Singapore River Hongbao 2016 - Lanterns

There were many beautiful lanterns at the Singapore River Hongbao 2016. The theme for this year is “Journey to the West" being the year of the Monkey. Journey to the west is a famous story based on the monkey and his master (a buddhist monk) with two other discples on a mission to obtain sacred texts (sūtras) and returned after many trials and much suffering. During their journey they encountered many demons and spirits.

A must have mascot for every Chinese New Year, the God of Fortune.

Singapore River Hongbao 2016 - Fireworks

Fireworks displayed during the last day at Singapore River Hongbao 2016

Ang pow or Red packets for Chinese New Year 2016

It's the time of the year again, next week we welcome the Chinese New Year - Year of the Monkey. So went around the respective banks to collect the complimentary angpow or red packets. During the Chinese New Year, ang pow or red envelopes are given by the married to the unmarried, most of whom are children. But we also give angpows to the eldery (our parents or eldery relatives).

The amount in the angpow will depend on how close both parties are. The closer (being parents/childen) will receive generous amount while children of friends of friends will get lesser.

Punggol Waterway and Waterway Point Shopping Mall

Punggol Waterway Park is one of four parks linked by the North Eastern Riverine Loop of the Park Connector Network. The Waterway runs through the Punggol Waterway Park, and serves to increase park and water frontage for the housing estate while providing a green respite for residents.The word ‘Punggol’ in Malay means 'hurling sticks at the branches of fruit trees to bring them down to the ground', a reference to the area’s history as a fruit-growing district or as a rendezvous for wholesale fruit agents. For more information of the Punggol Waterway, refer to source.

It was so beautiful, love the vast area and really a good place to for for walk, cycle, exercise or just standing there to admire the scenery and nature. Sometimes we get to see small animals like otters, sea snakes, rare birds, etc.

Just beside the waterway is a new shopping mall and condominium and easy access via the MRT (Punggol Station).

As usual in the mall, we can look forward to lots of restaurants, cafes, eateries , etc. There's a supermarket, banks, fashion shops, etc all under one roof. What I like best was that there's many nice coffee houses in the mall with nice looking cakes, desserts, etc, a good place to have high tea with friends and family.

Kids having fun in the play area for kids.

Video of the waterway infront of Waterway Point Shopping Mall.

Chinese New Year 2016 - Chinatown Street Light Up - Nightly Stage Show (Getai)

Chinese New Year is just in few weeks times. Of course Chinatown is filled with lots of activities. Besides vendors selling goods related to Chinese New Year, there's nightly stage show (Getai) at Kreta Ayer Square right up to Chinese New Year's Eve.

I enjoyed the songs by the getai singers but sorry to say I dont know the names of most of the singers cause I am not a regular Getai audience. The only one I am familar must the Chen Jian Bin cause he is very popular both on Television and Getai performances.

Getai 1

Getai 2

Getai 3 (Chen Jian Bin)

Getai 4 (Chen Jian Bin)

Getai 5

Getai 6

Getai 7

Chinese New Year 2016 - Chinatown Street Light Up , Fire Crackers and Fireworks

Last Night was at Chinatown to watch the official ceremony for the Chinatown Street Light Up. The official light up and opening ceremony will be followed by 52 continuous days of street light up along the streets of Chinatown. The light-up will feature rows of peach trees lining up the street of Chinatown and decorated with lovely monkeys hanging around.

It was super crowded last night but managed to video the highlights of the ceremony.

Video of the street lighting up at 8pm and browsing through the streets of Chinatown and followed by firecrackers and fireworks at 9 pm. Did not watch the performance cause it was so crowded that it was mission impossible to squeeze nearer to the stage.

South Beach Hotel Singapore

There's a new hotel , South Beach Hotel that opened recently, a new 654- room five-star hotel, designed by famous French designer Philippe Starck.

The roof has a very beauticul curved designs.

Infront of the hotel was this fountain, can see the reflection of our legs haha.

Inside the hotel, the front lobby was quite dim but elegant.

Creative to make seats out of tree trunk.

At the entrance of the hotel, the LED screens become South Korean artist Lee Lee Nam's canvas, as the wall is filled with animated abstract shapes in a riot of colours.

Christmas Decoration at Ion Orchard

Christmas Decorations taken during the daytime at Ion Orchard.

Twelve christmas tree of kindness. 12 brands at ION Orchard have offered their interpretation of Christmas with a specially designed exquisite 2.4-metre-tall Christmas tree. They are Alice + Olivia, Braun Büffel, Buben & Zorweg, Cortina Watch, Crate & Barrel, Diane Von Furstenberg, Ermenegildo Zegna, Kurt Geiger, Kwanpen, Moncler, Parfums Christian Dior and TWG Tea. The trees are central to the mall’s fund-raising activities for Christmas, where shoppers can put in bids to adopt the tree or trees of their choice by using the iPad next to each tree. Bids start at S$8,000, with the highest bidder getting adoption and naming rights for each tree of their choice plus a token of appreciation from the respective brands and ION Orchard.

Wow wonder who the lucky winner of this beautiful car. The promotion is by American Express Card.

Christmas Decoration at Suntec City

Saw this christmas tree at Suntec City, it was so beautifully decorated. The nutcrackers were favourite with the photographers, I managed to get a clean photo with nobody crowding round the tree.

Decorations inside the tree.