A post specially for CC - A day out with Sue Oriental

Let me introduce you to my new friend, Sunbonnet Sue Oriental. My best friend in Texas, CC of Lacenribbonroses designed her specially for me. Thank you so much CC. It is the chinese new year and you dress Sue in her finest red oriental dress and I love the little basket she is carrying. Red is for good luck and especially well loved during Chinese New Year.

I am so glad that you decided to send her to Singapore and yesterday, I brought her to watch a movie directed by a local director Jack Neo. I prefer watching english movies than chinese movies but I should also support our local movie industry. So Sue Oriental has to tag along cause there's no one at home to chat with her.

Sue Oriental has a great appetite.

This is the 3rd floor of the Vivo City and the cinema has little cinemas in it. So we can watch one movie after another but of course we had to pay same price ($7.50) for each individual one. I wondered why they dont have special tickets for those who watch two movies in one day.

It is very spacious.

Another local movie starring Fann Wong and Christopher Lee. I think Sue Oriental likes Christopher Lee...lol but Alice prefers Richard Gere. :)

There is this little snack bar and Sue Oriental likes to have a mini pizza but Alice says "no" cause they are going for a herbal lunch after the movie. :) This is to replenish Sue Oriental's energy cause she has a long flight from Texas to Singapore. Next week, Sue Oriental will be visiting Sentosa with Alice.

P.S. CC, I think Sue Oriental loves Singapore so much that she decided to stay here longer than expected.

Singapore River Hongbao 2009 - Terracotta Chess Set

These are giant chess set in the form of China's Terracotta. Very cute.



The chess sets are in brown and in grey.

Very interesting video of these giant chess sets.

My World-Singapore River Hongbao 2009 - Chinese Dolls

I am still posting photos taken during the Singapore River Hongbao Show 2009, the event is so huge and there are so many beautiful dolls that are so cute and pretty.

This chinese doll dressed up like an Empress Dowager.
I like the centre doll, looked so pretty. She will be in my profile in the meantime.
Each doll has a legend or story behind them. It will take me many moons to tell all the stories...lol.

Just a short video to show the surrounding area near the chinese dolls.

Please visit "That's my World" for other parts of the world.

Singapore River Hongbao 2009 - Chinese Pavilion

More lighted displays at the Singapore River Hongbao 2009. Everyone wanted to take photos of these beautiful displays.

There are many birds in in this cage. You have to click the photo to enlarge it.
Cute mandarin ducks. They are all made of paper and lighted by bulbs inside them.

Just a short video to show you the crowds taking photos.

Reri

Today is the seventh day of Chinese New Year which is renri, that is everyone's birthday. According to legend, it is this day that the goddess "Nuwa" created human beings after creating the world.



Before adding the above, there are some chants to make.

Step 1: All at the table offers New Year greetings.Words: Gong xi fa cai meaning "Congratulations for your wealth" or Wan shi ru yi meaning "May all your wishes be fulfilled".
Step 2: Fish, symbolising abundance or excess through the year, is added. Words: Nian nian you yu and You yu you sheng.
Step 3: The pomelo is added over the fish, adding both luck and auspicious value.Words: Da ji da li.Pepper is then dashed over the ingredients in the hope of attracting more money and valuables.Words: Zhao cai jin bao.Then oil is poured out, circling the ingredients to increase all profits 10,000 times and encouraging money to flow in from all directionsWords: Yi ben wan li and Cai yuan guang jin.
Step 4: Carrots are added to the fish indicating blessings of good luck.Words: Hong yun dang tou.Then the shredded green radish is placed on the fish symbolising eternal youth.Words: Qing chun chang zhu.After which the shredded white radish is added - prosperity in business and promotion at work.Words: Feng sheng shui qi and Bu bu gao sheng.
Step 5: The condiments are finally added. First, peanut crumbs are dusted on the dish symbolising a household filled with gold and silver. As an icon of longevity, peanuts also symbolise eternal youth.Words: Jin yin man wu.Sesame seeds quickly follow symbolising a flourishing business.Words: Sheng yi xing long. Deep-fried flour crisps in the shape of golden pillows is then added with wishes that literally the whole floor would be filled with gold.Words: Pian di huang jin.
Step 6: All toss the salad an auspicious 7 times with loud shouts of lo hei and other auspicious New Year wishes.Words: Lo hei which is Cantonese for "tossing luck".The ingredients mixed by pushing them toward the centre, an encouragement to push on the good luck of all at the table.(Source: http://infopedia.nlb.gov.sg/articles/SIP_177_2004-12-30.html)

Then time to attack and find the fish...hehehe (The above photo shows very little chopsticks but was attacked by 20 people...lolol). Of course what follows the above dish of yusheng are other dishes too.