Family Gathering at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Buffet

My generous maternal 4th aunt treated about 28 family members to a sumptuous buffet lunch at Mandarin Oriental hotel, Embu restaurant today. Finally met many of my relatives after the covid. I value this rare family gathering during this annual Chinese Lunar New Year celebration to meet up with my relatives. Before covid, we would go home visits to our relatives' home for reunion once a year during the CNY celebration. There are new members in our family and it is good to let them know their relatives.

I felt comforted to see many of my relatives and cousins doing well in life. I'm sure my late maternal grandparents must be glad that their descendants are happy and well.  This year my aunties and uncle are more understanding. They didn't ask when I'm getting married and gave me red packets as well-wishes😊.   As shared in my earlier posts, I just keep the red packets my relatives gave and rarely use the money. 

Felt so full after the meal. There are a wide varieties of food like Western, Chinese, Japanese and Indian food. I had mostly cooked seafood, cheese, laksa and cute dessert. Thank you for the generous treat today. 

We enjoyed Mandarin Oriental hotel Embu signature laksa. 

I didn't try most of the carbohydrates like Eight Treasure Rice and Fried noodles.

A wide varieties of Indian dishes

I tried many dessert!

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

Early Reunion Dinner at Di Wei Teochew Restaurant

I went to Di Wei Teochew restaurant located at Hyde Park for early reunion dinner last Saturday for the first time. This year, there are two new family members namely my niece and nephew who are about 8 and 4 months old respectively. I spent most of the time taking photos of them while waiting for the food. 

I am grateful to my elder brother who generously treated the family. He is an example that  you do not need a degree to be successful if you are looking in terms of wealth which is commonly used as a gauge for success. He is really good in business negotiation. 

Hmm, as for me, though I don't earn as much as him, but because of my hard work for the past two decades, disciplined saving and simple investment, I am financially comfortable and independent woman. I am not a fan of branded expensive goods thus I can save for early financial freedom. To me financial freedom is more important than impressing strangers. I am not very rich. Please don't scam me.  Just financially comfortable as I only buy what is necessary and occasionally indulge in good meal and stationery. 

Anyway back to the early reunion dinner, we had traditional Teochew dishes that my elder brother ordered. I liked the pomfret fish, vegetable, yam and pumpkin paste orh nee  and noodles. 

For the first time in my life, I saw private and business planes that belong to the Super rich at Seletar airport. Quite happy that I went to this Teochew restaurant for the first time to try something new. 

Braised peanut

Cold platter dish with pig trotter jelly.

Seletar Airport

Chinese New Year Dishes at Cedele

This Friday I had Chinese New year 3-course meal at one of my favourite restaurants at the Cedele. I opted for the seafood pasta and yuzu dragon cheese cake and a mini yusheng with plum sauce and a cup of aromatic orange coffee. I would prefer the pasta to be more al dente. I will try other dishes at Cedele on my next visit. 

Toss the yusheng!

I love this orange coffee.

 

Light to Night Singapore 2024

Last year I went to iLight alone. This year I asked my friend to join me to explore Light to Night Singapore 2024 at the Civic district  where you can view Singapore National Gallery being projected with interesting light images. For the first time, you can also enjoy street food outside National Gallery. We walked from Raffles City shopping mall near City Hall MRT station to Raffles Place MRT station to explore different light art. 

We enjoyed mesmerising live performance by street performer Bryan Wong @Brylights who was dancing gracefully at one with the giant ring and light sticks. We were all so impressed by his awesome performance! 

Light to Night Singapore will end on 8 February this year. 

Click more information here.

Nearest MRT stations: City Hall st

Saga seed sculpture

Mesmerising performance by street performer, Bryan "Brylights" Wong. He was at one with the ring.

 

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.