Mid-Autumn Festival @ Chinatown

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The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Mooncake Festival, falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month when the moon is at its fullest and brightest.

It is a celebration of reunion, when families gather to admire the full moon and sample Mooncakes - a traditional Chinese pastry, over a cup of unsweetened tea.

I missed the official light-up and opening ceremony at Chinatown last weekend but I managed to make a trip down to immerse myself in the festivities this week.

Other than the celebrations at Chinatown, there are also floats over at nearby Clarke Quay which you must not miss!

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Battery-operated Angry Birds lanterns

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Male and Female?

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The pigeon who pooped green poop on my arm

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Fancy pens

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The iconic Pearl Centre has been around for 40 years but it will be demolished in two years time to make way for the new Thomson line

I feel it's a shame that old buildings like this have to give way to development. It may not be a monument but I'm sure it holds special sentiments to the people living there.

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Singapore magnets

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Part of Sri Mariamman Temple along Pagoda Street

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Focus on the sacred cow

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Focus on the deities

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South Bridge Road

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The lock system caught my attention

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Masjid Jamae along South Bridge Road

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Sri Mariamman Temple along South Bridge Road

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Buddha Tooth Relic Temple along South Bridge Road

Where else in the world can you find three places of worship belonging to three different races all along the same stretch of road yet co-existing peacefully?

All we need now is a church further down to complete the picture. Church goers can go to Maxwell Food Centre for Lao Ban bean curd and Ah Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice after service!

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The entrance of Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

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Love the architecture except those awful plastic flowers

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The rear side

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Lotus drain covers

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These lanterns are not part of the Mid-Autumn
Festival but they are still pretty nonetheless!

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Lanterns galore at the street bazaar!

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Lights up at new Bridge Road

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It was time to make my way towards Clarke Quay for the floats
but first, I made a detour to Pagoda Street for these lanterns!

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These were the participating lanterns in the
lantern painting competition organised by the
Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Citizens' Consultative Committee

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These lanterns will be on display at Pagoda Street till October 14

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These lanterns were done by two groups - 6 years old and below and 7 - 16 years old

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花开富贵

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View from the Garden Bridge linking Pagoda Street to People's Park Complex

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The human traffic at Clarke Quay was even more congested!

The riverbanks were thronged with families and it was hard taking photos without having anyone photobombing your shots.

There are five floats in the river, with each depicting a different Chinese festival.

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春节
Spring Festival

端午节
Dragon Boat Festival

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七夕节
Festival of the Cowherd and Weaving Maiden
(aka Chinese Valentine's Day)

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冬至
Winter Solstice

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中元节
Hungry Ghost Festival

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Night view of Clarke Quay

There were more lanterns to be seen at Hong Lim Park but I decided to return for it on another day as I could feel a major cramp acting up in my calves. 

HAPPY MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL!