Formula One Stamps

I finally bought the set of Formula One stamps that was missing from my 2008 Singapore collection.  The face value of the stamps is $2 each.  So the total face value is actually $4 for the block of 2 stamps.  However, I had to pay a total of $6 because it was no longer available off Singpost's website.

Have provided a pic of the stamps below (not a scan )

I am not really certain that I can appreciate the design of this set of stamps.  It is a bit too modern for me and I don't understand the digital look and feel.  Would have preferred if it was real cars or something depicted on the stamps or perhaps face of some of the drivers.  But perhaps there are copyright and trademark issues.

Singapore Vietnam Joint Issue Stamps

Just got my hands on a new set of stamps. It is the Singapore Vietnam joint issue fruit stamps. I bought the presentation pack at $3.45 and the set of stamps too at $1.75.

If you look at the picture above, you can probably see the 2 stamps featuring the two different fruits. One is the dragronfruit while the other is the durian. The cover of the presentation pack (bottom picture) shows the dragronfruit plant and a durian on a branch.

Both these fruits are tropical fruits and I am not sure how many people have tried both fruits. I have since I live in tropical Singapore. Unfortunately, being a city, most of our fruits are imported from neighboring countries.

Dragonfruits are usually grown on wooden stakes around 1m high. The plant looks like a kind of cactus. There are two kinds of dragonfruit. One has red flesh while the other has white flesh. It tastes sweet and I like the red flesh one much better. The texture of the fruit is abit like peach (well that is the closest fruit I can think of).

Most people are probably familiar with the durian fruit so I shall not bother explaining it. What most Westerners probably don't know is that there are really many different "brands" of durian and each so called "brand" really has their own unique taste and texture. The best place to eat a durian is to go to a durian plantation where they will probably have a eat all you can kind of buffet where you get to sample the various kinds of durian. Durian has a texture like custard and there are those that tastes sweet as well as those that tastes bitter.

2008 Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3

This is a set of stamps commemorating the opening of Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3.

Cash Crops of Early Singapore

I bought a set of these stamps from SingPost. It depicts the early cash crops that were grown in Singapore. Yes, it is hard to believe but Singapore used to have plantations and orchards. That is why the name of the road in town is called Orchard Road!

The cash crops shown in these set of stamps are pepper, tapioca, nutmeg and rubber.

Tapioca can still be found growing in various parts of Singapore.

Formula One Singapore Grand Prix Stamps

These are the set of stamps that was issued for the inaugural Formula One Grand Prix that was held in Singapore last year. Fernando Alonso won the first grand prix that was held in Singapore.

40 Years of the RSAF

Will be adding this set of beautiful stamps into my collection soon. It is the 40th anniversary of the RSAF.

National Day (Singapore Today)

Just ordered the following stamps from SingPost

Date of Issue: 09 Aug 08
Price = S$3.80

In this issue to commemorate Singapore's National Day 2008, photos from 5 Cultural Medallion recipients : Mr David Tay, Mr Tan Lip Seng, Mr Chua Soon Bin, Mr Foo Tee Jun and Mr Teo Bee Yen are specially reproduced.

All the stamps depict pictures from these 5 photographers capturing various scenes of Singapore

Note: The Cultural Medallion was instituted by the late President Ong Teng Cheong in Mar 1979 and recognises individuals who have attained artistic talent in their respective fields.

Games of the XXIX Olympiad

Ordered the following stamps from SingPost. It is to commemorate the Beijing Olympics which starts tonight on 08/08/2008! As you might know, the number 8 is considered auspicious to the chinese as when said in chinese, it sounds like the chinese word for "prosper".

The chinese characters on the 4 stamps show some of Singapore's favorite sports for this olympics namely shooting, badminton, table-tennis and sailing. These are the sports in which Singapore has any chance for bringing a Olympic medal back home.

In the Athens Olympics 2004, paddler Li Jiawei got into the semi-finals but was unable to bring any medal back as she finished fourth.

For badminton, hope is place on Ronald Susilo (Li Jiawei's ex boyfriend).

This year, Lee Wung Yew is also Singapore’s first shooter to qualify for the Games. Two sailors also earned berths for the first time at the Olympics in the 470 men’s and Laser Radial classes.

The nation's hopes are on their shoulders to bring a medal back for Singapore.

Singapore Macao Joint Issue

Miniature Sheet

Date of Issue: 04 Jul 08
Price : S$4.00Complete set of 8 stamps:

Price = S$3.64


This joint issue set of stamps features the local food fare of both Singapore and Macao respectively. It was launched in conjunction with the Singapore Food Festival (annual event) organised by the Singapore Tourism Board.

For Macao, the food fare shows the claypot rice, grilled cod fish lices, yangzhou fried rice, crispy fried chicken and Carne de Porco a Alentejana (traditional Portuguese cuisine)

For Singapore, the food shown are the Chilli Crab, Roti Prata, Satay, Hainanese Chicken Rice and Laksa.

The designers for these stamps are Thomas Au Man Hou and Carlos Goncalves. The photographer for Singapore Food is Aun Koh.

I believe Aun Koh is the website owner of a food blog called chubby hubby.

An interesting point to note is that both Singapore and Macao have a very high population density. I once read that based on Singapore's population density, we could squeeze the entire world's population into South Africa! But guess what, Macao has an even higher population density than Singapore