Getai Performance at River Hongbao Show 2014

Last Friday, I brought my parents to the River Hongbao Show and we were happy that we could watch free Getai performance and have good seats. Getai is literally translated from Chinese 歌台 which means song stage and is normally performed during the Hungry Ghost Festival but is now performed in other Chinese festivals.

My parents enjoyed the getai performance hosted by humorous Chen JianBin who could sing and act. We also managed to watch the fireworks near the Singapore Flyer as another major event Chingay was also organised. At the end of the day, I'm glad my parents enjoyed the performance. 

I really look forwards to next year River Hongbao show. Next year will be the year of Goat. Really appreciate the organisers which include Singapore Federation of Chinese Clans Association, Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple, Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.  

The majestic Horse in the city.

Pineapple and durian 

The hosts Chen JianBin and bilingual Lim RuiPing who could host both Mandarin and English fluently. 

The four performers sang popular Chinese New Year songs.

The singer sang in Teochew, one of the Chinese dialects.

Chen JianBin can really sing well.

Glitzy stage lighting and live band. I love live performance.

Fireworks for the Chingay event.

The finale

Late dinner after watching the performance.

Tradition in the city.

Ming Dynasty emperor and empress lanterns

Entrance to the River Hongbao show.

Is this UFO?

Everytime I pass by old Tampines road, I'll see these two large inverted cone that look like futuristic aircraft from afar. Actually they are used to store Newater- waste water that is processed to be drinking water for nearby electronics chip manufacturing factories.

Happy Birthday to All!

Based on Chinese tradition, on the seventh day of Chinese New Year, it is the birthday for human. Thus, today is everyone birthday. 

My mum will cook seven different types of vegetables and eat yusheng (shredded vegetables with raw fish) to celebrate to celebrate the seventh day of Chinese New Year. 

Have a Safe and Smooth Sailing Horse Year!

Saw this lovely sailing vessel  filled with treasures at Cityhall Link mall and just wanna share with all. Wishing all readers a prosperous, safe and smooth sailing Horse year ahead!

Happy Chinese New Year!

Wishing all Chinese readers, a prosperous and Lucky New Year! Galloping to a great year ahead!

Anticipating Chinese New Year!

Hurray, this coming Friday will be Chinese New Year. To me Chinese New Year is the most important festival. It is the time to meet up with relatives whom I have not met for a year. Also I get to enjoy sumptuous dinner with my family during reunion dinner. Since I'm not married, I get still get red hong bao (packets of money) which symbolise blessing.
Will share the reunion dinner and the River Hongbao show by this weekend! 

Marina Bay Sands & Gardens by the Bay

Went for a walk with my cousins to explore downtown area and saw this beautiful scenery in the Gardens by the Bay. 

It's Better to Travel by Public Bus

Although MRT is convenient, frequent MRT breakdowns make it unreliable. It is better to travel by public bus or taxi in Singapore. After the announcement of fare hike, the MRT broke down twice. Not sure if its a sign from above.  

Photo courtesy of Kelvin Ong- Commuters at MRT station

Scoot Airline, Singapore Budget Airline

I prefer to travel budget airline for short-distance travel. Last year, I flew to Taipei on Scoots Airline, but I decided to give myself a treat by traveling in Scoots business class which cost me about $680.00 for return trip. Depending on when you book the flight, you can travel to Taipei from Singapore for about $400.00 for return trip economy class or Business class if you book early. Of course if you book your flight few days before the trip, a return ticket to Taipei can cost about $600.00 for economy seat. 

Scoot airline is a Singapore-based low cost long-haul airline and its parent company is Singapore Airline. From Singapore, you can fly to Australia Perth, Sydney and Gold Coast, Taipei, South Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong and to Thailand Bangkok. 

Click here to view Scoots airline.

 Scoots Airline in Taiwan

 Business class seat

  Quite empty business class

 I prefer the ham and cheese croissant hot that was served when I flew to Taipei. This was served cold on the return flight to Singapore. 

 Love window seat as I can view the land and sky of the country. This is one of the mountains in Taiwan. I love to seethe clouds sea hovering below the mountain.

Fluffy cloud

Singapore River Safari

I recently went to relatively new River Safari, a river-themed zoo and aquarium with my parents, as we hadn't explore the place since it was opened to the public in 2012. 

At the 12 hectares big River Safari, you get to see 7 different rivers from around the world. They are Mississippi,Congo, Murray, River Nile, Yangtze, Mekong and Ganges river. You also get to explore the wild Amazon flooded forest. 

However the stars at Singapore River Safari are the two adorable pandas on loan from China, Kai Kai and Jia Jia for ten years. They will return to China in 8 years time.

If you want to enjoy the visit, plan for about two to three hours to really explore the place. There is also the Amazon River Quest boat ride and the first boat departs at 10am.

Currently the ticket cost about $25.00 per adult, $16.00 for children (3 to 12 years old) and senior citizens ticket costs $12.00. 

I really enjoyed the visit. Remember to bring umbrella as it can be really hot as there is no shelter for some attractions.  

For more information, visit Singapore River Safari site here.
Address: 80 Mandai Lake Road, Singapore 729826.

How to get there, the fastest way is to take taxi to River Safari. 
But the cheapest way is to take MRT to the nearest station at Woodlands MRT and take taxi to Mandai Lake Road. For me, I took bus 969 from Tampines station to Woodlands Interchange.

Kai Kai, the star at Singapore River Safari relaxing and eating in his cooling air-conditioned home. 

The start of Singapore River Safari journey

 The first river you see, is the Mississippi River. It is the largest river in North America and the fourth longest in the world. 

 Turtle and alligator gar. 

You can enjoy the tranquil scenery

 Crocodiles

 At the Mekong River (about 4300 km), this Southeast Asian river is the tenth largest in the world. You can see Mekong giant catfish.

Yangtze River flows about 6,300km long and is the longest river in Asia and the third longest in the world.

 Into the Giant Panda Forest. Please do not use flash camera on the lovely pandas.

 Daily diet for the panda, Jia Jia and Kai Kai. 

 The two red pandas relax on the tree branches.

Kai Kai loves to eat bamboo. Some animals are just born lucky. The two pandas received VVIP welcome to Singapore. They are on loan from China for ten years. 

 Kai Kai, nicknamed 'Onion Head' for his small pointy fur on his head. His favorite pastime is taking a nap after eating.Its really rare to see Jia Jia, the female panda. 

 Outside the Panda home

 Singapore River Safari

 Enchanting manatees, also known as sea cows at the Amazon Flooded Forest. 

 Manatees are very big and the biggest look like 3.6 metres long

You can visit Singapore Zoo after River Safari as it is just opposite it.

ChinaPoint Shopping Mall at Chinatown

Chinatown Point is a relatively new shopping mall and there are many established travel agencies like CTC Travel. You can also buy the famous Tau Sa Piah (Chinese traditional pastries), Thye Moh Chan near the Toastbox.  Thye Moh Chan is a established brand with about 70-year history. However, at $1.60 per pastry, it is twice the price of similar product. After trying the flaky pastries with different fillings like yam, green bean, I'm quite happy with the quality. 

 Beautiful ceiling at Chinatown Point

There are many established travel agencies in this shopping mall

Long queue at Din Tai Fung restaurant 

Famous Tau Sa Piah, Thye Moh Chan, Chinese Teochew traditional pastry with sweet filling like yam, green bean, red bean paste and salty version. Cost $1.60 each which is twice the price of others brand.

Arts Installation in Singapore Changi Airport

At Singapore Changi airport, there are several arts installation for photo opportunities. You can pose with Russian dolls and the Kinetic Rain.

Spongbob, Russian church and dolls.

Russian dolls

Kinetic Rain art installation