Chinese New Year at Chinatown

To experience Chinese New Year festive season, the best place to visit will be Chinatown. The streets are adorned with magnificent and beautiful Rooster and her plentiful chicks and eggs. During this period, there are bazaar where we can shop for Chinese New Year decoration and goodies. Of course, during this busy period, you can find snaking queue for bak kwa or barbecued pork especially at popular Lim Chee Guan shop. Frankly speaking, I don't understand what is so special with their bak kwa. I think it taste the same as Bee Cheng Xiang. 

Chinese new year decoration are much cheaper. I found a very pretty pair of pink slippers at $6.00 and some Rooster decoration at $1 after negotiating with the vendors. I must say I'm very happy with my purchase. 

I decided to shop at Chinatown Point shopping mall to wait for the street light up so I can capture the beautiful Rooster lanterns along the street and share with my readers. You can catch the stunning street light-up along Eu Tong Sen street, New Bridge road and North bridge road from now till 25 February.

  What a magnificent and beautiful glorious Rooster! 

I love this year design.

Bazaar setup outside Chinatown point shopping mall.

                                    Cute rooster toys.

                              Gigantic Rooster in the day.

                   You can buy bak kwa here.

I love the historic beautiful architecture here in Chinatown. 

             Just alight at Chinatown MRT station.

Chinese New Year decoration. 

In the past, Samsui women worked in construction and built many buildings in Singapore.

             This is Chinatown Heritage Centre.

You can buy Singapore souvenirs at Chinatown Heritage Centre.

      I didn't know there are many varieties of peanuts.

          I love this snack! Really crunchy and tasty.

Buddha Tooth Relic temple and museum.

                                      Long queue as usual for this popular bak kwa shop.

           Inside Chinatown Point Shopping mall.

Public Buses in Singapore

I enjoy traveling via our efficient public buses in Singapore. All public buses are air-conditioned and they are very clean. Of course, I only enjoy taking public buses during off-peak hours else it will be very congested especially in the morning 7am to 8am and evening 6pm to 7pm.

Public transport is similar to other cities. It is cheaper by scanning EZ link card instead of paying by cash. In Singapore, most citizens travel via public transport because Singapore is the most expensive place in the world to own a new car. Before you can buy a brand new car in Singapore, you must have the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) which can costs between $46,000.00 too $55,000.00 (depending on the bidding and car category) which is more expensive than owning a car in other countries. So owning a normal brand new car from South Korea or Japan can cost a total of $90,000 to $110,000.00. If you want to buy a brand new branded car like BMW, be prepared to fork $250,000.00. 

Currently besides SBS Transit bus, there are also SMRT and Australian bus Tower Transit in operation. Fares depend on distance travelled and the cheapest fare is $0.70.

 Buses at Tampines Bus Interchange

I love double-decker bus as I get to see more at the top.

 Inside the public bus.

This year COE bidding results. 

Feng Shui Talk 2017 by Grand Master Raymond Lo at SOTA

Yesterday I attended the annual Feng Shui Talk by Hong Kong Grand Master Raymond Lo at School of The Arts (SOTA), organised by the Singapore Pools. I enjoyed the 2 hours talk and I was happy that I acquired more Bazi and Feng Shui knowledge from Master Raymond Lo. 

It is amazing that from Bazi (八字), you can know a lot about the person be it their talent or medical condition. Bazi is one of the Chinese five arts like I Ching, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Feng Shui, Bazi, Face or palm reading. From the moment we arrived in this mortal world, it's like our destiny is already written in the chart. Yes destiny can be changed but that requires a lot of effort like doing more good deeds and putting in more effort to change habitual habits. I looked at my bazi chart and I reflected on my life and it looks like everything is predestined. I have many metal elements in my chart. Metal element is related to the lung. Perhaps that's why I have sinus issue and tends to have one day of sneezing every one or two weeks. It can be so tiring to sneeze the whole day. Maybe because of my many metal elements, people find me aloof and cold. I'm just reserved and quiet but can be talkative and funny with my good friends.  

I would like to attend his bazi course but for 3 days, it costs $1100.00 which is very expensive in my opinion. Think I'll just buy his bazi book. 

At the end of the session, we were given goodie bag which included 2 mandarin oranges, red packets, plain water and a beautiful dragon since this year is Rooster year and Dragon is secret friend of Rooster. I find this very useful as I'm a Rooster lady and this year, there be self-penalty. Thus carrying the dragon makes me feel safer. Ya, I'm born in the year of Rooster so sometimes I (not every time) can be quite blunt. I try to control my outspoken mouth because once I spoke my mind many years ago, my colleague, a subject head was so upset that she cried hysterically. So now, before I speak my mind, I see if the person can take it or not. Think it's better to be kind than to be brutally honest. I must practise Right Speech and be sensitive. 

I hope to attend Feng Shui 2018 next year by Grand Master Raymond Lo again.

School of the Arts Singapore is located in the heart of Singapore buzzing city near Orchard Road, aka shopping paradise. Talented arts students are selected in this prestigious art school. 

 In Bazi, we need to understand the interaction of the 5 elements in order to make right analysis. It is surprisingly accurate if you know how to read. 

 This year is Ding You. Ding is candle fire and You is yin metal. I'm Ding fire day by the way. Most of the time I'm very nice and helpful like the candle. :)

 Looking at the bazi on the day it happened, 2 Dings which eerily look like 2 tall building . Chou, You and Si combine to form metal frame. From the top fire melt bottom metal. 

 Grandmaster Raymond Lo prediction for year 2017.

 

 He also showed bazi of many famous people. 

                                                          Feng Shui cures

Question and answer session

 This is the free cute dragon pendant for all participants. Phone not included. I better carry this dragon symbol with me as I'm born in Rooster year, and its self-penalty year. 

Wishing everyone Prosperous and Happy Rooster Year!

Chinese Quote

Today I feel like sharing this Chinese quote I read. 君子爱财 取之有道.

Melbourne Trip at Puffing Billy Train

Read my Melbourne trip at Puffing Billy train here.

Double-boiled Milk with Walnut and Almond at Honeymoon Dessert

Yesterday I finally had my favourite dessert which is double-boiled milk with chopped walnut and almond at Ion Orchard Honeymoon dessert. Last month, it was closed for renovation. Hmm, I'm quite greedy and had 2 serving of double-boiled milk with walnut and almond again. Tomorrow really must exercise.

Happy New Year!

Today is the last day of 2016. I wish all readers great health, happiness and wealth ahead. Happy 2017 New Year.

This year is significant as I finally tendered resignation letter. Some people are surprised that I resigned from my high paying job when Singapore's economy is so gloomy. But I've been working hard for the past 12 years so I have a bit of saving. Its time for me to do something that I always wanted to do. I hope my investment will grow next year then I can go overseas for study. If not, I can self-study. I intend to give myself one year break. Next year, I'll just travel, read books that I brought and just enjoy the long holiday. Yes. It's time to pamper myself.

Happy New Year 2017!

Feng Shui Talk 2017 by Grand Master Raymond Lo

I just signed up for Feng Shui Talk 2017 by renowned Grand Master Raymond Lo from Hong Kong. Its the first time I sign up for Feng shui talk. Since next year I'm very free, I'm going to spend my free time to enhance my knowledge on finance, economics and also Bazi. But then Grand Master Raymond Lo's course is very expensive. For 3 days course, it costs $1200.00. I think I just buy his book to read. Anyway, I hope there is no bird-flu virus spread in Hong Kong as I already purchased air ticket to Hong Kong in March next year. 

I spent $18.50 to attend his 2-hour talk but then there is a free goodie bag and buffet dinner. So I think, its still worth it. If you are interested, you can also sign up via Sistic.

Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2017
Time: 8 - 10pm
Venue: School of the Arts Singapore (SOTA) Concert Hall
Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station, Exit A

My Lunch for Today at Imperial Treasure Restaurant Yi Dian Xin

I really love the cute dim sum, the porcupine bun so today I went back to Imperial Treasure restaurant at Raffles City shopping mall for my lunch today. I had prawn dumpling noodle dry, and some of my favourite dim sum like baked bbq pork pastry. I spent about $25 today as the restaurant also include 10% service charge and 7% GST. If you love dim sum, I highly recommend Imperial Treasure restaurant Yi Dian Xin. 

 At $9.30 its quite expensive but then this is a restaurant in downtown so no choice.

 Shrimp wanton noodle dry at $9.30.

 Deep fried porpupine with red bean paste $4.20

 Baked BBQ pork pastry. Really delicious. $3.40.

Stuffed prawn in crispy wrap with wasabi ($4.80)

Merry Christmas Eve!

Today is Christmas eve. In Singapore, it is raining heavily with loud thunderstorm! I don't celebrate Christmas as I'm a Buddhist but I love Christmas day as there are beautiful Christmas lighting decoration along Orchard Road and Gardens by the Bay. 

My brothers are celebrating Christmas eve with their friends. Since I'm single and I love to stay at home, tonight I accompany my parents. Luckily my youngest brother brought a Christmas cake, so maybe tonight or tomorrow we eat Christmas cake and my mum will cook fried kway teow later. 

To all my Christian friends and readers, wishing you all Merry Christmas in advance!

Gigantic Christmas tree at Ngee Ann City shopping mall.

Eating Tang Yuan on Winter Solstice Day 冬至

Yesterday is Winter Solstice day, which is also the day that we eat tang yuan or glutinous rice ball which represent reunion. The day before, my mum brought glutinous flour and prepared the glutinous rice ball. Yesterday is also the day, we prayed to our late ancestors. I had two version of tang yuan. The first one is tang yuan glutinous rice ball sweet soup and the other is tang yuan coated with chopped peanut. I prefer the soup version.

 The colourful glutinous rice ball (Tang yuan) is made by my mum while the bigger tang yuan is purchased from super market.

Christmas in Melbourne

Click my travel blog here to read more.

Melbourne Countryside

Click here to read more.

Esplanade Theatre by the Bay

Whenever I'm free, I will go to the Esplanade Theatre by the Bay for a walk or just explore the arts. Last Thursday, after viewing Escher's arts, I walked from Marina Bay Sands to Esplanade theatre as I love Singapore city view and I could also exercise. 

I was happy to see a group of primary school students singing a melody of Christmas songs. They sang really well and I'm sure their parents must be very proud of them. After the performance, then I walked to Raffles City shopping mall for my dinner.

Sparkling Esplanade

 Esplanade Waterfront where residents and tourists can enjoy free performances on weekend.

 Outside the Esplanade leading to the waterfront.

 Inside the Esplanade

 Students from Concord Primary School choir. They sang very well! Applause! 

 December program at the Esplanade

Visual Art, BlissFullness at Esplanade Concourse