Singapore
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?
57) A ride to Coney Island
Pulau Serangoon, also known as Coney Island in Singapore. It is a 45-hectare in size and located off the north-eastern coast of the Singapore mainland. Back in about 30 years ago, you still be able to make your own way when the tide is low, as the closest distant to the shore is just about 100metres. Fun seekers will just ignore this and have their fun in this sunny island.
Currently, the island is closed for future quality housing developments. The only residents here are the coniferous trees and the breeze shuttling between trees. While some visitors watch over the waters with approving admiration.
Coming in by Waterway@Punggol direction, a red-soil route welcome you like the red carpet.
Pine trees, ripples with the wide horizon make up an account for Coney Island beyond words.
A pavilion with an irregular arc comes with semi-open concept allows viewers to capture the beautiful scenery at the same time to hide away from the rain and sun.
The inner side of the arc, laid with reflective aluminum ceilings, mirror the bleeding red ground and turn him to a blush!
Rest enough for the day, let’s carry on with the red carpet trail and explore the next destination.
30) Song of wild flowers
Wild flowers, my dearest wild flowers
Spring is your day
Spring is your mom
Spring is your holy faith
Poem within your palm
O!
Wild flowers, my wild flowers
Aren’t you turning down my admiration?
Aren’t you releasing my nuisance?
Aren’t you realizing a fool is waiting for your enlightenment?
Wild flowers, my dearest wild flowers!
Dawn is on you way
Dawn is by your side
Dawn never fade away
Praises within your lovely farm
O!
Wild flowers, my wild flowers
Wont you care about my admiration?
Won’t you release my sorrows?
Won’t you able to feel my sympathy?
Wild flowers, my dearest wild flowers!
Rippers living by your side
Rippers waiting for your ride
Rippers need your smile and make him bright
Pleasant within your kindly eyes
O!
Wild flowers, my wild flowers
Won’t you still be seeing me tomorrow?
Won’t you be able to?
Wont you able to speak softly to me again?
Tell me where is your next destination!
19) The most creative and wonderful creatures
I love watching both western and Asian ghost movies. These movies don’t scare me out of my butt but cheers me up. I’m not drawn by the scary costumes or distorted features but rather by the dramatic, or should I say the creative and elusive form of it.
I observe and make study about their special characteristic and the way they portray themselves. They come out with different attributes as I conclude them as follows…
Note: This is under PG(Parental Guidance) category.
Some take indoor sky diving as a hobby.
Some come knocking on your door after the Tsunami.
Some habitually crawl out to have fun with human.
Some never let his arms rest in peace.
Some had flop cosmetic surgery.
Some are as handsome as ‘Blood Pit’.
Some come and lure you in the form of sweet candy.
Some I strongly believe they have come a long way….
29) All these are happening in my Secret Garden
When spring arrives and visits my Secret Garden this morning. I am enchanted as it sprinkles his hand to fertile us.
Some may take it one at a time.
Some may take a bigger share and keep it for rainy days.
Some may not be able to catch it on time.
Some can’t even feel it at all.
Some sobbed and are moved by the divine touch.
Some are just glad with their given portion.
Some are overflow with it.
Some stick out their neck day and night begging for the mercy of nature.
Yelling out, “Here, here, we are here!”
Then, they are stretching out each and every day, taller and taller, higher and higher!
All these are happening in my Secret Garden.
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