30) Caring is the core of this festive season
The hall behind the Sri Mariamman Temple is a place to offer a reunion dinner to those new immigrants and the underpriviledged. Early days, immigrants from overseas go through hard life, many were earning token just to fill up their stomach. So it is understandable that they live alone and did not start a family. This temple was also used as a refuge camp to hold new immigrants. During Chinese New Year, you will see them gather here to celebrate the festive season irregardless of race or religion.
This is the front view of Sri Mariamman Temple. It is the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore. It was founded in 1827 and built to dedicate Mariamman, a Goddess, famous for her healing power of epidemic diseases.
Banana and mango leaves hanging over the temple door, welcome and purify visitors with a fresh reborn life.
Mango leave will withered after a few days and closed up by itself, this symbolizes a humble society, caring for the surrounding and to make way for their passing by.
Isn’t it sending a clear message across? Being caring and benevolent are the cores of this festive season!
Friend (25) – I am so glad you have grown up, my friend
On 21 August 2012, I posted a post on Peacock plant under ‘My Friend’ series. During that time, this plant was young and tender and I wish he’ll be growing happily like a kid.
6 months down the road, I heard him greeting me this morning. This one-foot tall kid greets me first thing in the morning. Before that, I don’t really pay attention on him. Reason being that I have too much things to care for in my secret garden. Also, too much thing to meddle on my daily job.
And to my surprise, this little kid has grown up to be a one-foot tall gentleman. When I talk about his greetings it’s as simple as just a warm stare at each other. I’m just too amaze about his speed of growing which is more than what I have expected!
There is a Chinese saying’无心插柳柳成阴”, literally means unintentional actions may bring unexpected success. I was truly enlightened by this word of wisdom!
Again, it is a sight I am looking for in this atmosphere of spring! It doesn’t matter how exuberant he is, or how much fruits he will be baring, I am looking at his uplifting spirits, his will to put enough effort to penetrate hardship and go through obstacles. Fruits or flowers are just extra bonuses!
29) Arrowhead & me
Planting arrowhead is famous among Cantonese tradition, as they believe keeping them for good luck and blessing. Sagittaria trifolia L is the scientific name for arrowhead plant. The name is related to the shape of the leaf when it’s mature.
In my young days, filling up pebbles or marble balls to decorate the pot is a joyful stuff to do. When the bulbs started to shoot up, tying a red ribbon around the stem is just like putting a color of red to your coming new year.
Arrowhead bulbs can be eaten as well. The usual way is to clean up the bulbs, slice it and fry it with sweet pork sausage. The texture is powdery, juicy and sweet. It is usually acceptable by most after a few try. According to some medical report, it has some medicinal properties too.
This year, I bought the bulbs quite late and foresee it will not shoot up on time. Nevertheless, am glad to see some new stalks turning green and some sign of growth. I believe it is the soul of my wish and I will keep it in my secret garden.
7) What is the most atmosphere for CNY?
I’m looking for something but it is not on this red withering flower.
Hairy caterpillars say, wait for me to grow up, I’ll tell you!
He said, for the time being offer you a mini mandarin orange.
Or a deep pocket with full itinerary.
What about a blessing to carry along?
Let’s make it double!
Or let the water snake stick by you whole year through!
And come in a pair!
Note: One blogger mentioned to me earlier that CNY atmosphere is diminishing. I totally agree with this! We know we can’t change the way it is but on the other hand putting some thought and effort can change the way you perceive it.
This year is a year that is graceful to me. Being able to spend my time blogging and sharing my thoughts with the world. I feel I have created the atmosphere for myself and it lives in my heart.
This is the most memorable year I had!
28) More than a cup of coffee
In the 60s, using plastic or Styrofoam cups is not a common sign comparing to the can you see in the picture. Nobody knew who started this wise and environmental friendly idea. Using the finished bottom-up milk tin for filling up coffee is a common scene along the street. Some worker hang the canned.
The process of making the can useable is easy. First open the can with a drill-opener, then allow a string to go through the hole of lid and hinge. Next, fill up the coffee and it’s done.
The tricky and amazing part of this is to press and slide the tin a little to allow the uneven lid edge to stay closed. Amazingly, the cover will wedge inward and you carry the canned coffee with the attached string. You may worry about spillage but after a few practice, you can’t agree more than this ingenius invention.
Process to enjoy the coffee is similar, pressured the tin and lift up the cover. The fragrance of the coffee is unleashed together with the smile on your face! Whatever the beverage is, I bet you will never forget the joy and the ethos behind.
After you have done with your drink, the most important thing to do is to wedge the lid back to the can, to ensure safety to cleaner who are clearing the rubbish bin.
Conversely these days, this environmental friendly method is no longer a common way to take away hot beverages as it is regarded not glamorous to some, to carry their drinks in a used can. Thus, the Styrofoam cups have replaced this tradition quietly. Before this is completely replaced and left in museum, I better take one before it’s gone with the wind.
Every single part of this, the string, the sharp cover edges, the sticky milk can, and the caution to carry it along the way home, make up an un-returnable journey with sweet wisdom and a wholesome me!
27) What flowers may spring choose?
When Lunar year arrive, you know spring is not far and potted plants start to grow from one corner to the other corner of a floral nursery. Most of the plants are imported, this shows that spring is boundless and able to stay in every single part of the world with non-returnable journey.
For sure, buying flowers for home deco is not a tradition only for Singaporean, isn’t it good to pay something in exchange for good blessings and happiness in return.
Mandarin oranges represent great auspicious.
Gomphrena globosa, commonly known as Globe Amaranth or Bachelor Button, literally means bloom for thousand in mandarin.
Celosia cristata, commonly known as cockscomb. Chinese believes luck will crown you throughout the year.
Pineapple literally means flourishing prosperity.
Buying back a Phalaenopsis, is just like holding a national heart.
Charming Chrysanthemum offer you a charming year.
Salix argyracea means money in homonym.
Gold berry, of course the golden exterior explain every things.
Pomegranate, was believed to have the ability to cleanse and protect your house from the evil.
So, what flowers may spring choose to be his public ambassador?
26) One week before CNY, in wet market.
We can feel the joy and heat coming from this wet market before Lunar New Year. One typical characteristic of a wet market is, prices are cheap and foods are always fresh. Unlike supermarkets where meat and seafood were usually frozen, in the wet market, vegetables, seafood, meat and other foodstuff are bought directly from wholesalers and skip the packaging process for cold storage.
Bargain is the most common language between hawker and customers.
Wet market in Singapore is segregated in wet and dry segment. Any food you want under the sky is under one roof.
As CNY is just around the corner, the price of seafood will shoot up accordingly.
Vegetables sold in bundle with reasonable price.
How can eggs be left behind where most traditional cakes can’t go without it.
Round pomelo makes your year all round prosperous.
My favorite fruit store stock up with variety of fruits with a humble price tag.
Sweet and sour tidbits always challenge your taste buds.
Nuts and traditional cookies come in loose form and authentic taste.
Some toiletries top-up for a fresh new year.
Dried stuffs and canned foods at one corner conquering the heart of every customers.
Happen to lose your shoes along the way? Not to worry, just pick up one and carry on with the marketing!
Monster ‘Nian’ will not approach this scarlet red shop.
Prayer stuffs all ready for Gods and ancestors.
Live seafood make their stay in aquarium.
Pray for guardian and protection for a better year.
Flowers are all bloomed and ready, what about you?
20) A story of Lunar New Year – Nian (年)
The mythology side of Lunar New Year was originated from a monster ‘nian’ (meaning ‘year’). The beast had a head like a lion and a body like a bull. It lives in deep sea for the whole season.
Every spring around the lunar month or Chinese New Year it will come ashore to destroy farms and attack humans. Villagers were helpless. They discussed how to make the ‘nian’ stay away from them and leave them in peace. So they started hanging red cloths and lighted red lanterns, pasting red couplet outside the houses in the hope to deter this ferocious animal. Whenever, the animal appeared, the villagers make loud noises with drums and gongs, chopping vegetables /meats loudly and ignite fireworks to subdue the beast. Somehow, ‘nian’ was back off by these intimidations. It left the village and never returned again.
Thus, the villagers realized that loud sound, the color of red, bright lights and fireworks etc were effective deterants to ‘nian’.
Since then, people have kept the tradition alive by beating drums and gongs on streets, and lighting fireworks to drive the beast away during the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival. They wish each other ‘Gong Xi” for a new life of survivor, this is the mythology of how the Lunar New Year come about.
The three scarlet friends humming along in their harmony home.
25) Glimpse of a Snake in Chinatown
A night scene with a wave of square lanterns appear in Chinatown, Singapore which was captured my me this evening. As this is the Lunar year of Water Snake, I guess that’s why the lightened up decorations come conversely with fire red colour. To me, the deco resembles more like Loch Ness than snake, most probably they belong to the same species. Or I might be wrong..
The illuminated boxes come with twelve zodiac and auspicious words on them. May all my wishes be fulfilled with the dedicated inscriptions, I wish!
Coincidentally, the red break-lights of vehicles match so well with the festive atmosphere.
The much sought after and infamous dried sausages and dried duck legs (also known as wax sausages/duck legs) store give an extra touch to the New Year’s air.
A good technique in bargaining might earned you an extra sausage of joy!
An elder earning his own keeps with his talent earned my appreciation of some dollar notes.
Lim Chee Guan, the well-known BBQ sweet pork shop has been working non-stop day and night through weeks to cater to the long waited customers. Waiting time can be as long as 2-3hours if you have the patience to wait for it. When you see this, you know, the festive seasons is just at the corner!
58) Building makes way to this tree
This Panaga Laut tree is one of the Heritage trees in Singapore Botanic Gardens. This species grow on sandy beaches and lowland forests. It is widely spread over from East Africa to West Pacific. You can find their footprints in Singapore too.
This tree is slow growing and has low and massive branches with a broad, dense crown. Different part of the body can be made into traditional medicine.
This tree has home itself there for over 100 years. The design of the building, Botany Centre has take into consideration the need to preserve this precious tree. Walk ways were made narrow to accommodate the large spreading root of this tree. The second floor void was created to allow tree branches to be retained.
Isn’t it a good way to show respect to nature?
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