Today is the 15th day of Chinese New Year. This morning, I went to pray at Waterloo Street Kuan Yin temple. This new year is the year I feel upset due to the coronavirus. Due to this virus, many families are separated in China and other affected countries including in Singapore on this festive season. I pray that there is a cure soon for coronavirus soon. May all sentient beings are well.
Singapore has confirmed 4th case of coronavirus. Three of the patients had stayed at hotels in Sentosa.
Recently, I noticed many people coughing in the public transport(buses and MRT) and I'm surprised that they did not wear masks. A World Health Organization doctor said that wearing surgical mask works but you need to wear it correctly. The blue colour (waterproof) of the mask should be on the outside and the white colour on the inside as it is made of absorbent material. So if you cough, it absorbs it. Remember to wear mask if you cough or sneeze.
After work today, I went to River Hongbao show at The Float@Marina Bay. For the past few years, I would visit the River Hongbao show with my cousins. However this year due to the virus from Wuhan, they are reluctant to visit the show as it is normally crowded at night. My colleagues also mentioned about not going to crowded places like the Chinatown.
I went to the River Hongbao show at around 2pm and there were not many people this afternoon. I left the place after exploring all the intricate lanterns and buying U magazine as I had to clean my room and help with some housework in late afternoon.
Lately when I'm in the buses or MRT, there would be people around me coughing. I hope the medical community will be able to find a cure for this virus soon. May all sentients beings be well and safe.
Yesterday I finally got to listen to Imee Ooi live at Singapore Esplanade Concert theatre! I thoroughly enjoyed the 2 hours plus concert. The concert started at about 7.35 pm and ended at about 10.05pm with 20 minutes intermission. Besides singing the Heart Sutra in 8 languages (Mandarin, English, Sanskrit, Cantonese, Korean, Spanish, Japanese and Tibetan), she also sang the Great Compassion mantra with Jing gang (8 male singers) and Om Mani Padme Hum at the start of Heart Sutra concert.
Whenever I feel frustrated or upset, I'll listen to the Heart Sutra by Imee Ooi to meditate and calm down. By chanting the Heart Sutra, I feel more at peace. I need to recite the following verse "照见五蕴皆空，度一切苦厄" (Clearly perceived the empty nature of the five skandhas, and transcended all suffering) to remind me of the impermanence nature of life and it is foolish to be angry for long since my identity as a human in this space and time is just a vehicle for me to experience life in this transient temporary material world. No matter how I take care of my body in this human realm, it don't last forever. It will be returned to the earth one day.
照见五蕴皆空，度一切苦厄 means perceiving the five aggregates (skandhas) making up a person* is but an illusion (emptiness), and with this he was delivered from all sorrow and suffering.
five aggregates: : material form , sensation , discrimination, thinking , and consciousness.
Heart Sutra is one of the Avalokiteśvara bodhisattva (觀世音菩薩 ) (practices. In this samsara world, the imperfect world, I'm glad we still have the Dharma, the teaching of Buddha. However Buddha said that once you cross the shore, you also have to stop clinging to the Dharmma. Just let go. The Dharmma is just like a boat that helps you to cross the shore.
Although music is not really encouraged, but I think producing Buddhism music is a way to reach out to the young in the spread of Buddha's teaching.
Inside the Esplanade theatre Singapore.
I paid for $104 (second most expensive price). I sat on first row but was blocked by the speaker.
So happy to hear Imee Ooi sing live. Great awesome performance. Fans could pose with her at the end of concert.
The Great Compassion Mantra by Imee Ooi and the Jinggang
Grove is a vegetarian eatery that has a good selection of local dishes like nasi lemak, roti prata, toast and noodles. It is conveniently located at SingPost Centre next to Paya Lebar MRT station. Last month,I went to try their nasi lemak blue pea and curry. I read of raving review but I was quite disappointed. I don't find the rice so fragrant. Maybe I should ask for more chili sauce. Perhaps I should try the nasi lemak blue pea again and see if it is better. You know quality varies with different chef.
For the curry, I opted for roti prata which is the kind that you can buy from supermarket and cook yourself. I like their dry truffle noodle which comes springy noodle.
Grove at SingPost Centre
Nearest MRT: Paya Lebar
Nasi lemak blue pea ($8.80). The otak laste like tofu.
For curry, you can choose roti prata, bread or rice. ($6.80)
Chinese New Year is early next year. It will start on 25 January next year and it will be the year of the Rat, which is the first zodiac sign in Chinese zodiac.
This Tuesday, I had lunch with my youngest brother at Chinatown. When I saw the cute rats decoration in Chinatown, I immediately took photo of it. This year design is much better than last year pig decoration.
I'm looking forward to Chinese New Year and reunion dinner with my family. Hopefully next year is a great year!
Singapore Chinatown. It was raining this Tuesday afternoon.
I was excited to see fried ice-cream and avocado pasta available at Green Ba restaurant so I went to try. Inside the fried dough is vanilla ice-cream with chocolate chips and mango. I find the fried dough quite thick compared to another fried ice-cream at other restaurant in Chinatown near Bukit Pasoh area.
If you love avocado, then you won't dislike the avocado pasta with corn and tomato. I must say avocado pasta is quite an acquired taste. At least the pasta is creamy rich with avocado with small pieces of avocado.
Green Ba at Marina Square #02-103
Nearby MRT: Esplanade and Cityhall MRT
Avocado pasta. I think they can still improve on the taste.
To all my friends especially my Christian friends, I wish you Merry Christmas!
Even though my family and I are not Christian, we like to buy a Christmas log cake and eat and just rest at home in this public holiday in Singapore. When I was younger, we would go to Orchard Road to see the Christmas lighting decorations. Now, I rather stay at home and read books or newspapers and not jostle in the crowded Orchard road street.
Happy holiday to everyone!
My brother brought a Christmas log cake this year.
During my free time, I enjoy singing. Sometimes I sing with my friend or cousins. If I want to sing to my heart content, I will sing alone. If I sing alone, I will go to Manekineko at Tampines 1 shopping mall. During off-peak hours, I only pay $10.00 for 2 hours singing session which also includes unlimited free drinks like coffee, green tea latte, soft drinks and snacks. If I sing with my friend or cousins, then we will sing at TeoHeng as they charge based on room size. If you want to sing alone, Manekineko is more worth it.
It has been raining for the past few days and temperature has now dropped to about 22 to 25 degrees Celsius in Singapore. I love cool weather as it also helps us to save electricity. I don't switch on the fan these past few nights.
I'm always inspired to create my own arts after viewing arts exhibition. I decided to start watercolour paint after seeing painting by Mr Lim Cheng Hoe at National Gallery in Singapore. I recently brought a watercolour guide book and followed it. Below is completed watercolour paint using a combination of watercolour pencil and paint.
