Chinatown welcomes Autumn
Tonight, 11 Sep 10, Chinatown in Singapore welcomes Autumn with a lights-up and grand performance as we prepare for the Mid-Autumn Festival - Zhong Qiu Jie.What was missing were the delightful...
View ArticleSingapore in 1957 - see part of Chinatown
Thought that this footage on Singapore might bring back memories for some of you, especially on Chinatown.Come share your memories then.Chinatown Singapore
View ArticleLi Jia Ba Buay 你吃饱没？
A couple of days ago, as my wife and I went into the lift, we met this friendly old man, who lived a couple of floors down. His greeting to us was "Li Jia Ba Buay 你吃饱没？" in Hokkien, which is "have you...
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The Dog who rules Chinatown
Yesterday, as I was on my "patrol" of Chinatown, cutting into my way was this dog. Could anyone identify the specie? Oblivious to me nor to anyone walking infront, by the side and behind him, he...
View ArticleChinese New Year is in the horizon
It's a Monday, the first working day of the new year for most. For students, and those on 5-day week, it's tomorrow. I went to the barber's thinking that it would be a quiet day. It was noon when I...
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Chinatown prepares for the Year of the Rabbit
The Tiger is on his way out. The fun rabbits are waiting to hop in. Tonight, Singapore Chinatown, better known as Niu Che Shui 牛车水 or Ngau Chair Sui (Cantonese) or Gu Chia Chwee (Hokkien) or Kreta Ayer...
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Preparing to receive the Gods
24th of the 12 Lunar Month is the day to send off the Kitchen God 灶君 (known to the Cantonese as Zhou Guan and Zhao Kun Kong to the Hokkien). Ah, sweet and sticky things, in the form of Nian Gao 年糕...
View ArticleChicken & Duck for Chinese New Year!
The elders will always tell us, Chinese New Year time is the happiest for the kids. They have new clothes, angpows (red packets) and plenty to eat. True, especially in those days, when it happened once...
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Hokkien pastry at Tan Hock Seng 陈福成
On my prowl to see what's happening in the Greater Chinatown (I like this name mentioned in the chinatown.sg website), I passed by this very popular Hokkien pastry shop - Tan Hock Seng - along Telok...
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Chinese New Year in the temples of Chinatown Singapore
There were just too many activities, even in a tiny place like the Chinatown in tiny Singapore. But since I have set myself a tradition of visiting Chinese Temples within the greater Chinatown and...
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A new look at Chinatown
If you are not aware, go take a look at Chinatown before you reach there physically. Whether you are in Singapore or far away from Singapore, this website is certainly a must to visit when you are...
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Thian Hock Keng celebrates Cap Go Meh 2011
On 17 Feb 11, Cap Go Meh as the Hokkien calls it (this term is used in Nanyang, from Malaysia through Singapore to Indonesia) is the grand finale to the Chinese New Year. In Singapore, Thian Hock Keng...
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A walk in Chinatown
After a morning errand today, I decided to have breakfast in Chinatown, on the way back. Instead of walking beeline home from Outram MRT Station, I started my zigzag tour of Chinatown. Maybe, the next...
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Chinatown Buskers
Long long ago, there were buskers, but not the type that we know today. Or maybe, they are not buskers that we know today. It was in 1959, when I was in Primary One, when my "driver" (you would have...
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Those kerosene lamps
On this Sunday evening when wife and daughter decided on a meaty Bak Kut Teh, and well, there are Bak Kut Teh, and Bak Kut Teh, daughter decided on the "young" establishment of Song Fa Bak Kut Teh....
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Rickshaw Noodles aka "Kan Chia Mee" or La Che Mian 拉车面
In Hokkien, this is called the "Kan Chia Mee" which means the "pull-vehicle-noodles" or in Chinese La Che Mian 拉车面.This is a very simple noodle soup prepared and served where ordered (not the usual...
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Coke with Salt, anyone?
Somehow I have already forgotten about this way of drinking the Coke or Sarsi. But, recently, a young friend (well in his 30s I think) joined me for lunch. And he asked for Coca Cola with salt on the...
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Recycling & a means to survive
Long long ago in Singapore, as one can see as well in many parts of the world, it was more a means of survival than recycling. But indeed, it was and is also recycling. Amongst many things that could...
View ArticleMy neighbour left without bidding goodbye
I have not seen him for days, actually weeks. In our busy lives, the chance meeting is always at the lift landing or inside the lift. There's no common gathering place like the local kopi-tiam. Yes,...
View ArticleBeer on the rocks, anyone?
Last night I was at a dinner in a local kopi-tiam style restaurant serving duck rice. While some of us had lime juice (which I believed started off with the famed Singapore signature dish, Fish Head...
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