Home Team Festival 2015 (13 - 15 Nov)

Brought my nephews to the Home Team Festival 2015 on the second day of the event.

The boys were so excited to see the men in uniform. There were interesting and fun activities for everyone ... and awesome photo opportunities with our men in uniform and the cool vehicles.

Just after entering the exhibition hall, there were long queues to board a couple of ships displayed on site. We skipped queuing to see the vessels because the SPF K-9 show was commencing.

The boys were fascinated with the intelligent dogs who demonstrated how they search and rescue victims. After the show, the spectators were allowed to pet the dogs. Some of the children really enjoyed hugging and petting the adorable dogs.

At another show, we watched some officers conduct forcible entry, take down non-compliant criminals and control a riot.

The boys learnt how to handle a fire extinguisher and were so thrilled when they were allowed to try the guns (bullets not included). They were ecstatic to have their pictures taken with the uniform men in their tactical gear. To the young boys, the men seemed like super heroes from movies. haha....

We tried our hand to save 'victims' from disaster areas. They also received gifts of badges, small toys and stickers.  The boys had lots of fun and were reluctant to go home. haha,,,,

Singapore's First Life-sized Seashell Race Car @ Royal Plaza on Scotts - WW

Saw this creative life-sized seashells race car displayed outside Royal Plaza on Scotts (RP). The hotel created the first life-sized seashells race car in the world to celebrate Singapore's seventh night motor racing season which will commence on 19 September.

The culinary team of 10 chefs and culinary staff, led by RP’s Executive Chef Darren Ong, took 1130 hours to complete this structure which measures 4.40 metres long, 1.90 metres wide and 1.30 metres tall. A total of 14,880 shells (scallops, clams, mussels and oysters) were collected to decorate the car. The shells are from seafood consumed at the hotel's buffets.

In previous years, the culinary team has created other life-sized race cars with chocolate, pasta,  macaroons and bread.

Largest Yusheng Formed by a Chinese Character

I was invited to the largest yusheng lo hei organised by Punggol East Constituency Committee on Sunday. Yusheng (raw fish) is a Chinese New Year dish, served traditionally on the 7th day of Lunar New Year.

At the open field behind Rivervale Plaza, several Workers' Party members of parliament and one NCMP joined hundreds of residents and friends of Punggol East in tossing for prosperity and good health at this mega lo hei event.

WP members started preparing the ingredients for the event as early as 8 am on Sunday.

(from left)Workers Party MP for Aljunied GRC Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap, MP for Punggol East Lee Li Lian, MP for Aljunied GRC Sylvia Lim, MP for Aljunied GRC Low Thia Khiang, MP for Hougang Png Eng Huat and NCMP Yee Jenn Jong getting ready to toss yusheng. 

No ticket was required for this multicultural event. It was free of charge and was attended by Chinese and non-Chinese.

Everyone, especially the children, enjoyed tossing yusheng. There was lots of yusheng left. Don't worry .... the thoughtful organisers had prepared containers for participants to ta bao (takeaway) yusheng home.

Punggol East Constituency Committee has broken the Singapore Book of Records for the largest Yusheng character formed by a Chinese character, measuring 36.9 by 18 meters! Congrats!!

Happy Birthday Everyone! 人日快乐!

Wishing everyone Happy Birthday on the 7th Day of the New Year!

According to our Chinese customs, renri (人日, literally Human Day) was the day human beings were created.

This is new to me : According to Questions and Answers on Rites and Customs (答問禮俗說) by Dong Xun in Jin Dynasty, the days on which different animals were created are:

 First of zhengyue : Chicken 

Second of zhengyue : Dog 

Third of zhengyue : Boar 

Fourth of zhengyue : Sheep 

Fifth of zhengyue : Cow 

Sixth of zhengyue : Horse 

Seventh of zhengyue : Human

zhengyue : First month of the Lunar calendar

We avoid killing the animals on the respective birthdays of the different animals on renri.

Nowadays we celebrate renri (人日) as part of the Chinese New Year. Auspicious food like "7-vegetable soup" (七菜羹), "7-vegetable congee" (七菜粥) and "Jidi congee" (及第粥) are specially prepared for this day.

For Malaysian and Singaporean Chinese, we eat "7-colour sliced fish" (七彩魚生) instead of "7-vegetable soup". :)

农历正月初七，传说这天是人类的诞辰日，即人的生日。

传说女娲初创世，在造出了鸡狗猪牛马等动物后，在第七天造出了人，这就是人类的起源。 所以这一天是人的生日。

“人日”习俗是以七种菜做成羹作为节令食品。在我国有“捞鱼生”的习俗，寓意越捞越高、步步高升。一些地方在这天还有吃面条的习俗，寓意着用面条缠住岁月的双腿，取长寿之意。 

抱着平安，

拥着健康，

揣着幸福，

携着快乐，

搂着温馨，

带着甜蜜，

牵着财运，

拽着吉祥！

生日快樂，人日快乐。

credit : Wikipedia

Singapore Food Expo 2012

Brought some foreign visitors to the Singapore Food Expo 2012 at Singapore Expo. There were more than 100 exhibitors participating, showcasing a thousand different quality products. With so much food to indulge in, we were spoilt for choices.

Unfortunately, the whole hall was so packed and crowded that there was hardly room to walk and we had to jostle with the crowds as we shop from booth to booth. We managed to taste some new food products and bought quite a lot to distribute to friends and colleagues.

New product - concentrated herbal chicken soup from Eu Yan Sang and Maggi. 3 different favours available - American Ginseng, Lingzhi and Cordyceps. I bought it because it is convenient and economical (S$7.50 per bottle). Just add a litre of water to the concentrated chicken soup to boil and the family can have nourishing soup in a jiffy.

Lots of booths offer food-tasting, my friends and I found the behaviour of some visitors disgusting. They dipped into the food samples with their toothpicks or spoons repeatedly. Some even stood waiting for refills and refused to budge for others to have a taste. We were appalled when we overheard a mother telling her 3 children whose faces were practically in the trays of seaweed salad to eat their fill as that would be their dinner that evening.

There were lots of stalls offering free coffee samples. The Nestle booth offers a pretty fragrant coffee sample and there was a constant long queue for it.

One booth was selling durian coffee from Penang, I tasted and then bought a packet. There is a distinct durian fragrance, not too overpowering. I bought it for my colleagues to try, I want to see their faces after they taste it. :)

We bought a crispy Taiwanese chocolate and banana crepe. It was popular and the young couple worked non-stop to feed the long queue. We couldn't resist the aromatic Penang Laksa and the yummy Penang rojak. The kind vendor offered us seats in her kitchen located behind the exhibition hall.

While enjoying the good food and good value purchases, there were also lots of entertainments and fun-filled stage activities by both local and overseas artistes, as well as TV celebrities.

I was glad to see Chef Eric Low who has a new look after losing weight. As usual he was desmonstrating his cooking skills, and also his 'Aunty-killer' charms. :D

There are still 2 more days before the exhibition ends. So go take a look and enjoy the good food!

Singapore Food Expo 2012
Singapore Expo Hall 5
25 May - 29 May 2012, 1100hrs - 2200hrs

Wishing Spheres - Countdown to 2012! - WW

Marina Bay, also known as the Bay of Hope and Light, will have 20,000 wishing spheres floating in its water. This spectacular visual arts display carries the hopes of over half a million people in Singapore.

Throughout December, people penned their wishes on these wishing spheres at various wishing stations located around Singapore. It's free-of-charge, no purchases is required.

The wishing spheres containing hand-written wishes were floated onto the waters of Marina Bay on 18th December. Finally, my hopes for the new year are floating among the 500,000 wishes on the beautiful bay. 

I can't believe this year is coming to an end. I am looking forward to the annual Marina Bay Singapore Countdown taking place on New Year's Eve. Come join the party!

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition @Singapore

I was at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands with several friends when we were attracted by the exhibits. We bought tickets (S$5 each) and was immediately transported into the magical world of Narnia. I was pretty upset when a staff informed me 'No phototaking' is allowed in the exhibition hall.Arrghhhh!

From now until 31st January 2012, visitors can tour the scenes from the famed literary world of Narnia. Based on the blockbuster hit movies and C.S. Lewis’ beloved fictional books, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition is here in Asia for the first time.

I was so thrilled to be inside the original walk-in wardrobe that started it all. I stayed inside the wardrobe for quite a while, admiring the fur coats hanging in it. The moment I walked through the wardrobe, a magical Narnia awaits me! How I wish I could take some photos!

Once inside Narnia, we viewed artifacts from C.S. Lewis' personal study, original props and equipment from the three films. We like the replica of the White Witch's Throne where visitors can sit on the icy throne and feel the chill. At one interactive display, we learnt about the impact of climate change on our planet. It also investigates whether our planet could be frozen for 100 years, like the world of Narnia.

interactive displays such as the catapult

We had the opportunity to use a real working catapult similar to those used during medieval times as well as lift a real sword used in the filming of The Chronicles of Narnia.

I have watched the films of Narnia and absolutely love them. I am ecstatic for the opportunity to learn more about the world of Narnia and it's so cool to actually see the amazing props and costumes from the films. The designers are so brilliant and talented!

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition
3 December 2011 – 29 January 2012
10am – 10pm (last entry 9.30pm)
Location : CANAL Level B2 Skating rink, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sand

S$5 per person (children 2 years and under admitted free)
S$20 – Family package (2 adults and up to 4 children)
$2.50 each for additional child. (Children: 3-16 years)

Happy Holidays!