Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Chinatown in Singapore during CNY

My cousin Ti & her fiance Kent, sister Ying and I went to Chinatown last week to buy some Chinese New Year goodies and it's so fun. Well it was for me...

The usually quiet and empty Chinatown streets are now filled with rows of temporary shacks/ stalls that sell various items like sweets/ dried foods/ clothing/ slippers/ lighting/ Chinese New Year decorations etc.

As you walk along the streets, these hawkers will just push you a sweet/ food and ask you to try it. They'd even open the wrapper for you so all you had to do was pop the goodie into your mouth. One of these guys (typically Ah Bengs) even asked sister Ying for her handphone number! Then there's this other guy that just shoved the mochi (soft chewy dessert that tastes like mua chi) into cousin Ti's hands.

When looking at Chinese New Year clothes, one of the hawkers told us that it'd look very nice and "prestige" (without the ous) on us. The same hawker also said that my "heel" was too big so I couldn't fit into the dress. I later found out that he was trying to say "hip".

Eventhough it's darn crowded, I'd love to make a trip to Chinatown every year! Happy Chinese New Year all...

Friday, February 01, 2008

CNY 2008

Yay! Chinese New Year is here. When I was young, I always looked forward to CNY because the whole extended family will be back (as I live in the ancestral home) and we get to catch up with everyone. There'll be gambling, eating, chatting, more eating, fireworks, late nights, gossips and even more eating...

For the past few years however, I have not bought anything new to wear during Chinese New Year. I just couldn't be bothered. This year however, I was so into the festive mood that I went to buy a cheong sam (traditional Chinese costume for ladies) to wear on the 1st day. I even bought one each for my sisters. I also bought bak kwa (barbecued sliced pork) *oh yummy* and some other goodies for sinful indulgence.

CNY could have been better. Here's why:
  1. My grandmother is no longer with us and this will be the first CNY without her.
  2. My cousin Alvin is in hospital because of a foot infection.
  3. Not everyone will be coming home for CNY. At this point, only about 5 families.
  4. All my uncles/ aunties (parents included) have become Christians/ Catholics so we would no longer carry out certain CNY traditions like burning incense paper, praying to the Gods and elders etc.
But this year, my cousin Ah Ti and her fiance and also Cara's boyfriend, Dave will be joining us for CNY. I guess you win some and lose some so I'll just enjoy it and here's a Happy Chinese New Year to all of you...