have been online complaints. (Ask Google.)

Even a letter to ST.

If SMRT replied, I missed it.

Thankfully, this new girl hasn’t ousted the dame completely.

She can still be heard… for now.

Just in case they decide to do away with her entirely, I recorded a few of the announcements.

Here they are for your downloading and listening pleasure.

(.wav files, all less than 300 kb)

• Doors closing
• Please mind the platform gap
• Bishan
• Next stop, Bishan
• Braddell
• Next stop, Braddell
• Toa Payoh
• Next stop, Toa Payoh
• Orchard (long)
• Orchard
• Somerset

UPDATE Alvinology posted a video clip, a deleted scene from Tan Pin Pin’s excellent documentary, Singapore Ga Ga. If you’ve wondered what the old voice of MRT looks like, take a look.

But if you want the voice to remain faceless, watch the documentary instead. (Actually, watch it in any case. It’s fantastic!) Tan Pin Pin interviews Juanita in the film, but you only hear her voice either on a black screen or over scenes on the MRT.

You can get Singapore Ga Ga at OBJECTIFSfilms. I’ve also recently seen it on sale at Kinokuniya at Takashimaya.

I went for another installment of Pedal Ubin on Saturday. I turn up often enough that some of the Toddycats mistakenly think that I’m one of Pedal Ubin guides. Heheh. Nah, I’m just along for the ride.

Saturday was my first experience at the relatively new Ketam Mountain Bike Trail. I mistakenly read it as “Ketam Mountain” “Bike Trail”. Whoops! Still, the trail’s lookout point – according to my GPS paraphernalia – is about 30m above sea level.

Even though it was a rainy and cloudy day, we could just about see the tall buildings of the Central Business District, almost 18km away!

Another reminder that Singapore is a small place. Nevertheless, I wondered how this was possible.

So, Google Maps to the fore. I drew a straight line from the lookout point to the CBD. Lo and behold, there was nary a tall building in the way. While the CBD structures are much taller than HDB flats, I never expected such an unobstructed view.

One of the reasons is that there aren’t that many buildings in the line of sight to the CBD to begin with. How is this possible?

Paya Lebar Airport.

Combined with the relative height of the lookout point and the low-lying buildings in the Paya Lebar/Geylang/Kallang vicinity, these factors make for a direct view of Singapore City.

Click on the screenshot below for a closer look at the lay of the land or visit the Google Map.

Must return on a clear day. =)

“Congestion taxes on vehicles plying on busy roads are a routine course of action in Singapore. The maximum time to reach any corner of Singapore is 20 minutes as traffic is not allowed to flood the roads,” he added.

City influx shocks Singapore panel via Mr Brown.

When was the last time the Founding Father travelled by public transport? Or in a car without police escort? Didn’t I just spend an hour getting to work this morning? Here I was thinking that Bishan is the center of Singapore, the place nearest to every other corner.

Next thing he’s going to tell us is that there are no beggars in Fantasyland Singapore.

Or has he done that already?

Hello.

I eat Mee, Nasi, Prata and Devil Curry.

I am a(n?) NSman. Although, we all still call it ‘reservist’.

(Why this comes straight after food? I’m not sure.)

My best friends are mostly in the Civil Service. Thankfully, they are not mindless robots.

I have been through JC and Poly. Which one is better is besides the point.

I wasn’t accepted to a local University*. Strangely, I now work for one.

I read newspapers for a laugh, and read blogs for serious, considered views.

People mistake me for Indian or Malay sometimes. If they hear me talk, they might think I’m a foreigner because I speak relatively well. My country once officially labelled my kind “others”.

Even though I’m an Other, I’m no stranger to this place. It is home.

My name is Kenneth Pinto. And I am Singaporean.

Technorati Tags: singapore, iamsingaporean, national day, patriotism, identity

* I just realised today marks my third year here.