We launched the jocund festivities with a trip to Chinatown, one of the few family traditions we are trying to carve in stone for our girls in future. Passing on family traditions is fundamental in building a sense of self and community in our children, which is why we had been indulging in several similar rituals and customs year after year. A visit to Chinatown on Chinese New Year's Eve is one of them.
We descended upon Chinatown amidst a blazing sun and escalating heat. We started the trip with a solemn visit to the majestic Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in the heart of Chinatown. The Bees were awed by the glittering surroundings and the devoted worshippers. Hubby and I were fascinated by the grandeur of the interiors and the architecture.
Thereafter, our hearts were warmed by the jaunty hawkers exhibiting and marketing their wares. It was spellbinding to meander through the narrow labyrinth of stalls selling an opulent plethora of Chinese New Year memorabilia.
Quaint traditional Chinese New Year mementos and delicacies in Chinatown!
Red was the order of the day. We spotted rows and rows of crimson Chinese New Year decorations. Big Bee was beguiled by the myriad replicas and puppets of Chinese mythological lions and dragons - so much so that we bought a charming Chinese lion in the guise of a string puppet, to her immense delight. We stopped at dusty ancient shops selling traditional and well-loved Chinese delicacies and sank our teeth with glee into succulent egg tarts and scrumptious Hong Kong-style po lo bao. We were charmed by rows upon rows of nian gao, a delectable delicacy that we indulge in only once a year. What a wonderful way to spend a sweltering morning!
The Bees, though fascinated, were a bit more perturbed by the oppressive heat, so we had to leave too soon, although Hubby and I would gladly lose ourselves in the maze of stalls and rambling twisting walkways.
It was love at first sight for Big Bee when she set her eyes on the blue Chinese lion (bottom left). Back home, the Bees indulged in some serious lion dancing with Little Bee stomping on her Chinese drum and Big Bee manipulating the lion merrily!
In the evening, we went for our reunion dinner in a Chinese restaurant. It was amazing to see how organised these Chinese restaurants were on the eve of Chinese New Year - 2 shifts of dinners, rapid serving of dishes and compliant customers chomping down the food way before the start of the second shift.
Happy Bees, in anticipation of a few days of non-stop feasting and merrymaking!
The food was delicious and highly palatable, and we truly enjoyed the dinner with 4 generations at one table - from the Bees to their paternal great-grandmother!
One of the best CNY traditions in this part of the world - Lo Hei!
As the Bees drifted off to dreamland, Hubby and I cosied up on our couch to watch the usual countdown programme on the Mandarin channel - a tradition that we carried on from our childhood days. At the stroke of midnight, we did something silly - throwing pellets of tiny noisemakers on our balcony floor that erupted in miniscule flares of sparks and ear-splitting crackles! We were giggling like teenagers, enjoying ourselves thoroughly, transported back to our youth again!
A happy roaring year of the Golden Tiger!
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