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Monday, August 27, 2012

Gardens by The Bay, Singapore

A few years ago when I visited the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, work to construct the Gardens by the Bay had already commenced. The number of workers and the amount of material that lay at the site could not prepare me for the stunning vistas that are a reality today.

Although I have yet to visit Singapore again to see these magnificent gardens personally, I would like to share this link that came to me via an email.

You will see the amazing Supertrees that have been built and there is a day view as well as a night view of the Gardens. So click here for the link and feast your eyes. Enjoy!

Monday, August 13, 2012

New Moon

This morning before 6:00 a.m. my daughter called out excitedly to me that there was a beautiful crescent moon and a star hanging in the sky.

I rushed out to see and indeed it looked like a dangling earring, with the star and the crescent moon against the backdrop of the clear sky.

Normally the moon would not be sighted at this time as it is still Ramadan, the fasting month which all Muslims observe. It had been announced that the night of 18th of August would be the date to sight the moon so that if it is sighted, then the following day would be the celebration of the Hari Raya Adil Fitri, the culmination of a month’s fasting.

However, when I asked the old lady who had come to weed my garden about it, she said this sighting is not the one that will determine the end of the fasting month. The moon is not in the correct sector of the sky. According to her it should be on the other side, above the ocean. This morning’s sighting was on the land side, near Mount Kinabalu.

I defer to her explanation as she is a Muslim and she’s old, wise and experienced in these matters. She said that Hari Raya will be celebrated on this coming Sunday and she will not be coming to weed next week.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Flexibility and Balance for Seniors

As we age, we grow stiff. Somehow the joints aren’t that flexible anymore. It is more difficult to get out from a car and even to sink into the seat, if you are a front passenger. Getting up from a chair also makes your knee joints protest. If you stand too long you may find your knees have “locked” and it can cause some discomfort when you try to “unlock” to walk or sit. Are you familiar with any of these?

I am and have been falling quite often lately. Not that I want to fall but somehow I find myself on the ground or floor depending on whether I’m indoors or out.

My doctor has been very kind and I attend her weekly exercise clinic at the hospital where senior ladies do their exercises under the nurses’ supervision. Balance and strengthening our muscles are what we do in our weekly sessions.

I have to do exercises to strengthen my hand and leg muscles so that I can “break” my fall or suffer less injury when I do fall. The exercises I do are for muscle strength and muscle power apart from improving my balance.

Balance is most important so that you won’t fall should you find yourself losing balance. You can quickly take steps to stop yourself from falling.

I’m most grateful to the doctor who is very caring and concerned over her charges whom she calls her “beautiful princesses”, among whom are those who have had knee replacements, fractured bones and who have twisted ankles and tennis elbows. We are all there each week to strengthen our muscles and to build better balance. It is a privilege to attend her special clinic, a rainbow privilege.