Zhuang Yi ta yue sine

On 4th February 1973, the very first street carnival simply call "Zhuang Yi" Chingay was born with the blessing of our very first Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew who also mooted the idea as capacity as the Chairman of People Association.  Zhuang Yi which means the art of costume and masquerades in Hokkien dialect.  In 1976 it took into a multicultural theme with all the ethnic groups in our society and open its door to foreign groups in 1978.  Here we celebrate the occasion regardless of race, language, religion or countries ranging from the young to the old coming together to showcase to the world.  Thanking our MM Mr Lee Kuan Yew for bringing the people and the nation together with the introduction of simply Chingay and had come a long way since and growing.

Indonesia

Belly dancer, Singapore

Longevity float

Muslim communities, Singapore

Indian communities, Singapore

Blast from the past

Floats

Japanese float

JAS 

Italian

Finale

Korean

Float

young ballerina

Ballerina

Ballerina

River Hong Bao

The term "Hong Bao" meaning red packet associated with Lunar New Year symbolising good luck.  Since 1986, it had been a yearly affair to preserve and relive the tradition of Chinese cultures for young and old alike.  So make an effort to visit, today will be the last day for this year looking to more good years ahead for each and everyone here and abroad. If you visit our island during this season don't miss it you'll love it

The Gateway

Full view from the stand

Fairground

Spring with God of Fortune

Chinese Lantern

The Year of the Horse

The Chinese Lunar New Year is based on the Chinese Zodiacs of the 12 animals character beginning with Rats, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig.  This year Mr Horse play host and lasted 15 days 

Sales item at Chinatown

Sales item at Chinatown

City Square Mall

Mandarin Gallery

Sales item at Chinatown

Papercutting at City Link

Ang Mo Kio Hub

Marina Bay Sands Hotel

Wooden horse at Garden by the Bay

At River Hong Bao

At Chinatown light up

At Shoppes at MBS

At Marina Bay Sands

Malaysian Super League 2014

First is was called the Malaya Cup in 1921 the trophy was donated by the officers and men of battleship HMS Malaya.  Then in 1933 is was renamed HMS Malaya Cup, in 1967 a new trophy was inaugurated and since that was called Malaysia.  Singapore & Brunei was invited into the series right until 1994 when Singapore won the cup for the last time decided to withdrew due to a dispute over gate receipts and we started out very own call S League in 1996.  During the Heydays of the cup series, we saw a crowd of 55,000 footballs fans attending each and every home game and also the coined of the Kallang Roar and Kallang Waves that was the most memorable times for all football fans.  Then came 2012 we were once invited into the Malaysian Super League, Malaysia FA Cup and also the prestigious Malaysia Cup should be represented by Under 23 years players and their side Tiger Cup involved in our S League.

2014 match kicks off with the Charity Shield between Lions XII and Pahang and we lost 1-0. Then on 25th January 2014, the first match of the MSL between Lions XII vs Selangor FA saw Lions XII beat their arch-rival 2-1 at Jalan Besar Stadium with a full house of 6500 paying fans.

Esplanade presents Visual Arts

Soaring Dragons （飞龙在天）in conjunction with Hua Yi Festivals of Arts is a artworks by Carl Cheng Chi Ming from Hongkong

This new work is made of 200 bamboo ladders symbolising one of the four aspects of nobility and good social standing in Chinese culture constructed in the form of a dragon.  It represents the economic and social success of the Chinese achieved through hard work.

Soaring Dragon is based on the qian chapter of the book of Changes ( Yi Jing), one of the oldest Chinese classics text and a book of divination and wisdom.

With the Dragon a symbol of greatness and the sky a symbol of transcendence.  Soaring Dragon suggests that people of greatness are now in the right places to lead others to success.

Old Time Favourite...

Just wondering how many of us still remember the places a must to visit during the Lunar Chinese New Year.  Yes, its Haw Par Villa but the original name was Tiger Balm Garden and was built in 1937 by Burmese Chinese brothers non-other than Mr Aw Boon Haw and Mr Aw Boon Par.

The park located along Pasir Panjang Road consists of more than a thousand statues which are mostly cast in  concrete and more than 150 dioramas depicting Chinese mythology

Then in 1988 the Singapore Tourism Board took charge of it and renamed Haw Par Villa Dragon World, we could remember a big concrete dragon at the entrance on a slope.

After the STB took over entrance fees had been levied then the attendance started to drop because of the high fees.

The most famous is Journey to the West, Ten Courts of Hell, Romance of the three kingdoms, Feng Shen Ban, 24 Filial Exemplars, Madam White Snake, Laughing Buddha, Guan Yin, etc.......

There are also the 12 Chinese Animal Zodiacs, and monument dedicated to the Aw Brothers and their parents.

I think the younger generation is not keen to find this place interesting anymore instead they hang around the newer theme park like Universal World, S.E.A  Aquarium.  Now with the new Circle Line MRT going to its doorstep and I hope more people will go there.

I think this coming Lunar New Year please try to make an effort to bring your children, grandchildren, to visit again I'll be back.