We have an archaic height limit which restricts our desires to go up and up and up. Will we end up having to go down instead? I was quite apprehensive of the prospects of living in a world witout windows and sunlight, but somethings seems destined?

What do the rest of you think?

Caverns likely for Jurong Island

JTC will most probably build underground storage facility

By Woon Tai Keat

THE JTC Corporation is close to going ahead with plans for a $760 million underground cavern complex on Jurong Island. After two years of studying the feasibility of using large underground caverns to store crude oil, petroleum and petrochemical products, Singapore's largest industrial landlord is set to decide on it.

'There is a high probability that we will go ahead with the project,' a spokesman told The Straits Times yesterday. If that happens, construction of the 70m-deep caverns covering an area of about 80ha underground - the size of 100 football fields - could be completed by 2008. The estimated cost of building the proposed complex of 32 caverns - each 18m wide, 22m high and 100-150m long - works out to be much cheaper than storing oil above ground.

By using the underground storage caverns, JTC would be able to free up land for more high-value-added activities, such as building a petrochemical complex. Safety is another plus, as there will be little risk of explosion due to accident, leakage or attack underground - all dangers inherent in surface storage tanks.

The benefits of going underground here have already been proven by the Defence Ministry's underground ammunition facility in Mandai. It is expected to open this year and will free up 300ha of land, equivalent to half the size of Pasir Ris New Town.

Research into the Jurong Island project started in July 2001, when boreholes were drilled into the west of the island to assess the rock quality and to select a cavern site. The most suitable site was found in the area adjacent to the Banyan LogisPark, a logistics park now under construction.

JTC, together with researchers from Nanyang Technological University, are now working on detailed technical studies for specific locations and assessing the economic viability of constructing the caverns.

A business taskforce comprising industry players, including Jurong Island customers, has also been set up to work out issues including who will pay for the construction of the caverns, as well as manage and operate them.

wow..I dont think there are any underground housing projects planned. Sounds too radical. I heard Japan has those.

However underground storage facilities/carparks are definitely ideal:cool:

Other than for living spaces for ppl I think that almost everything else can be put undergroud. You can even get full spectrum lighting underground nowaday with Fiberoptics. So you CAN bring the sunlight under the earth!

I am sceptical,ok for underground metro tunnel but living underground?. Why not build more artificial islands instead?


:)

The thing is that the sea around us is fully utilised for ships to use as anchorages and for passage. That is just how small even our sea area is!! :D

Er...but what is this Fiberoptics thing?? ;)

We already have CitiLink... why not? It's a great idea. But living underground would be a bit of a problem. I mean, no windows? I can imagine the long lines forming at psyhological wards of people suffering from caustrophobia.....

I did think of citylink too...but think about....you dont see windows often in above ground malls to right? :D Therefore its no big deal about citylink becoming very successful?

Ewww, what a nightmare! Living underground!

Being on the first floor is bad enough, but go negative???:D

Well..how about virtual windows which show virtual outdoors? :D

Originally posted by huaiwei

Well..how about virtual windows which show virtual outdoors? :D

I also thought of that, and that it would be like huge televisions, but making it look 3-D will be a problem.

But the good this is that you can move to another city with a click of a button.:)

Waahha!! How about having it fully height adjustable? :D

Originally posted by EyeToEye

We already have CitiLink... why not? It's a great idea. But living underground would be a bit of a problem. I mean, no windows? I can imagine the long lines forming at psyhological wards of people suffering from caustrophobia.....

No offence but this is one of the greatest myth associated with underground facilities. Of course, we are not talking about bunkers here.

Being underground doesn't means that the quality of the space have to suffer in anyway at all. It depends on how effectively these spaces are being dealt with. There are many strategies and considerations to make underground spaces habitable, if not a better place to be compared to many above ground facilities. The use of skylights is one strategy that worked well for many underground facilities. In an area where there is nothing much to look out to, perhaps looking upwards will give you the most inspiring view of all. There are many projects around that illustrate this point if you know where to look. I.M. Pei's Louvre is one. Citylink is probably one of the most inspiring and important piece of architecture that Singapore has seen in quite a while.

Hey you are back, kit! :)

Well...I think alot of us associate underground living with a sense of being "enclosed" despite being in a cavenous place? It does need some getting used to I suppose, just like how people once disliked living in high-rises?

But if skylights are required to open up the underground space, it does not actually solve our land shortage problem, in fact, having skylights means to waste space as buildings cannot be built over it.
Also, to actually make underground spaces habitable, large amounts of air conditioning is needed to provide a circulation of the air within the space. I think underground spaces are more of a "novelty" rather than a solution.

I feel that underground spaces are problems to be solved, while normal high-rises are solved problems to be improved.

just what I think about B1, B2, B3...:)

dun think i wanna live underground. but underground for other purposes is a good idea.

Skylights are just one of the many strategies used in underground facilities and again, it is a misconception to think that the whole subterranean complex has to be exposed to the ouside in order to get adequate natural lighting. Intelligent use of sun angles and reflection devices will bring in more natural lighting into the interior without punching a big hole in the ceiling. This has also been proven in many projects. Periscopes has been used in the past to direct views (and natural light) from above ground into subterrenean interiors and these periscopes don't occupy much space above ground either.

In many instances, subterranean complexes are not just built in desperation but in attempt to free up spaces above ground for public amenities like parklands, open spaces, green pockets, etc. In a way, subterrenean facilities increases density but its impact on the environment visually is kept to the minimal.

As for air-conditioning the interior, this might be a problem in the tropics but definitely not the case in temperate countries. That's because subterrenean complexes are surrounded by thick concrete diaphram walls which function as a thermal insulator. So not as much air-conditioning is required compared to above ground buildings in the summer and vice versa in the winter. Even in the tropics, various strategies can be adopted to reduce the reliance on mechanical ventilation and air conditioning. One such techniques would be evapourative cooling. These techniques are sadly missed out by many local architects. If done intelligently, an underground complex might even be more energy efficient than a skyscraper, even in the tropics.

Also, we have to be pragmatic. Don't expect any subterranean facilities 1km underground in the forseeable future in Singapore. That only happen in the Matrix. More of something like the Citylink would be good.

Not wanting to sound like a smart **** but I've spent a semester studying Melbourne's underground facilities and network and subterrenean facilities in some other countries as part of my final year thesis research. I was skeptical at first but at the end of it, I found that one is only limited by one's imagination.

Well, I wouldn't mind living underground on some -50 floor :D That is if I do not have to take the crappy elevator to go to the surface to have fun - I mean, I want a whole underground city with multiple levels and different facilities. Of course that would mean no commieblocks, but I would giva that up for living underground :yes: Surface sucks and that's a fact. I would also love to live on a floating city - like that one project planned in the 80's by Russians to build a floating (aerostat) station on Venus, 50 km above the surface where the acid clouds are below you and the temperature is around 30 C. :eek:

The only thing that bothers me when thinking about underground cities - what if a big fire starts on the forst floor? :?

fire only goes upwards i think :)

i was wondering what happens in an earthquake??

also... hdb should really build carparks underneath each hdb block... frees up space and so much more convenient.. it's such a PAIN walking 4 minutes to the carpark....

Originally posted by heirloom

fire only goes upwards i think :)

By first floor I mean the bottom floor :D
Although you are right - it should be called -50 floor :eek:
Crazy!
But that's what I mean - if the fire starts there everyone who isn't on the very top floors is doomed to fry down there :runaway:

Originally posted by heirloom

i was wondering what happens in an earthquake??



Dont think that should occur in Singapore?

But anyway I dont think we are in dire need of such measures yet. We still havent finished all the land reclamation projects, building of taller apartments and in future we can even live on that rubbish-dump-island.

btw I read a chapter on MegaFloat proposals, based on what has been done in Japan, where you live in huge offshore communities. But I dont think its feasible for Singapore.

If you guys are interested, take a look at this book. http://images.amazon.com/images/P/3764369086.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
I'm not sure if its available in Singapore though. Bought mine in Melbourne.

Originally posted by heirloom

fire only goes upwards i think :)

i was wondering what happens in an earthquake??

also... hdb should really build carparks underneath each hdb block... frees up space and so much more convenient.. it's such a PAIN walking 4 minutes to the carpark....

I hope you meant underneath as in underground and not the void deck. To me, that's one of the best thing HDB has ever done.

Originally posted by RafflesCity

Dont think that should occur in Singapore?

But anyway I dont think we are in dire need of such measures yet. We still havent finished all the land reclamation projects, building of taller apartments and in future we can even live on that rubbish-dump-island.

btw I read a chapter on MegaFloat proposals, based on what has been done in Japan, where you live in huge offshore communities. But I dont think its feasible for Singapore.

What appears to be not feasible now may well become reality in future. Didn't they said humans can't fly?:devil:

Originally posted by Kit

What appears to be not feasible now may well become reality in future. Didn't they said humans can't fly?:devil: Humans still cant fly thou. :D

Originally posted by Kit

I hope you meant underneath as in underground and not the void deck. To me, that's one of the best thing HDB has ever done. I agree about the void deck concept. Anyhow, I think heir is refering to underground, and I do support that as well. Not sure if you guys agree to the latest trends of hdb blocks sitting on car park podum blocks, with the "void deck" now on the top deck of those car parks?

Originally posted by sOmeOne

By first floor I mean the bottom floor :D
Although you are right - it should be called -50 floor :eek:
Crazy!
But that's what I mean - if the fire starts there everyone who isn't on the very top floors is doomed to fry down there :runaway: I would actually think that controlling fire underground is much easier then above ground. All you need to do is seal off the buring area, and it will stop burning. How do you seal of someting above ground in comparison? ;)

Originally posted by huaiwei

I would actually think that controlling fire underground is much easier then above ground. All you need to do is seal off the buring area, and it will stop burning. How do you seal of someting above ground in comparison? ;)

The FSB regulation stipulates that all high rise buildings are to be designed in a way that fire has to be contained within an area for a period of time to let everybody evacuate. I might be a bit rusty but these fire rating ranges from anything between 30 mins to 4 hours depending on which part of the building you're talking about. E.g. the wall surrounding fire staircases and lift shafts are to be constructed to withstand at least 4 hours of burning. Fire stoppers are to be installed on every level to prevent fire from spreading from the source to other levels.

Originally posted by huaiwei

I agree about the void deck concept. Anyhow, I think heir is refering to underground, and I do support that as well. Not sure if you guys agree to the latest trends of hdb blocks sitting on car park podum blocks, with the "void deck" now on the top deck of those car parks?

I'm ok with the idea. I do noticed that existing multi-storey carparks stand alone and to some, its a pain to walk from their block to the CP. As a result, these CPs are under-utilised. By taking away the open CPs and build them under the apartments will solve this problem I think. Also, the proposal include turning the roof tops of these CPs into landscape garden/communal area....... good move.

Originally posted by Kit

The FSB regulation stipulates that all high rise buildings are to be designed in a way that fire has to be contained within an area for a period of time to let everybody evacuate. I might be a bit rusty but these fire rating ranges from anything between 30 mins to 4 hours depending on which part of the building you're talking about. E.g. the wall surrounding fire staircases and lift shafts are to be constructed to withstand at least 4 hours of burning. Fire stoppers are to be installed on every level to prevent fire from spreading from the source to other levels. Hmm....are you familiar with corresponding measures for underground facilities?

Originally posted by Kit

I'm ok with the idea. I do noticed that existing multi-storey carparks stand alone and to some, its a pain to walk from their block to the CP. As a result, these CPs are under-utilised. By taking away the open CPs and build them under the apartments will solve this problem I think. Also, the proposal include turning the roof tops of these CPs into landscape garden/communal area....... good move. Yeah. I think the best ones I have seen involves Carparks in a semiunderground situation, such that their rooftops are only about half a floor above ground or something. This allows them to differentiate the area for pedestrains and that for vehicles driving into the precinct, a much safer concept I would say. I saw some cool examples in Sengkang and Bukit Panjang. ;)

Originally posted by huaiwei

Hmm....are you familiar with corresponding measures for underground facilities?

I would imagine the basic principles of fire safety for above ground buildings would apply also. Things like adequate fire escapes, sprinklers, fire zoning/containment, etc should be in place. There might other other more specialised issues like mechanical ventilation to disperse the smoke should there be a fire.

yeah.. the carparks directly underneath the hdb flats... it would probably be better if all roads in a ummm development were underground so all you have would be green and pedestrians wont have to cross any roads..

Originally posted by huaiwei

Yeah. I think the best ones I have seen involves Carparks in a semiunderground situation, such that their rooftops are only about half a floor above ground or something. This allows them to differentiate the area for pedestrains and that for vehicles driving into the precinct, a much safer concept I would say. I saw some cool examples in Sengkang and Bukit Panjang. ;) i remember an incident during the time when Bukit Timah area was still prone to flooding. The carpark at Coronation was flooded cos it's sort of underground... i think all the vehicles were almost submerged.

:eek: what apartment was that? so terrible...

Originally posted by kenmin

i remember an incident during the time when Bukit Timah area was still prone to flooding. The carpark at Coronation was flooded cos it's sort of underground... i think all the vehicles were almost submerged. So the carpark gets flooded everytime it rains?!

Originally posted by heirloom

:eek: what apartment was that? so terrible...

Coronation Plaza. That shopping centre near Serene Center/ Hwa Chong JC.

Yes..Bkt Timah always floods badly..hope that is in the past.

Originally posted by RafflesCity

Coronation Plaza. That shopping centre near Serene Center/ Hwa Chong JC.

Yes..Bkt Timah always floods badly..hope that is in the past.

It is in the past. If not, I'll MOVE!!!:devil:

Hehe....now we know you are a bukit timah chap. :D

I wonder wat happens if they buil an underground bukit timah line! :colgate:

Originally posted by huaiwei

Hehe....now we know you are a bukit timah chap. :D

I wonder wat happens if they buil an underground bukit timah line! :colgate:

I'm waiting....... my life would be so much easier...:cheers:

Originally posted by Kit

I'm waiting....... my life would be so much easier...:cheers: Call me stereotyping, but I I would have tot most bukit timah dwellers can easily afford a car for every family member!! :D

Originally posted by huaiwei

Call me stereotyping, but I I would have tot most bukit timah dwellers can easily afford a car for every family member!! :D

Haha...... you're stereotyping but you're not the only one. I did had a car in my late poly days and army days but I had to sell it to finance my studies in Aussie.

Actually sometimes MRT is more convenient than a car. I saw the proposed circle line in the new street directory. Bishan is just 2 stops away. Try beating that with a car!!!

The latest street directory is out?!?! :eek: :eek:

I tot you live bukit Timah...bishan only 2 stops away meh??

Originally posted by huaiwei

The latest street directory is out?!?! :eek: :eek:

I tot you live bukit Timah...bishan only 2 stops away meh??

My mum bought a copy a few weeks ago so I think it should be the latest since it has the proposed circle line on the MRT map.

Yup, 2 stops away........ Bukit Timah ---> Marymount ---> Bishan.

Ya, just checked. 2004 edition.

Originally posted by Kit

My mum bought a copy a few weeks ago so I think it should be the latest since it has the proposed circle line on the MRT map.

Yup, 2 stops away........ Bukit Timah ---> Marymount ---> Bishan. Oh yeah hor...forget got two stations not opening yet..........;)

Originally posted by Kit

Ya, just checked. 2004 edition. Yippee!!! My favourite book is out again! :colgate:

Which part of Bukit Timah will the new MRT station be located?

Originally posted by huaiwei

Yippee!!! My favourite book is out again! :colgate:

I can't find it!!
All the pertol stations sell that cartoonish Mighty Minds directory!

Where did you buy yours?

Originally posted by Cliff
All the pertol stations sell that cartoonish Mighty Minds directory!

Ugh! I hate that one. It looks so... colourful.... :rant:

it's not bad actually.... i use it :P it's got bus numbers and stuff...

I think my mum got that one also. Quite useful mah. All in one, covering bus services too.

Reading the book that I recommended earlier and found a paragraph on Singapore. It addresses some of the issues that were raised here before. Here it is.....

Singapore: the world turned upside down

In Alkemade's opinion, the need for a view is strongly culturally determined. "We feel that you should always have a window onto the outside world at your place of work. You want to know if it's raining and if it's nice weather you want to go outside. But in the tropics, for example, it;s much too hot and humid for that." People in Singapore are not interested in what's going on outside or in a workstation with a window. Alkemade noticed when he was designing a redevelopment plan for Singaporean Ministry of Tourism on Orchard Road, the main shopping street in the city. "The Singaporeans try to organise things so you never have to go outside", he explains. "All those shops are connected by enormous underground routes. An underground shopping mall, which is joined like an octopus to the entrances of large complexes. This gave shops that ended being isolated by the infrastructure above ground a new boost." Ground level Singapore is therefore threatening to degrade into an area organised entirely for vehicular traffic. "Funnily enough, Asians don't see that as at all negative. For them, the car - in Singapore almost always with air-conditioning - is actually the only way of sitting outside in comfort. So where we tend to put all the traffic undergroundin Europe, there it's the opposite."

- end of quote

I thought the paragraph was describing Tokyo more than Singapore. Some interesting points raised. How many of us actually appreciate what's happening outside your windows unless you really have the "Equinox" view? Do you need those windows? It is mentioned in another part of the book that a person needs about 2500 lux of lighting for several hours a day. Interestingly, this light source can be of anything. Natural or artificial lighting does not affect a person's well being. All we need is the amount.

I'm not too sure about the shops being connected by enormous underground routes. As I see it, its not that common in Singapore. 2 major ones I can think of would be the Orchard MRT tunnel(leading towards Wisma and Tangs) and City Link. As such, I question the accuracy of that observation.

I also don't think ground level Singapore is entirely organised by vehicular traffic, not doubt its an important infrastructure but don't think its dominated bt that alone. Otherwise we wouldn't be called "Garden City" would we?

I do not need any windows - I barely ever look outside the window. I do however need to be able to go outside. But if it was possible to live underground, work undergroung and have fun underground then I'd go for it. I always wanted to live in either some futuristic undergroung city or in a normal city but without sun (artificial lights only) or a city under a huge dome that doesn't let sunlight through. Perhaps I get this feeling because here in Seattle the weather sucks big time and if you live underground the weather doesn't bother you and the temperature is constant whether it's summer or winter :yes:

i like to think i need windows, but actually i dont.. my curtains are close 100% of the time... that would be different of course if i had an 'equinox' view... still people are paying premiums for high floors, so i guess singaporeans to appreciate windows to a certain extent.

the underground links are a bit more extensive than that. just a little..



orchard-wisma-ngeeanncity
orchard-tangs-shawplaza-wheelock place

ngee ann city - lucky plaza

city hall - city link -one raffles link (?forgotthename?) - suntec city / marina square (above ground)

underground from suntec city -millenia walk too

above ground sheltered links for all other buildings in marina bay except the esplanade - the only sheltered way to the esplaande is via one raffles link

and then of course you have raffles place, linking everybuilding around it, up to as far as somewhere i can't remember but far enough.

dhoby ghaut now links to plaza singapura



i wouldnt mind, when the technology is affordable, having virtual windows.. have cameras at the top of mt faber or equinox or capital tower or anywhere you want that feeds ultra high resolution movies to the window - has to look so real you wouldnt know it's not :D

Yes, one thing you hinted that is so true about me - I don't use windows because I live on the 1st floor!! When I lived in Russia on 14th floor I loved spending time on my balcony and next to a window in my room. I'd give up the underground crap for that place!! :cry:
You see - America is really getting on my nerves.

the view out of my window (in sg) one rainy day..

http://img16.photobucket.com/albums/v47/sybarite/mepics/IMGP0088.jpg

Originally posted by Kit

I think my mum got that one also. Quite useful mah. All in one, covering bus services too. Aiyah....tot its the "official" street directory out liao. Tried finding today also dunt have........so dissappointed. :bash: :D

Originally posted by huaiwei

Aiyah....tot its the "official" street directory out liao. Tried finding today also dunt have........so dissappointed. :bash: :D

Didn't notice now street directory got so many version. What's the diff ah?

My room is on the second floor. I see nothing but a hill, some trees and the backyard of someone else's house. So not all that inspiring also but see a bit of green once in a while when I look out is good. Pretty tranquail.

Originally posted by Kit

Didn't notice now street directory got so many version. What's the diff ah? Different publishers loh...all trying to grap a share of the market. They have different map and book designs to fit differing needs lah. Even got pocket versions of the directory liao. :D

BTW I see no CCL in the 2004 mighty minds directory wat...:D

Originally posted by huaiwei

Different publishers loh...all trying to grap a share of the market. They have different map and book designs to fit differing needs lah. Even got pocket versions of the directory liao. :D

BTW I see no CCL in the 2004 mighty minds directory wat...:D

Its on the last page.... back cover to be exact.

Originally posted by Kit

Its on the last page.... back cover to be exact. Wow...so damn helpful! :D Sometimes I dont understand why people find such maps useful when they arent reflected in the main maps! :colgate:

Originally posted by huaiwei

Wow...so damn helpful! :D Sometimes I dont understand why people find such maps useful when they arent reflected in the main maps! :colgate:

Maybe the actual location is not finalised yet? The map behind is the complete MRT route map so not really that precise in location. I too want to find out where Bukit Timah station will be.......

Originally posted by Kit

Maybe the actual location is not finalised yet? The map behind is the complete MRT route map so not really that precise in location. I too want to find out where Bukit Timah station will be....... The exact locations have been announced weeks ago. I suppose the publication appeared a tad too early or something.

Eh? So where is Bukit Timah station exactly?

Originally posted by Kit

Eh? So where is Bukit Timah station exactly? Er...its the Adam station near the junction between Adam, Farrer, Bt Timah and Dunearn roads....in the grounds of the Botanic Gardens. ;)

Originally posted by huaiwei

Er...its the Adam station near the junction between Adam, Farrer, Bt Timah and Dunearn roads....in the grounds of the Botanic Gardens. ;)

Eh? The map I saw didn't have Adam station. Bukit Timah station is branched out from Buona Vista. I have a feeling that its serving Ngee Ann Poly no? From BT to Marymount to Bishan. Don't have Adam station leh.

Then your map is most likely old...there is not even a station called Bt Timah! :D

Originally posted by huaiwei

Then your map is most likely old...there is not even a station called Bt Timah! :D

Chey......... then me got to start looking for a car liao......>( :bash: For once, I thought I can expect something good happening in BT. Bah!!!

Originally posted by Kit

Chey......... then me got to start looking for a car liao......>( :bash: For once, I thought I can expect something good happening in BT. Bah!!! Er...can list me the stations along the line as stated in the guide? I wonder if its the same stations with different names.

Harbour Front > NUS > One North > Buona Vista Interchange > BUKIT TIMAH > Marymount > Bishan Interchange > Lorong Chuan > Serangoon Interchange > Bartley > Upper Paya Lebar > MacPherson > Paya Lebar Interchange > Tanjong Katong > Old Airport Road > Boulevard > Nicoll Highway > Millenia > Convention Centre > Museum > Dhoby Ghaut Interchange

Originally posted by Kit

Harbour Front > NUS > One North > Buona Vista Interchange > BUKIT TIMAH > Marymount > Bishan Interchange > Lorong Chuan > Serangoon Interchange > Bartley > Upper Paya Lebar > MacPherson > Paya Lebar Interchange > Tanjong Katong > Old Airport Road > Boulevard > Nicoll Highway > Millenia > Convention Centre > Museum > Dhoby Ghaut Interchange the map must have been published b4 the final 2 phases of CCL were announced in Dec 2003. the stations (fr Bukit Timah to Harbour Front stations) are either bold guesses by the publisher or has been revealed much earlier...

anyway, u want a station at Bukit Timah estate? most likely there will be 1 on Bukit Timah line to be ready by 2016 or earlier... :D

can view CCL and future mrt threads for more details...

Originally posted by heirloom

the view out of my window (in sg) one rainy day..

http://img16.photobucket.com/albums/v47/sybarite/mepics/IMGP0088.jpg
:eek: :runaway:

Haha..we often do get thunderstorms and ferocious winds in Singapore but that is really scary! :eek:

Originally posted by RafflesCity

Haha..we often do get thunderstorms and ferocious winds in Singapore but that is really scary! :eek:
Yay! I like that! In Moscow when the snow melted and it was raining days after days I used to love watching those little people get wet outside from my window :D
I also love warm tropical rains! It's so wonderful to get drenched with cool water on a hot day. You don't want to do that in Moscow though, becuase the water temperature is barely above 0C :D

The thing about tropical storms is that they strike suddenly but are over shortly too. You get lots of BOOM BOOM and lightning though:D

Great when you are indoors sleeping but annoying when you need to get to school/work:yes:

Originally posted by RafflesCity

The thing about tropical storms is that they strike suddenly but are over shortly too. You get lots of BOOM BOOM and lightning though:D

Great when you are indoors sleeping but annoying when you need to get to school/work:yes:

Oh, I love the BOOM BOOM and lightnings! Once in Odessa I was sitting on a bench in a park and a lightning shot through the air just a few tiny meters above me! I was so scared that I ran home all the way - it almost blinded me because it was so bright! Scary, but cool now that you think about it :D
We used to get tropical rains every night in Odessa with a lot of lightning and thunder. It's amazing, but it actually helps you get asleep faster. It's also amazing that so far I like absolutely everything there is in Singapore! Is there anything I shouldn't like about it?! This is becoming increasingly scary! :D You don't need to die to go to heaven - just move to Singapore!! :colgate:

Just shortly I came baack to Singapore, I had the chance to witness a 100 year storm in Melbourne. Its was quite awesome. Never had I've seen so much rain poured down in one night in the past 5 years. Damage was extensive. Streets flooded, goods being carried outside from shops by the water only to be looted, trapped motorists, etc.....

Originally posted by sOmeOne

Oh, I love the BOOM BOOM and lightnings! Once in Odessa I was sitting on a bench in a park and a lightning shot through the air just a few tiny meters above me! I was so scared that I ran home all the way - it almost blinded me because it was so bright! Scary, but cool now that you think about it :D
We used to get tropical rains every night in Odessa with a lot of lightning and thunder. It's amazing, but it actually helps you get asleep faster. It's also amazing that so far I like absolutely everything there is in Singapore! Is there anything I shouldn't like about it?! This is becoming increasingly scary! :D You don't need to die to go to heaven - just move to Singapore!! :colgate:


hehe singapore has one of the highest density of lightning strikes in the world.. a few ppl die from it a year? even in a built up area near an mrt station someone got struck :eek:

stravinsky describes russia - 'the violent russian spring that seemed to begin in an hour and was like the whole earth cracking'. what's that about?!

and i have to mention, only the section in between the two apartment buildings had such strong winds... i looked a few metres away and the trees were much much much much much calmer...

Btw, today Singapore suffered from some serious floods.:)

serious floods :)

haha sounds so happy.... i saw straitstimes.com.sg... buildings among clouds .... so nice.. where was flooded? i hope not sin ming road

The park near my home was partially flooded. I had a wonderful time staring at birds hope around on the mud feeding on Earthworms coming up for air...

eek earthworms - let them all be eaten please

Originally posted by heirloom

hehe singapore has one of the highest density of lightning strikes in the world.. a few ppl die from it a year? even in a built up area near an mrt station someone got struck :eek:Yes...that guy happened to be a gurhka cop...

Just last month, a NS fireman was struck dead while playing friesbee too.

(Raffi! You accidentaly edited my post or wat? :D)

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2004-03-08/front_rain.jpg

Heavy rains and floods hit businesses

By Sharmilpal Kaur

FLASH floods created havoc across Singapore yesterday afternoon, felling trees, snarling traffic and affecting business. The worst-hit areas, according to police, were at Rochor Road towards Bukit Timah, Victoria Street, Upper Pickering Street and isolated areas in the Boat Quay area. The water levels at these roads were as high as 300mm, said the Public Utilities Board.

A combination of heavy rains and bad timing - the tides were exceptionally high between 1pm and 3pm yesterday - caused the floods. The worst-hit areas - where ground levels are barely above, and some even below, the high-tide level - are normally protected by tide gates. But the heavy rain forced the PUB to open these gates. If the tide gates were kept closed, the water level would have kept on rising, resulting in even worse floods later.

Though nerves may have been frayed as traffic slowed to a crawl, leaving drivers and commuters stuck, the high waters hit businesses where it hurt most - in the pocket. In the Rochor area, the sudden rise in water caught businesses in Owen and Hindoo roads off-guard.

Mr Simon Low, an administrator at a plastic parts company there, found all of his low-lying merchandise ruined by the water. He said: 'The water kept on coming, and flooded us up to the knees. I can't estimate the damage - all the tools, my printer, quite a lot of my things. Once wet, I have to throw it away.'

Hairdresser Jacqueline Yap tried using newspapers as a bund, with predictable results once the floodwaters began rising rapidly. She said: 'The flood started coming in very fast, so some of my equipment and chemicals were damaged. We had to take off our shoes and work barefoot. We've had floods before but this is the worst.'

The rains, brought on by the North-east Monsoon season, which occurs from late November to March, are expected to ease by this afternoon, said the Meteorological Services Division of the National Environment Agency.

The PUB, though, is advising caution as it expects high tides between 12.40pm and 1.20pm today and tomorrow. It is advising residents and shopowners in flood-prone areas to protect their belongings. Motorists are also advised to be cautious when travelling along low-lying roads prone to flash floods.

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2004-03-09/P1B_0309.jpg
Traffic grinds to a crawl along Thomson Road near United Square as flash floods hit the area and other parts of the island. -- ALBERT SIM

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2004-03-09/P1A_0309.jpg
Hindoo Road disappears under rising waters, leaving many businesses in the area with ruined merchandise. -- LAU FOOK KONG

Originally posted by huaiwei

Yes...that guy happened to be a gurhka cop...

Just last month, a NS fireman was struck dead while playing friesbee too.

wah.. why all to do with defense one..

Originally posted by heirloom

wah.. why all to do with defense one.. They are both not on duty wat....maybe it makes news precisely due to their profession?? :D

Originally posted by heirloom

hehe singapore has one of the highest density of lightning strikes in the world.. a few ppl die from it a year? even in a built up area near an mrt station someone got struck :eek:



might be because of the high density of mobile phone usage here.

actually most places around the world have abot the same penetration of mobile phones as sg now... i think its more to do with... location..

Originally posted by RafflesCity

might be because of the high density of mobile phone usage here.
:lol: That would be funny if cell phones attracted lightning!! :laugh:

Well.....just as hilarious was when my frends, upon knowing that the victim at the MRT station was a cop, started asking me if the metal parts (especially the cap badge) were acting as lightning conductors. They even asked me if I would be ok. I had to reassure them that fried cop was NOT in uniform! :bash: :D

I suggest you get insurance that covers lightning strikes.

Lightning strikes can cause loss of memory, mental retardation, paralysis, blindness etc oh yeah. death too...

Originally posted by EyeToEye

I suggest you get insurance that covers lightning strikes.

Lightning strikes can cause loss of memory, mental retardation, paralysis, blindness etc oh yeah. death too... Erm....most insurance policies have a clause which states "natural disasters and works of god' are not included in the policies...

Maybe I should question why there is a ruling which forbids any officer from carrying an umbrella while in uniform!

that is indeed a weird rule :?:?

Originally posted by huaiwei

(Raffi! You accidentaly edited my post or wat? :D)



Oops! I accidentally hit the Edit button instead of the Quote button!:bash:

Originally posted by sOmeOne

:lol: That would be funny if cell phones attracted lightning!! :laugh:

Hmm..maybe because Singapore is so wired up or because we have a lot of trees and trees attract rain. Good for our reservoirs at least:cheers:

i dont think so.... another ulu ulu place in america.. maybe texas or something.. fllaaaatt place... has thehighest level of lightning activity..

Originally posted by heirloom

i dont think so.... another ulu ulu place in america.. maybe texas or something.. fllaaaatt place... has thehighest level of lightning activity..

Eh..what about the phrase 'water-catchment'?:?

huh? water catchment and lightning?

water-catchment to attract rain, and rain is usually associated with lightning?

btw I heard Jurong area is most prone to lightning.:cool:

Originally posted by heirloom

that is indeed a weird rule :?:? I suppose the image of cops is of utmost importance, so much so that it is better to see a cop soaked to the bone in the pouring rain (and maybe sprawled on the floor moments later cooked and smoking..haha) then him carrying an umbrella.

Anyway...quite funny seeing how this convo can turn from one about underground developments to someting very heavenly!! :bash: :D

rain + underground --> got link :D

there was an article about mrt's head complainign that there's not enough connectivity for mrt...
mrt statioiins need more tunnels and stuff... something like if she had her way you could walk from buona vista mrt station to holland village in rain or shine... PLEASE do that i need it so badly

A live demonstration of the power of the heavens...

Latest News | Updated March 10, 8.10 pm (Singapore time)
Sinchi footballer dies during training

SINGAPORE - An 18-year-old player from Chinese side Sinchi died during a training session here on Wednesday, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) said. Local radio station NewsRadio 93.8 reported that Jiang was killed after he was struck by lightning and was pronounced dead on the spot by ambulance crew.

'It is with extreme sadness that the S-League learnt today of the sudden passing of Sinchi TV FC's Prime League player Jiang Tao, 18, during a training session this afternoon,' the statement said, without elaborating. Sinchi is one of two foreign football clubs playing in the S-League, the other being Japanese side Albirex Niigata.

The club's vice-chairman Wang Jin Hwi said he was 'devastated' by Jiang's death because he had recruited the player two-and-a-half years ago in China. 'He was a talented footballer...I cried for a long time,' he said. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with the player's family, teammates and officials of Sinchi TV FC at this difficult time.'

The statement said Sinchi's match on Thursday against local side Woodlands Wellington has been postponed to Saturday. All S-League matches this week will be preceded by a minute's silence as a sign of respect. -- AFP

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2004-03-10/jiangtao.jpg
Jiang was struck by lightning and was pronounced dead on the spot by ambulance crew. -- FILE PICTURE

Shit! :eek:

I wonder how many deaths occur each year due to lightning.

PUB will issue warning 3 days ahead; and aims to further reduce flood-prone areas as part of $1.5 billion project

By Arti Mulchand and Sharmilpal Kaur

IF YOU live in a flood-prone area like Chinatown or Tanjong Katong, you should mark March 21, 22 and 23 on your calendar.

Those are the days when the tide is expected to rise to 3m.

The weatherman said that there will be short morning and afternoon showers on a few days from now until March 15, but it is too soon to tell if it will rain on March 21, 22 and 23.

But should the skies open up then, expect another flash flood like what happened on Monday when the tide hit 3.4m.

Singapore is being buffeted by the North-east Monsoon which brings with it spells of heavy rain, especially in the afternoon. This monsoon period stretches from late November till the end of March.

Yesterday, the Public Utilities Board told The Straits Times that residents and shop owners in low-lying areas are warned each year about such 'high tide' days. One such warning issued on Nov 10 raised the possibility of Monday's flood. But residents and shop owners were still caught offguard.

Mr Mohamed Nur Shafiq, 42, who lives in Kampung Lorong Buang Kok, said: 'I totally forgot about it, and I think if they issue another warning closer to the date it would help... I wasn't thinking about flooding at all during those few days.'

He will get his wish. The PUB said it will now remind residents and shop owners about the possibility of flooding three days in advance.

Those living in Jervois Road, Changi Lorong 101 to 106, and Benoi Road and Industrial Road in Jurong might soon be free of floods as major projects are underway to expand the drains there.

It is part of a $1.5 billion project that has spanned over 20 years since 1982, reducing flood-prone areas from an original of nearly 3,200 ha, to 158 ha - nearly half the size of Sentosa.

The PUB's aim is to keep on reducing the size of flood-prone areas to 110 ha by 2007.

Last year, there were six flash floods, compared with seven in 2002, eight in 2001 and 10 in 2000.

Mr Mohamad is taking no chances now. He is going to a timber merchant to pick up some plywood, before the next wave hits.

'I'm going to build a wooden table for the washing machine, and one for my new television set since the water destroyed the last one, and a long bench for my sofa bed,' he said.

'It's all going to have to move higher so even if the water comes in, it won't matter.'



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


For the latest weather forecast, call the Meteorological Services Division on 6542-7788. For updates on low-lying areas that are affected by floods, call the PUB 24-hour centre on 1800-284-6600.

Wow, so you can get killed by lightning just like that? :eek:
This is probably the only downside of Singapore :D

Originally posted by sOmeOne

Wow, so you can get killed by lightning just like that? :eek:
This is probably the only downside of Singapore :D Dude...wats your height (in metric)? :D

Originally posted by huaiwei

Dude...wats your height (in metric)? :D

Let's see.. around 1,80 m the last time I checked.. why?

Originally posted by sOmeOne

Let's see.. around 1,80 m the last time I checked.. why? Oh....the media reports was saying that footballer got hit coz he was amongst the taller ones there....

....he was 1.82 m if i remember correctly....

:eek: :eek: :D

Hmm, that's supposed to be tall? :? :D
I'm actuslly a short guy comparing to others :D
But, holy crap, I sure do have a chance to be killed by lightning then :eek:

Originally posted by RafflesCity

water-catchment to attract rain, and rain is usually associated with lightning?

btw I heard Jurong area is most prone to lightning.:cool:

i dont think water catchment areas "attract" rain... they only collect rain... and since singapore is so tiny, placing water catchment areas anywhere would make little difference...

I get really paranoid when crossing roof-less pedetrian bridges now for precisely this reason...

the solution would be to... jaywalk :D i hate climbing bridges too... so tiring.

It's bad enough with terrorism and killer flus. Now people can get killed just by being in the open!

From my old flat ,I can see the JB skyline.Once ,there was a HUGE electric storm there ,lightning flashes every minute or soo.Very spectacular.There was no rain in S'pore then.The next day ,I heard news that a person had been struck by lightning.

Imagine that.:(

i always fantasized about getting struck by lightning as a child.... hahahahaha i imagined it would be a very cooling experience.... my eyes would feel floaty and i'd be floating and it would feel like an hour of floatiness although it's only one second... but now i know better :D

Remember the tropical storm that hit Sg in Dec 2001?

The lightning show was ABSOULTELY INTENSE ,even frightening at times.My block was struck like 5 times in the space of a few hours.

I live on the second highest floor then.It was like a sudden ,huge "BOOM!".Lightning & thunder coming at the same time .The feeling is like someone bursting a balloon near you.The block vibrated.

I also saw lightning hit the block opposite mine.I is like a small explosion ,a bright flash of light where it hit.The field behind my block was struck three times ,leaving 3 scorch marks.Two trees beside my road was struck too.One was vertically cut in half ,while the other was horizontally cut in half.

My balcony and common corridor flooded ,and the water seeped into my parents' room.Not to mention that TV reception was rather poor then.

My flat has sliding windows in my parents' room.The wind was rattling them and producing this 'wooooooooooooo' sound.

If I open the windows ,literally all the paper would be flying everywhere.The curtains nearly ripped off from the curtain 'track'.

there was one?! i didn't know! so cool! is it annual?

Cool?

As in the temperature sense ,it was soooo cold.'Cool' as in 'kool' ,not at all.

It hit in mid-Dec 2001.The MetOffice just said "showers over most areas" the previous day.Who'd think it'll turn into a tropical storm?

No ,it isn't annual.It was the first tropical storm to hit sg in many ,many years.It rained non-stopped for almost 48 hours.Luckily it was the sch hols ,if it wasn't ,I would have now idea how on earth am I going to get to sch.

ummm wouldnt that be the perfect excuse to skip school?!

i like lightning leh... when i'm at home... so nice to watch... i love heavy rain :D

Yah ,lor!:D

Originally posted by sOmeOne

Hmm, that's supposed to be tall? :? :D
I'm actuslly a short guy comparing to others :D
But, holy crap, I sure do have a chance to be killed by lightning then :eek: Ops...his height was 188..not 182:

Latest News | Updated March 11, 9.20 pm (Singapore time)

S. League hails footballer killed by lightning

SINGAPORE - A Chinese footballer killed by lightning was on Thursday hailed as a sports martyr by Singapore League officials who say the player's unusual height may have spared the lives of his team mates. Eighteen-year-old Jiang Tao, who at 1.88m towered over fellow players in the SinChi TV team, was killed on Wednesday while his team trained during a slight drizzle at Singapore's Jurong Stadium.

Mr Wang Jinhui, the club's vice-chairman, told a press conference that Jiang, from China's northern Jilin province, probably took the lightning hit because he was the tallest member of the team. 'Jiang Tao was like a soldier who died in battle. We regard him as a martyr,' he said, adding that if the bolt had hit the ground, more players could have been killed or injured.

SinChi TV coach K. Jamaludeen broke down midway through a news conference as he recalled the incident, believed to be the first on the football field in Singapore, where thunderstorms are common. 'I am actually very traumatised. It has never happened to me before like this. It was my first training session with them,' said Jamaludeen, who was an arm's length away from defender Jiang. 'The lightning came down very hard and very strong. It hit Jiang and he fell flat down. Myself and a few of the players felt the impact on the ground,' he said.

Mr Chan King Fook, chief executive of Singapore's professional S. League, said donation boxes will be put up during five matches scheduled next week so that friends and sympathisers can donate money to Jiang's family. His family will receive S$125,000 (US$73,529) from a local firm which insures all S. League players. His mother, who still lives in Jilin, fainted after being informed by telephone of the death of her only son. -- AFP

hehe it seems now we have to have underground stadiums too ;)

Originally posted by sOmeOne

Hmm, that's supposed to be tall? :? :D
I'm actuslly a short guy comparing to others :D
But, holy crap, I sure do have a chance to be killed by lightning then :eek:

LOL..you would be tall in Singapore:D

Originally posted by redstone

Cool?

As in the temperature sense ,it was soooo cold.'Cool' as in 'kool' ,not at all.



Thats good..at least it wont be unbearably hot.

Originally posted by RafflesCity

LOL..you would be tall in Singapore:D

Sweet! ;)
Do chicks like tall guys over there?

For sure...

theres also a type of girl who likes foreign white guys, called the 'Sarong Party Gal' or SPG. Not j/k!:D

Do you see Sarong Party Girls everywhere you turn?

By ELYSA CHEN

WE all know what to think when we see an expat ang moh strolling hand in hand with a Singapore girl.

SPG.

Sarong Party Girl.

Yes, it's hard not to jump to conclusions. But what about the women who live in the shadow of the SPG - and their men?

Out there in ang moh central, Holland Village, some mixed-race couples didn't want to talk about the issue.

But others were open. After all, they had nothing to hide.

Like Mrs Tricia Boey-Wright. She met Gregory, her American husband, during a photo-shoot while he was on tour with singer Don Philip (the first man to duet with Britney Spears).

She was then working with MTV.

So, are they the object of scrutiny?

"I think it depends on where you are. If you are in the heartlands, you tend to get more stares than if you are in Holland Village or Orchard Road," says Mrs Boey-Wright.

"But you get used to it, and it isn't such a big issue any more," said the 27-year-old.

Her husband agreed. "I think people tend to stereotype us. It's not so like they're judging us. It's more like trying to figure us out."

So, how do they deal with the extra attention?

"I don't really care," said Mr Wright, with a shrug of his shoulders.

It was a little different with another American.

MET AT CHURCH

Mr John Carson and Ms Serene Ng had just finished dinner when we met.

"I've gotten looks from Asian men three times since we walked out of the restaurant," said Mr Carson.

"I feel self-conscious and it makes me wonder what they are thinking," added the 39-year-old who has been teaching at the Singapore American School for four years.

Ms Ng, who says she gets stared at by local women, added: "I think people assume I'm an SPG or someone who's always clubbing or partying," said the 29-year-old teacher.

In fact, the two met at a Seventh Day Adventist church.

Mr Brian Johnsen, an American who is engaged to Singaporean Ms Evelyn Tan, doesn't mind being stared at.

"Oh, you mean those old aunties? You just stare right back at them!"

The aunties may be cowed. But Ms Tan's parents were not so easy. They didn't approve of the relationship at first.

Mr Johnsen won them over by becoming one of the family, especially during Chinese festivals.

"You've got to know how to charm them," said the 29-year-old, who is to marry Ms Tan next month.

No such parental problems for Ms Jayde Lam and her French boyfriend, Mr Gregory Bonnet.

On the contrary, her mother fiercely defends her choice of ang moh boyfriend.

"My relatives are always asking my mother how she can accept both her daughters having inter-racial relationships," said Ms Lam, whose sister is married to a Sikh.

The 25-year-old student said: "I have nothing to hide, so it doesn't bother me.

"I even find it amusing that some people think its such a big deal when my own parents can accept it.

"So, if people take it that being with an ang moh makes me an SPG, then I guess I'm one."




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GROWING TRENDS
Almost 1 in 10 non-Muslim Singaporeans married outside their race in 1998, according to the last such figures published. In 1978, it was 3 per cent.

About half the 248 Chinese women who married outside their race married Caucasian men, a 50 per cent increase on 1978, as did around two out of five Indian women.

http://newpaper.asia1.com/expat/0%2C4133%2CExpat-1053964740%2C00.html


oops..out of topic:bash:

Originally posted by RafflesCity

For sure...

theres also a type of girl who likes foreign white guys, called the 'Sarong Party Gal' or SPG. Not j/k!:D

Ha-ha! Nice article :D I think I like outgoing party girls :D
Also during my 2 year stay here in US I so got used to be "out of plate" that I do not want to be an "average" person anymore :colgate: It's funny, I wear a uniform, a formal jacket with white pants and formal shoes and that really drives the local girls crazy :D :D So I guess I'm that kind of guy who likes attention :moods:
Yeah, Singapore is awesome! I still don't quite get the SPG concept - why do people not like them? :?

Like your Halloween costume? :D

Dont worry about the SPG label..its just a stereotype..everything here has a label based on how you dress, how you talk and what you do..Ah Lian, Ah Beng, Auntie, SPG, heartlander..you name it theres bound to be a category:D

LOL, no - my Halloween costume was a "Pimp" siut :D
I think I should post a pic of me in uniform :D

Heh, there seems to be a lot of "categories" of people in Singapore :colgate:

Speaking of underground facilities, Moscow just announced a while underground district to be built!!!
Here's an article translated by BabelFish, but I hope you get the idea. I think underground complexes are becoming popular around the globe :yes:

11.03.2004 Moscow goes underground

The government of Moscow, long ago concerned by the problem of the catastrophic shortage of the earth, finally obtained the finished projects, intended to soften the sharpness of problem. The possible architectural and engineering solutions were presented to the community yesterday on the specialized exhibition "underground city", organized by the complex of architecture, building, development and the reconstruction of the city of capital government. The scale of ideas strikes the imagination: in the essence, thinks the building of entire underground city in the limits of the Sadovoye Kol'tso [Moscow ringroad], and also over the area of Gagarin and on the "crust". In the city hall these proposals are evaluated positively. By the center of new underground city, described the academician of the Russian academy of architecture and construction sciences of Ilya lezhav, riding-school area will become. Specifically, here Moscow authorities already realized their first underground project. As reported to the newspaper "time of news" source in the information center of capital stroykompleksa, is already affirmed the project of the building of underground complex under the hotel "Moskva" and its connection with the commercial complex "Okhotnyy Ryad". Then will be "undermined" large central areas - Tagan, Kudrinskaya, Smolensk and Puskinskaya, that follow on the turn will prove to be immediately several Moscow stations - Belorussian, Kiev and all three stations over the Komsomol area. Filling, according to the academician, will be standard: commercial and office centers, parking lot, entertaining centers and cinemas. Of course will be organized underground "transport" - on the vertical line and along horizontal (escalators, elevators, travalatory), underground blocks will be compulsorily connect together with underground streets. Practically will leave under the earth Tver - it will connect underground riding-school area with the underground Belorussian station. Is assumed the development Of "manezhki", also, to other side - theatrical area will also obtain its underground understudy. It it is intended to connect not only with the riding-school area, but also with the vestibules of theaters - living in the underground city, it is necessary to think about the autonomous underground culture of its inhabitants. Ilya lezhava stated that the mastery of this territory "already begins". Novyy Arbat will become the second underground street, but it "will descend" only half. From under the earth it will be possible to immediately enter into all existing now ground-based Arbat stores. "newest" Arbat will connect underground riding-school area with the the underground Of kudrinskoy and Smolensk. The gathering yesterday Moscow architects supported so scale an idea. Mr. lezhava as the proof of the reality of the realization of these plans referred for the experience of Japan. "similar underground complexes successfully function in many cities of Japan, in particular in Tokyo", he stated. In Japan the earth, as is known, in the scarcity and therefore is very expensive (even more expensive than in the Russian capital). However, if in Japan it does not be necessary to search for the investors of similar projects, then in Moscow, obviously, their search not will be such lung. Yes even to estimate the cost of the building of underground Moscow no one yesterday decided. As reported to the newspaper "time of news" the press- secretary of the chapter of Moscow stroykompleksa Vladimir resina Aleksandr alekhin, "all these plans - in the long-term outlook". But the idea to begin "sap" from the stations, in his opinion, design: the experience of the building of "atrium" in the Kursk station showed, to what extent terminal commercial complexes were profitable. In light of the last incidents in the Russian capital, obviously, will be raised a question about the quality of so complex a building. The director OF NII - SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE the bases of the underground structures im. Gersevanova Vyacheslav il'ichev says that it is necessary to conduct very tedious work on the measurements of the built areas in order to avoid blunders. Insignificant errors in the measurements, according to him, once led to the formation of slot with the building of complex "Okhotnyy Ryad" with width in 3 cm from the hotel "Moskva" to the most exhibition cent "manege". Another time because of a similar error left outside the foundation of two main housings MGTU im. Baumann. "we at that moment were at the conference in other city, recalls Mr. il'ichev, also, with otsuts.




BTW, there are many "multistoried" undereground complexes in almost every Soviet capital. I personally remember one that was 5 floors below the surface (and it wasn't some building's foundation).

IMO, Singapore really needs these developements because from what I see it already has tons of skyscrapers and getting short on land. Underground facilities could provide for office and commercial space thus freeing the surface for residential needs :)

Originally posted by sOmeOne

Sweet! ;)
Do chicks like tall guys over there? Dont bet on finding tall chicks easily thou!! :D

Originally posted by RafflesCity

For sure...

theres also a type of girl who likes foreign white guys, called the 'Sarong Party Gal' or SPG. Not j/k!:D

Neil Humphreys wrote about them in his second book. Really funny...

That author again.....I still haven read his books..hehe

Originally posted by huaiwei

Dont bet on finding tall chicks easily thou!! :D

chicks are getting taller you know... i'm dwarfed by most of my ex-classmates :/

but how tall is a tall chick?

how much are those underground projects? russia short of land? that's... not what i imagined... wouldnt it be prohibitively expensive?

Originally posted by huaiwei

Dont bet on finding tall chicks easily thou!! :D

I hate chicks that are taller or at least as tall as me :puke:
I don't want a tall chick anyway, I prefer the golden average :)

Originally posted by sOmeOne

I hate chicks that are taller or at least as tall as me :puke:
I don't want a tall chick anyway, I prefer the golden average :)

Dont worry, as far as Singapore is concerned, I cant even use 1 hand to count the number of gals 1.8m or above I've seen;)

Speaking of underground malls, you should check out the Citilink mall..an impressive underground labryinth of shops connected to the MRT station:cool:

btw this pic is so not funny :eek2: Never seen anything like that before.
http://www.straitstimes.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2004-03-12/front_boys.jpg

What's up with that pic? :?

Oh..apparently its been raining like crazy in Singapore :runaway:

Wettest March?

Storm that caused havoc on Thursday coincided with very high tide; work on Circle Line not to blame, says PUB

By Sharmilpal Kaur

AS PEOPLE count the cost of Thursday's flood, the authorities here are warning that this month might be the wettest March ever.

But the weatherman says no one could have foreseen the freak storm that poured 90mm of rain on the eastern part of Singapore in just over an hour.

It was an 'intense tropical rain' that comes around once in 10 years, said Mr Lam Keng Gaik, who heads the Meteorological Service's main Changi office.

Thursday's rainfall was way above the 184mm that usually falls in March. In fact, so far, about 445mm of rain has been recorded this month.

With more rain expected, courtesy of the north-east monsoon, total rainfall might exceed the record amount of 528mm in March 1913.

Mr Yap Kheng Guan, director for drainage with the Public Utilities Board (PUB), said the rain, coupled with an exceptionally high tide, overwhelmed the drainage network.

According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, the high tide forecast for Thursday was supposed to be 2.8m. But it went over 3m.

Asked about this, Mr Yap said it made little difference as the intense rain would have resulted in flooding anyway.

The areas that went under water were in Paya Lebar, Telok Kurau and parts of Geylang which are not considered flood-prone areas.

So was construction of the MRT Circle Line responsible as well?

'The Circle Line had nothing to do with the flood,' said Mr Yap. 'The flood was caused by intense rain.'

Which is no consolation to Mr Albert Ong, 35, IT marketing manager. His Mitsubishi Lancer was parked outside the A-Z Building in Paya Lebar before becoming trapped in the rising rain waters. Repairs will cost about $20,000.

'I was just there to service a computer,' he said.

Mr C.C. Neo, 29, an accounts manager whose car was submerged in the basement carpark of the A-Z Building, said: 'I don't think it's an act of God. For one thing, the carpark is under the building management. Once I settle this car, I'm going to lodge a complaint to whoever is responsible.'

Asked about flood alert measures, Mr Yap said 10 PUB officers will visit all residents and shopowners living in flood-prone areas on March 17 to remind them of the next exceptionally high tide occurring on March 21, 22 and 23. They will give out tide timetables for the year and give tips on how to keep any water out.

There will also be radio alerts on potential flooding - a new initiative spurred by this week's floods.

He added that PUB officers check drains for blockages at the start of each monsoon season. When floods occur, its contractors are roped in to help clean up, by pumping out water in basements and sunken areas in shophouses.

Madam Dolly Teo, 50, who lives Tanjong Katong, is not satisfied: 'If they know floods are likely to happen in late March, then there should be extra measures, sandbag the longkangs or something.

'Otherwise, who's going to foot the bill for all the damage from repeated floods?'

*****
Past floods

MONDAY'S floods caused by a high tide and heavy rain reached 0.3m, but subsided in an hour. But it's not the worst flood by far.


1954: 2 m-deep floods lasting eight hours, covering 2,550ha of Singapore and caused by heavy rain and a high tide.


1969: 2 m-deep floods lasting eight hours, covering an area of 2,550ha, caused by heavy rain and a high tide.


1978: 2 m-deep floods lasting eight hours, covering 100ha, caused by rain and a high tide.


1988: 0.75m-deep floods lasting four hours, covering 60ha, caused by heavy rain.

Cool! :eek:
I've never seen a flood before - probably makes you feel like you're in some hi-rise Venice, heh? :D

LOL..Singapore has always called itself the 'Venice of the East', in regards to being a flourishing city state, and not the floods from hell!:D

Well, now you've got both :D Aren't you happy?
Actually - this is cool! I like cities that are subjects to some "disaster" like this from time to time so that I can have an unexpected day off :colgate:
Man, Singapore is so perfect for me!!.. Can't wait!!! :cry:

omigod you like sg so much you could twist a disaster into a 'like' :uh: :lol:

well any disaster is fine as long as none involves deaths :( no plane / building / train disasters please

Well, I mean disasters that make you sit home all day :D

From mall to mall - underground

16 March 2004

Govt sets aside $59m to co-pay for under-passes in shopping belt; developers welcome move yet worry about losing shopping traffic

By Sue-Ann Chia

RAIN or shine, the weather may no longer be a dampener for shoppers along Orchard Road as building owners get to dip into a fund to build underpasses.

The Government has set aside $59 million to co-pay for such projects that it hopes will lead to an extensive network of underground linkways along Orchard Road and in the central business district (CBD).

Developers and building owners welcomed the move yesterday but were reluctant to talk about their plans.

Connecting to other buildings poses many tricky issues, they said, including whether an underpass will take away or bring more shopping traffic.

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said yesterday the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) will be releasing more details of the fund next week.

The underpass project will 'improve the experience of shoppers' especially in that 'icon' of shopping that is Orchard Road, he said during the debate on his ministry's budget.

'We need to safeguard Orchard Road's position as one of Asia's premier shopping destinations in the face of increasing competition from other shopping destinations in the region. So we have to find new ways to remake Orchard Road.'

One area ripe for implementing is to make it easier for pedestrians to get from one building to another.

A spokesman for Paragon, which is not linked to another building, said: 'We would look into it. If it is good for business, it is something that we would be willing to study further.'

At OG Orchard Point, also a stand-alone building, its spokesman said: 'We will support this, as it will make it more convenient for shoppers, especially in Singapore where the weather is so unpredictable.'

Currently, there is a ferrying service, she added. Security guards shelter shoppers with 'big umbrellas' to nearby buildings during bad weather.

Among the concerns building owners have is the fear that connections may direct traffic away from their premises while some are loath to link with neighbouring buildings with clientele they would rather keep away.

Knight Frank's executive director Tay Kah Poh noted: 'The whole will be greater than the sum of the parts. Pedestrian traffic will flow both ways and will benefit everyone.'

But he added that there may be extra costs if the linkways straddle government land. Some shop owners are also wary that linking up may jack up rentals.

Ms Elim Chew, owner of street fashion shops, 77th Street, said that while linking up will be good for shoppers, it could mean higher rentals for her. 'It also means more competition for us, as it will be easier for shoppers to visit other shops.'

She has several shops, some of which are located in Far East Plaza and The Heeren, both stand-alone buildings.

But this is a boon to avid shoppers like Miss Lynn Ong, 28. Said the marketing executive: 'It's a great idea because I can get from one shopping centre to another more conveniently, without having to brave the elements.'

Wow that's great news!

Wow! :eek:

That's interesting!:D

Maybe one day the whole of SIngapore will be connected by a network of tunnels and skybridges! Lol.... Than one could literally walk from place to place under a roof...

it's not that difficult to cross orchard road under rain... much of it is covered by trees just need to run a little... getting wet can be fun too... if i really wanted to go to a shop i'd go there rain or shine.. i think there really should be a direct link from orchard mrt to wheelock place... its terribly inconvenient to have to go to tangs then shaw plaza then wheelock place... silly too.

Well, when it rains you some times have no choice, seeing as to how crowded the underpasses end up becoming...

http://www.straitstimes.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2004-03-12/front_boys.jpg

Ever wondered how do those chaps managed to get there w.o getting wet?? :D

Anyway, I think we are kinda giving others the impression that floods are common here. They actually are confined to only certain locations, and even there, the frequencies have been drastically reduced for the past decade or so. This recent raining season has got to be the first time in my 24 years of existance here of actually seeing floods of this magnitude? Or maybe I was just not old enough to appreciate them when young! :colgate:

I find the flooding of the CISCO HQ building most memorable for this recent episode! :D

Originally posted by heirloom
i think there really should be a direct link from orchard mrt to wheelock place... its terribly inconvenient to have to go to tangs then shaw plaza then wheelock place... silly too.

Yup. If it isnt raining heavily I'd rather just walk aboveground. Much faster:cool:

Originally posted by huaiwei

http://www.straitstimes.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2004-03-12/front_boys.jpg

Ever wondered how do those chaps managed to get there w.o getting wet?? :D


Maybe they kept waiting for their bus while the water level increased? If so thats so stupid.

Or did the waters suddenly rush in like crazy?

Originally posted by huaiwei
Anyway, I think we are kinda giving others the impression that floods are common here. They actually are confined to only certain locations, and even there, the frequencies have been drastically reduced for the past decade or so. This recent raining season has got to be the first time in my 24 years of existance here of actually seeing floods of this magnitude? Or maybe I was just not old enough to appreciate them when young! :colgate:

I know how it works, judging from what I see flood in Singapore are even more rare than in the last city I lived in (Odessa, USSR, Ukraine). There they had a flood at least once a year in always one spot - where they had the so-called "Most" ("Bridge") highway system, there was a poorly designed drainage system and several most important city highways god flooded @ 0.5 meters deep. People however managed to drive on sidewalks and go around the city (took about 3 times as much time). I liked that because on these days I didn't have to go to school like everybody because my school was a prestigious lyceum in the city center and I lived in the ghetto on the outskirts :laugh: I had no way of getting to school on those days! So sweet it was :D

Whats a lyceum?

Anyway the clue that floods on this scale are so rare in Singapore is the fact we are talking about them on this forum. They are so common in other Asian cities yet you dont see those forums talking about them :D

Originally posted by sOmeOne
I had no way of getting to school on those days! So sweet it was :D

:lol: look at the poor students huddling at the busstop..... if only the floods came in the morning :okay:

Originally posted by RafflesCity

Whats a lyceum?

Anyway the clue that floods on this scale are so rare in Singapore is the fact we are talking about them on this forum. They are so common in other Asian cities yet you dont see those forums talking about them :D

A lyceum is like a private school that is state owned :D
In other words, it provides advanced education for those with pretty eyes and sweet voices ;)

Strange concept..an arts school or ballet?:angel1:

Originally posted by sOmeOne

A lyceum is like a private school that is state owned :D
In other words, it provides advanced education for those with pretty eyes and sweet voices ;)

pooohpoooh for self flattery :moods: :happy:

lyceum sounds like some cell name... leucocyte or something... or some disease..

Strange concept..an arts school or ballet?

Whaat?! No, actually mine was more of a Mathematical and Cybernetics faculty :D
I'm just saying that that was a tough school only for those who could pass the exams :yes: In Russia we usually have 10 grades, well, in lyceums they accelerate the program to university levels by the time you enter 8th grade :runaway: Not all can take it (I was one of those who hardly could) so many people transfer to easier schools before they have time to finish. I, for my part, didn't have time to finish it anyway because we moved to US. Now I don't even need to buy books when it comes to Math or some similar subject (Chemistry, Physics, etc). yes, I'm a show-off :D
It was kinda evil, but I miss that place. Very nice people studied there (and not nerds at all) - we would celebrate the end of the week at one of the local bars each Friday and would take a shot of something strong "for luck" before going to the exams.. I miss it very much :cry:

Originally posted by heirloom

pooohpoooh for self flattery :moods: :happy:


Oh, just ingore it - I've got double personality problem and sometimes the other one takes over.
It's gone now, probably making more coffie - it had insomnia last night :yes:

self flattery should be reserved only for me :colgate:

That doesn't sound fair!!! :moods:

wow....this thread grew so fast! :D

I have a few comments about lightnings......I didn't do research on it or anything, just based on readings.

The frequency of lightning strike had actually something to do with the soil composition in an area. Apart from that, geographical differences too played a part as tropical countries tend to get a lot of lightning and thunder all year round. ;)






The 'nearest' lightning strike I've ever witness was in 1996. It was raining very heavily and I was standing just outside the car proch (dunno why?) and suddently there is this flash and loud bang. Suddenly I saw my VCR on fire and I quickly doused it off with a fire extinguisher that I had in my living room.

Apparently the lightning struck the TV antenna and it goes straight into my VCR then it 'spread' to all electrical appliances that are hooked either by AV cables or power line before being 'stopped' by the circuit breaker at the main switch.

THE CASUALTIES: a TV, a Hi-Fi VCR, an amplifier, a radio tuner, a CD Player, 3 sets of cordless phones and a casette deck. :cry:

THE SURVIVOR (after some repair that is): the Laser Disc Player! :D

Well hey, talk about weapons of mass destruction :D

Originally posted by szehoong
The 'nearest' lightning strike I've ever witness was in 1996. It was raining very heavily and I was standing just outside the car proch (dunno why?) and suddently there is this flash and loud bang. Suddenly I saw my VCR on fire and I quickly doused it off with a fire extinguisher that I had in my living room.

Apparently the lightning struck the TV antenna and it goes straight into my VCR then it 'spread' to all electrical appliances that are hooked either by AV cables or power line before being 'stopped' by the circuit breaker at the main switch.

THE CASUALTIES: a TV, a Hi-Fi VCR, an amplifier, a radio tuner, a CD Player, 3 sets of cordless phones and a casette deck. :cry:

THE SURVIVOR (after some repair that is): the Laser Disc Player! :D

that's scary!! it actually caught fire! i didnt know lightning could be dangerous in such a way...

More than once ,when a lightning bolt hit my primary school ,there was a huge "KA-BLAAAAAAAAAM" ,and all of the computers in the Computer Room shut down one by one ,within a few seconds.

Sometimes my secondary school would have a blackout if lightning strikes.

huhhh i'm sorry if this sounds condescending (i dont mean to) but i really think that it isn't fair that some students have to study in schools that are not even lightning safe lor... this makes me a little.. disgusted with the govt..

Originally posted by heirloom

huhhh i'm sorry if this sounds condescending (i dont mean to) but i really think that it isn't fair that some students have to study in schools that are not even lightning safe lor... this makes me a little.. disgusted with the govt.. You wont noe a place is safe from lightnings until it gets struck. So how would u like schools to be tested?? :D

ummm
need to be tested meh? i thought lightning conductors (whatever you call it) is something we all take for granted?

Originally posted by heirloom

ummm
need to be tested meh? i thought lightning conductors (whatever you call it) is something we all take for granted? Yeah, and so you assumed computers wil be safe with lightning conductors around?

Anyway...why worry so much for MOE? They have more then enough money to keep replacing PCs with the latest models! :D

Originally posted by heirloom

that's scary!! it actually caught fire! i didnt know lightning could be dangerous in such a way...

Yea.....the lightning struck my TV antenna as though it was the lightning conductor. My family had been stayin here since 1971 and there isn't such incident until that fateful 1996 afternoon.

My house have no lightning conductor as there are many houses in the vicinity which is much higher and have these 'huge 10 grand' ones but the lightning 'chooses' my TV antenna instead. So even if I were to have lightning conductors........my TV antenna would still forever be one..........unless I install a taller lightning conductor which would cost a bomb! :D

Originally posted by heirloom

huhhh i'm sorry if this sounds condescending (i dont mean to) but i really think that it isn't fair that some students have to study in schools that are not even lightning safe lor... this makes me a little.. disgusted with the govt..

Actually what Redstone described is the circuit breaker at work. The shutting down of PCs and lights (meaning blackout) is actually a safety procedure. So one would see 'shutting downs' instead of 'blow-ups' :D

Even a relatively high-tech building would have its mains go off the instance a lightning bolts hits its lightning conductor (as a safety precaution) but the occupants wouldn't knew bout it as the emergency generator would kicks in almost immediately. ;)

Originally posted by huaiwei

Yeah, and so you assumed computers wil be safe with lightning conductors around?

Anyway...why worry so much for MOE? They have more then enough money to keep replacing PCs with the latest models! :D

haha i dont know how lightning conductors work leh... i didnt know the mains would go off... maybe my school never got struck before because got condominiums on two sides of it... if moe got so much money please provide plusher seats and STRONGER fans or air conditioning... and bigger tables.. there never seems to be enough space on the table..

Originally posted by heirloom

haha i dont know how lightning conductors work leh... i didnt know the mains would go off... maybe my school never got struck before because got condominiums on two sides of it... if moe got so much money please provide plusher seats and STRONGER fans or air conditioning... and bigger tables.. there never seems to be enough space on the table..


wah....soon you'll be asking for a G5 Powerbook each and the desk that comes with an iPod docking station with a built-in fax machine too! :D

haha i hope... currently if got g5 powerbook released too happy for words already (although can't afford) haha..

but i really think the demands above are not unnecessary.. plush seats sound like a luxury but the seats they currently provide is really painful for butts like mine.. the tailbone always hurts. i keep fidgetting. and tables should be bigger... my stuff always fall off.. then sometimes it's so hot you just can't concentrate and we end up wasting time going to air conditioned rooms.. why not cut out that wasted time and install facilities to make every classroom cooler?

Erm...because studies have shown that people will doze of when they get too comfortable, and therefore cant possibly be paying attention to the class too?? :D

I wished the likes of you can be thrown into the kind of classrooms I grew up in. I "graduated" from wooden tables with rotting parts to plastic ones with tonnes of "I LOVE YOU" inscriptions on it.....to having no tables at all now since they arent needed anymore?? :colgate:

Originally posted by szehoong

Actually what Redstone described is the circuit breaker at work. The shutting down of PCs and lights (meaning blackout) is actually a safety procedure. So one would see 'shutting downs' instead of 'blow-ups' :D

Even a relatively high-tech building would have its mains go off the instance a lightning bolts hits its lightning conductor (as a safety precaution) but the occupants wouldn't knew bout it as the emergency generator would kicks in almost immediately. ;)

Generators? Maybe they are only installed in HDB flats. Private housing don't have them....

Originally posted by huaiwei

Erm...because studies have shown that people will doze of when they get too comfortable, and therefore cant possibly be paying attention to the class too?? :D

I wished the likes of you can be thrown into the kind of classrooms I grew up in. I "graduated" from wooden tables with rotting parts to plastic ones with tonnes of "I LOVE YOU" inscriptions on it.....to having no tables at all now since they arent needed anymore?? :colgate:

'I love you' better than '****' what.... :angel1:

Originally posted by EyeToEye

Generators? Maybe they are only installed in HDB flats. Private housing don't have them.... Er..I dont think power generators are in HDB flats? There has been several cases of the home being plunged into darkness after lighting strickes, and all we had to do was to go reset the power panel thingy?

Originally posted by huaiwei

Er..I dont think power generators are in HDB flats? There has been several cases of the home being plunged into darkness after lighting strickes, and all we had to do was to go reset the power panel thingy?

I didn't think so either, only i don't live in an HDB flat so i wouldn't know.

i live in a hdb flat... and i also dunno.. hahah

'****' better than people with vertical breasts... hahahah

Originally posted by heirloom

i live in a hdb flat... and i also dunno.. hahah

'****' better than people with vertical breasts... hahahah

*No Comment*

I have friends who engrave stuff onto their tables with carving knives. Some carve their names, other carve Japanese anime... most people carve mathematical formulae... ;)

You will find chinese script all over my table top then. ;)

Originally posted by huaiwei

Erm...because studies have shown that people will doze of when they get too comfortable, and therefore cant possibly be paying attention to the class too?? :D

I wished the likes of you can be thrown into the kind of classrooms I grew up in. I "graduated" from wooden tables with rotting parts to plastic ones with tonnes of "I LOVE YOU" inscriptions on it.....to having no tables at all now since they arent needed anymore?? :colgate:

.I've personally experienced 3 years of non a/c and another 2 in a/c room during my secondary school years and I must say both makes you sleepy :D.... ;)

If its too hot....you tend to get sleepy.....when it get cold and comfy there you goes dosing off....hehehe :D

Originally posted by huaiwei

Er..I dont think power generators are in HDB flats? There has been several cases of the home being plunged into darkness after lighting strickes, and all we had to do was to go reset the power panel thingy?



err......power generators are very expensive to maintain and run.....so only office buildings, hospitals, shopping malls.....etc. has em. I am not too sure upscale condos have em but I doubt so as short-term power failure isn't a life and death situation.

BTW some lifts have its own backup power so I guess most (if not all....be it in Singapore, Malaysia or anywhere else in the world) might not have power generators.

Like I said earlier....some super-mega-expensive residentials might have em.....who knows :D

Huaiwei > .....yea....that's the circuit breaker you're talking about as each unit sure has one.............you just need to push the switch back to 'on'. ;)

Originally posted by szehoong

.I've personally experienced 3 years of non a/c and another 2 in a/c room during my secondary school years and I must say both makes you sleepy :D.... ;)

If its too hot....you tend to get sleepy.....when it get cold and comfy there you goes dosing off....hehehe :D

huuh so good... better to sleep in air con than non air con right...

Originally posted by heirloom

huuh so good... better to sleep in air con than non air con right...

yea......I find myself dosing off more comfy in an a/c room....:D

I slept most of the time in secondary school......esp maths, chemistry, biology and physic classes! :lol:

for me, it was bio, chem, math, chinese, 3/4 english, and humanities... i didnt fall asleep during physics because my the pphysics teacher force my crush to sit wif me :D:D:D hahahaha... and i only ever fell asleep once during music elective lessons.. and it was the only permanent air conditioned lesson! except for moral education... i fell asleep little in that one too because stupid discipline master was the teacher and he hated me...

I almost never sleep on class. But that doesn't mean i never feel like sleeping. Physics lessons tend to be really boring... Humanities too. The rest are quite okay i guess....

I always fell asleep during Chinese class, especially in JC.

Originally posted by RafflesCity

I always fell asleep during Chinese class, especially in JC.

I cannot imagine what chinese lessons must by like in JC. Hell on Earth, maybe....

Air-con rm good to sleep in during the day ,but wait till 3 am or so.It'll be freeeeeeeeeeezing then.

I've experienced it several times before ,once in my own school.It gets soooooo cold that I woke up automatically and have to turn the temperature up a bit before I can sleep again.

Originally posted by redstone

Air-con rm good to sleep in during the day ,but wait till 3 am or so.It'll be freeeeeeeeeeezing then.

I've experienced it several times before ,once in my own school.It gets soooooo cold that I woke up automatically and have to turn the temperature up a bit before I can sleep again.

I'm usually too lazy to get up in the middle of the night, so when i'm feeling really cold i'll just curl up and wrap myself up like a spring roll with my blanket. Hehe...

When I was camping ,I brought my own sweater ,but still I have to turn the temp up.

Originally posted by redstone

When I was camping ,I brought my own sweater ,but still I have to turn the temp up.

camping?! In an air-con room?!

Originally posted by EyeToEye

I'm usually too lazy to get up in the middle of the night, so when i'm feeling really cold i'll just curl up and wrap myself up like a spring roll with my blanket. Hehe...

yea........I did that too although at most time, the a/c remote is just like about a few feet away! :D

The air-cons in my classrooms are old and outdated ,no remote.

I remember waking up at 3 am or so ,almost shivering.:D

Originally posted by EyeToEye

camping?! In an air-con room?!

Yah ,shiok!:D

Those cadets sleep in those hot tents for one night while we NCOs can sleep in the rooms on both nights!:D

The only bad thing is that remember to switch off the aircons before we leave the room.And ,it gets quite chilly at night.However ,it would be our first and last time camping in air-coned rooms.The old building would be gone by Oct ,and no air-con in the new building!:(

Originally posted by redstone

Yah ,shiok!:D

Those cadets sleep in those hot tents for one night while we NCOs can sleep in the rooms on both nights!:D

The only bad thing is that remember to switch off the aircons before we leave the room.And ,it gets quite chilly at night.However ,it would be our first and last time camping in air-coned rooms.The old building would be gone by Oct ,and no air-con in the new building!:(

Aww.. geee... can't you just move the aircons over? Installation services are quite cheap what...

Dunno what the principal is thinking.....

We CAN have aircons there......

Someone donates them or someone donates $$$ to install them.

Originally posted by redstone

Dunno what the principal is thinking.....

We CAN have aircons there......

Someone donates them or someone donates $$$ to install them.

Hayoh.. this is, like what, the second time you've mentioned people's donations already...

OOT: Btw, do you know an Andrew Yeo from your school?

Andrew?I think I heard before.

Pure Science class?I'll ask around.I have some friends from Sec 4.

What class is he in?

Originally posted by redstone

Andrew?I think I heard before.

Pure Science class?I'll ask around.I have some friends from Sec 4.

What class is he in?

I think he's in the pure double science class. Churchmate. :p

Double Pure?

There's only 1 class that has it ,I think.

Originally posted by redstone

Double Pure?

There's only 1 class that has it ,I think.

Ayah. Dunno lah. I didn't hear that from him. My mother was told by his mother and she told me... lol

URA offers cash grants for development of underground links in town

22 March 2004

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/imagegallery/store/phpxdT4G8.jpg

SINGAPORE : More underground links may soon come your way along Orchard Road and the Central Business District.

The Urban Redevelopment Authority has offered attractive cash grants for developers to build and upgrade 11 underground links.

The URA hopes that people can soon walk, shop and eat in air-conditioned comfort along underground passes in Orchard Road .

The URA is suggesting that these underground links be built to link major shopping centres to MRT stations and provide more retail space in the area.

To speed up this process, the URA is offering cash grants to encourage developers to build these underground links.

Ler Seng Ann, Director, Urban Redevelopment Authority, said, "We have received fairly good feedback from developers, they welcome the scheme and will look at it and see if it is viable for them to implement. We certainly encourage developers to build them and capitalise on the grant that the government is giving them."

A total of 11 underground links have been selected to qualify for these cash grants.

Three of them are existing links which can be upgraded.

The underpass between Lucky Plaza and Ngee Ann City is one of the three in town that developers can choose to upgrade to include shops and restaurants.

Their main concern has always been the high cost.

But now, they will be subsidised by at least S$5 million each for such development.

Some agree that the existing linkways can be improved.

One observer said, "The escalator sometimes breakdown and we need to climb the stairs."

Another added, "I did hear some comments about the inability to have people with wheelchairs accessibility which is a major, major problem."

Besides costs, developers are also worried that such links may not attract shoppers.

Property analysts also feel that some hotels may not like the idea of being connected to other buildings, as they want to offer guests exclusivity.

Developers and building owners have up to 5 years to consider taking up the grant. - CNA

SIX sites in Orchard Road and two in the Central Business District have been identified as possible places to have an underpass linking buildings, mostly malls.


Existing tunnels at three spots may be upgraded.


The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) named the sites yesterday when it released details of the Government's offer last Wednesday to help pay for a network of underground links to malls, to make it easier for pedestrians to move from building to building.


It said that it is willing to pay up to $14,000 per sq m to help defray the cost of constructing the tunnels running under state land, and up to $7,000 per sq m for those under privately owned land.


A URA spokesman said less help is being offered for underpasses under private land as the developer is expected to benefit from the link.


The grants apply only to the underground walkways and do not include the retail space.


Building owners - who turned down a 2001 plan to link Orchard Road buildings with bridges and tunnels - now have five years to decide if they want to take up the offer.


The Government has set aside a total of $59 million to pay for construction.


Those who spoke to The Straits Times yesterday expressed reservations over having the tunnels, citing cost, their viability and the difficulty of getting building landlords to share the bill.


Initial estimates set the cost of constructing a tunnel in Orchard Road at more than $20,000 per sq m.


This does not include leasing the underground portion of state land or development charges for the additional retail space.


A director of property consultancy Chesterton International, Mr Nicholas Mak, said it is unlikely the size of the grant would persuade property owners to take up the suggestion.


Orchard Road's soil conditions and having to accommodate disruptions to traffic there, among other things, could mean a higher construction bill than estimated, he explained.


A spokesman for property group City Developments said it would need more incentives to offset the cost of building a 48m underground walkway between Palais Renaissance, which it owns, and Forum The Shopping Mall.


Centrepoint's general manager for investment properties, Mrs Vivienne Tan, said that the retailers queueing for space in her mall were cool to the idea of a 15m link under Cuppage Road, joining the shopping centre to Orchard Point next door.


Any link would have to start at Centrepoint's second basement level to avoid the pipes and wires under the road, she said, and people are unlikely to walk all that way down to cross to the next building


'It's not the subsidy, but whether people will use the link and whether the money would be better spent elsewhere,' she explained.


The centre manager for Lucky Plaza, Mr Raymond Peh, suggested the Government build and pay for the entire network.


'The Government can take up the shops underground too. They can own them themselves,' he added.










GOING UNDERGROUND?






•_Palais Renaissance to Forum The Shopping Mall



•_Far East Shopping Centre to Liat Towers



•_Scotts Shopping Centre to existing underpass between Tangs Plaza and Shaw House



•_Lucky Plaza to Paragon Shopping Centre



•_Ngee Ann City to Paragon Shopping Centre



•_Centrepoint to Orchard Point



•_Temasek Tower to CPF Building



•_Hitachi Tower to Change Alley Aerial Plaza



For upgrading
•_Shaw House to Tangs Plaza



•_Lucky Plaza to Ngee Ann City



•_Plaza Singapura to Istana Park

some of these links are really silly. who goes to far east shopping centre anyway? and linking lucky plaza to the paragon... is really stupid... and incompatible..

Liat towers should be linked via wheelock place directly to orchard mrt station, and similarly for far east plaza - scotts shopping centre - tangs - orcahrd...

pacific plaza should be linked too.. there's no way to get there without getting wet from orchard mrt if its raining.

most significantly, there should be link from somerset mrt to heeren... the traffic is huge... and perhaps from heeren to paragon blarblarblar

Yup..Far East Shopping Ctr is not a major destination and there should be a direct link from Orchard MRT to Wheelock Place.

LOL, try camping in an air conditioned car!
I had to refuel in the morning :rant:

Originally posted by sOmeOne

LOL, try camping in an air conditioned car!
I had to refuel in the morning :rant:

Isn't that dangerous? I mean, with carbon monoxide and everything?

Originally posted by EyeToEye

Isn't that dangerous? I mean, with carbon monoxide and everything?

Actually it wasn't cooling the car, but heating it, that's why I had to leave the engine running :D
And no, every car has options for recycled air and fresh air :yes:
Besides, I had a better chance of freezing to death :)

Originally posted by sOmeOne

Actually it wasn't cooling the car, but heating it, that's why I had to leave the engine running :D
And no, every car has options for recycled air and fresh air :yes:
Besides, I had a better chance of freezing to death :)

did you have to stay awake? must be terribly boring... i have this extreme fear of having nothing to do for long periods of time..

Once ,I had to spend a night over at the SJ HQ at Beach Road.

I was shivering like crazy like about 3am or so.Some fool turned the air-con so cold!:D

Originally posted by heirloom

did you have to stay awake? must be terribly boring... i have this extreme fear of having nothing to do for long periods of time..

No, I slept like a baby :D
As a matter of fact I found sleeping in a warm car much more comfortable than in a tent :yes:

there were two occassions where i accompanied my friends studying overnight at changi airport.. the first night was ok... but the second night... i kept falling asleep and when i woke up i would be soooooooooooooo cold i'd go to the toilet to use the hand dryer.. and we really wasted alot of money on hot chocolate that night... maybe changi airport and coffee bean have an arrangement :bash: finally it got so unbearable i just ran out into the open air..

btw did you know you can make free ummm milo or something at coffee bean? or free vanilla drink.. it sound gross, but it works! you add the cocoa powder or whatever powder i forgot to water... (provided too) and drink :) it tastes 'edible' at least

Well ,that time at the SJ HQ ,when I woke up at 3am plus ,it was super cold ,so I went out of the lecture room we were sleeping in ,and I found like 1/2 of the whole team awake ,sitting at the steps leading to the carpark!:D

There were also there to 'warm up'.Too cold to sleep!:D

And man ,the starry sky was beautiful at night!Not to mention you can see the skyscrapers around Marina Bay at night!

Time is GMT + 8 hours
Posted: 16 June 2004 1721 hrs

Singapore's Deep Tunnel Sewage System starting to take shape
By Johnson Choo, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : Four years after work started on the S$7 billion dollar Deep Tunnel Sewage System project, the tunnels deep underground are finally taking shape.

Despite some technical glitches, phase one of the 20-year project is progressing well.

A 48-kilometre tunnel running from Kranji to Changi is almost complete; according to the Public Utilities Board it should be partially operational by the end of the year.

The tunnel is about 40 metres underground, and it has a diameter of six metres, about the same size as an MRT tunnel.

But instead of having MRT trains passing through, it will be carrying sewage water right from the north of Singapore down to Changi Water Reclamation Plant.

Right now across the island, waste is handled by more than 3,000 kilometres of sewers and over 200 kilometres of pumping mains, plus pumping stations and water reclamation plants.

The new deep tunnel system is designed to be a sewage expressway.

The tunnels run diagonally across the island at depths ranging from 20 to 50 metres.

Working with gravity, the system is both self-cleaning and energy-efficient.

"The other benefit is that we'll be able to free up the valuable land that's currently occupied by the six treatment plants and the 130 pumping stations," said Chiang Kok Meng, director of the PUB's Deep Tunnel Sewage System Department.

The system is about twice as deep as an MRT tunnel, and while things are progressing well it has not been all smooth sailing.

One major accident happened in December 2002.

A 30-centimetre depression appeared on the shoulder of Braddell Road when a boring machine hit soft soil instead of rocks.

On the other hand there were no major problems during work on the Changi Water Reclamation Plant and five-kilometre outlet into the sea, called the Outfall.

The PUB is able to dig up the ground to house the 50-metre deep complex because it is all happening on reclaimed land.

When complete, the land will be back-filled, and the entire plant hidden from sight.

Work on the Outfall is about one-third complete.

Hundred-tonne pipes are cast on-site. Constructed to resist sea-water corrosion, they are individually tested before being lowered up to 45 metres into the sea.

When fully operational in four years, the Water Reclamation Plant can also be outfitted to produce Newater.

When the entire deep tunnel project is complete by 2015, the old treatment plants will be phased out, with only two main pumping stations at Changi and Tuas.

That will release more than enough land for two housing estates the size of Yishun. - CNA

Copyright © 2004 MCN International Pte Ltd

man... they can dig all they want but dun end up making a diaster outta it...

I agree..we've had 2 scares already...

How deep was the site at Nicoll Highway when it collapsed? This DTSS goes to 50m deep!! :eek:

I think 30m....@_@

I think 30m....@_@
Whoops....hope they better be careful!

Whoops....hope they better be careful!

dun hope... MAKE SURE they better be careful!

I agree..we've had 2 scares already...

What happened at Ayer rajah has got nothing to do with digging at all. The basement diaphram walls are still intact. The collapse part was not part of the structure...... yet. Could have happened elsewhere.

What happened at Ayer rajah has got nothing to do with digging at all. The basement diaphram walls are still intact. The collapse part was not part of the structure...... yet. Could have happened elsewhere.
Yeap...that is true. That collapse is actually more of a "steel cage" which was erected within that deep pit, with nothing to do with collapsing earth and that sort of thing?

Yeap...that is true. That collapse is actually more of a "steel cage" which was erected within that deep pit, with nothing to do with collapsing earth and that sort of thing?

From the info I gathered with various builders, it was negligence on somebody's part. The reinforcement bars were not adequately secured prior to usage.

From the info I gathered with various builders, it was negligence on somebody's part. The reinforcement bars were not adequately secured prior to usage.
Ok....kinda strange that ther workers themselves didnt notice this, since its their own safety at stake here?

Ok....kinda strange that ther workers themselves didnt notice this, since its their own safety at stake here?

Probably the lack of ability to recognise danger. That itself is fatal. I've always noticed that local construction sites are still pretty behind in terms of safety.

Study on S'pore oil cavern nears completion

13 Nov 04

Green light for underground storage complex likely after March

By RONNIE LIM

(SINGAPORE) The go-ahead for an underground oil and natural gas storage complex at Jurong Island could come after March/April next year when the project's main consultant finishes its work.

The massive complex, estimated to cost $760 million, could add 25 million barrels of storage - or almost a third - to Singapore's current capacity of 88 million barrels.

'We're hoping the study will be completed around March or April,' a JTC spokeswoman told BT yesterday. JTC will then 'evaluate the project's implementation'.

Reports earlier this year said that if the green light is given, the complex could be completed by 2008.

French cavern specialist Geostock was appointed main consultant in June for a phase two study that covers technical and economic viability.

'The consultant will make a recommendation as to the viable storage capacity from the business and cost point of view,' the JTC spokeswoman said. 'The study will also address strategic as well as commercial storage.'

JTC said initial estimates showed the rock at the site can support a maximum of 32 caverns with storage of four million cubic metres, or 25 million barrels.

Evaluation is into its third year. First came pre-feasibility geological studies by JTC and Nanyang Technological University in 2001. Then came a phase one study that found suitable underground locations adjacent to Banyan LogisPark on Jurong Island.

Concurrent with the phase two study, which started in January, a task force of industry players is providing feedback, the JTC spokeswoman said.

She was responding to some industry comments that an underground complex may be more suited to holding strategic crude oil, rather than oil for traders.

According to the International Tunnelling Association, this aspect is covered in an on-going market study to analyse Singapore's competitiveness as a location for underground storage. This study is looking at supply and demand for hydrocarbon products and the recommended product mix and capacities for the underground caverns.

Carel van den Driest, chairman of Royal Vopak, which operates the largest independent storage terminal here, told BT recently: 'Vopak has managed underground storage in the US. Our experience is that it is good for holding strategic reserves. But if you want quick turnaround, like, say 20 times a year, I don't advise this.'

Industry officials say traders need quick turnover of oil as well as storage facilities that offer services like product blending. Underground storage, on the other hand, is more suited to consumer-related storage by refineries and power stations.

The proposed underground complex of 25 million barrels is larger than the current combined capacity of Singapore's three independent tank farms managed by Vopak, Tankstore and Oiltanking. Together, these can hold 22 million barrels.

The booming oil trade here is already spurring quite a few companies to expand or build new storage on Jurong Island. They include Vopak, which will double its capacity to 18.5 million barrels by 2010, and traders like China Aviation Oil.

Asked if the underground project poses competition, an official said: 'It depends what it will be used for - crude oil, natural gas or oil products.'

The JTC spokeswoman said yesterday that underground storage of compressed natural gas 'is a possibility', though JTC is looking more at oil and petrochemicals because these are relevant to industries on Jurong Island.

Creative! :okay:

But is it gonna be safe to build buildings above it? :?

I'm not sure but I dont think theyll build very tall buildings on Jurong Island

Nov 14, 2004
Underground road system still unconfirmed

A NETWORK of underground roads first conceptualised in the 1980s is still in the pipeline, as the Government has yet to decide when work should start.

Named the Singapore Underground Road System, the project envisions 30km of two to four-lane roads forming a pair of concentric rings under the city centre, encircling streets like Orchard Road, Scotts Road, Lavender Street, Nicoll Highway and Shenton Way and the Marina South area.

The subterranean roads were meant to reduce downtown crawl by accommodating up to 40 per cent more traffic. Over 300,000 vehicles enter the central business district each day.

This network is one of two new major road projects planned to cater to Singapore's traffic needs for the next 30-40 years.

The other, which is being finalised, is the North-South Expressway, which will reduce the burden shouldered by the 13-year-old Central Expressway - currently the only link between the growing population centres in the north and the city area.

Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

build it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

it sounds exciting

but can u imagine all the drilling and stuff?

aiyar they've been drilling nonstop already mar. no difference. i just hope nothing like ngee ann city falling 50 m underground happens.

aiyar they've been drilling nonstop already mar. no difference. i just hope nothing like ngee ann city falling 50 m underground happens.

yah i remember the construction at Chinatown was so sickening! but its all so good now :)

ngee ann city falling 50m underground? nah i'd prefer it for something more ghastly :yes:

There had been digging for a very long time at AMK ave 2. For the sewerage thing.

the new downtown land is also digging like mad, to install all the future infrastructure

Hope they hurry with it!

I wanna see the skyscrapers rising faster!

yah...1 Raffles Quay took SO long to do the foundations because of the soil and the MRT tunnel! :soapbox:

maybe euro asia building could fall in *YAY*

the article gives no hint of where the roads are though. can't they have doublestorey roads instead?

that would sound even more complex, and be more expensive....

but i was impressed how they do have a plan to cope with future traffic should the need arise. I never heard of t6his circular underground network though

huh i thought it would be simpler and cheaper to just build over existing roads rather than digging underground?