Chinese New Year CRAFTnival (25th Jan)

This weekend, i didn't attend church as last Sun of every month, there's a free Zumba at Jurong Green Community Centre from 7.45am to 8.45am and i wanted to attend it.  But heard that next month, there won't be any due to Chinese New Year and from Mar onwards, it will be on every 3th Sun of the month.

After the Zumba class, i went to have my breakfast at the coffeeshop opposite the Community Centre and there's a poster on the wall promoting about this Chinese New Year CRAFTnival, so thought of going to take a look.

Not sure where is the venue, but it's quite near the coffeeshop where i had my breakfast as within short walking distance, i saw the tentage.

The event is from 9.30am to 11.30am

They have angbao lantern making, i also went to learn how to make it.  Ask the lady if they do conduct class for it, but the lady mention that as CNY is approaching, they come up with this event to teach it.

The nicely made angbao lantern that has been pre-made by the committees. 

There's also CNY Greetings Calligraphy

They also teaches CNY Greetings Card

Some may wish to write CNY greeting on a piece of card that is provided and then it's hang in the space provided.

CNY knots

1st & 2nd Chingay Rehearsal @ PA Headquarter

1st Rehearsal, 29th Nov 2014 (Sat)

At first, i didn't think of blogging about this, but after some thoughts, since this is my maiden Chingay performance and after that, i do not know whether i still have any chances to take part in any upcoming Chingay Parade, shall blog about it, so that in future, can refer back to it.

My Zumba Instructor has been asking around during the month of September last year for volunteers to take part in the Wushu Contingent @ Chingay 2015 which will be held on 27th Feb (Fri) & 28th Feb (Sat) at the Singapore F1 Pit. 

Some of my Zumba kaki sign up, but not me, as i'm worried i might not be committed to it.  One of my Zumba kaki keep persuade me to go and telling me that it's fun.  I only sign up last minute, 1 day  (my Zumba class is on Friday) before the rehearsal start and the following day, it's the 1st rehearsal at the PA Headquarter.

The 1st rehearsal is at PA Headquarters @ King George Ave.  The transport pick us up quite early that day at 2.30pm (Rehearsal starts at 6.30pm and ends at 10pm) at the Community Centre, as we were to be there to take measurement for the costumes and tried out the shoes which is provided for the actual day performance.

Dinner that is provided

At the field getting ready for rehearsal

Waiting for the start of the rehearsal

In the midst of the rehearsal

Not forgetting a picture taken

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2nd rehearsal, 13th Dec 2014 (Sat)

The 2nd Chingay rehearsal is also held at PA Headquarter.  The rehearsal is in the evening from 6.30pm to 10pm.

Dinner that is provided, this round, only 2 dishes and more rice, most of us still prefer the previous dinner as there's lesser rice and 3 dishes instead of 2 dishes.

Listening to instructions that is given

Instructions by the person-in-charge

Group picture taken

Another group picture

Pongal Festival @ Little India (18th Jan 2015)

Google from the website about Pongal 2015 as follows :

Pongal 2015 Date

When: Thursday, 14th January 2015

Where: Karnataka and Tamil Nadu

In Southern India the end of the harvest is observed as a four-day festival called Pongal which begins on January 14th and last till January 17th every year with the auspicious time to celebrate Pongal being from 7 am to 9 am. The Pongal festival is one of the biggest festivals celebrated in South India and is a thanksgiving for the plentiful harvest received.

The Pongal festival is celebrated with great pomp and show and people clean and decorate their houses with flowers and rangoli (kolam) and buy new clothes. This is when farmers bring newly harvested rice home and feed their cattle a rice dish called Pongal- from where the festival got its name, and is dedicated to Lord Surya.

Pongal festival is also celebrated as Tamil Nadu’s New Year Day. The Pongal festival also happens to coincide with Makar Sankranti that is a harvest festival celebrated in northern and other parts of India. In other regions it is known as Lohri, Bihu, Hadaga, and Poki. The festivities of Pongal also vary to some extent in celebration.

A walk at Little India on Sunday after Church service. 

This street used to be a road for vehicles, quite long didn't go Little India already, now they had transform it into a walking street.

A stall selling flowers

Can someone tell me what is this called, understand they use this to carry pot of milk during festivals, pls correct me if i am wrong.

 

Kavadi (if i am not wrong)

Bags

There's a stage there, thought there will be some performance, but saw some people there, throwing water at each other.

Was disappointed not to see any cows there, ask a security uncle, he reply that the cows were taken back previous day which is Saturday.

My cook

I was google-ing about luncheon meat and came across Suituapui 2012 post about Luncheon meat croquettes, so i decided to try it out as i'm a fan of luncheon meat.

Since i have a small can of luncheon meat, i mash up the luncheon meat and mixed it with mashed potato.  Mixed with bread crumb (agar agar).  I beat 1 egg and add in bit by bit as i'm worried if i add in the whole egg, it will be watery. After that, i deep fried it.

But as from the pictures, can see mine is a disaster.

Saw in FB Claire minced meat, ask her how she did it as what i did before, it did not turn out as expected. I added in tong cai & crabstick.

My anyhow cook soup, with chicken, potato & carrot

Tried out doing minced chicken, add in salted egg, guess i should have more water as it turns out harder than the minced meat.

Saw a friend post in FB about her chicken wing, ask her how she did it.  Actually, it so happen i bought a packet of mid-wing from the supermarket and thought of doing something else, after seeing my friend chicken wing, i change my mind and did this.  Add in sesame oil, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, some corn flour.  Season for few hours, after that, braised for about 20 ~ 25 mins using the electric lunch box i bought sometimes ago.

Cookies

This is not a paid post.

Saw this Quaker Oats, Oatmeal Cookie (Raisins), at Fairprice at $2.85, whereby at Cold Storage, it's sold at $3.05, was attracted by the packaging, so bought a packet back to try out.

Inside it has 6 small packet

And inside the packet, it has 3 cookies.

Fried Kway Teow

Another stall which has quite good business is this stall Toa Payoh Fried Kway Teow.

They have 2 price for the customers to order which is $2.50 and $3.00.  This is only a portion of the Fried Kway Teow which has chinese sausage, egg, sea hum.

Blk 22 #01-51 Toa Payoh Lorong 7

Kim Keat Palm Market & Food Centre

Singapore 310022

Chao Zhou Fishball Noodle

This fishball stall was recommended by friend, was there after church service yesterday.

$3 for this bowl of fishball kway teow mee with 5 fishball, additional fishball cost 40 cents, and minimum order is 2 fishball.

Something that impress me, this stall is man by an elderly uncle who did the cooking and an younger guy who serves the customer.  When i gave the guy $5, he returns me the $2 change with both his hand in which i find hardly come across nowadays.

Blk 22, #01-20
Toa Payoh Lorong 7
Kim Keat Palm Market & Food Centre

Year 2014

How times flies, today is already the 9th of Jan.  A record of some events that has taken place during the year 2014.

It's saddening and shock to me when i receive news in the month of April that my Aunty passed away due to cancer at the age of 54, till now i still miss her.

This year, during May, i started my Zumba class as i have heard a lot about it and have wanted to sign up.

Had a gathering with my Primary School schoolmate whom we have not metup for a long time.

Made a trip a Kluang to meetup with a blogger friend from Banting who is in Kluang to celebrate her mother-in-law birthday for the 1st time.

My Zumba Instructor has been selected to be part of the Wushu Chingay which is taking place this year during Chinese New Year period and has been looking around for volunteers.  At first, i was hesitated as i'm afraid that i'm not committed to it and also will i make the wrong move due to nervous.  My Zumba kaki keeps telling me it's fun as she has take part in it before and keeps persuade me to sign up for it.  So next year Chingay will be my first time taking part in Chingay.

Under the invitation of my friend, i went to visit the cell group and since i have attending it for the past 1 month plus.

Celebrate @ Boon Lay (31st Dec 2014)

There's a Celebrate @ Boon Lay on New Year Eve.  Was there to look see look see.

Banner for the Celebrate @ Boon Lay

Road closure for the event from 6pm, evening time, not much people

Pasar Malam going on there

Decoration 

Decoration

Decoration

Decoration

Decoration

Decoration

Decoration

The stage for the night performance, didn't manage to take picture of the performance as it's crowded.

Game corner

Game corner

Game corner, the guy saw me taking picture told the lady that i'm taking picture.

Had a hard time taking picture of this mascot as it's quite active, walking about and many kids running to it to take picture with it.

Saw Minions in the later part of the night, wanted to take picture with the two mascots, but the "escort" said mascots taking a break, so didn't mange to take picture with them.

Decoration

Street in the later part of the night, getting more crowded, and there's streets performance, crowded, so didn't take picture of the performance.