CNY 2015 Holiday : Day 3: River Hongbao

A relaxed, lazy start to the day with pancakes for breakfast. My pancakes are homemade from scratch, with wheat-flour, sugar, milk and mashed ripe bananas, mixed and fried on the pan. Top up with some honey before you feast on them :)
My little one had a playdate in the morning, and another one in the afternoon where she went frolicking in the pool with her friend.
       Having had enough of child-minding by late evening, we left the kids at home and went to the Fair-like affair called River Hongbao at the Marina Bay Float. I understand Hongbao (Angpao) is the pretty red envelope we come across around CNY time, to be filled with money, gifted to juniors and children at Chinese New Year.


Notice the glittering motifs to mark the Year of the GOAT

 

River Hongbao was a glittering scene of Mega-sized lanterns as far as you could see. There was the pair of giant peacocks, giant sized rabbits and goats to signify the years of the Goat, Rabbit, etc.
A stage was erected to show some very well co-ordinated dances and songs.


Time for a tete-a-tete mid-air

If you can rope-walk blind-folded, I can balance myself on a wheel


But the show-stealer of the evening was the Rope-walking event. Was it not at least 60 feet high that the rope was erected at?
 The first rope-walker walked so effortlessly, with the Marina Bay Sands glittering in the background. The next one made everyone gasp when he came rope-walking blindfolded. As if not to be outdone, the first walker came balancing on a cycle-wheel no less.
 In the next act the two of them met so casually midway on the rope. One lay down and the other coolly stepped over him. They then regaled the awestruck crowd with some lithe dancing on the rope before they ran back to their scaffolding, as if one were running on the ground. This was the best stunt I must have seen in my life. What is Stage-fear, what is fear of public-speaking, compared to what these heroes accomplished on a tight rope? In front of so many strangers? I salute thee, ye men of courage and discipline.
       The next time you ever get nervous on stage, this is what you could picture in your mind to give you courage. Do tell me what you think.
        The show was over by half past nine, when we started our hunt for vegetarian dinner, though the crowd there thronged to the food-stalls. We ran to Suntec City, knowing that most shops would be closed. 

Moo we are closed so what to doo

  Having eaten at Marche', I wanted to take A there for vegetarian food, but they were closed and just forgot to tie up their cow for the night.

     Luckily, the omnipresent Starbucks was beckoning with the aroma of its coffee wafting through. The atmosphere so cozy with such few tables occupied at that time of night, we ordered a Frappe', a peanut butter coated chococake, a veg-sandwich, potato salad with pine-nuts and white sauce and my much-loved creamy potato soup with bite-sized herb-bread. Yes, too much for two...but we were hungry after the short walk from River Hongbao!

Do remember to go gymming tomorrow

CNY 2015 Holiday : Day 2 : Cruise by the river

Boat on the river...you're headed for the sea..
If you should find him, please bring him for me [Boney M]

Do take "him" along. Head to the Clarkes Quay (pronounced ki), with all its bars, eat-outs and music in full swing. You can even see a live performer here and there. They are good, me feels. But do not be perturbed by the waiter who asks you if you have ordered, when you are there just to hear the performer outside the restaurant! You have Mexican food joints, Indian, Italian, Japanese and many other options you can think of. Of course the choice is limited for vegetarians and teetotallers like me. [And no, teetotaller does not mean a tea drinker...]The atmospheric is boisterous and seeing people and couples in such an upbeat mood can rub off on you too.
          I wonder if the Extreme Swing is a new addition. It looked like people were waiting for others to get in so that they could watch them in awe, and laugh at them getting bounced in the air like a yo-yo tied on both sides.

        Buy your tickets for the 40 minute bumboat cruise which takes you along the Singapore river, along the Central Business District Area with its skyscrapers, the museums with their history and of course the majestic bridges like the Elgin bridge, Anderson bridge and the Esplanade bridge that you go under,  while cruising the waters of the serene river. Be amazed by the architectural wonders like the Marina Bay Sands, the Esplanade and the Merlion spouting water from its mouth.


Burning bridges never made me sad..[Status Quo]

Elgin bridge by night

             The cool breeze in your face is utterly relaxing. Make you hungry. Its dinner-time! Head to one of the many restaurants lining the quay. We chose RAS, an Indian restaurant because of the many vegetarian options. For our family of four, we had starters in the evening before the boat-ride, assorted pakoras with mint dip and juices. Dinner was  Raita, Kashmiri Alu, Dal tadka, Peas pulav and an assortment of Indian breads - Rumali roti, Tandoori roti and Cheese nan. Slurp.

Meatless need not mean tasteless!

Do not forget to queue up for some Turkish ice-cream experience. Yes, an experience!
Watch the jovial antics of the ice-cream man in his gold-embroidered coat and you will understand why people are flocking to him! He is open from 2 pm to 2 am so we were in no hurry to get there. We once even had an ice-cream sandwich by the Elgin bridge. You see, good times need not be expensive!

You want the ice-cream or his antics?

    

Weekend revellers under the canopy

Shop for some chunky jewellery and artefacts in the kiosks around. My teenager thought of all reasons why she should be buying trinkets when she has so many already, one of them being, just to gift to friends for no particular reason.
Click pictures under the tastefully erected canopies and next to the mini-fountains. You must be sleepy with all the walking, head home and wait for Day 3!
 Bonne nuit...

Don't tell me good-night..it makes me feel so empty inside
And if only I could I wouldn't sleep at all...
Don't tell me good-night..Just let me drift off gently away
and dream...dream...dream..of you...[Lobo my favourite favourite]


 

CNY 2015 Holiday : Day 2 : Go Biking & Boating

The wind just does not seem to stop blowing, though it has slowed down a bit. Quite a few weeks of heavy breeze this year. Lovely time to cycle. Pack some breakfast into your bicycle basket and off you go. The Gardens by The Bay with a spectacular view in every step of the way, offers many benches and shelters to relax and wonder just how blessed this world can get.

Spread your picnic mat and your breakfast. You are bound to meet many friends too, who would be taking a walk or cycling just like you :)


The Gita says: Be like the water droplet on the lotus leaf....unattached

Take a break in these shelters in the garden.

Shady trees abound.



Biking: A popular sport

Notice the fans and the benches for the tired visitors

Do not forget to clean up afterwards though! You have litter bins every few metres so no excuses there! There was once a time when I saw a woman slowly getting up after leaving garbage by the river. "Excuse me, I think you forgot something!" There, that did it. I was polite and she in turn, cleaned up the mess without getting offended! Another good way is to say "No littering please" to no one in particular.
   Another tip when you feel that dog-owners may walk away after their dog has done its deed. Linger long enough if you have a few spare minutes. They are bound to clean up. Else, you too can use the dialogue in my last paragraph.

          The boating part is coming soon in my next post, please read!
  

CNY 2015 Holiday : Day 1 at the Mall

The traveller is always leaving town
He never has the time to turn around...[Alan Parsons Project]

Many people rush out of Singapore around the Chinese New Year Long weekend. But, Singapore is the place to be, during the Chinese New Year. Oh I have no idea yet about what happens in China though.
            This year is the year of the Goat, as per the Chinese Lunar calendar. The schools closed in the early part of the week itself. So we hit the AMK Hub on Wednesday afternoon. When you win free vouchers, you do not fret going to far away malls to spend your bounty.....


Great bargains at the Mall

 

 

Quite a few accessory shops.

As for the kids, a fun time with playdates, dips in the pool, picnics by the play areas.
This is just Day1 of the long weekend. Do carry on reading for more excitement!!
 

A pair of socks

         
It was the weekend - a cold winter evening in Delhi. The family had gone to check out the Trade Fair – an array of stalls selling overpriced, cheap stuff, with people doing more window-shopping than buying. After looking around, we made our way back to the car when we saw a tea-stall, with a woman and a child of say, two.

          What caught my attention was that the boy was in a sweater alright, but nothing to cover his legs in the chill. He was seemingly unperturbed, probably used to the harshness of the weather. But my little girl of eight was filled with misery at his sight, since I told her how lucky she was that she had warm clothes, while he had none.

“Would you like to gift him a pair or two of socks?” I asked.

A very keen “Yes momma.”

It was closing time but we snaked our way back into the stalls, through the crowd in the opposite direction, ran from this stall to that, and managed to hunt down a pair of socks that would fit the boy’s scrawny legs. And very satisfied, ran out.

The mother of the child had her back to us, bending over her kettle.

"Behen?” (sister)

She turned around.

Not sure how to begin, in order not to sound like I am giving alms, I said, “Well your boy had no socks on, so my daughter here bought these for him. Would you take them?”



Cold night, warm hearts

A moment of silence. Then a beam on her face.

“Heh heh, he has a bagful of socks, pants, but refuses to wear them!!” So saying, she pointed to a paper-bag full of clothes the size of which we could not make out.”

We handed her over our gift nonetheless, which the kid eagerly grabbed and tore open.

Another “heh heh” and she said “Look, he wants to put them on.”



As we made our way to the car, we wondered whether the woman lied about her son’s clothes to hide her bashfulness; whether he really needed a pair of socks or not.

But whatever the case might be, we certainly would have returned home weighed with guilt, had we not done our bit for a less fortunate creation of God. Whether the boy was warm enough or not, our hearts surely were that night.

The short weekend of 21 Days : Part 3

My birthday being round the corner, I was gifted an antique gold pendant-earrings set from JOYALUKKAS, by my family and parents. Followed by a lovely dinner with extended family, at a beautiful alfresco restaurant in Mysore called OYSTER BAY.


Hey I never got to cut a cake throughout childhood, honest!!

Finally, the day of departure from Mysore arrived. We exchanged our byes when the cab booked by appa arrives, to take us to the airport. The neighbours were out too, to see us off - oh for the beauty of small-town societies!
     
    The flight being a late-evening one, we make use of the day, to visit my cousins in Bangalore. What a reunion we had, first at my brother’s place where I met his daughter-in-law, an actress.  We had a sumptuous lunch of puris and south Indian vegetables, along-with the jalebis and badam-halwa lovingly purchased by my sister-in-law. Also went out with my brother who insisted I buy myself some cloth to make an Indian dress. Also, I realised I am already a distant grandmother to my cousin brother’s grandson. Its okay, I thought, as long as I do not talk too much about it ha!

               We then proceeded, conscious of time, to meet more cousins and my paternal aunt. Silent hugs followed, since we were aware of the absence of my elder aunt who passed away a few months ago. More snacks followed. Payasam, tea, etc and many minutes of chats and many presents exchanged, we finally bade goodbye and boarded the Inova to the Bengalooru International Airport.

Simple living.

               Because of the flight disasters which took place just a few days ago, my stomach knotted each time there was a turbulence in the skies. Finally thankful that we made it to land safe and sound, we exited from the Changi airport early at 6 am, on my birthday. But the gift that I got was a painful bout of Hives, probably because of the stresses in the plane coupled with a cold. Oh but always the fighter, I was soon over it, although with a midnight visit to the hospital. Cest la vie.

The short weekend of 21 Days : Part 2

Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home... (J.H.Payne)

Our flight landed in Bangalore. Appa booked a cab, so that we could save some money, instead of booking a cab at the airport. Without stopping by at any of our relatives’ houses in Bangalore, we sped from the airport to inhale the cool air of Mysore.


Gift-shopping: Little black dress found in Katong Mall at a great price

                Although less energetic now, amma had prepared my favourite holige (sweet dish of lentils and jaggery). I cannot stop devouring even the simplest rasa (spicy soup) prepared by her. I again remember how much she and the house I grew up in, mean to me, how much Mysore means to me.

               I notice every time, that the youngsters I grew up with have left their homes to set up new lives in prosperous new countries.  Was glad to meet their parents though. My neighbouring Aunty had us over for tea. We shared fond memories of yesteryears, over the snacks she endlessly served at the table.

               One of the first visitors we had were my cousins from Bangalore. Our childhood days were remembered, and guffawed at, while we devoured idlis and sweets bought from the neighbouring Green Leaf restaurant. Distance had made the hearts fonder. Many photographs were clicked with the mobile phones each of us had. I marvelled at the change in times, when we had photos clicked at the Photo-Studios and printed…times they are a-changin’…

               The mornings were usually spent in preparing breakfast and by afternoon, it was time to hit the Malls that have mushroomed in Mysore. I was so proud to see some of the top shops like Shoppers Stop, Pantaloons and Westside in my hitherto sleepy old town!!! I went berserk when I saw all the pretty frocks for little girls in Shoppers Stop. Indian clothes were also bought for both the kids at smaller shops. A new VIP suitcase had to be purchased just to fit in all the garments we purchased. Not to mention the dozens of hairbands and hair-clips I bought, maybe to last me a year…

The reception at the Resort Hotel

               Two days were spent in Wonder La, the much-touted amusement Park in Bangalore, which did live up to our expectations. Must laud the staff for tirelessly working to keep the place spic and span, in spite of the mad rush at Christmas time! Had a lovely stay in their resort Hotel, with a calm ambience and lovely spread of Indian food.

               Next we drove to the verdant Wayanad in Kerala, albeit for a night, with cousins. Having grown up together, we laughed ourselves silly teasing each other, and in no time we crossed the border into Kerala.

             Oh what a serene resort that was, booked at the last moment, and not a penny paid in advance! Do see my review in tripadvisor.com, on Meenmutty Heights, the simple and clean resort with friendly staff. We ate, played, laughed some more, took photographs and waded in the shallow waters right next to the resort.

Wonders of Wayanad, Kerala.

 

Back in Mysore, time flew with the ride in the horse-carriage around the Amba-Vilas palace of Mysore, a walk in the park by the once thriving Kukkanahalli lake and near the foothills of the Chamundi Hills, taking in the calm sunset, with my extended family...
The very same things we had with us many years back, but never valued then,  are now etched forever in my mind. A feeling all of us have when we visit our roots?



Sunset. Chamundi Hills. Walk with loved ones. 

Clip-clopping in the buggy

 

Amma said to stay for an entire month the next time. With all the trouble I feel we cause her when we visit, I tease her non-stop about how happy she must be, now that our departure was nearing...
Do join in on the last part of this journey dear friends!

 

 

The short weekend of 21 Days : Part 1

It usually takes a day for me to switch back to my routine life, each time we go on a vacation. Its not about unpacking. Its about mentally getting back from the people and places I left behind. This time, it took me a week to get my mind out of India. Maybe it was because of meeting close to a hundred friends and relatives and switching back to a life of relative loneliness, with just my helper and my four walls during the day, when my family is away.

               This time too, we started in mid-December and flew first to Delhi. Surprises abounded in every nook and cranny at the ever-resplendent Changi Airport.

This breathtaking Minnie greeted us at Changi airport

The children could not wait to meet their cousins whom they grew up with, when we lived in Delhi two years ago. The gifts and the usual chocolates bought from Singapore were brought out. The suitcases now had space to be filled with the purchases made in India.
          Apart from the usual games, a favourite pastime for the kids was shelling fresh peas and plucking spinach from the kitchen garden. (Took time to explain to the little one that we are not exactly farmers).
 

A fresh harvest of spinach from our kitchen garden

Got chided by friends for keeping the visit too short. “Short but sweet” I added. My sister-in-law left her office early just to have us over for dinner, while bro-in-law dished out his signature kaali-dal, cooking being his favourite pastime. Relived our lives as neighbours in the society, with starters, soup, the main course with hot puris and rasagollas for dessert.

The days flew by, with visits to the mall, binging on all the local delights we so long missed. Hubby bought a business suit for himself at Park Avenue, shirts at Shoppers Stop, my old favourite at the Great India Place.
Even got to attend a nephew’s wedding. So had an excuse to shop for clothes for the wedding at the rather expensive but exclusive Meena Bazaar. The winter cold was driven away by the warmth of the family reunion.

Late-night dinner at the wedding

Finally after six short days, I bid a loving farewell to my old society friends who, in-spite of their kids’ exams, had me over for tea with warm muffins and pakoras. Warmed my heart, for sure. We added a carton to the already considerable luggage, now heavier with return-gifts from family and friends, and the purchases so hurriedly made, and left to take the flight to the next destination, magnificent Mysore, my old hometown.

That was about the Delhi chapter this time.  Do wait for Part 2, for the Country Roads that took me to my childhood home!

Weekend starting Val Day eve.

Hi!
This weekend started with a silent prayer "TGIF" as usual. Suddenly realised that it was Valentine's Day as well. Since our wedding Anniversary is also round the corner, we do not make much of a fuss on Valentine's Day. The day passed a bit lazily, since I slept poorly the previous night. So I decided not to hit the gym that day and made plans for the upcoming weekend instead.
Will it be a movie at the close-by Kallang Leisure Park or will it be the AMK HUB to spend the S$100 voucher my hubby won for best dressed male at his office event? The movie won out. We watched a much awaited romantic movie, it being the eve of Valentine's Day. But the icing on the cake was that I actually got a Valentine's Day surprise gift, and a card too!



 

Jewel Holder - a thoughtful gift for my

trinkets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Saturday morning saw me scooting off to school because my teen had a Career Orientation Fair at school. An educative one hour was spent there.

    Had to miss lunch because the next appointment I made for myself was at the prestigious SP Jain School of Global Management, where our Kannada Sangha (Singara) organized a talk on entrepreneurship, a novel, noble idea for new and aspiring entrepreneurs. Two hours spent here listening to a learned and witty speaker tell us his experiences and tips to market ourselves without appearing too obvious. I wanted to stay for the networking session too, but was again running late for the next beautiful event of the day, my six-year old conducting a quiz for children, at a friend's place. It was a happy moment when she appeared so confident and calm and played her role so well.



Little quiz master at her job

The evening ended with potluck dinner of delicious Indian vegetarian dishes.

Sunday morning, I was up with the lark.
No I didn't think I'll take a walk in the park,
But hey, 'twas a beautiful day.....
I got ready to deliver my much practised song at the contest held for Kannada Sangha members, at  the far off Community Centre of Kampong Chai Chee. I am not really worried about the outcome, only want to google how to get rid of stage fear...
       We soon hit  the Bedok Mall. Bought the much researched Vacuum cleaner finally, after a long debate why I did not pack from India, the Eureka Forbes Vacuum cleaner we purchased when it was launched a few decades ago. Shoes for the kids at Bata. The shoe shop apart from which I do not know where to buy shoes for my kids, honest. Swimwear for my younger one, bought the thermal type this time, after a few of her older ones sagged and wore out too soon. A few hundreds of dollars down the Mall counters, we ate at Green Dot, a vegan restaurant at the basement. The kids could just not be persuaded to eat healthy food at the mall, but we rather relished the brown rice accompanied by the curries and stir-fried vegetables, alongwith a bowl of lotus-soup. Tried the chopsticks too!
The next week, with its own surprises and blessings is about to start, so I stop here. Bon nuit.

Lotus soup at the Green Dot