Painted Manhole Cover

I don't know why this particular manhole cover and the ones nearby, are decorated. Most aren't. They are outside the Bishan bus interchange. Love the colors. The picture is actually printed on plastic and glued onto the manhole cover. There are a few different pictures, and they aren't unique. The same picture is used on more than one cover.

Manhole covers in Singapore are square, not round. The black line in the middle is where the cover's double doors open up. The little teardrop shapes are raised bumps on the steel, so that you don't slip when walking on the cover. 

• Nikon D7000, 35mm f1.8
• At 35mm, f6.7, ISO 100, 1/180 seconds
• Program exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
• Picasa: Auto contrast, crop, highlights.

Singapore Post, Post Box Artwork, Official Graffiti

Most of the post boxes I see are plain white, but a few seem to have custom artwork. Probably official, I doubt this is graffiti. This one is near the Bukit Batok bus interchange. 

• Nikon D7000, 35mm f1.8
• At 35mm, f4, ISO 100, 1/60 seconds
• Program exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
• Picasa: Auto contrast

Bao Today, Chinese Cafe

Bao Today is a franchise chain ( http://www.baotoday.com/ ). This one is outside the 313 building, Orchard Road, next to the Somerset MRT station.

Local restaurants and cafes don't use Chinese lanterns. Those that do, look touristy. I'm not saying that the food is not authentic. I'm just saying that the decor isn't local, but it sure makes for a pretty picture.

I've tried the porridge a few times. It's quite good: Catonese-style watery and boiled until the rice disintegrates.

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

Candylicious Store, Resorts World Sentosa

One of the more striking shops at Resorts Worlds (http://www.candyliciousshop.com/Candylicious_Press_Release.pdf). It's near Universal Studios. As it's name suggests, it sells sweets and chocolate. Unfortunately, I'm on a low-carb diet.

Petaled roof is part of the standard Resorts Worlds design. The candy trees are from Candylicious.

• Nikon D80, 12-24mm f4
• At 12mm, f6.7, ISO 100, 1/180 seconds
• Program exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
• Picasa: Auto contrast

SingTel Crab Advertisement

The crab, of course, is not real. It's plastic, beautifully and realistically painted. Pretty spectacular and eye-catching, as far as advertisements go. This is a Singtel (Singapore Telecoms) advertisement, for their "Red Rewards points" for restaurant discounts. Unfortunately, you need to read the fine print to find out what it's about, so I'm not sure how effective the advertisement is, no matter how good it looks.

Advertisement is at a bus stop opposite the National Library (you can see the library in the background). I'm not certain but I'm guessing that the advertising company pays for the construction of the bus stop, in exchange for permission from the LTA (Land Transport Authority) to sell advertisement space. I love capitalism. I'm just wondering who keeps the crab after the campaign is over. 

• Nikon D7000, 35mm f1.8
• At 35mm, f1.8, ISO 100, 1/90 seconds
• Program exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
• Picasa: Auto contrast, crop

Pan Pacific Serviced Suites

The Pan Pacific Serviced Suites are on the right ( http://www.panpacific.com/pan_pacific_service_suites_singapore/ ). Building on the left is the Orchard Building (blocking Cineleisure Orchard from sight). Building behind that is the Mandarin Orchard Hotel, with its distinctive canoe top.

Near Somerset Station, behind Orchard Road. The serviced suites have a cool-looking design, but I'm wondering what the curved bottom few levels, without windows, are. That's the recurring issue with architecture. The most efficient design is a rectangular block, but that's boring. More interesting designs always end up wasting space. 

Serviced suites (also called serviced apartments) are a cross between a hotel and an apartment. They are short-term rental apartments or long-term rental hotels (weeks or months). They are furnished and cleaned by staff like a hotel, and have a kitchen like an apartment.

• Nikon D7000, 35mm f1.8
• At 35mm, f4.8, ISO 100, 1/90 seconds
• Program exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
• Picasa: Auto contrast, crop, fill light, color temperature

The Gateway, Beach Road

Well-known office building near Suntec City, designed by I. M. Pei ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gateway_(Singapore) ). There are two towers, which is what most photos show. I thought that this angle, showing only one tower from the side, would be more interesting.

Building plan is diamond-shaped, so it looks flat when viewed from some angles. You can see part of the "hidden" side of the building, on the right, which spoils the illusion a bit. This is the thin side of the building, which makes the building look slimmer than it is.

• Nikon D7000, 35mm f1.8
• At 35mm, f11, ISO 100, 1/500 seconds
• Program exposure, center-weighted metering, auto white balance
• Picasa: Auto contrast, crop