Saturday, 31 December 2011

Wishes for 2012


Healthy and Happy People
Healthy and Happy Planet
Is this too much to wish for?

Sunday, 25 December 2011

Singapore Art Museum - SAM

YK’s 2-Cents: 


SAM's collection is a far cry from the impressive collection in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City - even it's acronym MoMA is better known than SAM.


Hyung Koo Kang's 'Burning Glaze' 


comprises hyper realism mainly paintings of icons.


when it's 









Christmas at the Museums

Thanks to the National Heritage Board's Christmas Day Open House, we 3 culture vultures each saved $32 of admission charges to the 4 museums that we visited today.
Since it opens at 9am, we first visited the 'Singapore Philatelic Museum'.

Culture vultures Sam, Lynn and YK @SPM


Next we walked along Armenian Street to the 'Peranakan Museum'.


After some appreciate of Tin Tin stamps and Peranakan culture, the 3 cheapskates, er... I mean culture vultures, decided on lunch at Wendy's as restaurants in museums looked pricey.


We then walked to the Singapore Art Museum just across the road. 
http://y--k.blogspot.com/2011/12/singapore-art-museum-sam.html
Culture vultures Sam, Lynn and YK @SAM


Saving the best for the last, we queued for about 20 min (you see, we were not the only cheapskates) to enter the National Museum of Singapore to view a small selection of paintings, photographs and drawings from the  Musée d’Orsay, Paris.


The 3 culture vultures certainly enjoyed their Christmas at the museums on the cheap 
- goes to show one can satisfy aesthetic needs before safety needs!

Christmas Greetings

Merry Christmas
Buon Natale
Joyeux Noël
... ميلاد مجيد 
Fröhliche Weihnachten
חג מולד שמח
Feliz Navidad
圣诞快乐
メリークリスマス

Saturday, 24 December 2011

Tracking Santa with NORAD

Day 24 of YK’s Advent Blog


Do you believe in Santa?  What if you can follow him as he travels around the whole wide world?


I'm tracking Santa with NORAD this year, beginning at local time 15:00 at  


Following are videos of Santa as he's being spotted:
18:00 Santa gets ready to set off from North Pole
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M85UxCP_KBM&feature=player_embedded


19:30 Santa passes the North Pacific Islands
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtFJd2BGd7s&feature=player_embedded


19:50 Santa is spotted at Auckland, New Zealand
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcrpucFCmY4&feature=player_embedded


21:50 Santa flies over one of the most livable city Melbourne, Australia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M2fpm6Etzo&feature=player_embedded#!


22:40 Santa flies over Sendai, Japan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVUlipeY6_k&feature=player_embedded


23:00 Santa flies over the Great Wall of China
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWDbSgQnh8s&feature=player_embedded


25 December 2011
00:00 Santa flies over Jakarta, Indonesia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE1MfHYaF1Q&feature=player_embedded

00:16 Santa flies over Singapore!  YEAH!!


I continue to track after waking up:


07:20 Santa flies over Paris, France
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUeXHiJ4edI&feature=player_embedded#!






15:00 Santa flies across Maui, USA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo0bsAANaPc&feature=player_embedded


18:00 Santa goes home to the North Pole




Yes, I so believe in Santa!  Merry Christmas!!

Friday, 16 December 2011

Sleigh Ride

Year: 1950
Composer: Leroy Anderson (1948)
Lyricist: Mitchell Parish (1950)
Origin: America
Singer: Leroy Anderson (Original)


My favorite version by The Carpenters (1978) with the most unique and unforgettable voice of Karen Carpenter:
Sing-along with Johnny Mathis (1958):


Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring ting tingling too
Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you
Outside the snow is falling and friends are calling "yoo hoo",
Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you.

Giddy yap, giddy yap, giddy yap, let's go, Let's look at the show,
We're riding in a wonderland of snow.
Giddy yap, giddy yap, gidd yap, it's grand, Just holding your hand,
We're gliding along with a song of a wintry fairy land

Our cheeks are nice and rosy and comfy cozy are we
We're snuggled up together like two birds of a feather would be
Let's take that road before us and sing a chorus or two
Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you.

There's a birthday party at the home of Farmer Gray
It'll be the perfect ending of a perfect day
We'll be singing the songs we love to sing without a single stop
At the fireplace while we watch the chestnuts pop. pop! pop! 

There's a happy feeling nothing in the world can buy
When they pass around the coffee and the pumpkin pie
It'll nearly be like a picture print by Currier and Ives
These wonderful things are the things we remember all through our lives!

Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring ting tingling too
Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you
Outside the snow is falling and friends are calling "yoo hoo",
Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you.

Our cheeks are nice and rosy and comfy cozy are we
We're snuggled up together like two birds of a feather would be

Outside the snow is falling and friends are calling "yoo hoo",
Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you.

Giddy yap, giddy yap, giddy yap, let's go, Let's look at the show,
We're riding in a wonderland of snow.
Giddy yap, giddy yap, gidd yap, it's grand, Just holding your hand,
We're gliding along with a song of a wintry fairy land

Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring ting tingling too
Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you
Outside the snow is falling and friends are calling "yoo hoo",
Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you.

Saturday, 10 December 2011

Adeste Fideles / O Come All Ye Faithful

Year: 
Composer: John Francis Wade
Lyricist: 
Origin: United Kingdom


Perfect rendition by Andrea Bocelli
Sing-along with Mario Lanza


(testo originale in latino)
Adeste fideles læti triumphantes,
venite, venite in Bethlehem.
Natum videte Regem angelorum.
Venite adoremus (3x)
Dominum. 

En grege relicto humiles ad cunas,
vocati pastores adproperant,
et nos ovanti gradu festinemus.
Venite adoremus (ter)
Dominum.

Æterni Parentis splendorem æternum,
velatum sub carne videbimus,
Deum infantem pannis involutum.
Venite adoremus (ter)
Dominum.

Pro nobis egenum et fœno cubantem
piis foveamus amplexibus;
sic nos amantem quis non redamaret?
Venite adoremus (ter)
Dominum.


Wiener Sängerknaben : Adeste Fideles.

Adeste Fideles,
Laeti triumphantes;
Venite, venite in Bethlehem;
Natum videte,
Regem Angelorum;

Refrain :
Venite adoremus
Venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus Dominum !

Deum de Deo,
Lumen de lumine,
Gestant puellae viscera;
Deum verum,
Genitum, non factum : 

Refrain

Cantet nunc hymnos
Chorus angelorum,
Cantet nunc aula caelestium:
Gloria, gloria,
In excelsis Deo !

Refrain

Ergo qui natus
Die hodierna,
Jesu tibi sit gloria:
Patris aeterni
Verbum caro factum !

Refrain
--------




Adeste fideles, laeti triumphantes,
Venite, venite in Bethlehem.
Natum videte regem angelorum:
Venite adoremus, venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus Dominum!

En grege relicto, humiles ad cunas
Vocati pastores approperant.
Et nos ovanti gradu festinemus:
Venite adoremus, venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus Dominum!

(Adeste fideles, laeti triumphantes,
Venite, venite in Bethlehem.)
Natum videte regem angelorum:
Venite adoremus, venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus Dominum!









O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;
Refrain
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal,
Lo, He shuns not the Virgin’s womb;
Son of the Father, begotten, not created;
Refrain
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;
Refrain
See how the shepherds, summoned to His cradle,
Leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze;
We too will thither bend our joyful footsteps;
Refrain
Lo! star led chieftains, Magi, Christ adoring,
Offer Him incense, gold, and myrrh;
We to the Christ Child bring our hearts’ oblations.
Refrain
Child, for us sinners poor and in the manger,
We would embrace Thee, with love and awe;
Who would not love Thee, loving us so dearly?
Refrain
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.
Refrain

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)

Year: 1944
Composer: Mel Tormé and Bob Wells 
Lyricist: Mel Tormé and Bob Wells
Origin: America
Singer: The Nat King Cole Trio (original)

The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree - Natalie Cole, daughter of Nat King Cole:

Sing-along with Nat King Cole:
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, 
Jack Frost nipping on your nose, 
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir, 
And folks dressed up like Eskimos. 

Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe, 
Help to make the season bright. 
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow, 
Will find it hard to sleep tonight. 

They know that Santa's on his way; 
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh. 
And every mother's child is going to spy, 
To see if reindeer really know how to fly. 

And so I'm offering this simple phrase, 
To kids from one to ninety-two, 
Although its been said many times, many ways, 
A very Merry Christmas to you 

Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht / Silent Night

Year: 1818
Composer: Franz Xaver Gruber (1818)
Lyricist: Josef Mohr (1816)
              John Freeman Young (1859) - English translation "Silent Night"
              Père Barjon (>1859) - French translation "Douce Nuit, Sainte Nuit"


Origin: Austria


This must be one of the most translated Christmas song with 44 translations, with all translations .  During the Christmas truce of World War I, it was sung in German, English and French by German, British and French troops respectively. 







Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!


Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Hirten erst kundgemacht
Durch der Engel Halleluja,
Tönt es laut von fern und nah:
Christ, der Retter ist da!
Christ, der Retter ist da!


Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund,
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund'.
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
Christ, in deiner Geburt!






Music: Franz Xaver Gruber, 1818
Words: John Freeman Young, 1863


Silent night, holy night
All is calm all is bright
'Round yon virgin Mother and Child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace


Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heav'nly hosts sing Alleluia;
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born


Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love's pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth






Douce nuit, sainte nuit !
Dans les cieux ! L'astre luit.
Le mystère annoncé s'accomplit
Cet enfant sur la paille endormi,
C'est l'amour infini ! [x2]

Saint enfant, doux agneau !
Qu'il est grand ! Qu'il est beau !
Entendez résonner les pipeaux
Des bergers conduisant leurs troupeaux
Vers son humble berceau ! [x2]

C'est vers nous qu'il accourt,
En un don sans retour !
De ce monde ignorant de l'amour,
Où commence aujourd'hui son séjour,
Qu'il soit Roi pour toujours ! [x2]

Quel accueil pour un Roi !
Point d'abri, point de toit !
Dans sa crèche il grelotte de froid
O pécheur, sans attendre la croix,
Jésus souffre pour toi ! [x2]

Paix à tous ! Gloire au ciel !
Gloire au sein maternel,
Qui pour nous, en ce jour de Noël,
Enfanta le Sauveur éternel,
Qu'attendait Israël ! [x2]






Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Year: 1943
Composer: Hugh Martin
Lyricist: Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin
Origin: America
Singer: Judy Garland (original)


Judy Garland singing this song to a very young Margaret O'Brien in the 1944 movie 'Meet Me in St. Louis'.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
Next year all our troubles will be
out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the yule-tide gay
Next year all our troubles will be
miles away
Once again as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who were near to us
Will be dear to us once more
Someday soon, we all will be together
If the Fates allow
Until then, we'll have to muddle through somehow
So have yourself a merry little Christmas now.

Frank Sinatra's jollier version:


Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on, 
our troubles will be miles away.

Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.

Through the years 
We all will be together,
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself A merry little Christmas now.  

Linda Ronstadt who sings both "muddle through somehow" and "hang a shining star":

Friday, 9 December 2011

El Burrito de Belén / Mi Burrito Sabanero

Year: 1976
Composer: Hugo Blanco 
Lyricist: Hugo Blanco
Origin: Venezuela
Singer: La Rondallita (Original)

















Con mi burrito sabanero, voy camino de Belén.
Con mi burrito sabanero, voy camino de Belén.
Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén.

Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén.

Tuquí, tuquí, tuquí, tuquí, 
Tuquí, tuquí, tuquí, tu,
Apúrate mi burrito
Que ya vamos a llegar

Tuquí, tuquí, tuquí, tuquí, 
Tuquí, tuquí, tuquí, tu,
Apúrate mi burrito
Vamos a ver a Jesús.
With my grasslands donkey, I'm going to Bethlehem.
With my grasslands donkey, I'm going to Bethlehem.
If they see me, if they see me, I'm going to Bethlehem.
If they see me, if they see me, I'm going to Bethlehem.
Tuquí, tuquí, tuquí, tuquí, 
Tuquí, tuquí, tuquí, tu,
Hurry up my donkey,
We are almost there.

Tuquí, tuquí, tuquí, tuquí, 
Tuquí, tuquí, tuquí, tu,
Hurry up my donkey,
We are going to see Jesus.