Ushering the Auspicious Dragon Chinese New Year 2024

Finally the auspicious Dragon Chinese Lunar New year has arrived! I'm elated and look forward to the Chinese New Year celebration with my relatives. 

Today is a really productive and fulfilling day. After work, I went to Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple at Waterloo street to pray. After praying, I walked to the city area to recycle plastic bottles and had lunch. 

I did the final spring cleaning, laundry and final decoration at home. Cleaning the shelves is quite therapeutic, cleaning away the past and dust, and welcoming the new energy. In the evening, I had a sumptuous reunion at home with my family. 

The Dragon in Chinese culture is an emblem of power, good fortune and strength and it is usually a popular year to have babies. To all my relatives, friends and faithful kind readers, may you enjoy a prosperous and healthy Chinese New Year! 

Wood Dragon at Gardens by the Bay, Flower Dome

Having reunion dinner at home. 

I like the fried crispy prawns prepared by my mum.

Prayed at Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple at Waterloo street today

Dragon Roars in Singapore Chinatown

Yesterday was a really productive day. After work, I went to admire the dahlias flowers at Gardens by the Bay Flower dome with my cousins. Later we went to Chinatown to see the Chinese Lunar New Year light-up. Based on the Chinese zodiac, this year is 甲龙 or Wood Dragon. 

I'm finally back to Chinatown this year. I'm quite happy with the lighting decorations and I look forward to shopping at Chinatown soon to prepare for my favourite festival of the year which is also known as the Spring Festival. I'm looking forward to a brand new start and change this year. 

I think this dragon design looks quite impressive at night from the side view. 

Chinatown MRT station

Pretty traditional shophouses in Chinatown

We had dinner at Good Luck BBQ for Sichuan cuisine.

Chinese New Year Celebrations 2023

This year is the first Chinese New Year celebration after covid restrictions. Finally, we can celebrate without those stringent covid measures in Singapore. 

It has been raining the past few days and I have been staying at home. 

Recently my aunties and cousins visited us and for the first time I played card games with my young cousins. 

I still receive hongbaos aka the red packets since I'm still single. For the past few years, I have been keeping the red packets and not spend it.  Hopefully by next year, I be married to my Mr Right. For the first time, my 4th uncle wished me luck in starting a family. Felt kinda stress. I can't just marry anybody. I must marry someone I love and respect. 

Last year I achieved my goal of going for the first date. This year my goal is to find and date someone I'm going to marry. Anyway, my parents who have been happily married for 45 years this year, only dated for less than a year. 

If there is chemistry and love with him, I'll just marry in less than a year of dating and I will ask the person if he intends to marry me first before dating because I'm not so young already and can't afford to waste time especially if there is plan for baby. Anyway it also depends on fate (随缘） if I have baby as I'm not so young. 

Hopefully this year I can achieve my goals of dating my Mr Right and reach healthy weight.

Hongbaos by my parents, 6th aunt and 4th uncle. This is the year of Rabbit based on the 12 Chinese zodiacs.

I had coffee prepared by my mum and snacks. I need to exercise to lose weight.

Breakfast on first day of Chinese New Year.

Lunch on first day of CNY on Sunday. Delicious fried bee hoon by my mum.

CNY 1st day on Sunday. Black sesame seed tangyuan dessert and coffee prepared by my mum.

Typical Teochew family will eat this fish during Chinese Lunar New Year.

2nd day of CNY on Monday. Fried noodles cooked by my mum.

Chinese New Year Street Light-up at Chinatown Singapore

Wow I love this year Chinese New Year dazzling street light-up designed by students from the Singapore University of Technology and Design at Chinatown which features many majestic tigers. This year CNY street light-up will end on 2 March. I can still see on my birthday next month. Chinese New Year is my favourite festival and I'm looking forward to collecting more Hongbao next month.  

This year is Ren Yin or Water Tiger. So if your favourable elements are water and wood, it should be a pretty smooth year. 

My buddy and I explored Chinatown CNY street light-up last Friday. I think this year there are more visitors compared to last year. The street was quite crowded last Friday with more people shopping for CNY goodies in Chinatown this year. I love the vibe this year. 

From https://chinatownfestivals.sg

Chinatown is once again beautifully decorated with street light-up to mark the celebration of Lunar New Year. Designed by students from the Singapore University of Technology and Design, this year street light-up will feature sculptured lanterns from cub to tiger striving to achieve strength and vitality in their growing up to depict how we will stay united and emerge stronger from this Covid pandemic. Not forgetting the centrepiece between New Bridge Road and Eu Tong Sen Street that comprise a family of tigers to signify reunion, harmony and prosperity.

Really beautiful design!

As usual, every year I will read the annual horoscopes to see what to look out for. Fortune reading is like weather forecast.

My horoscope is Rooster! Yes I can be very blunt and argumentative sometimes. I think as I grow older, I am less argumentative and blunt. I must remember to practise Right Speech. 

Really adorable tiger Chinese New Year decor

I love their red bean pastry and wife biscuit.

River Hongbao Show 2021

Last Saturday I went to Gardens by the Bay to view the River Hongbao show to explore the beautiful lanterns and just to celebrate Chinese New Year. I went for the 8.30 pm to 10.30 pm time slot after visiting the flower dome. 

In the past, River Hongbao show was held at the Marina Bay floating platform where you can see the ArtScience museum and Marina Bay Sands. This time, the festive lanterns are spread in the vast Gardens by the Bay. 

This event is now extended to 20th February, this Saturday instead of today. Last I check, tickets are all booked today.

Website: https://riverhongbao.sg

As usual, you find the God of Fortune in River Hongbao show.

Wow happy to see both my Chinese zodiac sign and western horoscope: Rooster and Pisces.

The magnificent Peacock lantern is sponsored by Kuan Im temple at Waterloo street.

ple at WaterI went to OCBC skywalk before exploring River Hongbao show at Gardens by the Bay.

View of the concert from OCBC skywalk