Well, I have a story to tell you about my CNY celebrations in Singapore this year. This is only the second time I’ve spent it with the extended family, and last time in 2016 was with the family in Malaysia.
On the Sunday before CNY, my aunt and I meandered through the Haji/Arab Lane part of town, where Singapore’s national mosque is located, and then walked through Chinatown, where there are street markets and temples and plenty of food.
On CNY Eve, we had some time to kill after I visited the National Museum of Singapore and had pho for lunch, so we walked up Mt. Faber. The heat was almost unbearable (after so long in the UK, the humidity just sucks the life out of you), but we got to the top and got some great views over Singapore, and then as we were walking down towards the restaurant for dinner, we discovered a Dutch Seamen’s Church, where we got coffee and chatted to the expats working there (a hot guy, if I may say so, and his girlfriend), telling us about life in the Netherlands and how it compares to life in Singapore. Yeah, we got waylaid. And then it started pouring, and we lost track of time, and neither of us had our phones on and missed calls from cousins and everyone else. And between trying to get a Grab/bus and running down the hill and getting from the basement lobby to the restaurant…yeah, we were an hour late to a dinner where I knew three of nine other people, and looked terrible. But, I suppose it’s a good story, one I won’t forget. The worst part is my aunt said it was *fun*. 😂🙄
CNY Day itself was spent pretty much at home, before I headed out with friends for Din Tai Fung for dinner (my favourite, since being introduced by my aunt last year), and then going to the Night Safari, which I hadn’t done since I was really little.
And then CNY Day 2 was reserved for visiting, where we go around to various relatives’ homes (this day was to my cousin-in-law’s parents’ place), to give mandarins, eat food, and play games.
The Saturday after CNY was the reunion for most of my dad’s family side, so that was a highlight.
And then 15 days after, today, marks the end of CNY. You can tell by the size of the moon. And I’m back in Melbourne already…
Singapore is somehow quieter when it comes to CNY celebrations, I suppose because everything is so orderly and disciplined. But it was still time treasured. So, here’s to many more CNY celebrations with family in the future, and til the next time, treasure your loved ones a little more.
-nat 🥀🖤