Thursday, January 29, 2009

Gong Xi Fa Cai !

The Chinese New Year weekend just got over. This was our first CNY in Singapore (last year we had gone to Vietnam during the holiday); and I quite enjoyed being in Singapore this year. Our families were visiting, so we went to Chinatown on the second day on the new year & it was like Christmas -- all the lights, the festivties, the dances, the lanterns; the yellow flowers & the orange trees with red hangbao envelopes -- it was quite spectacular. A lot of the places were closed (even the Carrefours & 7-11s were shut during the holidays; when we unfortunately ran out of milk for our morning tea).
The new year, by the way, is the Year of the Ox. Babies born in this year are supposed to have the qualities of "tireless hard work & patience". I'm quite relieved I won't have a lazy son, but an ox doesn't sound as exciting or great as a lion or a dragon. But then again, I take consolation from the fact that at least he won't be a rat or a pig.

8 comments:

Sneha said...

Lovely snaps! :-)
When's the due date? And how's the baby room coming along?

Jas B said...

I loaded up on Black Forest cake that our colleagues with Chinese heritage had brought for the new year!
The second picture is so cute!

Jas B said...

I mean the 3rd picture! :P

KAD said...

Gong xi WHAT????

Satyajit said...

"tireless hard work & patience" huh!

Seems like he would work for a NGO for little money and have a nagging wife.

Happy Reader said...

Cute pictures. Your post reminded me of the chinese new year parade I saw at SanFrancisco years ago..

Radha said...

Sneha,
April-mid! :)

Jas,
Black Forest Cake? Really? Never seen that being served for CNY here.

Kanishka,
:)
Gong xi fa cai = Happy New Year!

Satyajit,
Or, he could be like Rafael Nadal in the 5th set -- tireless hardwork & patience :)

Happy Reader,
Really? How was that? Must have been fun.

Jas B said...

Radha, that would be N-Americanised version of celebrating CNY! :D