1 Out of 7 Billion
The world is getting smaller everyday but a lifetime is not enough to explore it. My adventure starts in Singapore.
You can scroll the shelf using ← and → keys
Yorkie Turns A Year Older
February 28, 2010
Our dear Yorkshire terrier Sophie turned 1 year old (x7) so we got her a birthday cake from the pet shop.
Happy birthday, Sophie! Don’t bark too much ok! Hehe.
As she could not blow the candle nor slice the cake, we came to her rescue…
"I wish I will be allowed to run around the living room too"
"You can have a slice too but you need to bark as loud as I do. Hehe"
Gatherings
February 20, 2010
I’ve hosted at least 5 gatherings at my new place since I moved in mid-November.
I think I will continue to do this over the next 1.5 years such that the number of dinners/ mini-parties I host will be more than the ones held at Caribbean during my 3.5 years stay there.
It’s always awesome to have friends come and visit, chill out (without or without alcohol), sing a tune or two, and with reserved late night energy play Wii.
I guess I will have to find a better way of sorting out some logistical concerns like where to order sumptuous food (since I don’t cook) and having an amply supply of ice.
With the excitement of entertaining visitors, I occasionally forget to take photos. But here’s a party I hosted where I didn’t forget to bring out my digicam. Maybe because my guests are camwhores as well and inevitably I will be asked why I am not taking photos. Ha.
Welcome Julu, Ben, and Karl…
Julu belting out high notes on the Magic Sing with my sister
Mostly Philippine cuisine
Chinese New Year 2010
February 17, 2010
I had a fantastic Chinese New Year break. Kept busy catching up on recorded shows, organising stuff in the house (except 1st Day of CNY), going around the malls (which surprisingly had several shops open) and spending time with the family.
Compared with previous years, I felt really excited about this year’s festivities even if my family really does not celebrate CNY. We had more goodies/snacks, home decorations and CNY CD’s. The only thing we did not observe was buying new clothes. There’s not much closet space and we didn’t want to cramp the limited space anymore.
Some bits of info which I picked up from the Yahoo Q&A website :
Red as the official CNY color
According to tales and legends, the beginning of Chinese New Year started with the fight against a mythical beast called the Nien (Chinese: 年; pinyin: nián). Nien would come on the first day of New Year to devour livestock, crops, and even villagers, especially children. To protect themselves, the villagers would put food in front of their doors at the beginning of every year. It was believed that after the Nien ate the food they prepared, it wouldn’t attack any more people.
One time, people saw that the Nien was scared away by a little child wearing red. The villagers then understood that the Nien was afraid of the colour red. Hence, every time when the New Year was about to come, the villagers would hang red lanterns and red spring scrolls on windows and doors. People also used firecrackers to frighten away the Nien. From then on, Nien never came to the village again. The Nien was eventually captured by hong jun lao zu, an ancient Taoist monk. The Nien became hong jun lao zu’s mount.
Clothing
The colour red is commonly worn throughout the Chinese New Year because it is believed that red will scare away evil spirits and bad fortune.
In addition, people typically wear new clothes from head to toe to symbolize a new beginning in the new year. Wearing new clothes also symbolizes having more than enough things to use and wear in the new year.
Photos around Singapore
Chinatown - stalls selling goodies left and right
CNY goodies - peanut & coconut cookies, shrimp / pork rolls, pineapple tarts . Towers of calories!
Mall tour
Takashimaya mall. Believe it or not, I went stall by stall to check out the stuff. Ended up buying cornflake butter cookies (only).
Ion Orchard - These are cherry blossoms right?
(Newly-opened) Mandarin Gallery. This tiger is made up of flowers.
Vivo City came up with a directory of which shops are open during the festive season. Very customer service oriented.
Resorts World Sentosa also opened during the CNY weekend and as anticipated crowds flocked the island. Here are photos taken inside Vivo City and the nearby bus stop. Waiting time is loooooong. I will wait for Universal Studios to open before I join the queue.
Resorts World Sentosa -- taken from Vivo City
Waiting time for monorail - 45 minutes
Waiting time for buses into Sentosa - 2 hours. Of course waiting time could vary with signs updated accordingly.
More info on : http://www.rwsentosa.com/
