Spring Blossoms – Part 1

There is always a flower display of Spring flowers at the Flower Dome during the Chinese New Year period. The ‘Spring blossoms’ display is a showcase of flowers symbolising prosperity and new beginnings – flowers that are favourites during the Chinese New Year festive period. Dahlias, cockscomb, and chrysanthemums are some of the favourites of the display.

This year the floral display is inspired by ‘Legend of the White Snake’ – one of China’s four great folktales, which tells the story of the union between a mortal man, Xu Xian, and a female snake spirit, Bai Suzhen, also known as Madam White Snake.

“Legend of the White Snake” is a tale as ancient as willow roots – one of sacrifice, filial piety, and romance between Xu Xian and the snake spirit Bai Suzhen. Source – Gardens by the Bay website

On display – apart from the lovely blooms, is Madam White Snake, meticulously crafted through mosaiculture, as well as Pagodas and Pavilions.

Here are some photos of the display taken during my visit. Madam White Snake will be featured tomorrow.

This was the display inside of the entrance.

Chrysanthemum flowers

Beautiful, eye-catching Dahlias

Other blooms and blossoms at the displays.

Flower dome is open from 9.00am till 9.00pm. The Spring blossoms display will be on until the 23rd of Feb 2025.

You can click on the picture for a better view.

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Life’s Little Lessons

Many of life’s little lessons are condensed in a few words, or a short sentence called aphorisms. Take an interest in them. Learn the valuable lessons they impart. This will give you an understanding of what life is about, and also give you a head start in life. If there is any aphorism that you do not understand or make sense to you now, rest assured that one day you will come to know exactly what it meant after you have been through certain situations, or experiences.

If you find a good solution and become attached to it, the solution may become your next problem. - Dr. Robert Anthony

He that will enjoy the brightness of sunshine, must quit the coolness of the shade. - Samuel Johnson

Other people do not have to change for us to experience peace of mind. - Gerald Jampolsky

He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils, for time is the greatest innovator. - Francis Bacon

We have what we seek, it is there all the time, and if we give it time, it will make itself known to us. - Thomas Merton

It’s easier to prepare and prevent, than to repair and repent. - Unknown

Acceptance of what happened is the first step to overcoming the consequence of any misfortune. - William James

Be a good person, but don’t waste time to prove it. - Unknown

Some of us think holding on makes us strong; but sometimes it is letting go. - Unknown

After every storm the sun will smile; for every problem there is a solution, and the soul’s indefeasible duty is to be of good cheer. - William R. Alger

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Happy Lunar New Year

Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year – the Year of the Snake!

To those celebrating the occasion, Happy Lunar New Year to you!

If you wish to know more about Chinese horoscope predictions for 2025, you can have a look 👉 HERE

You can click on the picture for a better view.

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Gardens By the Bay Celebrates Chinese New Year

One of the places in Singapore that celebrates the Chinese New Year in a big way is the Gardens by the Bay. It makes sense to celebrate the Chinese New Year in the Gardens because apart from being the number one tourist attraction in Singapore, the Gardens is big enough to accommodate the various activities like stage performances, carnival games, amusement rides, trade stalls, food street and the attractive lantern displays. Tourists visiting the Gardens will also have an opportunity to join in the celebration.

I was down there on Monday to see how the decorations, particularly the lanterns, are like this year. Unfortunately, work was still in progress and the displays were not quite ready. I guess the recent rainy spell had delayed work on setting up the display.

This is this year’s centerpiece display in the dragonfly lake.

Decors at one of the entry points.

The twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac. Each animal takes turns presiding over the years in a twelve year-cycle. The coming year, starting tomorrow, will be the Year of the Snake! I think whoever was installing the lanterns did not know the sequence of the animals in the Zodiac – unless they intentionally meant it this way, for whatever reason. 

A stage for live performances by local artistes, and overseas performance troupe from Yunnan, China. Looking towards the stage is the God of Prosperity.

More lanterns and decors. They were still barricaded. I had intended to wait till dark to see them lit up. But, they were not ready.

You can click on the picture for a better view.

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Cheeky Humour

Humour and laughter are the antidote to a stressful life. When possible, where possible, laugh. It may not add years to your life, but it will surely add life to your years.

If you are having one of those days where you are finding it hard to laugh, have a look at the following. Maybe that will bring on a chuckle, or a smile at least.

May your days be filled with laughter.

Wanted: Someone to brush their teeth with me because nine out of ten dentists say brushing alone won’t help tooth decay. - Unknown

If you can’t think of a word say, “I forgot the English word for it.” That way, people will think you are bilingual instead of an idiot. - Unknown

You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do. - Anne Lamott

Falling in love consists merely in uncorking the imagination and bottling the common sense. - Helen Rowland

When a man brings his wife flowers for no reason, there’s a reason. - Molly McGee

Brevity is the soul of lingerie. - Dorothy Parker

Guys are like dogs. They keep coming back. Ladies are like cats. Yell at a cat one time...they’re gone. - Lenny Bruce

Without stupid people we would have no-one to laugh at. Take the time and thank a stupid person for their contribution. - Unknown

A smile is a sign of joy, a hug is a sign of love, a laugh is a sign of happiness and a friend like me… well… that’s a sign of good taste. - Unknown

Before marriage, a man will lay down his life for you; after marriage he won’t even lay down his newspaper. - Helen Rowland

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Truisms

Aphorisms teach a philosophical or moral truth which is relevant to our experiences in life. The relevance is what makes them fascinating and interesting. Moreover, they are universal truths. That is why motivational speakers quote aphorisms in their speeches to inspire and motivate their audience.

I recommend that people should take an interest in aphorisms. There is so much to learn from these terse sayings, and astute observations.

Have a look at following aphorisms and see what you think of them.

Like a beautiful flower that is colorful but has no fragrance, even well spoken words bear no fruit in one who does not put them into practice. - The Buddha

A leader’s role is to raise people’s aspirations for what they can become, and to release their energies so they will try to get there. - David Gergen

There is no personal charm as great as the charm of a cheerful temperament. - Henry Van Dyke

If people never did silly things, nothing intelligent would ever get done. - Ludwig Wittgenstein

The best way to get the last word is to apologise. - Unknown

Just because something doesn’t do what you planned it to do, doesn't mean it's useless. - Thomas Edison

A happy childhood has spoiled many a promising life. - Robertson Davies

The more you say, the less people remember. The fewer the words, the greater the profit. - Francois Fenelon

We learn something from everyone who passes through our lives. Some lessons are painful, some are painless, but all are priceless. - Unknown

This world, after all our science and sciences, is still a miracle, wonderful, inscrutable, magical and more, to whosoever will think of it. - Thomas Carlyle

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Chinatown – Days Before Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is the biggest festive holiday in Singapore. The first and second day of the lunar new year are public holidays. This coming new year, they fall on the 29th and 30th of January.

“Spring in Singapore doesn’t arrive with cherry blossoms of melting snow; it barges in, with Lunar New Year tunes looping relentlessly in malls and Chinatown ablaze with crimson lanterns and paper cuttings. Mandarin oranges pile high in markets and homes, while the air thickens with the smoky sweetness of ‘bak kwa’ (barbecued pork slices) and buttery aroma of pineapple tarts.” – From one of the signboards at the flower display.

I smiled when I saw the above passage. This humorous description is more or less what the days before the Lunar New Year is like. Malls and markets all over the island will be selling Chinese New Year cookies and decorative stuff. However, Chinatown is the place to go for anything that is Chinese New Year related.

The Chinese New Year market was set up three weeks before the Chinese New Year. As the day draws near, Chinatown gets progressively busy, culminating until the busiest day of the year in Chinatown – the Eve of the Chinese New Year. On this day, Chinese New Year cookies sell for half the price, some even a third of the price. Stall owners hope to clear all their stock because they won’t be selling them after the new year. There will be stage performances in Chinatown to usher in the New Year. This year, they will be ushering in the year of the Snake.

I was down in Chinatown last Monday to see what the crowd was like and if there is anything of interest. It was busy but not too bad. The stalls sell more or the same things as in previous years. There was nothing exceptional nor worthy of note. I had a quick tour of the place and snapped a few pictures.

Some of the Chinese New Year decorations in Chinatown.

You can click on the picture for a better view.

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