Happy Chinese New Year Eve

Just had sumptuous reunion dinner with my family. We had typical Teochew dishes like ngoh hiang and the flavourful seafood soup with many ingredients like prawns, fish balls, fish maw, scallops, quail eggs, cabbage, carrot, radishes. 

Chinese New Year is based on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar and not lunar calendar. Really weird when people greet lunar new year. 

This month is quite hard to lose weight as this Spring month I’m also celebrating my birthday. I have free cakes from restaurants this month.

May next year Fire Horse bring positive sweeping change and may all children be cherished and protected. How you treat the vulnerable speaks volume of your character. Wishing to all my friends and kind readers a prosperous and healthy year ahead!  祝我的朋友和善良的读者心想事成，万事如意，马到功成！

Year of Fire Horse! Year of Justice

There is a Chinese saying, 纸是包不住火 or paper cannot hold fire which means truth cannot be withheld.This year is an extremely "hot" year in Chinese metaphysics Bazi, it is 丙午年 or fire horse. Both heavenly stem and earthly branch are fire elements. Maybe this is why this year secrets will be exposed and crimes by the rich and powerful will be revealed and there be justice finally. Content in epst file is really disturbing. America department of Justice is not doing their job and the rich and powerful are not charged. It seems like there are two sets of laws in USA, one for the commoner and the other for the rich and famous. It's time to told the perpetrators accountable for their actions. 

Those who abused vulnerable and innocent children must be prosecuted. Pedophiles abusing children are committing crimes against humanity. How could people bear to hurt fellow humans? May there be justice. Karma or cause and effect is real. It's just a matter of time.

Ironically this is written by the "spiritual guru" Deepak Chopra who appeared in the  epst.. file. Time to throw his book.

Hydrangeas 绣球花

My friend L and cousin M love hydrangeas. This short video is a dedication to them. I will do a video on hydrangeas compilation maybe in March. Last Friday I visited flower dome again for Spring Blossoms and I was delighted to see plum flowers, dahlias and other flowers in full bloom! Will do  videos on these beautiful flowers soon. Stay tuned. 

What a coincidence! I saw two ex-colleagues at the flower dome. They asked if I plan to return. I shared that I don't want to go for any interview anymore. As a Buddhist, I believe in fate. If I'm meant to work or meet the people there, I will work there. 随缘自在。If the organisation needs my service and I enjoy the work then I work lor. 

If you like flowers, you can visit Blooming Flowers and Arts blog here. 

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Chinese New Year Shopping at Tampines West

The street market or pasar malam at Tampines West is selling affordable Chinese New Year decorations. I brought a few decors to decorate my home for the upcoming Spring festival. CNY decors are so much cheaper compared to downtown Chinatown. 

Galloping Horse at Singapore Chinatown 2026

Visited Singapore Chinatown last week to buy some Chinese New Year decorations for home. Also had a sumptuous lunch with my friend. 

After exploring Tampines West pasar malam, I realised that CNY decorations are much cheaper. Luckily I didn’t buy too many decors at Chinatown.

By the way, do you also feel that the horse lantern at Chinatown looks like it’s pregnant?

This horse looks like it’s pregnant or a bit overweight.

Living in HDB

Recently the flats in my neighbourhood are painted in refreshing pastel colour which is great. That is one benefit of living in public housing. Town council also took feedback and put up signboard to remind people to be mindful of noise.

It is great that the flats are painted. I noticed that the top of the power grid structure located between flats looks mouldy and there are some leaves and bird body (will it cause virus?) which have been there for weeks. It would be great that the top of the structure are cleared and painted as well. 

Just wondering if it only happens in my neighbourhood. I do notice that it is getting noisier with young children shrieking at high pitch and screaming at the playground recently from late afternoon to night. Children should be reminded to be considerate of others. Don’t wait too long to teach as habits are hard to change. Despite the signboard being put up, situation hasn’t improved. Maybe next time HDB needs to build soundproof playground.

Spring Blossoms Gallop Into Prosperity

If you love flowers, visit my Blooming Flowers and Arts blog here.  

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Dancing Crabs at Vivocity

Had a great lunch at Dancing Crabs at Vivocity recently. Thanks to my cousin who gave me early birthday treat. We had the $60.00 #2 Combo promotion set which comes with choices of 3 sauces, 2 sides and 2 desserts. We opted for beurre blanc (white wine and butter), zesty garlic butter and signature cajau. For the sides, we enjoyed  both hot and crispy truffle fries and cocktail shrimp salad with zesty lemongrass dressing. I also like the chocolate cake dessert. 

In addition to the promotion set, we also had crab cake and century egg carbonara. We felt so full and I had takeaway.

This #2 combo promotion ends on 28 February 2026. 

Dancing Crabs website: https://www.dancingcrab.com.sg/en/home#menu 

Dancing Crabs at Vivocity 03-10

I like this Beurre Blanc (White wine butter)

Cocktail shrimp salad with zesty lemongrass dressing 

I like Zesty garlic butter. 

World famous signature cajun is quite spicy. 

Two pieces of crispy Crab cake at $26.80 is highly recommended. 

 Century egg carbonara ($22.80) This is really big portion for 3 person.  

 Truffle fries is really yummy.

Gateau au Chocolat Cake

Gallop to Prosperity at Gardens by the Bay

Stunning floral display at flower dome from now till 1 March 2026. 

Blog: https://bloomingflowersnarts.blogspot.com/2026/01/spring-blossoms-gallop-in-prosperity.html 

Heather Flowers 石南花

Heathers flowers are clusters of tiny, bell-shaped blossoms and come in stunning range of colours like purple, pink, white and magenta. They generally symbolise good luck, protection and admiration.

Visit Blooming Flowers and Arts Blog for more flower posts here. 

https://bloomingflowersnarts.blogspot.com/

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Beyond 長城

After so many years, this song  Great Wall 長城 by Beyond is  still a great classic. Do you like this song too? This song reminds me of my travel to Beijing in 2012 when I visited the Forbidden city and the Great Wall of China. I was so excited as the forbidden city was restricted to the royal family in China hundred years ago. Now it is available to everyone! 

I hope to visit Chaozhou 潮州揭阳, my grandparents' hometown soon. Who wants to visit to Chaozhou too? 

Funny But True- Jon Stewart

Where is international law and order? Jon Stewart hit the nails!  Just because your adversary has access to Venezuela resources, you just kidnap a sovereign nation leader to gain access to their minerals and oil resources? Lawlessness in the world now.

Fuchsia Flowers

To see more flowers, visit Blooming Flowers and Arts blog here.

https://bloomingflowersnarts.blogspot.com/ 

Happy New Year 2026!

Happy New Year to all my readers! May 2026 be as bright like the flowering maples! Wishing you a Joyous, Healthy and Prosperous 2026!

Into the Modern: Impressionism at Singapore National Gallery

I visited National Gallery early this month for the Into teh Modern:Impressionism from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the largest French Impressionist exhibition in Southeast Asia. To see more images, visit Blooming Flowers and Arts blog here. 

https://bloomingflowersnarts.blogspot.com/2025/12/impressionism-into-modern-exhibition-at.html

Sweet Durians!

I like the sweet tasty durian. Taste is subjective. Some people find the smell from durians pungent but I find it fragrant. Yesterday we had lots of sweet creamy durians. There was great durian promotion yesterday near my home.

World 's Highest Food Forest Garden 世界最高食林空中花园

Explore the World's Highest Food Forest garden with over 150 varieties of herbs, fruits, vegetables and flowers at 1-Arden Sky Garden located Singapore CapitaSpring level 51 with stunning panoramic city view. 

Great news for visitors, this is free attraction but you do need to make reservation first before visiting. Visit 1-Arden Sky Garden for more information and to book a slot for garden admission here .

At CapitaSpring

Nearest MRT station: Raffles Place MRT station

Visit Blooming Flowers and Arts Blog for more flowers updates here. https://bloomingflowersnarts.blogspot.com/

 

Happy Winter Solstice 2025 冬至快乐

Happy Winter Solstice 2025. I like tangyuan or glutinous rice balls with black sesame seed filling. What about you? 2025年冬至快乐。我喜欢黑芝麻汤圆，你呢？

First Botanic Garden in Singapore 新加坡首个植物园

Do you know the location of first botanic garden in Singapore? You can visit the blog here or watch the video to find out. 

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Delicious Food at Tampines West

There are many coffee shops in Tampines West, about 10 great coffee shops. I'll share 8 coffee shops in Tampines West.  I enjoy their food for many years and normally buy take-away as I prefer to eat at home. Let's see the various coffee shops from different blocks in Tampines West.

1) Blk 823A: Zichar stall (this is the best zichar stall as I like their fried bee Hoon), Western food stall, popiah, chicken rice stall.

2) Blk 824: Popular dry prawn noodles from the Soon Soon prawn noodles stall as noodles are springy and chilli sauce is great. 

3) Blk 826: Ah Hua's Kitchen Econ Bee Hoon and Nasi Lemak and Face Ban Mian  

4) Blk 827: Affordable and tasty Dim sum stall that opened in 2023. There is a popular Teochew porriage stall.

5) Blk 828: Great curry puffs from Have A Puff, AMCM Ah Ma Fishball noodle, Fried Hokkien mee and 828 Bee Hoon and Nasi Lemak

6) Blk 829: Wanton Noodles and Chicken rice stall.

7) Blk 844: Popular fried Hokkien Noodles and prawn crackers.

8) Tampines Central Community Club Chang Cheng coffee shop: Fishball noodles

I like Ah Ma fishball noodles at Tampines Blk 828. I added more black vinegar sauce and tomato sauce at home. 

The curry puffs are good too. At Tampines Blk 828.

Face Ban Mian at Tampines Blk 826, try their signature dry ban Mian.

 Blk 823A has the best Zi char stall. 

At Tampines Blk 826. This is a popular fried bee Hoon and nasi lemak stall for years.