Stand on My Own Feet
One of my 2012 Resolutions was taking pictures along the Singapore River banks. I invited my son to go with me. He was doing the course of Film, Sound and Video at Ngee Ann Polytechnic then. Besides, he used to follow me taking pictures when he was young. I thought he would be interested with my invitation, but he did not.

I was a mentor of a young man at the last quarter of 2012. As we met regularly, I suggested that we take on that plan of taking pictures along the River banks. Time would be well spent for a planned activity as well as on a good hobby rather than doing nothing. But he preferred to live in the ease and comfort zone.

I came to know a new friend in 2013. He likes photo-taking and writing. I thought that he would be a good companion. But from his reply, I gave up inviting people any more.

After communicating with God every night, I finally had the answer. When doing my 2014 New Year Resolutions, I decided to ask God to lead me and guide me for the River Banks project. Let angels accompany me! Cheers!

The Determined First Step
It was not easy to take the first step. When getting ready to take a shower that morning, my wife used it and she took a long time. As I used to bath in the morning and before bed, I decided to get start without bathing. The weather was cooling and I did not sweat at night. So, let me put on the new shirt and trousers and go.

I then took a bus to the MRT Station. I met an abnormal old man on the bus. He sat next to me. He pretended to alight and then sat back to the seat. He tried to sit on me and did that for three times. I am thin. So I tried my best to squeeze myself to a side where there was no seat. I was angry. In order not to let that dirty old man spoil my morning, I alighted one bus stop before it reached the Bus Terminal. I walked to the MRT Station.

Although I was delay by those small problems, I was still very cheerful when I arrived at Queen Elizabeth Walk. It was sunny.

五叢樹腳 (At the Bottom of the Five Clumps of Trees)
When we were young, we called the Queen Elizabeth Walk in Chinese as "Bottom of the Five Clumps of Trees".
My cousin used to bring me here when I was young. Hence, I always remembered this place. It was an ideal place for lovers to spend their evening during those days. My cousin was not marry the. I wondered whether he admired those lovers.

Tan Kim Seng Fountain
The Tan Kim Seng Fountain was constructed to commemorate Mr. Tan Kim Seng for his donation made on 18 November 1857 towards the cost of the Singapore Water Works.

The monument was unveiled on 19 May 1882 at Fullerton Square. In 1925 the Fountain was relocated to the present site at the Esplanade.

Restoration work was carried out on the Fountain between January 1994 and August 1994. All broken and missing parts including the missing water spout at the tap have been replaced. An improved lighting and pumping system was provided. The Fountain was re-activated on 5 August 1994.

The Cenotaph
The Cenotaph was unveiled on 31 March 1922 by the Prince of Wales.

It was built to commemorate the 124 men who left the Straits Settlements, never to return from the war in Europe (1914 - 1918).

Denis Santry of Swan and Maclaren designed the Cenotaph. The Governor of the Straits Settlements, Sir Laurence Nunns Guillemard, laid the foundation stone on 15 November 1920.

By 1951, a dedication was made on the other side of the Cenotaph to commemorate those who died during the Second World War. No name was engraved, but the words of "THEY DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE".

Lim Bo Seng Memorial
The Lim Bo Seng Memorial was unveiled on 29 June 1954 to commemorate Mr. Lim Bo Seng, a member of the underground resistance section of Force 136.

He was brutally tortured to death in Batu Gajah Prison by the Japanese intelligence during the Second World War.

A Lim Bo Seng Memorial Committee was established to raise funds for this memorial.

Inscription on the Tablet

Major-General Lim Bo Seng was born on 27th April 1909 in an-An, Fukien, China. He came to Singapore at the age of 16. After studying at Raffles Institution and Hong Kong University, he inherited his father's business in Malaya.

Since 1937 he became prominent in anti-Japanese activities. When Singapore fell in 1942, he went to ChungKing and on instructions from the Chinese Government.

He joined the underground resistance section of 136 Force under the Supreme Allied Command Southeast Asia on 2nd November 1943 as Commanding Officer of the Malayan Chinese Section. He landed from a submarine at Bagan Datoh in Perak to join the British and Chinese Officers already working in Malaya with the Anti-Japanese Forces.

Later he left the jungle to work in Ipoh. But he was discovered and arrested by the Japanese Military Police on 27th March 1944. He manfully endured repeated tortures to which he ultimately succumbed on 29th June 1944, at the age of 35. He died in the Batu Gajah Prison. A martyr to the cause of a Liberated Malaya and to his loyalty to his comrades.

On 13th January 1946, he was buried with full military honours in Singapore.

(Erected by the Lim Bo Seng Memorial Committee 29th June 1954)

Where there is a Will, there is a Way
I brought two cameras that morning. I walked around Queen Elizabeth Walk and took pictures. There was drizzling at one time. I did not try to go away. I just looked around to see where I could take cover if there was a downpour.

With the help of God, through my own efforts, I took 145 picture and two videos within one and a half hours. I returned home with much satisfaction as if I had won the battle. Great!