River Hong Bao 2017 春到河畔 2017

CHOY SUN DOU!

It is the Lunar New Year and do you know what that means?

River Hongbao - the annual event which everyone has been looking forward to - is back for it's 31st year! Just like the previous years, it is once again being held at the Floating Platform at Marina Bay.

As the folks are hosting guests at home in the afternoon, I would not want to be caught dead in the "line of fire" (interrogation), therefore, I made an excuse to slip out of the house to visit River Hongbao before the 姨妈姑姐s (blood-related or otherwise) arrive.

River Hong Bao 2016

Marina Bay Sands and Artscience Museum

On the third day of the lunar new year, the folks wanted to visit River Hong Bao so I brought them there via the new Downtown Line which is much more convenient and faster compared to the East West Line. The public transport infrastructure is so well connected now there is no need to own a car in Singapore. 

We alighted at Bayfront Station and exited through Marina Bay Sands.

River Hong Bao 2013

GONG HEI FATT CHOY, my dear friends!

2013 is truly the year of the water snake as it has been pouring intermittently since the eve of the Lunar New Year.

Yesterday was the third day of the festive season and there was a bout of rain in the morning though it began clearing up in the afternoon.

Having cooped myself up at home for the first two days, I decided it was time to step out of the house for a breath of fresh air at River Hong Bao.

River Hong Bao first started in 1987 and has a history of  26 years in Singapore but it wasn't until three years ago that I visited it for the very first time.

It is an annual event where local organisers would bring in China craftsman to make giant lanterns based on folklore or zodiac animals. Each year, organisers would feature a different province from China and invite performing art troupes to put up a show here.

For this year, the featured province is Guangdong so do expect booths peddling Guangzhou delicacies and handicrafts.

Happy 47th Birthday, Singapore!

Singapore celebrates her 47th Birthday with much fanfare on the floating platform at Marina Bay yesterday.

I believe that for many of us, the biggest draw of the parade this year was the attendance of Singapore's Founding Father, Lee Kwan Yew.

Just earlier this week, someone who claimed to have "highly credible source" hinted that Mr Lee has passed away and that news have been withheld till the celebrations are over.

This piece of shocking news of course caused quite a stir on social media especially when  the 47th anniversary of our Independence is merely days away!