Quote Worthy

The beauty of Aphorisms is that they are usually fairly simple in words and meaning. However, behind the simple words, and sentences are profound truisms and life lessons. Unfortunately, it is easy to read the words without really understanding the more profound meaning they convey, missing the point of these ageless aphorisms.

To read and understand aphorisms is not enough. We must also know how to apply them to our life situations. That’s where the value of aphorisms lie; that’s where you find the profound lessons in aphorisms.

The realist is the man, who having weighed all the visible factors in a given situation and having found that the odds are against him, decides that fighting is useless. - Raoul De Sales

We have perhaps a natural fear of ends. We would rather be always on the way than arrive. Given the means, we hang on to them and often forget the ends. - Eric Hoffer

If men would consider not so much wherein they differ, as wherein they agree, there would be far less of uncharitableness and angry feeling in the world. - Joseph Addison

The opposition is indispensable. A good statesman, like any other sensible human being, always learns more from his opponents than from his fervent supporters. - Walter Lippmann

Often the desire to appear competent impedes our ability to become competent, because we are more anxious to display our knowledge than to learn what we do not know. - Magdeleine Sable

If we determine that we will perform one deed of kindness every day, no matter how small or insignificant it might seem, we will never stop reaping the returns. - Unknown

We live in a discouraging world full of people who put us down. What bright lights we can be when we say the simple words, ‘I have confidence in you!’ - Florence Littauer

The thorns which I have reaped are of the tree I planted; they have torn me, and I bleed. I should have known what fruit would spring from such a seed. - Lord Byron

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Flower Carpet

Set against the backdrop of the ‘Supertrees’ in the Gardens by the Bay, is a brand-new Flower Carpet with a strong local flavour. This is Singapore’s largest flower Carpet.

This year’s design features Singapore’s iconic dragon playground and ‘Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim’ – Singapore’s national flower (formerly Vanda Miss Joaquim), with pathways to explore the floral artistry under the dragon’s watchful eye. - Source

It is quite impossible to photo the whole flower carpet unless one uses a drone. If you are too far, you see only a thin layer of the carpet. If you are too near, the camera lens can’t capture all of the carpet. I tried a few locations and these are the best I can come up with.

The centrepiece of the flower carpet presents two dragon heads crafted from chrysanthemums. It is absolutely beautiful and amazing. I am curious to know how many plants were used to form the flower carpet.

The carpet will be on display until the 22nd of September.

You can click on the picture for a better view.

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Mid-Autumn Festival III

Photos of the lanterns on display in The Gardens by the Bay in the evenings. The display will go on until the 2nd of September.

The lanterns look a lot better in the evenings.

I tried to post photos of the day, and night side by side so you can have a comparison. But somehow they didn't quite turn out the way I wanted them to. So, you will have to refer to yesterday's post to see the photos taken during the day.

This display draws inspiration from the rising moon and water elements of the Dragonfly Lake.

Vertical Mid-Autumn
"Vertical Mid-Autumn” refers to a unique way of displaying lanterns where each household would tie various decorated lanterns to the bamboo poles and erect several feet high, heightening the festive atmosphere.

Wishes Beneath the Moonlight
The Pelican Playground – The communal nature of the pelicans embodies the Chinese culture of harmonious societal relationships. This display, paired with chrysanthemums and quails, represents peace and harmony.

Dragon Playground
Local cultures and identities were incorporated into the designs of these playgrounds such as the Dragon – a mythical creature commonly seen in Asian legends and folklore. 

The Shophouse
Inspired by Singapore’s shophouses, these iconic buildings with narrow frontages and covered walkways symbolise local heritage.

Colonnade of Lights
The Colonnade of Lights is a vibrant showcase of 1,000 beautiful paper lanterns created by the community.

More lanterns displayed in the gardens.

Food stalls selling snacks and drinks. You can have a bite or a drink as you soak in the festive atmosphere of the festival.

There was also a mini carnival fair with games and rides for the children, and the young at heart.

This is the Sourceof the themes of the lanterns on display.

You can click on the picture for a better view.

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Mid-Autumn Festival II

The Gardens by the Bay is one of the places that celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival annually. Activities included in the celebrations are games and a mini carnival and food fair, Chinese cultural dance and instrumental performances, and lantern displays. Although the main events are usually on the weekend before the actual date – unless the festival falls on a weekend, the lanterns on display were put up a couple of weeks before that, and left at least a week after the festival so that people can enjoy the display. This year, the lantern display will be on until the 22nd of September.

I went down last week on a weekday, to avoid the crowds, to see this year’s display. I had a quick wander around the gardens in the late afternoon, went for dinner and had a wander around the gardens again in the evening when the lights came on.

Here are photos of some of the lanterns on display before the lights came on.

Inspiration for this centrepiece came from the rising moon and water elements of the Dragonfly Lake.

Inspiration for this centrepiece came from the rising moon and water elements of the Dragonfly Lake.

You can click on the picture for a better view.

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Mid-Autumn Festival

Today, the fifteen day of the eighth lunar month, is Mid-Autumn Festival, or Zhongqiu Jie (中秋节). It is also known as the Mooncake Festival and the Lantern Festival.

There are many folklore and legends regarding how this Festival which started some 2,000 years ago came about. The following is one that I find most believable.

The festival began, once upon a time in China. Farmers celebrate their bountiful harvest on the fifteen day of the eighth moon. Big tables of food were set up outdoors. Lanterns were crafted and hung for light. Families gathered around, a sort of reunion, and enjoyed a scrumptious dinner. After dinner, they sipped tea, ate moon-cakes and moon gazed. The moon is said to be the brightest and biggest on this day. Moon-cakes are Chinese pastries filled with bean paste, or lotus paste.

Later on, during the Yuan Dynasty, there was unrest. People planned a revolt against the ruling emperor. They hid the date of the uprising in the moon-cakes. The revolt was successful, and the new emperor declared the moon-cake festival an official annual event from then.

The moon-cake festival was introduced to Singapore when the Chinese immigrants made their way to South-East Asia in the 1900s. Since Singapore is nothing like China, the celebration of the festival here is not quite of the same scale. Organized by organisations, community centers and resident communities, residents come together to enjoy the lantern display, play games, and to enjoy the food and the moon-cakes.

This year, the two places celebrating the Mid-Autumn festival in a big way are – The Gardens by the Bay, and Chinatown. This happened over the weekend.

I went to The Gardens by the Bay to have a look at the lantern display last week. I will post about it tomorrow.

A moon-cake. This is the most common flavour. Lotus paste with salted egg-yolks.

You can click on the picture for a better view.

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A blast From The Past

Some photographs of Singapore in the past. Images are courtesy of Facebook Pages ‘The Long and Winding Road’, and ‘Heritage SG Memories’ and '十里之外'.

You can click on the picture for a better view.

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