SNEAK PREVIEW OF ORCHARD ROAD’S CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

November has quietly sneaked in, and soon, Christmas bells will be ringing again. Just how time flies….

Walking on Orchard Road now, one will not miss seeing the decorations that are being put up for the upcoming annual Christmas Light-up event, which will run from 7 November this year through to 3 January 2010. So it is just less than a week away.

“A Christmas All Decked Out” is the theme for this year’s Christmas light-up on Orchard Road. Many Santa Claus, snowmen and Reindeers are used for the decorations.

Here’s a sneak preview of some of the decorations. Except for the very last photo, all photos on this entry were taken using the camera on my iPhone. The quality is not bad right?

Little snowman outside Wheelock Place and Liat Tower

Decoration at the entrance of Wheelock Place

Blue decoration outside Wheelock Place and Liat Tower. Similar decoration in red colour is found in other parts of Orchard Road

Golden decorative items used by Tangs

Workers putting up the decorations in Tangs

Decoration at the lobby of Wisma Atria

Decoration at the junction of Orchard Road and Scotts/Patterson Roads

Giant Santa Claus, one each at the four corners of the cross-junction of Orchard Road and Cairnhill Road

Orange and while balls hanging down from the trees

I wonder if there will be any surprises in the decorations and light-up this year? I shall share more photos after I have a stroll down Orchard Road one of these nights.

I always like Singapore the best during year-end when the weather is slightly cool (though wet as well) and the spirit of love and joy is felt everywhere especially in the shopping malls and along Orchard Road. After all, this is what Christmas is all about – GOD’S LOVE, JOY AND PEACE TO ALL MANKIND.

However, unlike previous years, DS and I are planning to spend Christmas on a cold winter land outside Singapore this December. Hopefully it will be a white Christmas for us! We are eagerly looking forward to seeing this pink “Princess Christmas” decoration in a tiara motif in our holiday destination. It has been 13 years since we last spent Christmas in overseas. That was a summer Christmas down under in New Zealand.

Can you guess where this is going to be?

Since we will be away, we will not be putting up our 5-foot tall Christmas tree at home this year. DS is mot happy about it as it is quite a chore to put it up, and then bring it down when the festive is over.

We are counting down to December …….

BITTER MEMORIES OF SWEET POTATOES

Our breakfast this morning was steamed purple sweet potatoes (or in Japanese, Murasaki Imo 紫芋）which we bought at Isetan Supermarket when we went to its Okinawa Fair two days ago.

I would say it was a luxurious treat because these four purple sweet potatoes cost us S$20.64, and this is far more costlier than a typical local breakfast.  I am still wondering why they are so expensive although, as a matter of fact, they are very delicious and the best we have tasted so far.

DS and I don’t eat sweet potatoes often but eating them always reminds me of my mum’s stories about Japanese occupation during the  World War II, and the hardship they had suffered.  Then, as a young kid, my mum and her family survived on raw groundnuts and sweet potatoes many a times.  In fact, it was considered a luxury to be able to have sweet potatoes!  Life was really tough then and it is something that we, the lucky younger generation, can’t possibly imagine.

Coincidentally, I happened to watch two movies related to Japanese on World War II recently – the City of Life and Death on the Rape of Nanking (by the Japanese) in 1937 and Kabei (aka Our Mother).  The latter, a Japanese movie, depicts the great love of a Japanese mother during the early 1940’s when Japan was in war.  It also brings about a message for peace.  I was greatly moved to tears by both movies.

City of Life and Death (南京！南京！）Movie Trailer

Kabei Movie  Trailer

It is a great blessing that we are now living in a peaceful era although sadly and unfortunately, there are still wars somewhere on this world.

Why is peace so elusive? Human beings resort to war to fight for power.  It seems natural since war is not limited to the human species.  In the animal kingdom, whether big or small animals, like tigers, lions and even ants, also engage in wars and fights in order to establish their own dominions. So, human beings are just like animals.  Just how sad, isn’t it?

War is cruel.  I just hope mankind will always remember the pains and sufferings of our forefathers.  No one shall ever take peace for granted, and  there will never ever be another world war on this earth.

2009 FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX – VROOM, ZOOM AND BOOMS

Interesting, exciting, tiring and memorable. These are the words I would use to sum up my experience watching F1 car race live for the first time ever in my life when I attended the 2009 Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix (night races) last weekend.

I have mentioned in my previous blog entry that I am not a fan of F1 and I was not sure if I would enjoy myself. Well, I am glad that I had a great time despite having to stay late for three consecutive nights and suffering huge crowds everywhere in the Marina area. It was through this first-hand experience that I learned a lot more about F1 race and got a better idea on how the event is like.

Lewis Hamilton’s win that night made the event even more memorable for me because I am his supporter! I was both thrilled and touched when watching the British flag being raised at the podium over the big screen, and hearing a group of his British supporters seated behind us singing the British anthem loudly and proudly.

A newly formed F1 team by Malaysia will join in the race from the next season (2010) and I wonder if there will ever be the day when Singapore will have its F1 team?

Must have for the event – the survival kit which costs S$2 and consists of a pair of ear plugs and a poncho. Thanks to the great weather throughout the event and we did not have to use the poncho at all!

Crowds everywhere!

Great demand for beer during the 3 nights. S$8 per cup of Tiger beer and S$10 per cup of Heikenen beer!

Lots and lots of manpower deployed to put the event in good order

Racing accident happened every night

Large crowds waiting patiently near the Bay Grandstand to catch a glimpse of the drivers during the Drivers’ Parade on Sunday (27 Sep) evening

Timo Glock from Panasonic Toyota Racing. He won the second place in the race

Loudest cheers for Lewis Hamilton during the Drivers’ Parade!! He was in pole position for the race and was the winner for the night as well.

The upcoming new landmark for the Marina Bay area – The Marina Sands IR (Integrated Resort) which is due to open in 2010

Drivers’ in action. Lewis Hamilton leading all the way!

Jarno Trulli of Panasonic Toyota Racing and Fernando Alonso of Renault Team

Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari

Jenson Button of Brawn GP

A stroll down the racing track around the Bay Grandstand area after the race

A group of Lewis Hamilton’s supporters at the track after the race.

Vintage cars used for the Drivers’ Parade on display near Empress Place

Will I want to watch the race live again in future? Well, I don’t know yet. I have to say that the tickets are expensive but if I could, I would be interested in those S$1,388 Pit-stop tickets to be able to see all the “happenings” there. My younger sister, a fan of F1 and a supporter of Kimi Raikkonen, was very fortunate to have received a complimentary S$1,388 ticket from her friend. I hope I will be this lucky someday!!

阿密特首次世界巡回演唱会-AMIT LIVE FIRST WORLD TOUR

天后张惠妹（阿妹） 又要开唱咯！

2010年1月30日，新加坡室内体育馆隆重登场！

阿密特首次世界巡回演唱会

这将会是老公和我第五次看阿妹的演唱会。 全新的造型、全新的演唱会，非常、非常的期待， 也希望是一个惊喜连连的演唱会！

今天开始售票。 我已买了两张票，而且是很好的位子哦！

AMit阿密特-分生MV

SEASON TO BE OVER THE MOON

Can you guess what this is?

Did you guess it right? It is a box of moon cakes from Golden Peony Restaurant of Conrad Centennial Hotel.

The packaging though looks deceptive and non-traditional, it is very unique and practical. Each moon cake is individually wrapped, thus maintaining a good hygiene standard, and the box can be re-used as a storage box for items like costume jewelleries! What a creative design! I was very attracted by it when I went shopping for moon cakes at the Takashimaya Mid-Autumn Festival Bazaar (basement 2) two days ago. I think this is probably the most impressive packaging I have seen this year! But of course, this was not the reason I decided to buy a box home.

The Takashimaya Mid-Autumn Bazaar was rather busy on last Friday’s afternoon

When choosing my choice of moon cakes, quality has to come first. This means that the skin of the moon cakes must not be too oily nor too dry, the lotus paste has to be very fine and smooth and not too sweet, and the egg yolks are of good quality too.

I love moon cakes, especially those with egg yolks. This year, DS and I have decided to continue with our annual feast for this special Chinese festival after a break last year. This is what we have bought so far….what a treat, isn’t it?

I don’t really like the Da Zhong Guo moon cakes but there are hardly any good choices for black bean paste fillings which DS likes.

Most likely I am going to buy more moon cakes when I finish eating these! I can eat one whole piece in one sitting!