Chapter 11

Flying, food-tossing, fire and fish......

Postscript to last blog.................should have not mentioned the lack of rain as the next day it rained solidly.  ALL day!  Oops.


Saw another movie, which seems to be what we do on rainy days. "Quartet" this time, and we gave it 3 stars!

The party continues......
We thought Chinese New Year celebrations had dissipated, but were delighted to get an invitation from our apt manager to join the staff and other residents for lunch.  It was fascinating to learn the meaning of the dance, the rhythmic drumming and why the lion tosses oranges and lettuce (and no it wasn't a salad for lunch).

About 30 of us met in the foyer at midday, and were entertained with a traditional lion dance. 

We then headed to the top floor for a wonderful buffet. Firstly, though, each table joined in the traditional custom of making the entree. It consisted of raw fish, pomelo, pepper, oil, shredded carrots, shredded white radish, green radish, peanuts, sesame seeds and topped with crisp golden pillow-like chips. When it was ready, we had to toss it in the air, an auspicious 7 times, with our chopsticks and makes wishes. Very messy. We ate what did not fall on the table or carpet.

Our table consisted of an American, a Swiss guy and a fellow Australian from Swan Hill!

















My walk in the morning is my serious walk - my afternoon walk is a reconnaissance. I try and find new places to eat and places to visit. One day I came across a flight simulator experience. Thought this would be good for Philip to take his mind off work, so I purchased a gift voucher for him.  He could not wait, so the first weekend we were there.  

Well.......after a 15 minute training session, (one on one), he was ready to take his position in the cockpit. Pity they didn't have a uniform for him.  I've always dreamt of a man in uniform. Another bucket list item?  I could have sung that song, or hummed it at least .........."you can leave your hat on".
Anyway, back to the story.
Pilot Pip took off from "Hong Kong" airport, and flew the Airbus 320 to "Melbourne".  He then flew from there to "Charles de Gaulle" with a lap of the Eiffel Tower.  Landed safely, in one piece, and with a thumbs up from the trainer.  I sat in the navigators seat as official photographer.  He had a smile all day, and days after that.  There is a rock climbing wall in the same building..........I wonder if that's the next adrenalin rush?

On the Sunday of the Chinese New Year long weekend, we decided on an outing to Sentosa to see the new Oceanarium.  Got there at lunchtime along with about 3000 others - mainly itinerant workers having one of their few days off.  This is what we encountered!  First time we have been driven away by a crowd. Never got to the Oceanarium.

After 4 months here, there is still plenty to see and do.  We found the Peranakan Museum very informative. A Peranakan means "child of" or "born of" and is used to refer to people of mixed ethnic origins. S. E. Asia has been a  crossroad for trade since ancient times. Some of the traders settled here and married local women, and their descendants are the Peranakans.

Came across our first graffiti here. Thought it was pretty artistic!

 

One special event that we wanted to attend was a parade called Chingay.  This annual event began its existence in the 1970's when Chinese fire crackers were banned.  Each year has a theme and this year was called "Fire in Snow" (which is meant to reflect the strength of the human spirit). Performers dressed in an array of colours, brought song and dance to the 390m stretch in front of the F1 pit building.   A 22m long centipede spewed fire as it danced, which was mesmerising, as were the many brightly lit floats. This year's parade had 10,000 performers, and an audience of 150,000.  Photos will do it more justice than words!

Our second attempt at the Oceanarium was successful. We ventured out early, and beat the crowds.  This is huge.........100,000 marine animals in 45 million litres of water.  Wow!
Even if you are not "into" things like this, you can only be impressed.

Some family news is as follows......
Laura is moving to Darwin, and will be renting out her unit in Burwood.  She is packing up her belongings and dogs and driving west then north up the centre of the country. 3759km's!
She is so excited about this new challenge, and has the support of all her family in this decision. We are very proud of her........you go girl!
We have told her it must be gypsy blood, as her Grandpa moved his family to Australia from England, her cousin is  living in the UK, and we are in Singapore. 
I must also say a big thank you to Joh and Greg for putting on a family birthday dinner for Laura in our absence. She turned 30 this year, and it is a very special milestone. As I have said in previous blogs, birthdays are family times, and we celebrate no matter what! We talked on video Skype during the dinner, and sang Happy Birthday to her and watched her blow out the candles. Thanks. It was special.

We will have Alan and Wendy visiting for approx a week in April, which we are really looking forward to. 

A few vacancies at Hotel Clewlow in March!

Till the next blog.......
Annie xxx

Chapter 10 

The Year of the Snake.........

We are excited to be here for Chinese New Year, to learn and enjoy the many traditions surrounding this important calendar event. 
Orchard Rd quickly dispensed with the Christmas decorations and was transformed into a road of blossoms and floral displays, as well as red and gold lanterns, and pots of tangerines. 

Tangerines are a symbol of wealth and abundance, and are given as gifts. The supermarket's shelves are filled to capacity with them. In gift boxes, gift baskets and loose. Everywhere you look is a splash of the colour orange. 

Another gift on offer for the wealthy was this melon.  Had to read the price twice! 

Philip and I were born in the year of the Sheep. And you?

There are two days of public holiday to assist with the celebrations and family reunions.  Many Chinese take an entire week off.  Most of the traditions centre around family and feasting. The meals prepared are served intact, as the use of knives or cleavers is considered unlucky. This is seen as severing the family's fortune.  Whole fish, chickens and ducks with the head and feet still attached.  If vegetables have to be cut, they are done prior to the start of the celebrations. Almost every dish has a symbolic meaning - fortune, happiness, longevity, prosperity, etc.
Bakkwa is one traditional dish eaten at this time of year, and is a salty-sweet, dried meat.

Each day has an overriding custom as well. For example, Day 3 is known as the "Day of Squabbles" and most Chinese avoid social interaction.  Day 15 is the Chinese Valentines Day or Lantern Festival, and the last day of the festivities.
On the eve of Chinese New Year, we walked to Chinatown to join the throng.  It was wall to wall people, but with a festive feel.  Decorations, food and gift stalls lined all the lanes and streets, which were closed to traffic.  We tried really hard to find a table at several Chinese restaurants without luck. We ended up eating Italian at a place called The Vault.  This worked out well, as there were no slurping noises over dinner, so we could here each other talk!

Decorations for sale

5m-high Dragon head

The President of Singapore's "residence", normally out of bounds, opens its doors for Chinese New Year to the public.  Although it is the official residence, the President does not actually live there.  It is used for State visits and functions (and in WW2, was occupied by the Japanese).  "Istana" (meaning Palace in Malay) sits on an old nutmeg plantation, on 106 acres, in the heart of the city. It was built in 1867, by Indian convict labourers who were paid 20c per day. 
It is only 50m from where we live, so off we trotted for this opportunity to walk past the guards and peek behind the gates!  We walked along sweeping drive ways (just over 1km) viewing the immaculately kept grounds - past one of the 9 golf greens.   At the end of the drive way was the colonial palace.  The Banquet Hall contained displays of many gifts from heads of state.  There were clocks, intricate vases, gold coffee and tea pots.  Australia's effort was a glass dish!

Queen Victoria's Statue & Pond

Happy Chinese New Year!
Love Annie XX

Chapter 9

The two of us.........

We said farewell to Sasha and Tim mid-January - the last of our month-long guests.  We had a wonderful time with everyone. Thanks for making memories we will treasure!
Already planning when we will see our girls next, and in which country that will be!

Woke up the next day to "exploring-stopping rain"!  Yes, we have the huge downpours, but they are over in an hour.  Our Plan A weekend activity had to be cancelled due to the inclement weather, so plan B was a trip to the movies.
Saw "Silver Linings Playbook", which we both enjoyed. Jacki Weaver was good, not sure about her American accent though. Thought of our "Movie Mates".  We do miss our fun times together, and the dissection of the movie over dinner after.  We are all experts you see! We gave this 4 stars!

Now that we are here for another 3 months, we have decided on a new environment.  The building site over the road from our original apt was tolerable if it was a 3 month stay, but another 3 months was a challenge.  They started work at 8am and finished at 10pm, 7 days a week! That coupled with fighter jets, transports and Chinooks flying over quite low, as they head to the Paya Lebar military air base, was at times deafening. Our guests thought it was hilarious, and took photos! 

Freight plane over building site

Can't believe what we have accumulated in 3 months, but we have packed up and relocated from district 16, Geylang, to district 9, Central-Orchard. We are now between 2 train stations, so depending on how we feel, we can walk 5 mins to Dhoby Ghaut or 5 mins to Somerset.

Started with 3 suit cases between 2 of us

We are right in the centre of the city now. A stone's throw from the famous Orchard Rd, and within easy reach of many lovely parks and gardens for walking. This is a different type of street walking from Geylang, as the money that changes hands is for products rather than "services". I now walk twice a day for 30 mins, it's very pleasant.  See some interesting sites, such as this hi-tech rubbish collection service...

Our new abode looks over lush trees, which is a nice change from scaffolding. 

I now have hot water in the kitchen, but unfortunately still no oven. There is a pool on the top level, and breakfast is provided. And a bath......... oh, we have missed a bath!  
We seemed to have accumulated a few bottles of French champagne, so a soak in bubbles with bubbles is heaven. How spoilt!  Still 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, so if anyone is thinking of a stopover before mid April, come and join us. 

We ventured out to the Inaugural Epicurean Market at Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre. It is similar to the Wine and Food Fair in Melbourne. The tickets gave us $30 worth of vouchers each, which we used to "buy" delicacies and wine. For example, we had a Lobster salad, and a Crab Caesar for $8. A glass of Australian champers was $8, a plate of 6 assorted sushi $6. There were also free samples, so we grazed our way around eating Spanish ham, bratwurst, cheeses, pasta, spit roasted lamb, Indian butter chicken, organic fruits and ice-cream. (Sal, you would have been in heaven) We purchased some cheeses and dips and headed home.  This was our repast that evening.

Interesting table decorations

Last Sunday was a lovely day, slight breeze, and not hot. Or are we getting used to the conditions here? We found a wonderful organic vegetarian eatery/bookshop/grocer around the corner called Real Food, that serves all day breakfast, so indulged. Quite eclectic, with its warehouse looking space. Fresh slowly squeezed juices, (apparently less damage to the fibre content and a better flavour), with a "Rise and Shine" dish consisting of eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes, greens and potato with ciabatta. I am sure we will try most things on the menu, it was so good. They serve lunch and dinner as well.

We then ventured to Marina South to board a Chinese junk boat for an afternoon cruise. It took two and a half hours and gave us another perspective of Singapore.  One from out at sea, south of Sentosa Island. We stopped off at Kusu (Turtle) Island, which had an intriguing temple, and a lovely beach area. You can just see some Indonesian islands in the distance as you cruise along. Afternoon tea was served on our way back to port.

I have now enrolled in art classes! This will be a huge challenge for the teacher to try and extract any pencil to paper result from me. But she took it on! There are 3 of us in the class, and we are learning from scratch. Left side of brain vs right side! No comments please! Physics, dimension, texture, movement, 2D, 3D, shape...............we even got homework!
Dipa is a local who has a studio in her parent's huge lush garden. It is in an area surrounded by all the embassies, and a part of Singapore I had not been. One train stop and a brisk 30 min walk away, although for the first class I did the 50 min walk there, weaving through the shoppers in Orchard Rd.
I cant see any works being purchased by a gallery, but it is another thing on my "Bucket List"  that I can tick now. Left brain tick or right brain tick?
Hope you have all ticked something off your lists as well.

Just to let you know as well, we have not had any rain here now for 10 days, and it has been mainly sunny - even though the weather forecasts show thunderstorms every day. 

Till next blog

Annie xx