R2-D2 Sweets

R2-D2 Sweets

My sister has bought me some sweets and it is packaged in a R2-D2 metal can. Okay for those non-Star Wars fans this probably looks like a stylised rubbish can.

Here are side shots in 4 angles of the can. It is generally well detailed and the printing is well done and clear. And Shiny!

Opening up the shiny dome, we can see the sweets stored inside in a polybag.

Close up of the sweets shows that they look like baby teeth (probably due to the slight off white-yellowish colour) but actually the sweet manufacturer tried to make the shape of the pellet look like R2-D2...

Not sure if this is a fail for the manufacturer and I do wonder what went through the minds of those who approved this franchise...

Lego 6241 Loot Island

Prologue

Also bought second hand from Bricklink, this set is a small one. Below is a cover art of the set. Like most Pirates II sets, it features marine creatures, pirates and jewels but unlike the Kraken Attackin' set, this does Imperial Guards in this one.

The Build

The marine animal that comes with this set is the crocodile. To me it is not as nice as the shark that came with Brickbeard's Bounty but admittedly it is better than a fish or a crab. This croc comes in 3 parts, the tail, main body and the upper jaw/head. Marine animals from Pirates II, collect them all! Or maybe not. Honestly, there is nothing too much to say about it except it is another addition to my Lego marine life collection. I do wonder why sharks are so prevalent in the Lego world in terms of medium to large sized marine creatures. Having it dark green is quite a suitable colour compared to some of the other worse choices we have seen Lego do from time to time.

Next up is the first pirate of this set. He has the dubious honour of manning the catapult on the pier as well as cooking everyone's fishy dinner on a slow open fire. He come equipped with a telescope and a saber to fulfill his tasks. For some reason, his ammunition for the catapult is further away than his dinner. We can see where his priorities lie I suppose.

Next let us look at pirate 2. He is an old foggie, maybe a mentor of brickbeard? This guy only appear in one other set, the Pirates Advent Calender 2009, but not any other Pirates II sets.

Here is a frontal shot of the whole loot island. Pretty small island with a pier where the catapult is located. The molded island base piece is very well made and is a fantastic unique piece that makes the island look less 2 dimensional like some Lego sets.

The back of the loot island is quite well decorated and not as plain as I would expect. The palm tree on both sides serve to add more dimension to the island.

The sole Imperial Guard has a "gunboat", a small rowing boat with a cannon mounted on it to do an amphibious assault on the island. Maybe he should wait for reinforcements. He only has a saber as his trusty sidearm.

Final Thoughts

Overall set is quite unique with its island base and the skull. It is small compact and has some play features where the hidden treasure chest is hidden behind a removal door at the front. Finally the old man pirate is different form the rest of the pirates. On the side which will not compel a person to get this set is the crocodile. But I think it is quite a nice addition and a person would find it a very playable set with the firing cannon among other features in it. I would rate this a buy.

Lego 6240 Kraken Attackin'

Prologue

Bought second hand from Bricklink, this set is a small one. Below is a cover art of the set. Like most Pirates II sets, it features marine creatures, pirates and jewels but no Imperial Guards in this one.

Parts List

Here is a shot of the parts of this set and since it is not that large, we are able to capture it all in one screenshot.

 

 

The Build

Here is the piece of the set, the raft. Features 2 pirates and 1 parrot on it. Brickbeard is not on board though only his sidekicks. The raft is simple without any SNOT techniques and is made up of pretty simple parts except for perhaps the technic parts. In other words, if one wants to bulid more of such rafts it is not too hard to do so.

The dark red octopus is more rare than the dark-bluish grey one and is the kraken attacking those pirates on the raft. It is made up of a rubbery plastic than the rigid ABS type. This makes it easier and safer to play without breaking off the tentacles I guess.

Oh yeah sushi time, this pirate probably thinks. He carries a saber to rattle with the kraken and has paddles the raft at the same time.

A parrot sits on the opposite end of the raft. It is the very common birdie found in many of the pirates set.

Sitting on the crow's nest is the other pirate keeping a look out in the distance. He has a telescope and has a rifle kept underneath to arm himself with.

Final Thoughts

This set was bought second hand on Bricklink and was quite a good price. It is a fun set to own but is it worth buying? Well if you like the pirates line, this is not a must have but it does add a colourful scene to your current pirate sets and the ocotopus is something nice to add to your Lego creatures collection instead of the usual fishes and sharks. So this set leans more to a good to have to me. So if you do see one that is at a good bargain, why not get it? I leave this review with pictures of the whole set.

Kranji Commonwealth War Cemetery, War Memorial and State Cemetery Visit

Kranji State Cemetery

Rounding up this trip and article is the Kranji State Cemetery. The only national cemetery that I am aware of in Singapore. It is located just before the Kranji War Cemetery on the right side. It has an area of 2 acres and currently only 2 persons are buried there. They are Yusof Ishak and Benjamin Henry Sheares. The first and second President of the Republic.

The first thing I think anyone would notice is how large 2 acres is compared to the fact that only 2 persons are currently buried here.

The 2 photographs below are taken from the same position. The first shows Yusof Ishak's burial plot and the second Benjamin Sheares one.

 








First up Yusof Ishak. His burial plot is covered and almost obscured by a hedge surrounding it. As you approach it, the 2 grave markers are the only visible parts that you can see far away.





 









The Coat of Arms can be seen on the grave markers.

 








On both sides of the stone block where the grave markers sit are the engravings in the 4 official languages of Singapore.

 






Finally, Benjamin Shears burial plot. In contrast it is very simply and unadorned. It is even missing the Coat of Arms which I felt should have been there.

 









Well that's all folks and I hope you enjoyed this article and if you do have the time, take a trip down and have a nice serene walk around these tranquil grounds. Practically no one goes there.



Back: CWGC Cemetery Office, Quarters & Nursery Area

Kranji Commonwealth War Cemetery, War Memorial and State Cemetery Visit

CWGC Cemetery Office, Quarters & Nursery Area

The cemetery office and quarters are located at the right side near the cemetery entrance.




It is guarded by an alert looking dog. So I did not go in.



 
Since the people here maintain the grounds of the cemetery and memorial, it is not surprising to find that the office and quarters are immculately tended to.




There is a nursery area to maintain all the beautiful plants and grass found all over the memorial and cemetery. Among all those plants we spotted some chickens reared most likely by the caretakers of the area.





Next: Kranji State Cemetery
Back: Cross of Sacrifice & Surrounding Features

Kranji Commonwealth War Cemetery, War Memorial and State Cemetery Visit

Cross of Sacrifice & Surrounding Features

This was something new to me this feature below I found out through Wikipedia was called the Cross of Sacrifice and can be found in Commonwealth war cemeteries. For more details about it, click on the link provided. This one is located directly front and centre of the Kranji War Memorial.




More headstones can be found at the left and right back of the memorial




Further to the right of the memorial are the Gurkha Garden and British Garden which consists of ashes of the respective servicemen and civilians and members of their families formerly buried in Pasir Panjang and Ulu Pandan cemetries but are now reburied in these 2 gardens.






Even further to the right of these 2 gardens is the Kranji Military Cemetery consisting of Non-World War dead. Amongst the plots stands a stone monument that is similar in appearance to the Cross of Sacrifice.



 
I wonder who left those 2 little idols at the base





Next: CWGC Cemetery Office, Quarters & Nursery Area
Back: Special Memorials

Kranji Commonwealth War Cemetery, War Memorial and State Cemetery Visit

Special Memorials

For more information on each of the memorials below click on the Wikipedia link on Kranji War Cemetery and scroll down to the middle of the article.

Unmaintainable Graves Memorial

On the right of the Kranji War Memorial is the Unmaintainable Graves Memorial. The inscription reads "These Soldiers Died Serving Their Country And Lie Buried Elsewhere In Malaya". According to Wikipedia it commemorates the over 250 troops killed in action in British Malay whose graves, whilst known, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission were unable to maintain and whose bodies could not be moved due to religious conviction.

The Cremation Memorial

The Cremation Memorial can be found at the back of the Kranji War Memorial. The following words are inscribed "In Honour Of These Officers And Men Who Died In Battle And Whose Mortal Remains Were Committed To Fire". These were casualties who were cremated as part of their religious beliefs.

Civil Hospital Grave Memorial

Civil Hospital Grave Memorial is located on the left of the Kranji War Memorial. The inscribed words are "The Soldiers Whose Memory is Honoured Here Perished In Captivity in February 1942 and Lie Buried in One Grave in The Grounds of Singapore Civil General Hospital". It is a mass grave.

Chinese Memorial

Chinese Memorial can be found on the right and further away from the Kranji War Memorial. The inscription reads "The Men Whose Names Are Recorded On These Panels Perished in Captivity in February 1942 and Lie Buried Here in One Grave With Ten Comrades Whose Names are Not Known""






Next: Cross of Sacrifice & Surrounding Features
Back: The Kranji War Memorial

Kranji Commonwealth War Cemetery, War Memorial and State Cemetery Visit

Kranji War Memorial

The Kranji War Memorial looks very imposing indeed and has a very sterile and clean look since it is made up of mostly bare concrete that blends well with the cemetery headstones.




The plaque gives a short tribute to the fallen whose names are inscribed on the walls of the memorial.



 
Like most of the inscriptions found in and around the cemetery and memorial, the inscriptions on the walls of the memorial are carved out in the bare concrete.




A typical part of the wall is just filled with names and are grouped according to the units they belonged to. This one shows Commonwealth units of Indian origin.




Here is a shot of the memorial with a Cross of Sacrifice at the left foreground.




And here is another shot of the memorial further back and from a more sideways angles




Finally, a close up shot of the ball and star found on top of the Kranji War Memorial. No idea how it is maintained so well up there.





Next: Special Memorials
Back: The Kranji Commonwealth War Cemetery