life
21) My urn, earn me a day of grace!
When I was young, we used to have an urn placed in our lavatory filled up with water. As bathroom and laundry is a combined usage area, it is common to have an urn in most households to hold water for daily usage.
As water is as precious as dews and water supplies are not that efficient in those days, keeping an urn with water is good for emergency. As dragon symbolizes benevolence, prosperity, longevity and renewal of life, I guess having a dragon urn is more than what we can ask for.
While some believe putting some coins in the dragon water urn will bring prosperity and wishes come true. Showering with the water can enhance your lucky spirits! Well, to me it reminds me of the song “three coins in the fountain”.
I don’t have such a big urn in my apartment now as my lavatory is too small to make room for the urn but I have got a similar mini urn, size of a flower pot. It does not serve me with water but just sweet and culturistic memories.
To me, keeping a piece of the sweet past ‘urn’ me a graceful day, what else do I ask for….?
20) I’ve touched the earth for one month
Traditionally, for a one-month “young” new born, the baby’s family will host a celebration to welcome the sweet event. It’s a time to celebrate the baby’s birth and marks the end of the mother’s confinement.
Some have a buffet spread for guests while others had the celebration in restaurants to accommodate more guests. Other than this, food boxes with cakes, red dyed eggs or glutinous rice will also be given to friends and relatives. These days, food boxes come in more varieties like cupcakes, mini tarts or puffs.
Eggs are chosen as they represent fertility and new passage in life. The red dye represents luck and blessings and their round shapes symbolize harmony.
Glutinous rice with toppings like slice stewed pork, fried dry prawn, mushrooms and sprinkled with onions and garlic shallots will also be given out with the food boxes.
A pair of “Ang Ku Kuey” (“red tortoise cake”) signifies the new born will be blessed with luck and have a life as long as the tortoise.
Last but not least, a milk bottle that feed you with all the sweetness and happiness with that new bundle of joy!
19) Few steps to CNY
Wooden clogs are versatile shoes appear in and out of your house in olden days. I remember during my childhood, I saw my mother wearing it into the toilet to do the laundry. Another pair is placed outside the corridor, she wear that to do her gardening.
It is also part of street hawkers’ attire in those days. So it’s hard to miss out the “clark, clark, clark” sound throughout the busy food street.
Wooden clogs are uncommon these days. But as the scent of Lunar New Year gets closer, I realize I need a pair of wooden clog for this festive season. Traditionally, it signifies “步步高升” literally means “higher steps” for the prosperous year ahead.
This pair is meant for the ladies. The shape resembles a woman’s perfect measurement! In the past, it is common footwear for housewives to walk down the street doing bargains with their marketing or sometimes chasing their kids with a cane with it!
The male version comes with broader shape. It is not only domestic footwear for hawkers or coffee shop baristas, it is also ideal footwear for wearers to alert their movement with the sounds it created.
I shall dedicate these two pairs of wooden clogs to all fellow Bloggers and Followers.
Wishing all taking their steps higher and higher, with good health and a very prosperous Lunar New Year!
4) I am no normal tea
“擂茶”, in Chinese literally means Lei Tea (pounded tea). The name Lei arises from the Lei stick (wooden stick) that was used to grind the ingredients. This iconic Hakka food is healthy and body cleansing. It was known that Lei Tea was originated from the Three Kingdom, China.
In Singapore, Lei Tea is also known as “Thunder Tea” as the word “Lei” has the same pronunciation as “Thunder” in Chinese language. The dish is served with brown or white rice, tops up with various chopped ingredients like long beans, tofu, peanuts, cabbage, pickled radish and green vegetables. The ingredients can be varies, as for vegetarian Ikan Bilis (anchovies) is optional.
The tea soup itself is a composite of different types of tea leaves. Herbs (like mint, basil), nuts, seeds and beans ground together with the Lei stick to form a light green paste or powder. Hot water is then added to the tea paste/powder to go along with the rice.
For some, trying the savory soup for the first time may find it raw. But it has a refreshing after taste! The healthy green fragrance may lure you back for more each time! Unlike the normal tea we have daily, Lei Tea is a healthy food mix with tint of ancient culture and healthy modern lifestyle people adore these days!
If you happen to see it, try it! You may like it! But beware, not to let the tea steal the thunder out of you!
18) My three fragrant friends better than my perfume
This Laksa leaf (polygonum odoratum) is one of the strong flavored among herb-plant species. Traditionally, it is a must to enhance laksa with it. Topping with this leaf makes this Singapore/Malaysia curry soup more wonderfully complete! Local delight “cereal crab” comes with these amazing leaves upgrade your taste bud to another level.
This is another popular fragrant herb, popularly found in Vietnamese spring rolls, salads and their local cuisine. In Thailand, most of their cuisine can’t do away with this well-liked fragrant plant, it is eaten raw or with spicy dips.
This is Lemon grass (cymbopogon citratus). When we mention about Thai curry or soups, we have to tag him along as well. The slender leaves with hairy and sharp edges, gives off a refreshing lemony fragrance one can’t forget. Lower parts of the stems are more commonly used in cooking or making drinks. It is commonly used in Vietnamese salads and spring rolls too.
This is Mugwort (artemisia vulgaris), commonly used in Japan/Korea for their festive rice cake. It gives the rice a greenish green. Aromatic mugwort are used as a cheaper alternative for tobacco too. It was used as a magical agent, protecting traveler against evil spirits and harmful animals in the Middle Ages. It is also an insect repellent, repelling insects like moth.
For some, these herbs are better than their perfume!
27) Not a Lonely Song
Nature is getting further
Weather is getting warmer
And someone gives him a pat on his shoulders
Friend of greens
Friend of moss
Friend of aged old stone
Sydney is not snapping alone
Flowers getting brittle
Winter getting chiller
Sydney sling with his camera
And someone gives him a pat on his shoulders
Chat about garden
Chat about animal
Chat about aged old stone
Sydney is not talking alone
People getting colder
Garbage getting closer
Sydney sling with his camera
And someone gives him a pat on his shoulders
Blog about jokers
Blog about environmental
Blog about aged old stone
Sydney is not blogging alone
Definitely not blogging alone!
17) Where are my Romeo and Juliet?
Where is this building and what is it for? And what does it has to do with Love?
Yes, this is the Registry of Marriages (ROM) and Registry of Muslim Marriages (ROMM). The favorable building is located at 7 Canning Rise, Fort Canning. A place where couples tie their knots, and leaves a memorable lifetime event with their friends and families!
ROM & ROMM will be there to greet you before you enter this sacred land of lifetime happiness.
This is the place where couples in Singapore love to come and register themselves as “Love Birds”. Most did the solemnization here before their customary ceremony. While some “by appointment only” solemnization are done in religious premises or at venues at the comfort and convenience of the couples.
Before the entrance to the Registry Hall, two eye-catching sculptures welcome you with bliss of delight. The one on the left (ROM logo) with an “M” signifies the Quintessential Elements of Marriage. Everlasting Bliss and Love are represented by the fluidity and continuity of the stroke “M” which is the Registry of Marriages.
The other one on the right (ROMM logo) with the letters “T” and “U” signify “Tranquility in Unity”.
The Fort Canning Park behind and the little roundabout with a circular planter is a favorite photo shooting spot for newly weds.
Today, I am searching high…
and low….till now…
For lovebirds…
and Romeo & Juliet
53) Circles of rainbow on the Bridge
Welcome to Alkaff Bridge, you are strolling on a rainbow now.
The Alkaff Bridge is a pedestrian Bridge spanning across the Singapore River in length 55m, height 35m. As the name suggested, it is related to the nearby Alkaff Quay. Alkaffs is also a wealthy Arab family who settled in Singapore during the early 20th century.
One side is connected to the “River Place” condominium.
The other side is connected to “The Quayside” condominium. What a home sweet home for these estate residents!
This bridge resembles a wooden boat (Tong Kang) is a gift from a lady artist, Pacita Abad (1946-2004) who transformed it to a rainbow bridge with an artist touch of joy and vibrant colors!
She used 120 liters for white base paint after scraping the old paint away. And subsequently, using 630 liters for two coats of 6 base colors for this Art piece.
And finally, applying 2,350 circle stencils, using 46 colors painted with hands. In addition to these, the railings are also full of wonderful circles.
Imagine staying in a home next to the rainbow friend…
Or a ferryboat passing by here and there outside your doorstep, what else do you ask for…?
25) Contrasting Articles
I love you, so I wanna eat you
Some 30 thousands shark fins was laid on the roof? This is a shocking news happened in Hong Kong lately, where 30 thousands shark fins was being discovered having sunbath on the industrial building in western Hong Kong.
Conservation group Sea Shepard described this is really wrath and the scene of crime is too appalling to viewers. Based on the picture given, these 20-30 thousands shark fins are placed surreptitiously on the roof of industrial building in anticipation for Chinese New Year demand.
Fortunately, according to seafood industrial spokeman, the demand of this expensive staple in Chinese banquet has been declined progressively, this has to be related to the “no shark fins banquet” and our Eco mindset. I am glad!
I love you, so I wanna be with you
This happens in North Wales, an eight years old doggy, Terfel keep bumping into things and stuck in basket. After vet’s examination, Terfel was detected to have cataracts.
Subsequently, owner Judy Godfrey Brown lets a stray pussy cat Pwditat stays with them.
What happens next is that, Pwditat guides Terfel in and out of his basket and into the garden.
This amazing story breaks the law of cats and dogs hate each other! And since then, both are glue to each other and sleep together as well. A true story from North Wales, about a Guide Cat and a blind dog.
We should have more of the both on this earth! Peace!
51) Throw up your New Year resolutions
Who dare to “Bungy” your New Year resolution in this way?
Get ready! And wish you all the best!
Smoke gets in your eyes!
One more time for stage effect!
And let’s go and let it go!
Up, up to the sky! (1st bounce)
Up, up swing, can’t hear your scream! (2nd bounce)
Down.. down again, hear you now! (3rd bounce)
Did you regret it or you like the thrills and spills? (4th bounce)
Come for Reverse Bungy in Singapore.
At the bank of Singapore River in Clark Quay, forget about the muddy water and the gloomy sky.
It is near the colorful MICA building, you can also follow the sound of people screaming to find it.
Make your reservations at this cart and make your resolution in the air!
AddGrainOnEarth 