Sunday, February 01, 2009

River HongBao Closing cum Grand Lo Hei Dinner - WS

The 9-day festivities of River Hongbao 2009 ended tonight. I met several visitors and spoke to them briefly.

Mr Wilson and family

Mr Wilson, a chef working in well-known Mustaffa Centre, was at River HongBao with his wife and daughter Pritha. They were visiting him from India. It was their 4th day in Singapore and they are already loving it. Awed by the beautiful lanterns and night scenery, they took more than 200 photos at River Hongbao.

Wilson, a permanent resident, has been working in Singapore for 10 years. His wife and daughter are getting their PR too. Pritha (age 20) is studying Electrical Engineering at PSG College of Technology in India. She will be joining her parents after completing her studies in 2 years' time.

from left : Alex, Sophia and Janas

3 friends from UK were taking in the sights of River Hongbao. Janas, who has just returned from a 3-day holiday in Hong Kong remarked that Chinese New Year in Singapore is a grand affair and is celebrated much longer compared to Hong Kong. The 3 friends are working in Singapore.

preparing the hundreds of plates of yu sheng

The highlight tonight is the Grand Lo Hei Dinner where over two thousand people led by the Guest-of-Honour Mr Lim Swee Say, Minister for Prime Minister’s Office to lo hei (toss) together and celebrate Human Day.

This is only half of the participants.


from left : MP Baey Yam Keng, Acting Minister Gan Kim Yong, Guest-of-Honour Minister Lim Swee Say, MP Sam Tan tossing yu sheng







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52 comments:

  1. linaMonday, February 2, 2009 at 12:39:00 AM GMT+8

    First!

    ReplyDelete
  2. linaMonday, February 2, 2009 at 12:52:00 AM GMT+8

    Wow! That is a lot of yee sang prepared. Such a big turnout.

    ReplyDelete
  3. peppylady (Dora)Monday, February 2, 2009 at 6:24:00 AM GMT+8

    Singapore such looks like a lively place to be. yu sheng sure looks interseting.
    Coffee is on.

    ReplyDelete
  4. DoreenMonday, February 2, 2009 at 7:44:00 AM GMT+8

    Human Day? Is this only celebrated in Singapore? A public holiday too? Looks big to me.

    ReplyDelete
  5. yenjai.netMonday, February 2, 2009 at 9:19:00 AM GMT+8

    Haha
    ahjie
    You seems to be everywhere :P

    ReplyDelete
  6. Napaboaniya.Elaine LingMonday, February 2, 2009 at 1:23:00 PM GMT+8

    Hoped you lo very highly!! :)

    So, did Chris and you head for the party after the Chingay parade?

    ReplyDelete
  7. oceanskies79Monday, February 2, 2009 at 1:28:00 PM GMT+8

    Thanks for your posts. It makes up in some ways for people like myself who dislike being in the crowd, but yet want to know about what's happening out there in the world. Talk about arm-chair participation. :P

    ReplyDelete
  8. escapeMonday, February 2, 2009 at 4:43:00 PM GMT+8

    that's what feast means! i dont know how it feels to be with some of the most influential person.

    ReplyDelete
  9. eastcoastlifeMonday, February 2, 2009 at 5:16:00 PM GMT+8

    lina,
    First commentator again!

    ReplyDelete
  10. eastcoastlifeMonday, February 2, 2009 at 5:17:00 PM GMT+8

    lina,
    more than 200 plates of yee sang!
    It's a record.

    ReplyDelete
  11. eastcoastlifeMonday, February 2, 2009 at 5:18:00 PM GMT+8

    peppylady,
    Singapore may be small, but it has lots of fun stuff if we look around.

    ReplyDelete
  12. eastcoastlifeMonday, February 2, 2009 at 5:20:00 PM GMT+8

    Doreen,
    Human Day is celebrated by Chinese on the 7th day of our Lunar New Year.

    There's no public holiday. :(

    ReplyDelete
  13. eastcoastlifeMonday, February 2, 2009 at 5:20:00 PM GMT+8

    yenjai,
    Trying to cut down, too busy nowadays. :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. eastcoastlifeMonday, February 2, 2009 at 5:23:00 PM GMT+8

    napaboaniya,
    We went to another function after taking photos. But my son made yu sheng for me to lo. :D

    We didn't go to City Alive Party because we were tired. We woke up early at 5am that morning to welcome Ultramarathon man Mr Lim Nghee Huat back. :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. eastcoastlifeMonday, February 2, 2009 at 5:26:00 PM GMT+8

    oceanskies,
    For those who dislike crowds, they will give River Hongbao a miss.

    There were lots of visitors, besides the foreigners, locals came with their families, even the young adults came too.

    I enjoyed the performances.

    ReplyDelete
  16. eastcoastlifeMonday, February 2, 2009 at 5:30:00 PM GMT+8

    the donG,
    I like the open-air dining with lots of people. It is more fun.

    Those influential people are also humans, you get used to them. Some of them are humble and friendly.

    ReplyDelete
  17. SandyCarlsonMonday, February 2, 2009 at 6:29:00 PM GMT+8

    I love the way you step behind the scenes to show the whole project. These are wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  18. DoraMonday, February 2, 2009 at 6:44:00 PM GMT+8

    So many plates of Yusheng! Strange thing is that they use rectangular plates? Thought it is easier to toss with round plates, like the one which the MPs are using?

    Happy Ren Ri. :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. maiylahMonday, February 2, 2009 at 6:51:00 PM GMT+8

    lots of celebrations!

    ReplyDelete
  20. eastcoastlifeMonday, February 2, 2009 at 6:58:00 PM GMT+8

    Thank you Sandy.
    I want readers to see the different visitors to River Hongbao. :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. JulianaMonday, February 2, 2009 at 6:59:00 PM GMT+8

    oh boy....i wish i could go to singapore someday :D

    ReplyDelete
  22. eastcoastlifeMonday, February 2, 2009 at 6:59:00 PM GMT+8

    Dora,
    I find the use of rectangular plates weird too. It's supposed to be round.

    Happy ren ri!! :D

    ReplyDelete
  23. eastcoastlifeMonday, February 2, 2009 at 6:59:00 PM GMT+8

    maiylah,
    Yes, it's Chinese New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  24. eastcoastlifeMonday, February 2, 2009 at 7:00:00 PM GMT+8

    Juliana,
    I will welcome you. :)
    Hope to meet you in Singapore.

    ReplyDelete
  25. KeroMonday, February 2, 2009 at 8:21:00 PM GMT+8

    those rectangular plates are beautiful! i bet the food on it is as tasty hehe. come visit my WS too

    ReplyDelete
  26. eastcoastlifeMonday, February 2, 2009 at 9:14:00 PM GMT+8

    Kero,
    The salad is unique to Singapore. I like it very much.

    ReplyDelete
  27. linaMonday, February 2, 2009 at 9:41:00 PM GMT+8

    rectangular plates so that it's easier to line them up & save a bit more space?
    200 plates! That means there are 200 tables at the dinner. Wow again.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Heart of RachelMonday, February 2, 2009 at 9:51:00 PM GMT+8

    Those lined up plates is a cool sight.

    ReplyDelete
  29. CarverMonday, February 2, 2009 at 9:51:00 PM GMT+8

    That looks like a wonderful dinner. You got some great shots.

    ReplyDelete
  30. eastcoastlifeMonday, February 2, 2009 at 10:14:00 PM GMT+8

    lina,
    Oh yah hor. Rectangular plates save space.

    There are approximately 215 tables!

    ReplyDelete
  31. eastcoastlifeMonday, February 2, 2009 at 10:15:00 PM GMT+8

    Heart of rachel,
    Yes, they are. I was fascinated and watched them arrange the ingredients. :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. eastcoastlifeMonday, February 2, 2009 at 10:17:00 PM GMT+8

    Carver,
    It was a grand dinner with more than 2000 guests at the river side.

    There were local and international performers presenting their items too.

    ReplyDelete
  33. UnknownMonday, February 2, 2009 at 10:38:00 PM GMT+8

    elow! can we exlink? :)

    ReplyDelete
  34. IndraniMonday, February 2, 2009 at 10:45:00 PM GMT+8

    So nice to spend the weekend speaking to people of different countries.

    ReplyDelete
  35. AnonymousMonday, February 2, 2009 at 11:20:00 PM GMT+8

    Wow .. I also want yu sheng ... lol.

    Cynthia has been bugging me for ages. Do you know if there are places that serve yu sheng for 2?!

    ReplyDelete
  36. LifeRamblingsMonday, February 2, 2009 at 11:30:00 PM GMT+8

    sounds like you're having so much fun and it must b great to see people from all walks of life gathered at this event.

    ReplyDelete
  37. eastcoastlifeMonday, February 2, 2009 at 11:36:00 PM GMT+8

    Hi Geraldine Anne. thanks for visiting. :)

    ReplyDelete
  38. eastcoastlifeMonday, February 2, 2009 at 11:37:00 PM GMT+8

    Indrani,
    There were many tourists from all over the world. Some were too shy to be photographed. And I can only picked two pictures for this post. :)

    ReplyDelete
  39. eastcoastlifeMonday, February 2, 2009 at 11:42:00 PM GMT+8

    Wilfrid,
    You want me to make you some?

    You can buy a convenient pack yu sheng at any supermarket. Buy some fresh salmon or any sashimi to add.

    Go for the Kwong Chong Tai 广祥泰 brand. It's tastier.

    You can buy a small packet (小包) at some zi char stall.

    ReplyDelete
  40. eastcoastlifeMonday, February 2, 2009 at 11:43:00 PM GMT+8

    Life ramblings,
    It was a totally different Chinese New Year for me this year.

    I met so many people and made many friends. This is the intangible reward of blogging. :)

    ReplyDelete
  41. Sweet JasmineTuesday, February 3, 2009 at 12:17:00 AM GMT+8

    A really big turn out for the Loh Hei. Nice making new friends.

    ReplyDelete
  42. AnonymousTuesday, February 3, 2009 at 2:05:00 AM GMT+8

    Oh, what a big gathering! And the food! Yum!

    ReplyDelete
  43. AnonymousTuesday, February 3, 2009 at 2:52:00 AM GMT+8

    The food looks good. Chinese New Year is also celebrated here but yours looks so grand :)

    Happy WS.

    ReplyDelete
  44. eastcoastlifeTuesday, February 3, 2009 at 10:16:00 AM GMT+8

    sweet jasmine,
    A couple of thousand guests!
    Lots of contacts within these few days. :)

    ReplyDelete
  45. eastcoastlifeTuesday, February 3, 2009 at 10:16:00 AM GMT+8

    Mirage,
    Yes, they broke a record. :)

    ReplyDelete
  46. eastcoastlifeTuesday, February 3, 2009 at 10:18:00 AM GMT+8

    liza,
    My Filipino friends showed me their Chinese New Year celebration on webcam. It was great to see that we share the same tradition. :)

    ReplyDelete
  47. AnonymousTuesday, February 3, 2009 at 10:30:00 AM GMT+8

    Never witnessed a true blue Yee Shang tossing, thanks for sharing! When we were doing it, we were careful not to mess up and then a Malaysian friend said that the higher the toss, the better. :-) And indeed, you photos showed the mess. haha!

    ReplyDelete
  48. eastcoastlifeTuesday, February 3, 2009 at 10:47:00 AM GMT+8

    Jenn,
    I was careful when I tossed yee sang until I saw people around me tossing theirs very high!

    It's inevitable to have a mess after that. :)

    ReplyDelete
  49. chartaoTuesday, February 3, 2009 at 2:33:00 PM GMT+8

    I was at the River ang Bao on the last day...so you're one of those diners in the huge tent?

    ReplyDelete
  50. eastcoastlifeTuesday, February 3, 2009 at 2:41:00 PM GMT+8

    Leonard,
    No, I didn't eat at this dinner. I didn't buy the dinner ticket because I was invited to another event at my constituency.

    ReplyDelete
  51. foongpcWednesday, February 4, 2009 at 12:14:00 AM GMT+8

    Wow! Hundreds of plates of yu sheng! That's amazing! I must try to make it to this River Hongbao for next year's CNY!

    ReplyDelete
  52. eastcoastlifeWednesday, February 4, 2009 at 10:14:00 AM GMT+8

    foongpc,
    Welcome! Call me ah!
    There will probably be a different theme next year but it will still be as interesting.

    ReplyDelete

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