One Week Escapade - Chinatown

Self-proclaimed "reading week" the past week, and went back home for Chinese New Year, even though I'd be able to celebrate the festive season with my family next year onwards. Really had a very good time home though - the weather was very good, unlike the typical Singapore weather; enjoyed the company of my family very much, there was really a lot of bonding this round and had a great time going on the annual Long March with my JC friends!

When I arrived at the airport, Dad picked me up with my mum's new car that had just arrived the day before. Sadly, I accidentally scratched it with my bag upon reaching home - the car's only one day old!! (Fufilled the 'prophecy' of having to send the car to the workshop everytime I go home - when I haven't even driven this time =S)

Evidence of my carelessness - Mum being the perfectionist when it comes to her car, she just has to repaint the door.

Helped my mum buy loads of food for Chinese New Year at the markets the next day and was so shocked to see both Bukit Timah market and Bukit Batok West market were using Morrisons plastic bags, when there's no Morrisons supermarket in Singapore. Imagine seeing the wet markets in UK using NTUC plastic bags!!! So funny!

Everyone's doing their last minute grocery shopping at Bukit Timah market.

Waking up at 6 in the morning and helping Mama carry so much stuffs was worth it - Laksa, fishball meepok, chee cheong fun and teh for breakfast! (courtesy of the aunties around, hee hee)

Went to visit the hairdresser, a must thing to do everytime I go home. Rebonded my hair, finally got rid of the bad hair days (perpetually everyday) and was very happy with the results. Go to Jantzen people!!! Pretty economical and good value! Haha~! Then went to Chinatown at night - it was so surprisingly good. Though there were so many people around, you could feel the occasional breeze and even the Perspire Queen (me) didn't break into a single drop of sweat. This year's trend of new year goodies are individually packed muah chee and green tea, rose and violet flavoured 瓜子. There were a couple of Tiger Beer stalls with Tiger Beer 辣妹 too, and I saw one of my ex-students as one of them. Hmm... Also, the significant presence of Chinese nationals as frontline sellers can't be missed, though I must say they do a pretty good job!

A 'feel' of the Chinese New Year atmosphere

The traditional aspects of Chinese New Year - New Year decorations and 腊味.

The less traditional side to Chinese New Year - Interestingly shaped tamarinds plants and "一定发" potato-head plants, the more 旺 your plant grows, the more 旺 your year will be! (Good marketing strategy! Haha~!)

People Mountain People Sea (人山人海）

How can we forget the foodie aspect of Chinatown?? - Kueh Tutu and I

New Bridge Road - The Orchard Road of Singapore during Chinese New Year

The line for Lim Chee Guan bak kwa - actually I prefer 美珍香.

Supper at 长城粥 - Second time I've been here *winks at Ruihang* Think I sat the same seat as I did the last time! My cousin and cousin-in-law at the chicken wings, found out that the 宫保田鸡 is very good too. Next time we go there again k? *slurp*