Blog Rest

I will be out of action for a while.

Brother in law having heart attack and in hospital.

Got to be there to give sister some moral support and accompany her.

My World Tuesday - God of Fortune

Oh this is my favourite at the Singapore River Hongbao. This is the God Of Fortune.

It is not raining and why are these girls carrying the umbrella upside down?

If you looked at the two videos below you will know exactly what they are doing. The God of Fortune will released some lucky numbers and these girls are trying to catch the numbers with their umbrellas...lol

The numbers are used to purchase 4D (four digits) lottery. I dont buy 4D lottery so I dont collect these numbers.

I collected some to take photos to show you how they looked like. Some of them have numbers and some dont.

The video shows these girls trying to collect the numbers with their numbers...lol

It was so beautiful that night when the God of Fortune suddenly released more numbers. It looked like it was raining golden showers.

I was standing behind the God of Fortune and as the wind was blowing in my direction, some numbers fall onto me...hahahaha and no I did not use these numbers to purchase any lottery.

Please visit "That's my World" for other parts of the world.

Chinese New Year - Singapore River Hongboa 2010 - Twelve Zodiacs

Twelve Chinese Zodiacs

Tiger - This being the year of the Tiger

Ox

Rat

Pig

Dog

Rooster

Monkey

Goat

Horse

Dragon

Rabbit

If you are curious about the readings of the zodiacs, you can view this website. But dont believe too much, I think we need to work hard to achieve the results that we want.

Chinese New Year 2010 - Singapore River HongBao - Exhibits 1

As it is year of the tiger, there are lots of exhibits on tigers.

A short video showing the tiger's exhibits and lots of people posing with them.



The panda exhibits are a favourite with the crowds too. They are so cute.

According to Legend, Goddess Nuwa created seven animals to go along with the earth that she created. Today is the seventh day of Chinese New Year and is also known as ren ri (human day or the birthday of human) and that is what Goddess Nuwa created for earth on the seventh day.

To honour the day, a special dish is created of raw fish and vegetable salad called yusheng. Yu sheng is very popular locally.

We had yusheng on 2nd day of chinese new year. This year, we decided to eat the yusheng, teochew style. It is so different from the normal yusheng (see photo below). I still prefer the normal yusheng with the crackers on top.

Skywatch Friday - Chinese New Year - Singapore River HongBao 2010

Today is the sixth day of Chinese New Year. The animal that Goddess Nuwa created for earth is the horse so today is the birthday of horse. Forgot to mention the animal for yesterday, it is the birthday of the Ox. Find out whose birthday it is tomorrow that Goddess Nuwa created for earth according to Legend.

I used a function in my new camera to take a wide angle of the whole scenery at the Singapore River Hongbao. You can see the "sea of people".
The colourful seats infront of me are the temporary platform for parades. I think the temporary platform might be permanent already, cause it is so useful and have a good view of the sea.

For other sky watchers, please hop over to Skywatch blog.

Chinese New Year - Singapore River Hong Bao 2010 - Art Candy

This is a dragon and it tasted very sweet. It is actually made of candy by craftsmen from china. If you looked at the video below, you can roughly know how it was made.

Chinese New Year 2010 - Singapore River Hongbao 2010 (Part 1)

Time passes fast. Today is the 4th day of Chinese New Year and is also known as the birthday of sheep. Sheep was the fourth animal that the Goddess Nuwa created for earth according to Legend.

Last night, I visited the River Hongbao at Marina. There were so many people and it was so difficult to take good photo without any people getting in the way...lol.

Once I stepped into the venue, I could see the future Integrated Resort still under construction. The roof top looked so interesting. It was built according to fengshui. There will be a roof garden with F&B outlets there and some water features too. I hope to go up there once it is completed.

There will be a casino too in the Integrated Resort with musuem and exhibition halls. The other casino that was opened few days ago was in Sentosa with Universal Studio. Universal Studio will only open next month or so.

There was a china fair too at the Singapore River Hong Bao. Singapore River Hong Bao is a yearly event to usher in the Chinese New Year. Oh I love these cute pandas.

Some short videos showing the surrounding area. Just look at the crowd around me.

The below video is a little shaky at the beginning as I was hurriedly trying to catch the dragon dance in action. My first post on dragon dance in my blog...lol. There are two dragons in the video. At the end of the video is everyone's favourite, the God of Fortune. I will post about it next week, there's something funny going on at the foot of the God of Fortune. I will tell you all about it next week in "My World Tuesday".

Chinese New Year - 3rd Day of Chinese New Year

Today it is the third day day of Chnese New Year. It is also the birthday of the Pig. The third animal that the Goddess Nuwa created for earth according to Legend.

On this day, it is considered inauspicious to do any visitings. So we normally do not visit our relatives nor do we expect any visitors to come on this day. But nowadays people do not really be bothered by this tradition. They will go visiting on this day or wear black instead of red. But I never like wearing black during Chinese New Year.

The above photo was taken at my sister's house. We have so much food, most cooked by my eldest sister...she really can cook very sumptous food. Sometimes, I really prefer homecooked food then going out to eat.

Going to a chinese family's for a meal is the best. The host is always very generous with food. The table will be filled with lots of food and your host will keep asking you to eat...lol. The host will always make sure they have more food then you can finish. And oh I forgot to take photo of the dessert and fruits with free flowing wine and chinese tea.

Chinese New Year 2010 - Huge Chinese Lantern

Today is the 2nd day of Chinese New Year. As mentioned in my earlier post, the Goddess (Nuwa) created earth with seven animals. On the second day, she created the dogs.

Therefore second day of Chinese New Year is also the Birthday of Dog. People will be extra kind to dogs in respect of the occasion.

I have not completed my rounds of visiting. Today will be visiting my family's side of siblings. We will gather at my eldest sister's house to exchange greetings, oranges and giving out of ang pows (red packets containing gifts of money) . And of course, there will be a sumptous lunch waiting for us at my eldest sister's house. She is a great cook. :)

Saw this huge lantern in Heeren Shopping Mall. It is so beautiful. A short video to show exactly how big the lantern is.

Happy Valentine's Day

Today is the first day of Chinese New Year and also Valentine's Day.

Here's wishing everyone a very Happy Valentine's Day. :)

Chinese New Year 2010 - Year of the Tiger (First day of Chinese New Year)

Today is the first day of Chinese New Year. We welcome the year of the Tiger.

The first day of Chinese New Year is known as yuan dan (first morning of the new year) or yuan ri (first day).

According to Chinese legend, Nuwa, the goddess who created the earth over a seven-day period, also created different animals on specific days, which is why each of the first seven days of the New Year is also known as the birthday of a certain animal.

The first day of the new year is the birthday of chicken. Today, I must not sweep the floor cause it is considered bad luck as if to sweep away all the luck...lol.

The day begin with visiting to the oldest and most senior members of the family. I will be visiting my hubby's brother and his family. We will then have lunch at his place.

This year is very special to us cause we did not celebrate chinese new year for the past two years because my father in law and mother in law passed away, one after the other during the past two years.

Chinese New Year is a very important festival so if there is death in the family, one cannot celebrate Chinese New Year for that year. We have to mourn for one year. Therefore, it is important that we do not wear black during Chinese New Year, which is associated with death.

The Eve of Chinese New Year - Reunion Dinner

Today is the eve of Chinese New Year (chu xi). It is also a very important day to all chinese.

This is the day where everyone in the family gather together and have dinner together. There will be lots of food including chicken, pork, fish, etc. But in Singapore most of us have steamboat for dinner.My foreign friends thought we are going on a steamboat to have our reunion dinner...lol.

Steamboat actually meant a hotpot. It is actually a pot (powered by charcoal or electric) and we cooked a good soup base and then we just throw in all sort of ingredients. The ingredients will be added only when we wanted to eat. It could be all sorts of meat cut thinly, fish slices, fish ball, yong tau fu (all sorts of fresh produces like tofu, chilli, okra/ladies fingers filled with some fish paste into them), vegetables, prawns, mushroom, etc

I will have a busy time later preparing the dinner.

Meanwhile I have already wrapped my angpows (red packets containing gift of money), making sure that I remember different angpow patterns containing different amount of money..lol. For family members, the gift of money will be more while friends will have lesser (normally about $8).

Here wishing all GONG XI FA CAI, GOOD HEALTH, GOOD FORTUNE AND GOOD LUCK in the year of the Tiger.

Chinatown - Chinese New Year 2010 Decorations at Chinatown Point

Decorations at Chinatown Point in Chinatown. Being year of the Tiger, Tigers are part of the decorations. These tigers looked so cute playing chinese instruments.

Today is the day, where many chinese and non - chinese will start going to the market and buy food. For the chinese , most bought it for tomorrow Reunion Dinner for Chinese New Year and also to stock up food as markets will be closed during the first few days of Chinese New Year. Non-Chinese also had to stock up their food too. Even malls and supermarkets are closed during the first two days of Chinese New Year.

Oh I am so happy and all ready to receive the Year of the Tiger. I am done with the spring cleaning of the house, baked all my cookies, bought my new dress/new shoes and marketing...hahaha. Oh the most important part was that I also wrapped all my angpows (red packets containing gifts of money) to be distributed during the Chinese New Year for the youngsters and those not married.

Year of the Tiger seems promising and good for Singapore. Read in the papers that flights to Singapore during this weekend are all fully booked. I guess it is partly due to the newly open Integrated Resort in Sentosa.

Universal Studio will be open in March. You can keep track of the opening date in their official website.

Chinese New Year Decorations - Suntec City

Beautiful Decorations in Suntec City. The chinese word in the above word reads "Fu" meaning blessing or Good Fortune.

Chinatown - Chinese New Year 2010 Shopping Part 4

This will be my final posting on shopping in Chinatown for Chinese New Year 2010. This year I did not take much photo of the food, etc cause it would be a repeat of last year's photos.

These little oriental dresses are so cute. This year, my friends and I are wearing something oriental too. Mine will be a mix of chinese/japanese, a kind of kimono blouse with chinese buttons. :)



These cushion covers are so cheap but I prefer those sold in Robinsons, the designs are prettier.

Flowers and plants are favourties during Chinese New Year.

Durians for chinese new year? Nah, they seems to be around all year through.

Pomelo are also favourites with the chinese because Pomelo in chinese sounds like "to have".