For the first time during the pandemic this year, the celebration of the annual River Hongbao series will be moving to Garden by the Bay, the celebration had been brought to the masses from the people at Singapore Federation Chinese Clans Associations, Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Singapore Press Holdings, the People's Association and Singapore Tourism Board since its inception in 1987. Here are some shots from previous held.
Thursday 28th January went and attended a class for portraiture shooting in monochrome and the models are all the attendees like you shoot me and I shoot you as for lighting used was a simple torchlight to shape the light in a different position like shining from above, side lighting. Thank you, AL Lee, of Ourshutterjourney for giving us the opportunity to learn and that was fun will be looking toward another class offering different things that we might come across in our photography journey.
During the Light to Night Festival, one does not contend enough to have shot these pictures over and over again because there are not much of events held during this period that the reason why photographers tend to go back again and again.
The Marina Barrage is a dam built with the confluence of 5 rivers across the Marine Channel between Marine East and South. The purpose of the dam is to be able to be self-sufficient for our water needs when our water agreements with our neighbour Malaysia expires. It was first conceptualised in 1987 by our late Lee Kuan Yew and construction of the barrage started in 2005, turning the Kallang Basin and Marina Bay into a new downtown freshwater reservoir to provide water supply, flood control and a new lifestyle attraction which required the relocation of Clifford Pier to Marine South Pier. The construction took 3 years and was officially open in October 2008 which is also our 15th reservoir and the 1st in the city.
Once the grandest private residence in Singapore located in the heart of East Coast Road along Karikal Lane once belongs to the cattle merchant Moona Kadir Sultan for his Karikal Mahal Palace named after his birthplace native town of Karikal in South India. After the war, the building was renovated into 20 rooms called Grand Hotel which opened in 1947, marketing as a seaside within walking distance and later the ownership was under the Lee Rubber Group. In 1973 due to the land reclamation in the vicinity, the road was extended and the hotel was sliced into two plot with the road Still Road South running through it and in 2009 the building was put on the conservation list in 2016 the building was converted into Odyssey Global Preschool and Pats Schoolhouse and operated opposite each other.
The Civic District is Singapore first heritage trails which were launched in 1999 and is comprised of two separate routes the first cover Padang, Esplanade Park (formerly knows at Queen Elizabeth Walk) the other covers Fort Canning Hill, Dobhy Ghaut and the Museum district and also the Jubliee Walk during SG50.
The annually Chinese Lunar New Year street light-up yesterday during a pandemic scenario but many turns up to witness it during the evening under raining conditions but soon eased out which brings a smile on the faces of everyone there but there are New Year New Rule so we must be vigilant to stop the virus from spreading bringing a stop for being a victim of the second wave where some counties are involved.
What a surprise with all the hype concerning the pandemic and strict restriction of a group of 8 during Phase 3 even the coming Chinese Lunar New Year are slapped with these restrictions. Tonight the Civic District comes alive with a slew of vivid artworks and engaging activities once again with refined hybrid experience with Art Skin on Monuments along National Gallery Singapore, Asian Civilisations Museum, Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, The Arts House and Esplanade - Theatre on the Bay from 22-31 Jan from 730pm till midnight to find out more log on to LIGHTTONIGHT.sg
There are lots of Feng Sui Masters commenting for the coming Metal OX in 2021 especially for your own Zodiac corresponding to other Zodiac which you are born with. For us, the Rat in the year of the Metal Ox says to had a promising year ahead with excellent success and Rat is notorious for being able to seek out a living whatever the circumstances. The Rat in the Ox years being the year of your astrological secret friend and soul mate, the biggest success this year will stem from receiving help from others and knowing the right people can open big doors for you and don't ego be your worst enemy the more humble you are the more you stand to gain believe or not is up to you try to match your zodiac to find out.
This year the Chinese Zodiac falls on OX just after the pandemic Rat which will be usher away with the Covid viruses on the 11th February 2021 and each year around these times there is bazaar along the favourite Chinatown Street but not this year due to the pandemic even the official light-up ceremony will be beam live with streaming and so did the street performance. Luckily there are still shophouses and kiosk around there to cater to the consumers for the shopping needs and also bring some life back to these areas which businesses are greatly affected and hope that these situations will be over in no time.
In Chinese Astrology the year you were born that determines the zodiac animals that rules your sign there are 12 different signs in a rotating 12 years cycles this year starting with the Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig and Rat. One is said to possess the characteristics or traits of the animal whose sign are born under, in addition, every animal belongs to one of four triangle or affinities. Each triangle consists of three animal signs and these are known as horoscope allies you and your horoscope allies have compatible personalities and get along very well. Each animal sign also a secret friend, this friend can rely upon to protect you and help you in times of trouble on the other hand one's conflict is the opposite of one's allies and secret friends are these are the animals directly opposite your animal signs on the compass they are individuals you are likely to have little or nothing in common with.
Lions dances are performed during the Chines Lunar New Year and are associated with the legend of Nian a bestial creature that terrorised a village in ancient China. According to legend, on the eve of every Lunar New Year, an unidentified creature would destroy fields or crops and animal belonging to the villagers. They named it Nian meaning year in Chinese, overtime the villagers discovered that Nian was afraid of loud noises, bright lights and the colour red. In order to put a stop to the ravaging, they made a model of the creature out of bamboo and papers and two fearless men manipulate it, and loudly beat instruments and let off firecrackers. Nian was successful driven away, henceforth the lion dance was performed on the eve of the Lunar New Year with drums, cymbals and gongs and it believes to chase evil spirits and bring good fortune and wealth, today beside celebrating the New Year it is also performed during auspicious occasions such at the launch of new business and welcoming of VIP. This year expect a quieter CNY with the curbs on the lion, and dragon dances due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
The Bay East Garden is 32 hectare with a 2 kilometres promenade frontage boarding the Marina Reservoir, this park was developed in support of the 2010 1st Summer Youth Olympic which Singapore is hosting the Olympic for the first time too. Later the park was open to the public in October 2011 and allowing alternate access to the Marina Barrage upcoming new development to the Bay East Garden will be the Founder's Memorial an honour to Lee Kuan Yew and it Old Guards which transform Singapore from a Third World to First World.
Today 15th January 2021 had our first macro shoot inside Thomson Nature Park which was opened in October 2019 and Singapore newest and seventh nature park. The purpose of the park is to help conserve biodiversity in the area which is near the Central Catchment Area to increase the park and the urban area and attract visitors of which very glad and lucky to meet our Ex-Prime Minister EMS Goh Chok Tong having a stroll in the nature park, The area is full of wildlife some of which are endangered species and rich fauna. This is also the place of the once-famous Hainan Village, now deserted.
During the Japanese Empire occupation of Singapore thousand of ethnic Chinese was killed in the Sook Ching Massacre in an effort to removed anti-Japanese elements in Singapore young men between the age of 18 to 50 were to report to the Kempeitai, the imperial Japanese Army military police. The death toll was reported as 6000 but the official estimate range between 25000 to 50000 in February 1962 the civilians remains was unearthed in Siglap, Changi and Bukit Timah. In 1963 then our Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew set aside a piece of land in Beach Road for the building of a memorial dedicated to the civilians killed in World War II. The SCCC set up a fund committee for this project and the design of the memorial was conceived by our very own architect who won first prize in an open competition, the four identical pillars, each 70 metres high represent the shared experience and unity of the 4 major races of Singapore. The memorial was in January 1967 and officially unveiled by Lee Kuan Yew on the 15th of February who laid a wreath at the memorial. Every year on the 15th of February (Total Defence Day in Singapore, commemorating 1942 surrender of Singapore to the Japanese) a memorial service is held at the Civilian War Memorial to remember the victims of the war.
Located along 17-19 Kim Yam Road stood The Singapore Buddhist Lodge which is a charitable organisation in Singapore and was founded in 1934 by 100 philanthropies members of the Singapore Society. It celebrates 85 years with a new hall and Buddha statue last year. The lodge serves free vegetarian meals from 7am - 7pm to all regard of race, language or religion.
