Happy Lunar New Year!

As promised, here are some shots from a night outing to Chinatown. I never realized how crowded this area gets at this time of year, wow! January 31 and February 1 are the official holidays in Singapore and most places will close. I have been busy stocking up on groceries for the weekend to ensure survival. No worries, I think we will make it. I remember the first year we were here we didn't think the holiday would shut down the city as much as it does. It gets pretty quiet which can be sort of nice.

This was my best shot of the giant horse lantern. There are several smaller horses behind him in the background with Chinese coin lanterns. 2014 is the year of the Wood Horse and the coins are to attract the energy of wealth.

Smaller horses galloping into prosperity on another Chinatown street.

The coins lit up at night over the street.

We went to the 6th floor of an HDB car park for an overview of Chinatown for a few shots. This is a partial view of the city skyline and the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum along with some Chinatown shop houses.

On the corner under the awning is a fruit stall, oranges are a popular New Year treat.

I used a long shutter speed to show the movement of the crowd at the fruit stand.

Looking down at a durian stand right next to a restaurant (see the table on the left). I don't think I could eat right next to a durian stand, they are pretty smelly. At least they are whole durian and not peeled, ready to eat, yucko! There is even a fine for bringing a durian onto a train. I think you either love them or hate them, not too much middle ground. To be fair, I haven't actually tried them. I cannot get past the smell...

Here they are, durian ready to eat. I should have gotten a close up. Maybe I'll do a blog post just on durian one day. I'll have to find a person who loves it to pose for me. 

Love the lanterns lit at night and a peak of the crowds. This location wasn't the greatest but it was so crowded with all the good locations overfilled with photographers. We were a group of about 15 so it was sort of hard to fit us all in. Note to self for next year: go alone, one person can squeeze in easier than a group.

I decided to walk through the middle on my own after the group split up. It was on my way home anyway. Here is a candy and sweets stall, good time to stock up on your favorite candies!

Decorations for the home.

These are dried (?) Chinese sausages. I see them in the stores all year but at the holidays everyone is buying all their favorites. 

Tonight (Thursday, Lunar New Years Eve) I met with the same group for another night shot, this time at a different location. We met at 9:30pm, which is usually my bedtime ;) so I was pretty sleepy but it was worth it! The location was a Taoist temple on Waterloo Street that is popular to visit at midnight. It is late and I haven't really had a chance to edit my photos so here are a few that are my favorites so far. 

Here is the temple from the street level. The crowds are not so bad just yet, it is early and we just got there. Normally this is a busy area anyway with street vendors and shops of every kind for a few blocks in all directions. It is one of my favorite places to be in Singapore for many reasons, one of them is the great street photography shots available.

So it seems to me that you get there and then you buy what you need like joss sticks from a super nice vendor like this person. She graciously allowed me to photograph her. There were maybe 100 vendors with joss sticks of all varieties. I asked my photography instructor why the joss sticks and he said it is an offering to the Gods and the aroma is to get their attention. 

There are cans, placed close to the vendors, with small fires to light the joss sticks. 

One of my good flame shots :) This would also be a good blog all on its own, fire - smoke and flames. 

After lighting the joss sticks you proceed to the temple.

Here I moved to an undisclosed location (secretive, huh?) and got a few good shots of the crowd and the lanterns. I would like to know why some of the people are holding the joss sticks and praying facing away from the temple and some are facing the temple. Are joss sticks the same as incense? Many questions...

Same sort of shot with a longer shutter speed to show some people do not move and some are moving and blurred. 

Starting to get crowded, almost midnight now.

Lots of smoke from the joss sticks. There were small joss sticks, large ones, so many available. I wonder if there is a reason for the different ones or if its all personal preference? We were all so immersed in our photography no one was talking. Now, looking back, I have so many questions! 

Happy Lunar New Year and Happy Friday!!!

Works In Progress

I've been so busy this week trying to get good photos for a few different subjects, Water in Motion, Chinese New Year and Love in the City. I have a good start on water and CNY, haven't even started on love. I think that is going to be a real challenge for me. Public displays of affection aren't popular here, mostly just teenagers and that isn't really photogenic. Also, I am too shy to take photos of people especially when they are assuming they are having a private moment. I will have to think outside the box. Any ideas will be welcome, feel free to comment!

The Fullerton Hotel decorated for Chinese New Year.

Some of the fountains at the Fullerton. Water in Motion and Chinese New Year :)

Bugis Village is bursting with stalls selling everything needed for the new year. These are artificial flowers.

Live plants and small fruit trees.

Red Ribbon Buddha, that's what I named him. You can donate to the Community Chest charity and by doing so you are given a ribbon to tie on the Buddha.

Statue at Bugis Village. Haven't yet figured out who he is...

Up close view of one of the temples at Bugis Village.

Another up close view of the entrance to a temple at Bugis Village.

Water in motion. This was taken at Botanic Gardens in the National Orchid Garden section.

I think this may be my favorite water shot so far. Needs a bit of editing.

Happy Friday!!!

Thai Pusam 2014

This post is going up a little later than usual because I had the opportunity to photograph Thaipusam celebrations in Singapore early Friday morning. Even though we have lived in Singapore for a few years now, I have never made it out to see the Thaipusam events. So when a friend of my hubby's who was participating offered to meet me there I was super thrilled to have the opportunity! How lucky! I don't think I would have felt comfortable without his and his wife's help.
So, what is Thaipusam? It is my understanding that Thaipusam is a Hindu holiday held during the full moon in the tenth lunar month of the Hindu calendar. Celebrated mainly by the Tamil community, but also celebrated by other devotees, it is a day of thanksgiving to Lord Subramaniam (aka Murugan) for answered prayers. Participants perform rituals to fulfil vows and seek blessings. Here are some of my photos from the temple.

There were a few different groups of drums and horns playing throughout the temple, very lively atmosphere. 

Here are the tools used for the piercings, the longer silver needles and the small tubs of orange items that will also be pierced onto the arms and legs with hooks.

A closer look at the needles used.

Here you can see after the piercing has been performed. The needles go thru the frame and then into the skin, what they are carrying is referred to as "kavadi". Devotees prepare themselves spiritually with extensive prayer and fasting before performing acts of thanksgiving like carrying a kavadi from one temple to another.  

Some devotees with fruit and milk offerings. The milk is in the containers they are carrying on their heads. The milk is poured over the statue of Lord Subramaniam after the procession. 

The silver looking balls attached to his legs also hold milk as an offering. The kavadi are typically decorated with flowers and peacock feathers.

Some of these kavadi can weigh up to 60kg and reach up to 4 meters high.

In Singapore, the ceremony starts at the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple on Serangoon Road where devotees fulfil their vows with a 5km walk to Sri Thendayuthapani Temple.

Several men adding the silver needles. Often tongues and cheeks are also pierced.

He is ready to start his procession to the next temple. He will walk with his family and friends and other devotees.

Many kneel at the altar before leaving the temple to start their procession. 

Just before sunrise outside the temple. 

I hope you have enjoyed the photos and if you are unfamiliar with this holiday I hope you spend a little time Google-ing it. There is a big world out there with so much to learn and experience. If I have made any mistakes please feel free to message me, I would like to know so I can correct them. 

Happy Friday!!!

Reflections Contest Update:

Newspaper on Spoon is a winner! Woot Woot!!! I won a photography class from Knowledge Bowl. So excited to take another class with them, they have great instructors with a small class size for more personal and interactive classes. I just have to decide on Flash Photography or Product and Food Photography. Hmmmm....

CNY 2014 Year of the Wood Horse

Chinese New Year is celebrated in Singapore on January 31 and February 1 this year. The city is getting ready, decorations are going up and the festive mood is back! The lighting ceremony in Chinatown is this Saturday so I will make it over one night next week to try to get some good shots of it all lit up. Until then I have some photos of Chinatown during the day and some of the "holiday regulars" I have come to expect each year.

This is a street in Chinatown with the new yellow and red lanterns special for CNY 2014.

A little closer to the lanterns, excited to see them lit up at night. 

Giant horse lanterns with gold coins and ribbons. The building in the background is an older HDB building (apartment building), the same one in the first photo. 2014 is the year of the wood horse, so you will see a lot of horses...

Another view of the horses galloping into prosperity! The whole street is decorated with the giant horse and coin lanterns, its really pretty.

This horse lantern is good to pose by, its close to a pedestrian bridge so there is easy access. 

One of the many banners in Chinatown hanging from the pedestrian bridge.

One of the items you see every year at CNY would be cherry blossom branches. They are for sale in most stores and at a few places in Chinatown and everyone is buying them up! These are artificial, most of the ones I have seen are. It is believed that there will be no fruit without flowers so it is important to have flowers and plants as decoration during CNY. Plants signify growth and flowers symbolize wealth. Most families spruce up their homes for this holiday by buying new plants, flowers and home decor. 

I didn't see any takers on the stuffed horsey though...maybe this weekend these little orphans will find good homes.

Coins wrapped in red ribbons are believed to attract the energy of money to you. These are supposed to be hung up in your home or you can buy smaller versions to keep in your wallet or purse.

Paper cuttings are popular year round in Chinatown but I think they are a common thing to buy to decorate your home for CNY celebrations. I got mine at Fair Price (grocery store), thought I'd try some creative shots with it. There is a guy in Chinatown that does these by hand. There are so pretty.

Another paper cutting. This is on the 8th floor of my condo building at the pool level. There are planters that are in shallow pools of water. Thought it might be an interesting background to float the paper cutting in the water. Looks good but I wish I knew what it says...

Red Packets. Traditionally they are red because the color red is a protective color, representing auspiciousness and prosperity. It even is believed to have the power to exorcise evil spirits. The packets can be decorated with lucky symbols and Chinese characters. These days they aren't all red but are found everywhere and are very popular for those celebrating CNY or birthdays and other important celebrations.

Mandrain Oranges. The city is still decorating but soon there will be mandarin orange bushes at the entrance to many buildings. The grocery stores and fruit stands have beautiful, fancy wrapped orange and tangerine gift basktes ready to go. They are considered traditional symbols of abundance and good fortune. 

Pineapple cookies, tarts, rolls, etc. Love this one! The are popular because they are tasty treats, but also because the Mandarin word for pineapple is feng li, which means phoenix pear. Phonetically it sounds like "good luck comes" in Mandarin, so it is believed that eating this cookie will bring good luck and sweetness. I had to buy them for the blog of course!

I love the tin they came in too, its a keeper! 

Happy Friday!!!