You can now have your very own Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantry at home! To be more exact, it is a miniature version of the gantry. As the ERP gantry has become a unique landmark on the streets of Singapore, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has specially transformed the ubiquitous ERP gantries into mini-souvenirs.

These include an ERP gantry digital table clock, a mug and a set of coasters. The mug is the one which interests me the most. When it is filled with warm water, the words ‘In Operation’ will become visible on the gantries. From the article, an LTA spokesperson says, ‘Many foreign visitors had always bring a souvenir which could represent Singapore back home, and a design inspired by the ERP will serve this purpose.’

Now, if you are wondering where to get these souvenirs, it can be obtained from the Land Transport Gallery at 1 Hampshire Road. However, these souvenirs do not come cheap. The digital clock costs $20, and the mug and set of coasters would each set you back by $10. However, you can do your part for charity as proceedings from the sale will be donated to the LTA Cares Fund, which provides transport subsidies for the poor and disabled.

This article appeared in Lianhe Zaobao on 6 May 2009.

Today, Singapore Post Limited released a new stamp issue on two flowering plants – the Pigeon Orchid and the Blue Pea Vine. This is to add variation to the 2007 Definitive stamps featuring various plants and animals.

The Pigeon Orchid (Dendrobium crumenatum) is a member of the family Orchidaceae. This orchid produces white, fragrant flowers with a yellow tinted throat. From the side, the orchid is resembles a flying pigeon, and hence, it is also commonly known as the Pigeon Orchid. This epiphytic plant, is common in Singapore and Malaysia, growing naturally on trees. It is a widely cultivated ornamental and landscape plant.

The Blue Pea Vine (Clitoria ternatea), also commonly known as the Butterfly Pea, is a vine native to tropical and equatorial Asia. A perennial climber with a woody base, it can climb tall grasses and crops, grows well in moist neutral soil and requires little care. It has been used as a leguminous mulch within elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) to improve the grass protein levels. Now it is widely grown as an ornamental plant. The flowers are harvested and are a traditional source of a blue food colour.

Machines are really getting more and more creative today. Even simple machines such as a sushi roller can be created! Apart from the traditional style of rolling sushi with the bamboo mat, this machine can produce the same tasty sushi. Simply load with short-grain Japanese rice (or any other types of rice that is available), add some ingredients such as cucumber or tuna, then adding more rice, pull the level like a jackpot machine, then finally winding a piece of seaweed in. Release the lever and in front of you is a perfectly round sushi roll.

This masterpiece was designed by Osko+Deichmann from Germany, and will be on showcase at the Kitchen Ecology Exhibition in Los Angeles coming June. Perhaps, with this simple yet innovative machine, many of us can prepare sushi at a faster rate than using a bamboo mat, but it is not necessarily the case for shops selling sushi. Currently, The Restaurant does not have any plans to get such a machine as of yet!

Article: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10225104-1.html

It is really amazing that roads can be built so deep underground. With the Kallang Paya-Lebar Expressway (KPE) built across a river underwater, now the Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE) too is built literally, under water. The tunnel will pass under the Singapore River, near the Marina Barrage. This new five-lane expressway will be the tenth expressway in Singapore, providing a link to the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE), the East Coast Parkway (ECP) and the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE). This is to cater to the likely increase in traffic volume around the Marina Bay area, especially with the opening of the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort and the upcoming Marina Bay Financial Centre.

Stretching 3.6 km from end to end, the MCE runs through reclaimed land. It also consists of more than 0.4 km of tunnel running directly under the seabed of Marina Bay. The MCE is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2013, not long after the opening of the Integrated Resort. These developments in architectural techniques have allowed Singapore to make full use of her limited land space.

Since 1 October 2008, the Public Transport Council has introduced changes to the system of calculating fares for public transport such as buses and trains. Also known as ‘distance-based throughfares’, the fares will be calculated based on the distance travelled. Commuters can then choose the route which allows them to reach their destination with flexibility, based on shortest travelling time, or minimum walking distance. Also, the transfer rebates have increased. Soon, in the coming months, this will be in full effect, where the fare for the transfer journey would be comparable to that of a direct journey.

Well, it appears to me that the ‘better and fairer’ fare system does not benefit students much. Even though I have to agree that 44 cents per trip is really subsidised, down from 45 cents before 1 April this year, it would be great if the price would be the same up to 3 transfers. I have realised that some students would rather walk a longer distance just to save the additional 34 cents of transfer. Even though the 34 cents seems small, it would cost more than $100 per year! If the price was increased to 60 cents per trip, similar to the new system of calculating fares for adults, those who require transfer journeys would be able to benefit.

Since they are able to give adults a ‘better and fairer’ public transport fare system, why not allow students to enjoy a similar version as well? After all, the aim is to encourage commuters to have flexibility in deciding the best route to take to reach their destination.