Haze darkens S'pore city view at International Plaza

The beautiful skyline is no longer as STOMPer TKK remembers it to be. Instead, the scenic view is now

The sender, who is leaving his office at International Plaza today, says that he will miss the once clear and sunny view he used to enjoy in the past.

In an email, STOMPer TKK says:

"Today is my last day of work at International Plaza.

"I took a final view from the window of my office. It was hazy.

"I will miss this view.

"Tomorrow will be another bright sunny day and I will be free from the office cubicle to do things that I really like."

Want free parking at Jurong West? Pray for trees to grow faster

If you are looking to park your vehicle for free at the coffeeshop in Jurong West Central, then you better start hoping that that the overgrown trees here will grow more and cover the prohibitory sign by the road.

According to STOMPer ex-cabby, a cabby he spoke to has made plans to pray for the tree to grow at a faster rate so that he does not have to park at the only multi-storey carpark 20 metres away.

In an email, ex-cabby says:

"This picture was taken at Blk 679, Jurong West Central 1, where I was sipping coffee with a group of cabby friends at a coffee shop.

"One cabby told me that he had to park his cab on level four of a multi-storey carpark, which is 20m away and walk down a long flight of steps to reach the coffee shop.

"I pointed out to him that on the road outside the shop, the signboard which reads: 'VEHICLES PARKED ILLEGALLY WILL BE TOWED AWAY', is partially covered with leaves on the crown of the tree.

"Immediately he told me that for the next two weeks he will visit the shrine near the coffeeshop to pray for the tree to grow faster and produce a more luxuriant canopy so that the signboard will be covered and hence every one will have free parking on the road which is just beside the coffee shop.

"Perhaps he believes in divine power and the efficacy of his powerful prayers."

Why did these trees become botak?

STOMPer Hawk's eye thinks that the branches and leaves are stripped off these trees along Changi Coast Road for safety reasons, due to their proximity to the Changi Airport.

In an email sent to STOMP last night (Sep 28), the STOMPer wrote:

"As I was driving along Changi Coast Road, I was puzzled when I looked at the trees in the forest just across the canal.

"For almost a stretch of 500m, some of the trees appeared to be tall stumps without a crown on top.

"Suddenly it dawned on me that the trees were close to the Changi Airport and that the crowns of the trees could be hazardous to aerial navigation.

"It must have cost a colossal sum of money to employ a contractor to cut down the top of those trees.

"However, safety overrides the cost of cutting and that is why the trees are 'botak'."

Monday Morgue: 28th September 2009

Coral catshark (Atelomycterus marmoratus)
Changi, 17th August 2008

A Guide to Common Marine Fishes of Singapore
FishBase
ARKive

Green City? But 9 trees to be felled just for covered walkway and porch

STOMPer Neville is concerned about the felling of 9 trees in his neighbourhood to give way to the LUP.

He said:

"Are 9 trees too many to be felled for a new covered walkway and porch?

"Under the LUP plus upgrading program at Sunset Way, a new porch and a covered walkway leading to the porch is to be constructed.

"But the residents do not know that 9 trees will be removed to make way for the new porch.

"Should there be a dialogue between the town council and the residents in the first place?

"Should there be a win-win solution so the that nature can take its place in the heartlands?

"Note the 9 trees marked with tape on the trunks.

"Contractors will commence work on 28 Sept."

Strong wind uproots tree and causes it to damage shelter

The thunderstorm this morning (Sep 24) had caused damage to properties everywhere, including this shelter at Telok Blangah. A STOMPer was relieved that no one was hurt from the fallen tree.

Crazylongman told STOMP via email today (Sep 24):

"This morning, the heavy rain caused the shelter to be damaged at Telok Blangah, Block 64 towards Block 63.

"Luckily no one was injured when it happened."

Uprooted tree falls onto Merc at Tampines

STOMPer Carol spotted this big fallen tree lying on top of a car at a Tampines block near Tampines 1.

In an email to STOMP today (Sept 24), the STOMPer says:

"A tree dropped onto this Mercedes at this block near Tampines 1 on Sept 20.

"I just saw the tree on the car. The tree could have fallen due to strong wind but it was only that tree that fell.

"I thought it was very funny. Many people took out their cameras to take pictures."

Tree branch snaps off, nearly injures pedestrians

STOMPer Lee witnessed this huge tree branch that snapped off and put a halt to both road and human traffic this morning (Sept 24). He says:

"I am sending in this news about a huge tree branch that fell off, earlier this morning (Sept 24) at 7.40am.

"The incident had all the passers-by and cars halting for a moment.

"It could have killed pedestrians beneath it.

"Luckily, no one was injured at the scene.

"The tree is located at Stamford Road, turning into YMCA lodge."

Creepers growing up Harbourfront floodlights could be the heart of darkness

This was what STOMPer Worriedian thought when he spotted these creepers growing up the floodlights at the HabourFront Bus Terminal at Seah Im Road.

In the STOMPer's email to STOMP today (Sep 22), the STOMPer wrote:

"These pictures were taken at the Harbourfront Bus Terminal at Seah Im Road.

"While waiting for the bus, I noticed that the nearby tower with floodlights was standing at the corner between the bus terminal and the carpark.

"Some of the creepers have grown up the lighting tower and soon they will reach the top.

"When this happens, the whole car park will be in darkness.

"As one who is achluophobic, I fear the eclipse of the sun, a moonless night and a car park enshrouded in darkness. I hope these creepers can be removed soon."

Achluophobia is just another term to refer to nyctophobia, a phobia of darkness.

Honestly, while I do see the point in removing the creepers so that they do not overwhelm the lights (something which does not seem to be occurring anytime soon), I frankly do not take very kindly towards people who resort to such hyperbole and weak attempts to strike fear in people. The person who posted this did not have to attempt to sound smart by using an obscure term that the layman does not know. What's wrong with just saying that you have a fear of the dark?

It only makes me think you are one of these people.

Uprooted tree falls and damages cars at Tampines St 21 carpark

STOMPer Eugene was stunned when he spotted this big fallen tree lying on top of two cars in the carpark at Blk 243 Tampines.

He wonders how the owners will react when the return to find that a huge tree had been uprooted and fallen on their cars.

In an email, STOMPer Eugene says:

"This fallen tree was spotted at Tampines St 21 Blk 243, at 2pm today (September 21).

"The owners of the cars probably parked here and walked over to Tampines Mall."

Monday Morgue: 21st September 2009

Redbelly yellowtail fusilier (Caesio cuning)
Changi, 4th October 2008

A Guide to Common Marine Fishes of Singapore
FishBase
Fishes of Libong Island

Check out this beautiful mould!

STOMPer Whye Kok saw this beautiful mould growing on a fence at Ubi.

In an email to STOMP today (Sept 18), the STOMPer says:

"I saw this by accident on Sept 15 in the afternoon.

"This is a fence surrounding a building located at 51 Ubi Avenue 3 and I saw some beautiful mould growing on it."

That isn't mould, but is actually a clump of eggs laid by an insect known as a lacewing.

Lacewings are delicate-looking insects that belong to the family Chrysopidae, which in turn belong to the insect order known as Neuroptera.


(Photo by macropoulos)

As adults, many species subsist chiefly on nectar and pollen.

Their eggs are laid singly or in small clumps, with each egg sitting at the tip of a stalk.


(Photo by Tapperboy)

The larvae look and behave quite differently from the adults.


(Photo by Lord V)

True to their fearsome appearance, and unlike the adults, lacewing larvae are voracious predators. Each hapless victim is seized in those massive jaws before a paralysing venom is injected. Subsequently, the prey is then sucked dry. Aphids, beetle larvae, mites, small caterpillars, and other small arthropods are all fair game. In the absence of suitable prey, the young lacewings will simply turn into cannibals. Some lacewing species are employed as a form of biological control, and are used in farms and gardens in many parts of the world to keep pest numbers low.

Waves pounding shore cause destruction to coast and trees at beautiful beach in Johor

STOMPer Beachcomber hopes that something can be done to save the coast and trees of this beautiful sandy beach at in Johor. Waves pounding the shore have caused tree roots to be exposed and soil eroded.

Says this STOMPer:

"These pictures were taken at the stretch of beautiful sandy beaches between Jalan Mempurong and the Straits of Johor.

"This place is ideal for swimming, canoeing and fishing.

"This tree has its roots exposed because the soil has been eroded.

"With the waves pounding on the shore, part of the shoreline is now gone and it will be a matter of time before the tree topples over.

"I hope something can be done to save our coast and trees."

Related posts: Somebody do something to save our coastline! (16th July 2009)
Stones dislodged from damaged breakwaters are a danger to swimmers (15th July 2009)
The glory and the sad end of a giant tree (20th June 2009)
Serious soil erosion at Pasir Ris Park (14th June 2009)
More trees will be destroyed by waves hitting shoreline (5th June 2009)
Waves seriously eroding our northern shoreline at Kranji Reservoir (31st May 2009)

There's something incredibly stupid about this post.

You see, based on the article submitted by this person, the stretch of coastline he is talking about is situated in the Sembawang area, just beyond the Bottle Tree Village.


Here is the area, as seen on Google Earth.

Clearly, this person is talking about a part of Singapore. So why on Earth does the opening sentence of the article refer to a 'beautiful sandy beach at in Johor'?

Was this a glaring error on the part of the editors at STOMP? Or did the person who made the original submission make a mistake? Was someone thrown off by the mere mention of the Straits of Johor?

Whatever the case, it is a very clear indicator that someone seriously needs to take a good look at a map of Singapore.

Hey Singaporeans, is this how you treat your own living environment?

STOMPER Kim Yong was appalled when he saw so much non-biodegradable trash at this Old Airport Road water passage area.

In an email to STOMP today (Sept 18), the STOMPer says:

"This picture taken at Old Airport Road, next to the North Light School, shows so much non-biodegradable trash in the river.

"I wish Singaporeans can learn to be more civic-minded and conscious of their own living environment."

That is probably Sungei Geylang, which empties into the Kallang Basin, which in turn forms part of the Marina Reservoir.

Seriously, when will people figure out that their thoughtless actions ultimately affect our water supply?

Tree falls on truck at Pearl's Hill City Park

STOMPer Michael spotted this tree that had fallen on a truck at Pearl's Hill City Park. He says:

"This tree fell on a truck.

"This incident just happened around 4.30pm on the road beside Pearl's Hill City Park."

TC: Pesticide sprayed and branches pruned to curb caterpillar infestation at Jalan Rajah

Tanjong Pagar Town Council says they have sprayed pesticide and pruned the branches of the affected trees to curb the caterpillar infestation at Jalan Rajah.

In a post dated Sept 16, a STOMPer wrote in saying that caterpillar droppings are always falling from the trees in the open air car park at Jalan Rajah, thus the residents there have to wash their cars daily as the droppings will get stuck to the surface.

In an email to STOMP today (Sept 17), a spokesperson from Tanjong Pagar Town Council says:

"We wish to thank STOMPer for the feedback on the caterpillars infestation at the carpark of Block 102 Jalan Rajah.

"On Sept 14, our contractor sprayed pesticides and pruned the branches of the affected trees.

"We will monitor the situation closely."

Related article:
Look what caterpillars have done to my car!

Related post: Look what caterpillars have done to my car! (16th September 2009)

Look what caterpillars have done to my car!

Caterpillar droppings are always falling from the trees in the open air car park at Jalan Rajah, thus the residents there have to wash their cars daily as the droppings will get stuck to the surface.

A frustrated STOMPer says:

"The middle divider trees in the open air car park at Block 102, Jalan Rajah are infested with caterpillars.

"Every day, car owners have to wash their cars because the droppings from the worms will drop and stick onto the cars.

"I have feedbacked to the Tanjong Pagar Town Council and they promised to fix the problem by Sep 15.

"But so far, no action have been taken by them."

Even plants are not spared by vandals

Even plants are not spared by vandals, says STOMPer Cactusian who saw words etched onto the leaves of this desert cactus in Fort Canning Park.

This STOMPer says:

"These pictures were taken at the Fort Canning Park.

"This desert cactus has sharp thorns and succulent leaves.

"Some vandals have chosen to carve their names on the leaves and in doing so have left these permanent scars on the leaves.

"Many tourists visit this park in the heart of the city and on seeing such graffiti they simply shake their heads in disbelief.

"I hope these people will learn to respect public property and keep our parks clean and green."

Monday Morgue: 14th September 2009

Striped eeltail catfish (Plotosus lineatus)
Changi, 2nd November 2008

Wild Fact Sheets
A Guide to Common Marine Fishes of Singapore
FishBase
Fishes of Libong Island
Fishes of Bitung

Jalan Buroh overcrowded with plants and covered in litter

The pathways and overhead bridge at Jalan Buroh are such a hassle to walk on because of the protruding leaves and branches of plants nearby and rubbish littered on the ground, says STOMPer Factory Worker.

In an email, Factory Worker says:

"These pictures were taken at Jalan Buroh. The walkway is partially covered by the overhanging branches of the Baphia plants.

"Some bushes grow over the overhead bridge and create an obstruction for pedestrians.

"There is so much litter on the walkway."