Floral Display

Most of the information in this post are taken from HERE, at the floral display. Have a look if you are interested.

Flower Dome celebrates the Lunar New Year with a flower display called - ‘Dahlia Dreams’. This year, there is a ‘grand centrepiece – a close to 7m-tall dragon that stretches over 15m in length, rising majestically amidst more than a thousand dahlias of varied shapes, sizes and colours.

The floral display also features a scene that interprets the Chinese saying 鱼跃龙门, which translates into “carps leap over the dragon gate”, a metaphor for courage and the pursuit of greatness.

At the entrance, a towering dragon sculpture made out of hardwood and recycled steel, a creation of British-born sculptor James Doran-Webb. Entitled "The Bearer of Infinite Blessings", this five-toed dragon holding the jewel of life in its arms, celebrates growth, progress and abundance.

In Chinese culture, the dragon is a revered mythical creature symbolising imperial power, authority, and divine qualities.

You can click on the picture for a better view.

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River Hongbao Festival

Chinese New Year Celebrations at the Gardens by the Bay.

Most of the information in this post are taken from HERE and from the signboards at the display.

The Gardens by the Bay celebrates Chinese New Year with “massive glowing lanterns, captivating stage performances and relish carnival games.” There is also a largest-ever lantern display featuring the magnificent, suspended dragon that will swirl around the Supertrees alongside the evergreen favourite, God of Fortune.

Besides that, there was also a food street and “traditional lantern riddles and trade booths, as well as a special exhibition showcasing the history and development of Chinese New Year markets in Singapore.” So, there are plenty of activities to keep the visitors entertained and interested.

The floating display (below) in the dragonfly lake is a traditional bumboat, symbolizing the historical significance of the Singapore River and its ties to the River Hongbao Festival. The scenery in the backdrop comprises of images of shophouses and a bridge by the river.

The boat, laden with abundant food, fruits, and produce, represents a growing and thriving economy, as well as a prosperous year ahead.

The majestic latern of the God of Fortune and the suspended dragon that swirl around the supertrees.

The 'Five Directions Gods of Wealth' are revered deities associated with prosperity and abundance in Chinese folklore. Each deity represents a cardinal direction – East, West, South North and Centre – and is believed to govern the wealth and financial well-being originating from their respective regions.

These gods are often depicted with auspicious symbols, signifying their roles in attracting fortune from all corners of the world.

Stage performances. There was a long queue for the seats.

Food fare. Stalls selling food and drinks.

A mini fare - rides for the children.

You can click on the picture for a better view.

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Paraprosdokians

“A paraprosdokian is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to reframe or reinterpret the first part. It is frequently used for humorous or dramatic effect, sometimes producing an anti-climax. For this reason, it is extremely popular among comedians and satirists.” - Wikipedia

“Some paraprosdokians not only change the meaning of an early phrase, but also play on the double meaning of a particular word, creating a syllepsis.” - Wikipedia

You can tell a lot about a woman by her hands. For instance, if they’re wrapped around your throat, she’s probably a bit upset. - Sheila Burke

We must believe in luck. For how else can we explain the success of those we don’t like? - Jean Cocteau

Three failures denote uncommon strength. A weakling has not enough grit to fail thrice. - Minna Antrim

The art galleries of Paris contain the finest collection of frames I ever saw. - Humphrey Davy

I don’t like people who take drugs, customs men for example. - Mick Miller

To err is human, to blame the next guy even more so. - Unknown

If at first you don't succeed, blame your parents. - Marcelene Cox

He who laughs last has not yet heard the bad news. - Bertolt Brecht

The best defence against the atom bomb is not to be there when it goes off. - Unknown

Won’t you come into the garden? I would like my roses to see you. - Richard B. Sheridan

Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do. - Isaac Asimov

Son, if you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now quiet! They’re about to announce the lottery numbers. - Simpsons

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Queen of the Night

My Epiphyllum oxypetalum plant, also known as ‘Queen of the night’, was looking old and tired now, partly because I have had it for at least a decade, and partly because of its exposure to the hot afternoon sun all the time. I thought perhaps it is time to replant it. I was about to cut some of the young branches to plant them, when I noticed there were actually two young buds on one of the stems/leaves. In view of that, I delayed re-planting them.

Last Sunday, the two buds bloomed. As usual, the blooms are beautiful – big, showy white flowers, with a nice, strong fragrance. I am always happy to see my ‘queen’ bloom.

You can click on the picture for a better view.

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Cloud Spotting

Cloud spotting – the observation of clouds as a recreational activity. There are cloud spotting communities as there are bird watching, or shadow hunting, or reflection hunting communities. It is good that one can share an interest with like-minded people.

I do enjoy watching cloud formations. But, I am not as serious or as involved as some cloud spotters. I keep an eye on the clouds when I am out on my walk. It helps to keep my mind off the distance of the walk. Sometimes, I am rewarded with beautiful cloud formations.

On this occasion, I was rewarded with this scene of clouds slowly covering the sun.

You can click on the picture for a better view.

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Lilium Flower

The following information on Lilium flower is taken from Wikipedia.

Lilium is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs, all with large prominent flowers. They are the true lilies. Many other plants have "lily" in their common names, but do not belong to the same genus and are therefore not true lilies.

The flowers are large, often fragrant, and come in a wide range of colors including whites, yellows, oranges, pinks, reds and purples. Markings include spots and brush strokes. Flowers are borne in racemes or umbels at the tip of the stem, with six tepals spreading or reflexed, to give flowers varying from funnel shape to a "Turk's cap".

You can click on the picture for a better view.

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So True

We might not have a manual, or an instruction booklet to teach us how to live our lives, but Life happening, unfolding around us is itself a ‘Manuel on Life’ for us. If we pay more attention to what is going on in life, and learn the lessons, we will be doing all right.

And the wonderful thing is, all these life instructions were being recorded. They are called Aphorisms. Aphorisms motivate and inspire because they teach a philosophical or moral truth which is relevant to our experiences in life. The relevance is what makes them fascinating and interesting.

Have a look at today’s selection of truisms. Keep a record of the ones that inspire you so that you can refer to them in your time of need.

Some people are still unaware that reality contains unparalleled beauties. The fantastic and unexpected, the ever-changing and renewing is nowhere so exemplified as in real life itself. - Berenice Abbott

Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books. - John Lubbock

A teacher who is attempting to teach without inspiring the pupil with a desire to learn is hammering on cold iron. - Horace Mann

Beauty soon grows familiar to the lover, fades in his eye, and palls upon the sense. - Joseph Addison

Freedom, after all, is simply being able to live with the consequences of your decisions. - James X. Mullen

Hating people is like burning down your own house to get rid of a rat. - Unknown

Ideas come to people who are receptive to them. - Lawrence Block

Worry is a total waste of imagination. - Unknown

When patterns are broken, new worlds emerge. - Tuli Kupferberg

A diamond, incarcerated in its subterraneous prison, rough and unpolished, differs not from a common stone. - Charles Caleb Colton

The price of freedom of religion, or of speech, or of the press, is that we must put up with a good deal of rubbish. - Robert Jackson

It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Walking

It is essential that we take time out for some exercise no matter how busy we are. Brisk walking is a good exercise highly recommended by doctors. It is easy on the knees as opposed to, say, jogging. I have seen many regular joggers resort to walking because they have injured their knees through jogging.

A walk will refresh you - both mind and body. All you need is a comfortable pair of shoes. You can walk alone or with company, and you can brisk walk or just leisurely walking depending on your mood and physical state.

So, do find some time to go for a walk. The work will still be there when you return, but you will be refreshed with a clear mind to better handle the work.

Here are some photos taken when I was out on my walk.

Walking is a technique of solitude, a way into reverie. The walker is not a sleepwalker but a daydreamer. - Deirdre Heddon

You can click on the picture for a better view.

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