Showing posts with label celebrations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label celebrations. Show all posts

Happy Vesak 2013


For the uninitiated, Vesak Day is to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and the passing away of Gautama Buddha

It rained rather heavily on Vesak morning but that did not dampen our spirits to visit the Singapore Buddhist Youth Mission at Clementi.

The rain turned into a drizzle upon our arrival and I realized that there is something very different this year compared to previous years. The bazaar which used to be built on the road right in front of the temple's entrance was now built at the court beside it instead.

From what I observed, this arrangement effectively ease the traffic - both vehicular and human. The endless crowd of devotees going into the temple no longer have to jostle with those browsing at the bazaar. 

The freed-up space also meant that vehicles could drive all the way in and u-turn their way out instead of making 3-point turns on the stretch of narrow road and endangering all the people walking on the road.

Hong Kong Street Jen Poo Kee XO Bee Hoon @ Clementi West Street 2

UPDATES (8th June 2014): Hong Kong Street Jen Poo Kee has moved location. New address is updated at the end of this post.

XO Fish Head Bee Hoon

Clementi West, also known as "West Coast", is where I frequent as a kid because Mum used to do her marketing here at the West Coast Market. As Grandma also lived here with her eldest son, coming here is almost a weekly routine for us.

I remember coming to the market here for breakfast and I, in particular, loved the Pig's Organ Soup especially the chili. Alas, I could not remember which stall it is and I doubt the stall is even there now.

We stopped coming after Grandma and uncle's family moved to another estate.

That was many years ago.

我的青春小鸟一去不回来



话说,上个星期五是我的生日也是本部落格的二周岁。

今年更是本人开始写部落格的第十个年头(非长遗憾的是没多少人留言祝贺所以还蛮失落的)。

我故意把脸书上的生日通知关掉想知道会有多少人记得但结果却是叫人心寒的…

咳,看来今年的生日与往年的一样孤单。

也没庆祝,就独自一人到怡丰城去参观海军军舰

Ten Years Of Incredible Journey


Today is a significant day of my life.

If you still have not realise it by now, it is both mine, and this blog's 2nd birthday.

I began blogging in 2003 on another platform before migrating to blogspot two years ago. Therefore, this year marks the tenth year of my blogging career.

I cannot believe that I have spent so much time on blogging!

Where did all the time go?

River Hong Bao 2013


GONG HEI FATT CHOY, my dear friends!

2013 is truly the year of the water snake as it has been pouring intermittently since the eve of the Lunar New Year.

Yesterday was the third day of the festive season and there was a bout of rain in the morning though it began clearing up in the afternoon.

Having cooped myself up at home for the first two days, I decided it was time to step out of the house for a breath of fresh air at River Hong Bao.

River Hong Bao first started in 1987 and has a history of  26 years in Singapore but it wasn't until three years ago that I visited it for the very first time.

It is an annual event where local organisers would bring in China craftsman to make giant lanterns based on folklore or zodiac animals. Each year, organisers would feature a different province from China and invite performing art troupes to put up a show here.

For this year, the featured province is Guangdong so do expect booths peddling Guangzhou delicacies and handicrafts.

Winter Solstice And End Of The World?



Happy Winter Solstice, everyone!

Better known as Dong Zhi (冬至) here in Singapore, this festival is widely celebrated by Chinese everywhere.

“冬大过年”,Mum would say.

In fact, the significance behind Dong Zhi is much more important than the Lunar New Year but people nowadays do not bother with traditions and customs anymore.

Mid-Autumn Festival @ Chinatown

festivals,sri mariamman temple,chinatown,masjid jamae,buddha tooth relic temple,mid autumn festival,pearl centre,lanterns,中秋节,celebrations,culture,south bridge road,

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!

Happy 47th Birthday, Singapore!


Singapore celebrates her 47th Birthday with much fanfare on the floating platform at Marina Bay yesterday.

I believe that for many of us, the biggest draw of the parade this year was the attendance of Singapore's Founding Father, Lee Kwan Yew.

Just earlier this week, someone who claimed to have "highly credible source" hinted that Mr Lee has passed away and that news have been withheld till the celebrations are over.

This piece of shocking news of course caused quite a stir on social media especially when  the 47th anniversary of our Independence is merely days away!

Siam Kitchen @ Lot One


We had an early Father's Day celebration dinner over at Siam Kitchen's Lot One outlet two nights ago.

The fragrance of Lemongrass greeted our noses the moment we walked into the restaurant and it instantly reminded me of a... foot massage palour! Haha!

The ambience is quite pleasant and I am attracted to those large window panes.

Although the restaurant is not very spacious, I do not feel very cram in there. Or maybe it's because we were early (about 6pm)?

三盅两件 Soup Restaurant @ Jurong Point


Within a matter of days, I had already celebrated Mother's Day twice.

The first was big brother's treat at Penang Place Restaurant while the second was big sister's treat at the Soup Restaurant.

Penang Place Restaurant @ Fusionopolis

Penang Place Restaurant

With Mother's Day just round the corner, big brother brought us to Penang Place Restaurant for it's buffet dinner as part of our early celebration.

The restaurant seemed spacious enough but strangely, the tables were all squeezed to one side which I find too cramp for comfort as I have to make detours just to get to the food.

The waiting staff were attentive initially but as diners began filling up the place, their responsiveness began to wane.

Happy Vesak Day!


It is the annual Vesak Day today.

Also known as the Buddha's birthday, it encompasses the birth, enlightenment Nirvana, and passing (Parinirvana) of Gautama Buddha.

Buddhists all over the world celebrated this holy day by paying homage to the Buddha.

We do this by not taking lives (eating meat of any kind is prohibited), participated in the ritual of bathing the Buddha, singing hymns in praise of the holy triple gem followed by the candlelit procession.

I visited the Singapore Buddhist Youth Mission at Clementi with my parents just like previous years.

We first went to bathe the Buddha as usual.

[CLOSED]李貴(亞蟹)席館 Lee Kui (Ah Hoi) Restaurant @ Mosque Street

Lee Kui (Ah Hoi) Restaurant



Famed for their cold steamed crabs, Lee Kui - or better known as Ah Hoi (Crab in Teochew) - is a forty years old Teochew Restaurant that dishes out traditional Teochew cuisine.

When we arrived during the evening, the restaurant was already teeming with people and we had to wait for a good twenty minutes, even though we had already made a reservation.

The walls at the holding area were adorned with pictures of their menu so patrons could check out what they wanna eat before they get a table. Good strategy to keep patrons occupied so the wait does not seem that long.

As the waitress showed us to our table, a wave of nostalgia sets in. The nondescript deco instantly reminds one of a chinese restaurant from the 80s.

Video: Shall We Talk


2011的最后几个小时都在重复地听着这首歌。

跟新年并没多大的关系,纯粹只是喜欢而已。

很感触,很有feel…

大家在新的一年里有什么鸿图大计呢?

在此祝各位身体健康,前程似锦!

Have A Happy Holiday!


Happy Thanksgiving!

The blogging mojo is gone.
Will return once it came back.

Video: Inch Chua - Semoga Bahagia


Semoa Bahagia by Inch Chua


Semoga Bahagia

Sama-sama maju ke hadapan

Pandai cari pelajaran

Jaga diri dalam kesihatan

Serta sopan-santun dengan kawan-kawan

Dengan hati bersih serta suci

Sama-sama hormat dan berbudi

Jaga tingkah pemuda-pemudi

Adat dan budaya junjung tinggi

Capailah lekas cita-cita pemudi-pemuda

Supaya kita ada harga di mata dunia

Kalau kita lengah serta lupa

Hidup kita sia-sia

Jiwa besar sihat serta segar

Rajin dengan sabar tentu bahagia

Lemah lembut perangai pemudi

Cergas tangkas wataknya pemuda

Suka rela selalu berbakti

Sikap yang pembela dan berjasa

Capailah nama yang mulia pemudi-pemuda

Rajinlah supaya berjaya semoga bahagia

A Letter For My Nation: Why Do I Serve?

Dear Singapore,

When I went to BMT many years ago, my PC asked us this question: "Why do we serve?"

Hands began going up into the air and several answers given by the recruits but non of the replies seemed to impress him much.

Throwing up his arms in despair (ok, I made that one up), this was what he said to us, "This, is YOUR country; YOUR territory. Here is where YOUR home, YOUR property, and all YOUR loved ones are. If YOU don't protect her, WHO will?

His answer hit me in the face like a wake-up call. As I lay in bed that night, I keep repeating that answer to myself, "If I don't, WHO will?"

There were plenty more to what my PC said earlier that day under the training shed but these are the most impactful words from him which helped me to survive my two years of conscription.

Boys like me, who had been forcefully taken away from our comfort zone the moment we turned eighteen years old were thrown into a unfamiliar environment where the toughest training awaits.

Of course, there were good times and not-so-good times. At times, when the training gets a little too tough, I would remind myself of the reason why I served.

莆田菜馆 Putien @ Jurong Point

The Dead Cockroach

A very Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there!

We celebrated Father's Day two days ago at Putien over at their Jurong Point branch.

My parents and I were only informed by my sis about this dinner for Dads at the very last minute!

Happy Mother's Day!

Mum was digging through her cupboard when she dug out these Mother's Day cards which I have made for her during primary school.

These must have been at least 23 years old!

Photobucket
This card open upwards