Food Republic Food Court, VivoCity

Food Republic is a food court chain that is owned by BreadTalk (http://www.breadtalk.com/foodrepublic/).

This one at VivoCity is right next to the monorail train station to Sentosa. It has dark wooden furnishings: chairs, tables, food stalls. Making it look traditional and even village-like, even though it is in a mall. Don't be fooled by the small entrance, the place is huge (and always crowded). There are also mini restaurants inside, where tables are cordoned off and reserved for patrons of a specific stall.

• Nikon D80, 12-24mm f4
• At 12mm, f4, ISO 360, 1/30 seconds
• Program exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance, auto ISO
• Picasa: Auto contrast, crop

The Michael Hotel, Sentosa

Part of the Resorts World Sentosa complex, it's right next to the Waterfront monorail train station.

I thought it was named after Michael Jackson, but their website (http://www.rwsentosa.com/language/en-US/Hotels/HotelMichael) says that it is named after architect Michael Graves.

It's sometimes called The Michael, other times Hotel Michael. It looks like a circular tower from this angle, but it is a standard long block, though with a funky baroque roof which you can't see from this angle. This is the rounded end of the block. White petals on the right are the shaded roof of the pedestrian walkway. Red stick at the bottom is a fire hydrant.

• Nikon D80, 12-24mm f4
• At f8, ISO 100, 1/250 seconds
• Program exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
• Picasa: Auto contrast, crop

Had to wait a few minutes for a clear shot, without people walking by and cluttering up the photo. That's part of the fun of photography, the waiting. It's like fishing that way.

Hard Rock Hotel, Sentosa

Yes, it's the cafe guys, branching out into hotels (http://www.rwsentosa.com/language/en-US/Hotels/HardRockHotel). Part of the Sentosa Resorts World complex (casino, Universal Studios and a few hotels), what the government calls an "integrated resort" or IR.

Resorts World is built like a slice of pie, with the monorail train station on one side and Hard Rock Hotel on the other. The standard way to walk there from the train station is indoors, through the complex buildings, which is the route the guides will ask you to use. But this takes you along the outer edge of the pie. There's a shortcut along the inner edge of the pie, less than half the distance, but there are no signs or human guides standing around to help you. 

• Nikon D80, 12-24mm f4
• At 12mm, f8, ISO 100, 1/250 seconds
• Program exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
• Picasa: Strighten, auto contrast, crop

Wisma Atria Shopping Centre

Wisma Atria is at the start of Orchard Road, next to the Orchard MRT Station. Its basement level is directly connected to the station. It has been around awhile, but has kept up to date with facelifts for the facade.

I like it because it is one of the few that proudly displays its name on the front. I'm often in some strange area, looking out for a specific shopping complex because it is a landmark, see one, but then can't find its name anywhere on its outside. I've walked past many of the new shopping complexes along Orchard, and I still don't know their names.

You can see the Food Republic food court at the top left. It's a chain with branches all over Singapore.

Website is http://www.wismaonline.com/

• Nikon D7000, 35mm f1.8
• At f2.8, ISO 100, 1/60 seconds
• Program exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
• Picasa: Auto contrast, crop

Had to take the photo from an angle because the 35mm isn't wide enough to fit everything in if I'm flat-on straight at 90 degrees. Actually looks better this way. Using the non-zoom 35mm has forced me to explore different angles, instead of simply zooming to fit.

Jelapang Road Sunset, Aerial View

Nothing much to say. A lot of photography is being at the right place at the right time.

It's 7:15pm. Long, low building in the center is a car park. The buildings are HDB public housing. Track is for the LRT, station is Jelapang. 

• Nikon D7000, 35mm f1.8
• At f2.0, ISO 400, 1/30 seconds
• Manual exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
• Picasa: Auto contrast

SDP (Social Democratic Party) Election Rally, Jelapang

Taken from the public corridor of the top (17th) storey of a nearby HDB flat. I was prepared to go down a floor if any of the residents there objected. Instead, one lady saw me through her gate (she left the main door open) and asked me if I wanted a stool. Surprisingly, I was the only one at the top. I was expecting a crowd. 

Stage is the red rectangle on the left. Blue blob at the top is the media platform with a bunch of cameras. Diagonal line at the bottom is the LRT track. You can see a portable toilet next to the pillar at the bottom. Guys in fluorescent green are policemen in raincoats. Light rain, so everyone was under an umbrella or using the LRT track as shelter.  

• Nikon D7000, 35mm f1.8
• At f2.8, ISO 800, 1/30 seconds
• Manual exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
• Picasa: Crop, auto contrast

Singapore Visitors Centre, Orchard Road

There are a few Singapore Visitors Centres. For example, there's one in each of the three Changi Passenger Terminals (1, 2, and 3). Good place to get free city maps (also available at most hotel lobbies). They are run by the Singapore Tourism Board (http://www.yoursingapore.com/content/traveller/en/plan-your-trip/travel-essentials/singapore-visitors-centres.html).

This one is in the heart of Orchard Road, near The Heeren and Centrepoint. It has been here for years already, but I can't help thinking that it's only going to be around until someone buys that piece of land and builds a shopping centre.

Entrance is at the right. On the left is Duck & Hippo, a city tours company (http://sgsnaps.blogspot.com/2011/02/duck-and-hippo-sightseeing-bus.html) .

• D7000, 35mm 1.8
• At f2, ISO 800, 1/30 seconds. Quite flat subject, so don't need much depth of field. Set f2 to allow lower ISO to be used and get less noise. Set shutter to 1/30 seconds, about minimum speed to get decent photos with the 35mm (not much margin for error, need to hold the camera steady), increase ISO until exposure is okay.
• Manual exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
• Picasa: Crop 

Black letters look faded, but that's how they look in real life.