A Busy Start to Year of the Pig

My apologies to friends who have been visiting my blog the last two weeks only to find that I’ve not posted anything new. I was busy playing host to friends from Taiwan, showing them not just Singapore but Thailand as well throughout the Chinese New Year.

What is your impression of Chinese New Year? During my childhood days, me and my brothers always looked forward to CNY because it’s the only time we can have extra pocket money from all the ‘ang pows’ collected. It’s also the only time of the year when children were allowed to gamble with real money. All the cousins would gather around a table eagerly, hoping to win some money from the adults through the game of blackjack. I could never understand why my uncles could feel so exhilarated whenever they won our money. Don’t they feel bad at winning kids’ money? But then again, which human being doesn’t like to win money?

Chinese New Year for me as an adult is a rather boring occasion. Besides visiting a few relatives and catching up with some cousins whom I get to meet only once or twice a year, the rest of the time would be spent watching TV. That is why I would prefer to make use of the long break to travel. But air tickets during this time of the year are very expensive, as much as double the usual price. We almost went on a big family trip this year together with all the cousins, uncles and aunties but because the price was too steep, the trip was eventually called off. I ended up buying a ticket to join my online friends on a trip to Thailand.

This year of the pig, I was kept busy every day right up till the 15th day. Didn’t have time to feel bored at all. The first three days were spent with my family. It was a bit quiet and less hectic as compared to previous years but it enabled me to feel the family togetherness. During most days of the year, all of us would be so caught up with work and other commitments that we hardly even have a chance to sit together for a meal. This new year, the four of us at home even had time to play mahjong together. As the stakes were small, the game was less serious and we ended up sharing a lot of jokes with laughter aplenty. I’m not really a mahjong freak because my back will ache if I sit too long at the mahjong table. But surprisingly, I enjoyed myself in the game. No, I didn't win any money but I still had fun playing.

Four Taiwan friends visited Singapore during CNY. My attention was entirely focused on showing them our garden city and letting them savour our local food. I was hardly at home, basically returning only to shower and sleep. Was quite surprised my mum didn’t nag about that.

Tacobee and Kyo arrived on the third and fourth day. Besides touring Singapore, these two friends also went with me and three other Singaporeans to Thailand. Travelling is the best way to get to see a person’s true character. By having to play, eat and live together, all the personal traits will surface. I got to know my friends better through this trip. I saw their habits and learnt who’s fussy and who’s more accommodating. Likewise, they got to see the real me, especially what I can tolerate and what I can’t.

I did keep to my word and introduced them to the land of a thousand smiles. But I’m not sure if they would still like to travel with me in future…hehehe! I think my expectations of a holiday is very different from most city dwellers. In order to do what I want to do, see what I want to see, and at a pace I like, I feel that I am more suited to be a lone traveller. Anyway, I thought the trip though not completely ideal, was still enjoyable. Most importantly, I had a couple of massages to loosen my tensed up muscles and got myself a nice tan. Yes! Finally I don’t look like 白斬雞. Hope my skin doesn’t begin to peel too quickly.

When we returned from Thailand, our two Taiwan friends stayed on in Singapore for another one and two days respectively. I could tell that Kyo was losing steam towards the last few days of her trip. Must be due to the hectic schedule and my quick walking pace…hahahah! Tacobee however, was still full of energy. We even managed to eat at Ya Kun (thanks for the treat Taco) and caught a movie before she left for the airport, thanks to Yanny’s complimentary tickets. On the same day of Tacobee’s departure, I had to receive two other new Taiwan visitors! Yup, busy, busy, busy!

I was finally going to meet my online twin Clio. After chatting online for so many months, we were going to see each other face to face. Was quite excited about it but I thought there wasn’t much difference chatting online and in person. The only difference probably was I had to speak in my broken mandarin instead of typing in English…muahaha! I hope I didn’t say anything nasty in Chinese by mistake…hehehe! Did you folks know that 不需要 and 不用 though having the same meaning have different degrees in connotation for “I don’t need”. Thanks to Elizabeth for explaining to me!

I had the daunting task of bringing someone who is afraid of animals to the zoo. I was kind of worried that she may scream even louder than the hyenas when one of the playful Saki monkeys appeared in front of her and end up frightening all the other animals in the zoo. Fortunately, Clio wasn’t as squeamish as I expected and surprise, surprise, my animal-phobic friend actually liked the zoo!

Oh…her friend commented that the Hamadryas baboons with the African-perm looked like Queen Elizabeth…muahahahaha! Forgot to ask her if she was referring to QEI or QEII. I figured this was what she was referring to. No offence meant…but do you see the resemblance?

I must say our weather wasn’t very cooperative when these two friends were in town. It was raining practically everyday. But the rain did keep the temperature down. In fact, our visitors were able to walk around in long sleeve sweater and jacket on the first day! Can you beat that? They did manage to catch our CNY decoration in chinatown and also experienced the tossing of the 發財魚生 (fortune raw fish) as well as tasted the black pepper crab. But they didn’t get to play the luge nor see the southern-most point of continental Asia in Sentosa. But I’m sure our friends will be back for a second visit. Right Clio?

Well, this CNY has turned out to be quite exciting and a little exhausting. There was a lot of cultural exchanges and silly me even talked to our visitors on my views about the political situation in Singapore while showing them the night scene late one night in Mount Faber. Funny place to be talking about politics right? Yeah, I also say lor. ^_^