SHOPHOUSES OF SINGAPORE'S CHINATOWN

 On my recent trip I stayed a few days in a hotel in Chinatown.  I fell in love again with the shophouses there so am sharing a few photos of them here .....along with the small garden ideas they used.  The shophouses are from the late 19th, early 20th century era and were very practical buildings that allowed families to live above their businesses.  These are considered heritage buildings now and since the 1980s there has been a movement to restore them to their former grandeur.  The budget hotel I stayed at was formed from several of them.  New generation restaurants are moving in next to the old school coffee shops and community temples.  Young professionals are buying up old dilapidated shophouses, and moving in after restoration work is done.  Note the old Peranakan style tiles that are part of their beauty.  You will see them better if you click on one of the photos to see an enlarged slide show.

Aloha

FLOWER OFFERINGS AT THE TEMPLE OF THE TOOTH

 I have been off traveling for a few months in Asia and am now back home and going through my travel photos.  I will be posting some of them over the next few weeks as I get myself organized.  Today is just a quick one about my visit to the lovely city of Kandy up in the mountains of central Sri Lanka.  At the center of the city is a royal palace complex next to a man-made lake.  The most important building of the complex is Sri Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.  Buddhists, both local and international, arrive as white clothed pilgrims with floral tributes to offer along with prayers at the home of the Buddha's tooth.  There are many stalls outside the temple gates selling flowers or you could bring your own from home.

Aloha