Categories
Stamps

The 2010 Collection of Singapore Stamps

The 2010 Collection of Singapore Stamps is an annual stamp collection produced by Singapore Post in a coffee-table book style. This book contains all the stamp issues released over the year. It contains a total of 62 stamps and one miniature sheet, with a total face value of S$39.21. Of course, a list of technical details and an interesting write-up accompany each of the stamp issues.

Highlights include, the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games, a new series on National Monuments, the anniversaries of four organisations and the Kent Ridge Park Trail.

Purchases made before 31 December 2010 are at a special price of S$51.90. It would be increased to S$55 thereafter. Subject to stock, a year 2011 calendar will be given with every book purchased. Do read about last year’s annual collection 2009 too!

Year 2010 is coming to an end. We would like to wish all readers a pleasantly Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year ahead.

Images: Singapore Post

Categories
Running

Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2010

I have completed the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2010 held this morning, with a net time of 4:21:55. This is my second full marathon, with the previous being the Adidas Sundown Marathon 2009.

To give an overview of the full marathon route, I would divide it into four sections.

Starting in front of Wisma Atria, we ran down Orchard Road and Penang Road, then into Fort Canning Tunnel. This first stretch was rather comfortable as not much overtaking was required. The runners were grouped into pens, based on their estimated completion time. Next, we headed south towards Maxwell Food Court via New Bridge Road, which was the four-kilometre mark. We proceeded to cross the Esplanade Bridge, towards the Marina Bay Floating Platform, the Singapore Flyer and the F1 Pit Building. The eight-kilometre mark was at the end of the F1 Pit Building. This was followed by a straight run down Republic Avenue, Nicoll Highway, Mountbatten Road and Fort Road. For this 12-kilometre stretch, there were as many as five water points.

The next section is a run through East Coast Park, one of the favourite places where local races are held. This was a long 18-kilometre stretch nevertheless. When I entered, the sky was still dark, but when I left, the sun was already up in the sky. After a left turn into East Coast Park, we ran past Amber Beacon, Playground @ Big Splash, East Coast Lagoon and Bedok Jetty. Due to the width of the cycling and running tracks, there was little overcrowding. The turning point was somewhere in Area G. Just to add, I almost collided with a big dog which abruptly changed its course of movement.

For the next stretch, we ran alongside the construction site for the Marina Coastal Expressway. As this area was less shady due to the lack of trees, together with the possible effect of aches and cramps, many runners around me were brisk-walking, or simply walking. We ran past the Marina Bay Golf Course. One of the highlight of the marathon route was running across the Marina Barrage, which was rather scenic. We then proceeded towards Marina Mall, which gave a slight reprieve of the scorching heat from the sun.

The last stretch was probably one of the most challenging parts of the full marathon route. First, runners from the 10-kilometre category merged into one lane, where many of them were walking, talking on their mobile phones, eating sandwich, chatting with the person next to them and forming a barricade, blocking the way. After a right turn, we made a slight ascent up the Benjamin Sheares Bridge, where the two leftmost lanes were cordoned off. To make things worse, runners from the half marathon category joined the human jam just before the 38-kilometre mark. Honestly, it was rather difficult, or near impossible, to overtake. One suggestion would be to separate the three different categories, or at the least have race marshals directing those who are not running to both sides. It was similar for the last few kilometres, but things changed for the better after a left turn at the Esplanade. We continued to run towards The Fullerton Hotel Singapore and across Anderson Bridge. The final sprint was alongside the Padang, similar to the Safra Singapore Bay Run & Army Half Marathon.

On the whole, the marathon was well-planned. Of course, the congestion problem for the last four kilometres can be improved. Just a side note, the distance markers seemed to be quite different from that as indicated on the map. For example, the 21-kilometre mark was after the turning point on the map, but before the turning point in reality. Also, it reads 34 kilometres on the map while a 35 kilometre sign stands at the end of Marina Barrage.

Next year, I will be participating in the Sundown Marathon 2011 full marathon and 100-kilometre Sundown Ultramarathon 2011.

Categories
Banknotes

Comparing $10 Polymer Note: 2004 and 2008 Versions

Today’s article published in The Straits Times entitled ‘Take note: It’s not fake’ pointed out that the ‘lighter-coloured $10 bills are from (the) first polymer batch in 2004’. This was to clarify the existence of such notes with a lighter tone and to urge those in the sales sector to accept them as legal tender.

I have written the following in February 2008, a few weeks after the release of the new banknotes.

The new series of S$10 polymer notes were released in late January 2008, bearing the signature of the Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Goh Chok Tong. This was a move after the success of introducing the first batch of 10 million polymer notes to determine the suitability of using such notes in Singapore.

On 30th April 2004, the MAS announced the introduction of a new $10 Polymer Portrait Note on 4 May 2004. The new polymer notes have a design similar to the paper version, with some additional features unique to polymer technology. This is to preserve the public familiarity of the notes, as well as to minimise any alterations to note handling machines. The Portrait Series was launched on 9 September 1999 to welcome the new millennium.

The serial numbers for the first edition of the $10 polymer note had prefixes from 0AA to 9AA, then from 0AB to 2AB. The prefix 9AA was supposed to be the last of the series, but the error rate was so high that it went on all the way to 2AB. Banknotes that were misprinted were not replaced by a ‘replacement note’. Instead, this note is removed from the stack automatically by the machine, thus accounting for the jumps in serial numbers in uncirculated stacks of banknotes.

The first edition of the note, signed by the former Chairman of the MAS, Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, has the same dimensions as its paper counterpart. The 2004 edition is printed by Note Printing Australia (NPA), which has also printed the commemorative $20 note released in 2007 to mark the 40th anniversary of the currency interchangeability agreement between Brunei Darussalam and Singapore.

A limited edition folder of 10,000 sets worldwide was issued with notes bearing the prefix ‘MAS’, with a limit of not more than two sets per customer. A special overprint commemorates this first note issue of the MAS.

To protect the interest of our currency, I have included some of the more notable differences between the 2004 polymer notes and 2008 polymer notes. Please note that the following are just my observations under close scrutiny, and was done back in February 2008. There are other minor differences which were found between the two batches of banknotes as well.

Serial number for illustration purposes only.

Perhaps, these variations, together with the mysterious symbols found on our banknotes, would spark some interest in note collecting.

Categories
Running

Run for Hope Singapore 2010

This morning, I participated in Run for Hope Singapore 2010, which is a charity run in support of National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS). The 10-kilometre run was held at East Coast Park, Angsana Green near Carpark E2. As the flag-off timing was at 7:45 am, the second half of the route was rather hot.

Today’s route was rather congested as many started out slowly. As no official timing is given, my watch recorded a timing of 48 minutes 19 seconds. However, the estimated distance for the route was 9.2 kilometres. Nevertheless, this was certainly a meaningful run, since it is in support of cancer research.

Up next on my list would be the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore (SCMS) 2010, which would start from the popular shopping district Orchard. The 42-kilometre route passes through the Marina Bay area, Mountbatten Road and East Coast Park.

Map Illustration by Run for Hope Singapore

Categories
Stamps

Festivals in Singapore

It’s Hari Raya Haji today, one of the festivals celebrated by the Malay population in the multiracial and multicultural island of Singapore. Definitely, festivals are something which should be featured on postage stamps, especially to foster good relationship among different cultures and races in Singapore.

On 20 October 2010, a set of eight stamps were issued by Singapore Post, including four 1st Local stamps and four 55 cents stamps. Designed by Tze Ngan, these stamps are also available as a collectors’ sheet with all stamps foiled.

From left to right, the first pair of stamps features the Chinese New Year, which is the most important traditional Chinese festival. This is characterised by the generous use of red and gold in the design, the two colours which are seen as most auspicious during the festive period. A pair of mandarin oranges is featured on the 55c stamp, which symbolises fortune in the year ahead.

The next pair of stamps depicts Christmas. Celebrated by both Christians and non-Christians on 25 December each year, it commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. In Singapore, this festival is generally associated with the sharing of gifts. During the month of December, colourful assorted decorations fill up the various shopping districts around Singapore.

The third pair of stamps decked in different tints of green marks Hari Raya Aidilfitri. This day marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. On this day, the Muslims would wear their traditional costumes while visiting their relatives and friends. The 55c stamps shows the ketupat, a form of rice dumpling, which is commonly found in Southeast Asian countries.

The last two stamps illustrate the festival of Deepavali, commonly known as the Festival of Lights. In Singapore, this holiday is often celebrated by the Hindus and Sikhs, lighting several rows of clay lamps filled with oil, as shown on the 55c stamp. This is done to ward off evil and usher in the good. This day would also mark the start of a new financial year for most Indian businesses.

Categories
Banknotes

A Square on Your $5 Note

A new variety of the Singapore $5 banknote is finally spotted, with one square dot on its reverse. The small brown symbol is printed beneath the word ‘Garden City’ on the bottom left corner. These symbols have been introduced on polymer and paper notes since 2007, as a new security feature used by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to authenticate the notes.

Similar to the latest banknotes in general circulation, these polymer notes bear the signature of MAS Chairman SM Goh Chok Tong. Serial numbers for this variety are believed to start at 3AA. So far, I have sighted the following prefixes in circulation: 3AC, 3AD, 3AF, 3AH, 3AJ, 3AN. If you happen to see any other prefixes for this new variety, please leave a message in the comment box below or drop me an email.

Earlier today, a bank teller has informed me that she had seen a $1000 banknote with one triangle on its reverse, with its serial number starting with 2. If you happen to come across such a note, a scan of the note is greatly appreciated.

Categories
Banknotes

Your $10 Note Now Comes with a Triangle

The Singapore $10 banknote now comes in another variety, with one triangle on its reverse. These polymer notes bear the signature of Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore. The serial numbers for the one triangle variety begin with 3AA.

As described by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, ‘there may be other shapes, such as circles, stars or triangles’. So far, only the square, triangle and diamond shapes are observed in general circulation. Perhaps this would mean that it would take some time before another series of banknotes is launched. Nevertheless, these symbols certainly created a level of curiosity within collectors.

To date, only the $5 and $10000 denominations remain devoid of the mysterious symbols. The following table summarises the different varieties found for each denomination of Singapore’s banknotes.

The Portrait series of notes was introduced back in 1999. Three different signature varieties have been featured on this series over the past eleven years. They include BCCS Chairman Richard Hu from September 1999, MAS Chairman PM Lee Hsien Loong from May 2004 and MAS Chairman SM Goh Chok Tong from January 2008.

Categories
Running

New Balance Real Run 2010

The New Balance Real Run 2010 was held yesterday morning at Changi Coast. The route was similar to that of previous years – 4 kilometres of trail, followed by 7.4 kilometres of road, 600 metres of sand and another 3 kilometres of road.

The 15-kilometre run was completed with a net time of 1:25:07 (PB).

The first four kilometres of trail was quite comfortable, as the weather was neither too hot nor too cold. Up next is a straight stretch of road down Aviation Park Road, followed by a left turn to the Coastal Park Connector. Making an about turn 8.4 kilometres into the run, we headed towards the Changi Beach Park. At the 10-kilometre mark, the time elapsed was still safely under 50 minutes. The indicators for the 10-kilometre and 11-kilometre marks seemed to be placed more than a kilometre apart. Up next was the 600 metres of sand while running along the beach. As we were running parallel to a 15 degree slope, it was not easy to maintain balance. This year, the sand was rather soft compared to last time.

Lastly, my timing for the 10-kilometre Mizuno Wave Run last Sunday was 0:54:48 due to a slow start. Overtaking was almost impossible on the five-foot walkway that lasted the first three kilometres.

Categories
Stamps

Kent Ridge Park Trail

Kent Ridge Park, a 47-hectare public park located along the south-western coast of Singapore, has been featured on a recent stamp issue. Singapore Post has released this set of four se-tenant stamps on 22 September 2010 which features the World War II historical site.

Kent Ridge Park was then known as Pasir Panjang Ridge. In 1942, the place was used by the British to defend Singapore against the Japanese. One of the hills in the park, Bukit Chandu, was the site for the Battle for Pasir Panjang, one of the last battles bitterly fought by the Malay Regiment against the Japanese during the war. Today, a colonial bungalow stands at 31K Bukit Chandu. It was converted to the Reflections at Bukit Chandu museum after restoration works to commemorate the patriots.

Categories
Stamps

1990 Asian Games Maximum Cards

This set of six maximum cards (or simply, maxi-cards) was issued on 22 September 1990, and are released to celebrate the 11th Asian Games held in Beijing, China. The third series of stamps for the Games was released on 22 September 1990, the opening day of the Games. Today’s date marks exactly 20 years since the opening day. The stamps were designed by Lu Dehui and Liu Bo.

Featuring a similar illustration compared to the postage stamp, the sketches on the maximum cards are more detailed. They depict Track and Field (4 fen), Gymnastics (8 fen), Wushu (10 fen), Volleyball (20 fen), Swimming (30 fen) and Shooting (1.60 yuan). The stamps have a dimension of 40 mm by 30 mm with a perforation of 11 by 11.5. These maxi-cards are cancelled in Beijing and dated 1990.9.22.9.

The 11th Asian Games was held from 22 September 1990 to 7 October 1990.