Reunion Dinner at Home on Chinese New Year Eve

Although I live with my parents and brothers, we rarely eat together as we rarely have a meal together as my sibling and I are busy with work and we reach home at different time. Therefore, the only time when we can all have a meal together is during reunion dinner on Chinese New Year eve.

As usual, my mum prepared a sumptuous feast which always include a steamed fish, pengcai (盆菜), a hearty soup filled with abalones, prawns, scallops, duck meat, quail eggs, vegetables, meat ball like fish and pork ball. Mum also prepare tomato prawn, steamed chicken, fried wanton (dumpling), fried vegetable, ngoh hiang or Five Spice Meat Roll (five spice pork roll).

Sumptuous pencai filled with vegetables, prawns, abalones, scallop, quail eggs, pig skin, sea cucumber and braised duck meat.

 Fried prawns with tomato sauce.

  Fried wanton dumpling filled with minced pork and prawn.

  Fried sotong balls.

 Ngoh Hiang or Five Spice Meat Roll 

 Stirred fried vegetables

 Steamed fish with light soya sauce

 Sweet soup for a sweet year ahead.

Steamed shredded chicken topped with sesame oil and light soya sauce.

My father likes this dark soya sauce vegetable and braised beancurd.

 What a spread!

 My dinner

 After dinner, we watched Chinese New Year countdown show.

I brought some dessert to share.

Chinese New Year Eve at Kwan Im Thong Hood Temple

Right after work, I went to Singapore popular Kwan Im Thong Hood temple at Waterloo street to pray for safety and good year ahead. Just a few days ago, I had a terrifying dream. Also, this year forecast in the year of Goat for Rooster is not so auspicious. Thus, I went to pray for good luck and blessing and to donate few dollars. Luckily, there were not many people in the afternoon. The staff at the temple already set up barricade for tonight event whereby devotees would rush to be the first to offer the incense to Kuan Yin goddess.It is widely believe that the first person to offer the incense on the first day of Chinese New Year will be lucky and be blessed for the year. 

The popular temple has existed since 1884 and was spared from destruction when japanese 

attacked its vicinity. Many building near the temple was damaged yet the temple 

miraculously remained intact.   

After praying to KuanYin goddess, I saw wheel-chair bound man who sold tissue paper. I brought two tissue papers for $2.00 and to my shock, the tissue had bird dropping. The bird poop was wet and a mixture of white and brown colour. Anyway my first thought was so much for my kindness. Then I remember that there is a saying that bird poop brings you good luck if it drop on your head. I just hope for the best and hope that it bring me good luck. 

 Kwan Im Thong Hood temple at Waterloo street is also a popular tourist attraction and is popular in Singapore. 

Barricades set up for tonight

 Last minute shopping on New Year eve.

 God of Fortune at Waterloo street.

  You can enjoy massive discount on New Year goods on Chinese New Year eve. 

Light-up Ceremony at Singapore Chinatown

How time flies, this year we be heralding the year of earth Goat in the coming Chinese New Year. I don't know why but I really prefer to celebrate Chinese New Year in February and what is so awesome this year is that we get to enjoy long weekend holiday starting from Thursday to Sunday in Singapore. Most people get to work for half a day on Wednesday so that we can do last minute spring cleaning or shopping to prepare for Chinese New Year reunion dinner.  Of course I'm envious of people in China and Taiwan who get to enjoy a week or two of long holiday. But in multi-racial Singapore, we get to enjoy two days of public holiday though I wish we can get more. 

Last year I attended the Light-up ceremony in Chinatown so this year I decided to join in the light-up ceremony in Chinatown again as I really like the loud cracking sound of firecrackers which kinda pop away last year bad luck away. The louder the firecracker, the better.  Also I got to see electrifying fireworks and to just explore the night market in Chinatown where you get to buy Chinese New Year decoration and goodies. 

This year I'm also happy that my birthday is during the Chinese New Year period too as I can toast yusheng or raw fish shredded salad with my friends and relatives. 

Here to a great, safe and prosperous Chinese New Year in advance to everyone!

From  Chinatown Festival website. 

Date: 31 January – 19 March 2015

Time:7.00pm – 6.00am ((18 & 19 Feb 2015)
         7.00pm – 2.00am (Friday & Saturday)
         7.00pm – 12.00mn (Sunday – Thursday)

Venue: Eu Tong Sen Street, New Bridge Road, South Bridge Road and Garden Bridge

 Arrived at Chinatown at about 6pm to meet my cousins and cousin-in-law for dinner.

 This year Chinese New Year decoration is similar to last year with Chinese coins hanging above the street.

 May this year be a safe and prosperous year!

According to Chinese fengshui, earth goat should be better than last year fire horse year. The elements are said to be more balanced as last year was an unbalanced year with too much fire elements.

 In Chinatown, you can buy affordable Chinese New Year decoration. God of Fortune and goat furry toy.

 Or you can buy Singapore souvenirs here.

 So many came for the official light-up ceremony. Could barely walk through in some part of the street.

 I brought this lovely ancient Chinese beauty in Han dynasty costume for $2.00

 Buy some Chinese New Year couplets for good fortune. 

 I think I buy few days before Chinese New Year as price will drop. 

 I find the goodies here not so cheap. I can help my mum to bake pineapple tarts.

 Different flavour jelly.

 Small mandarin oranges only cost $2.00 per basket.

 God of Fortune.

 Chinese dry sausages and duck from Guangzhou.

 Stage performance. Need to buy ticket to watch, else you have to watch snippets of it from afar.

 Locals and tourist admiring the fireworks.

 Yeah, I got to see 5 to 8 minutes of dazzling firework.

 Two more weeks and a half to Goat year!

Wishing tree outside Chinatown Point mall.

Heralding Chinese New Year!

My favorite festival of the year is approaching soon in about two and a half weeks time! Today I went to Orchard Road Ngee Ann City mall for window-shopping before I went to Chinatown for the light-up ceremony. Many shopping malls in Orchard Road have started selling Chinese New Years related goodies. I'm quite happy with this year light-up ceremony at Chinatown. I will share Chinatown Light-up ceremony in my next post.

Chinese New Year decoration in Ngee Ann City shopping mall.

At Ngee Ann City basement 2, you can shop for Chinese New Year goodies.

This is the year of earth Goat based on Chinese astrology. 

Former Singapore President Mr S R Nathan at Tampines 1

As usual, this Saturday, I like to go to Times bookshop at Tampines 1 mall to browse the latest books and magazines and to buy some stationery. I was surprised to see people wearing suits and business attire forming two lines near the bookshop entrance as if they were welcoming me. It was only when I stepped in and realised former President of Singapore S R Nathen would be at Tampines 1 for autograph session signing of his latest book, S R Nathan in Conversation. 

Actually I was a little upset as I wanted to browse the latest magazines, yet all those people in business attire were standing there and blocking the magazine section. In fact they blocked the magazine section. So I went to the  book section to read first and then check out the stationery. Actually I'm quite excited to see him as it's the first time I see him in person. Normally I see him only on television. S R Nathan is already 90 years old yet he looks really young for his age. 

 The autograph session lasted for about an hour. 

S R Nathan is already 90 years old yet look younger than his age. 

I was busy taking photo of him and didn't really hear what he was saying.

Delicious Prawn Mee in Tampines

These delicious prawn mee pok dry and prawn noodle soup are super delicious. I love rich prawn broth and delicious springy dry mee pok. This popular Shun Shun prawn noodle stall located at Tampines street 81. It costs $3.50 for a bowl of prawn noodle soup but for the dry prawn noodle, it is more expensive at $4.00.

How to get there?

Behind Tampines Golden Pines Blk 827

Alight bus 291 (red colour sign) at Tampines bus station

Dry mee pok (flat noodles) with pork, sliced fish cake and prawns.

Pedestrian Night at Orchard Road

One the first Saturday of the month, part of Orchard road will be closed for Pedestrian Night where there be performances. This month, pedestrians were treated to some Chingay Performance. For me, I try to avoid the congested street and stay at home. 

Fountain of Wealth at Suntec City

In this brand new year 2015, I wish you Happy and Prosperous New Year. If you want to enhance your luck and wish for prosperity, you can start at the free attraction at Fountain of Wealth located in Suntec City shopping mall. Suntec City building is designed with advice from some of the best Hong Kong Feng Shui Masters and it is partly owned by Hong Kong Tycoons like Li Ka-shing and others.  

It was listed to as the largest fountain in the world by the Guinness Book of Records in 1998. At night, be dazzled by the psychedelic laser light with music and laser dedication messages.
From Wikipedia

• The inward flowing water of the fountain was used for two reasons. Water is known as the symbol of life and wealth in Chinese culture, and the inward motion of the water symbolises the retention of wealth for Suntec City.According to feng shui experts (Chinese geomancers), the water flowing inwards represents riches pouring in, thus the name Fountain of Wealth.

• It is claimed that visitors to Suntec City, who walk around the central base of the Fountain three times and touching the water at all times, would gain some good luck of their own.

Fountain of Wealth at Suntec City

Fountain of Wealth opening time for Daily Touch Water Session.

Hope your wish will be fulfilled.

 Yes, walk around the metal ring and touch the splashing water.