The year of Rat (2008)

I still can remember my English teacher who always likes to call me “The China boy”, but I have no idea why she called me like that. I always get annoyed by that old lady! I am Chinese, so what? Probably I am very Chinese. Well, sometime I think about it and I have to admit that. I bought two authentic China teapots cause I like the Chinese tea art, watch Chinese movies and shows, listen to Chinese song, and even read Chinese books and newspaper in Australia. Yes, of cause I still read English books, watch English movie and shows and bla bla bla. Particularly, for me, there is one event I always enjoy the most every year – Chinese New Year (CNY). Not during CNY, but before CNY, about 2 to 3 weeks before CNY.

Watch people busy preparing for this big event, see their enthusiastic in their eyes looking forward of this event, feel the busy and noise of the market, look at a lot of red and weird and interesting stuff hanging around the city, friends relatives getting ready to go back hometown for gathering, radio channel keeps the CNY song in the loop for the entire day till people who listen to radio were sick of it ……………

I enjoy looking at all these scenery and atmosphere in Kuching. But this year, I made an exception. I was not looking all these scenery in Kuching, but instead in the city of Lion, Singapore. A three days trip in Singapore. It’s been a very long time I have not traveled around in that island. This time, it’s a chance for me to travel around as I was transiting from Singapore to Johor to take my flight back to Kuching. I reached in Singapore from Perth around 3am. Yes, 3AM. Sucks time!!!! This is the problem when you take a budget airline. Reach at a destination in a very weird time. What to do? Need to save money. Anyway, I was lucky I got two friends accompany me throughout the entire flight and during the time in the airport. I was supposed to wait for my friend to wake up and fetch me to her house around 6am. So 3am to 6am, what do I do? ZZZzzzz……… on the couch in the airport. But the couch is not comfortable as my lovely mattress in Perth. My friend was kind enough to bring me to her house and rest for a while before we go out have some breakfast. Thanks for your hospitality, Shirley and Brandon (her husband). Oh ya... this two young couple got married this year, I am really glad my best friend finally met her beloved!! congrate, Shirley!! Wish you have a lovely marriage.

Then they sent me to my other friend’s house, where my other friend was also kind enough to provide me free accommodation during my 3 days trip.
Thanks to Ah Ji (in photo) and Ah Woon for letting me to stay at the house during the trip. Thanks to ah "snake" and his girlfriend and ah ji for bringing me around singapore too.. :)

Back to the story which I started above, here is some picture of Singapore before CNY.

I traveled around Singapore alone cause my friends were busy working. What to do? Feel a bit awkward, seems like I’m the only one relax and enjoy holiday the most. China town would be my favourite part of any country. Many interesting and cheap things, and most important thing, FOODDDDD!! Even some western people were enjoying looking at all the things. But most important thing, I got myself something I’ve been hoping to get for a long time. Wide angle lenses for my baby Canon Powershot S5IS. I got a good deal of AUD 80 only. (from AUD100 retail price) Finally I can make use of my baby to fullest capacity for scenery taking. Woohoo… this is big advantage buying things during CNY. You start to cut price like the normal housewife do in the market.

One of the good places to visit in Singapore is one of its biggest shopping complexes in the city- TAKASHIMAYA. Who open it- don’t ask me. It may sound like it is opened by a Japanese company. The complex is massive, with a artificial fountain underground. It was full of the joyful atmosphere of CNY. Biscuit, sweets, and cakes were ready to be sold. After walking so much around the complex, time to relax at the Tagashimaya’s underground food court. I could tell you, this food court is full of very nice and interesting food and it’s reasonably cheap. Unfortunately, I was in the rush, so I could not take any picture.

I wonder, when Kuching would have this type of massive mall, not to say the Bourlevard and the Spring in Kuching. To me, those are way hell small complexes. What to do?

Back to the story, I like CNY not only because of the preparation atmosphere itself, it’s more to the spirit of Chinese welcoming this new year and people gather back to home town for the sake of the family. As my saying:

A bottle of DOM wine for Dad – SD 45
Two cans of abalone for mum - AUD 100
Gathering during CNY with family and your best friendsssssss - PRICELESS!!!