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