Moonfest - A Mid-Autumn Celebration 2015

25 Sep, Fri. NAFA Chinese Chamber Ensemble on Charms of Autumn

- 《彩云追月》,《花好月圆》,《步步高》

It started when Sis brought home a copy of the festival guide for Esplanade's annual celebration of the Mid-Autumn festival. Remembering our good time last year, i was adamant to make an effort for the event; despite the thick haze warning this week.

And so many others thought likewise! It feels liberating to snap out of our gloominess in the heartlands, where families shut themselves in the safety of homes. It was here where spirits were lifted with lively music and charming singing; where aspiring performers met enthusiasm of their audience!

Now, i feel like having a Mooncake, fun with solving Chinese riddles or even watching a Teochew opera.

We were thankful that outdoor events were not cancelled; pollution index were near 200 PSI on both days but as a form of respect for the performers, we didn't don our masks.

25 Sep, Fri. Resonance X Dicapella on Bamboo Voices

- 《彩云追月》,《北京喜讯》

27 Sep, Sun. Ella Chen, 陈影 on Ballads on a Full Moon Night

- 《我只在乎你》,《但愿人长久》,《夜来香》,《月亮代表我的心》,《甜蜜蜜》,《月亮代表我的心》,
《爱你在心口难开》,《亲密爱人》

27 Sep, Sun. Singapore Press Holdings Chinese Choir on Mid-Autumn Voices

- 《半个月亮爬上来》,《月琴》,《月亮月光光》,《月亮代表我的心》,《月色同行》,《彩云追月》

27 Sep, Sun. Sin Sin Rong He Teochew Opera Troupe, staging "Imperial Scholar Sounding the Night Gong".

Notice: Chinese, English subtitles display by the side of the stage! 

Durian Mpire by 717 Trading!

D24 Durian Cake, 20cm ($98, before a 20% discount)

Sorry. This is a half-eaten durian cake because i didn't think the cake from Durian Mpire would be blog worthy - their marketing and product branding are lacking. But going by the word of mouth, a penny-pinching and prudent colleague recommends the cake.

Very quickly, half the cake was eaten before i decided it was blog worthy.

Freshness of the cream delighted me when i was licking off the plastic cutting knife. Then it was 3 layers of airily light sponge chiffon and 2 layers of real durians that got me snatching up the camera!

Carlsberg Group - Somersby and 1664 Blanc!

Somersby Pear Cider, 4.5% vol. ($16.50 for 4s, 330ml)

Kronenbourg 1664, 5% vol. ($24.90 for 6s, 330ml)

We didn't know both of these popular brands are from the Carlsberg Group. This is such great success. Between the 2 however, we prefer the wheat beer to sweet cider.

The UK Cider promotes healthiness with composition of mainly pear juice, with no artificial flavors or sweeteners. A pretty drink like sparkling champagne with sweetness, bubbles and fruitiness. Fairy tales too.

But for seasoned ladies drinkers, we like the 1664 French wheat beer. Less of sweet fantasy, more on soothe bitterness with sensible aromas of citrus, lemon and coriander spices.

This will be my favorite beer for celebratory occasion, like today.

王老五 Chicken King - Boiled Soup, Wanton Mee. $2 Chicken Rice?

Chicken Rice ($2)

We came back to Jalan Batu Food Centre for their Hong Kong styled Wanton noodles - nicely barbecued Char Siew, meaty dumplings in Wolfberries soup and savory seasoning sauce; quite a steal at just $3. Then we saw their $2 chicken rice.

How do you like it from the pictures here? It certainly tastes as good, and this is plenty of meat for $2! 

A large, colored notice by the side of the stall reads - 1st and 15th at 11am to 12pm of every month, there will be 150 FREE packets of Chicken Rice to the needy senior citizen customers. So this is also a stall with lot of hearts. Do come patronize them alright?

Wanton Mee ($3)

PAP Election Rally

Election 2015 is special for Singapore. It feels different; feels important. And you senses it fiercely at the People's Action Party's rallies.

Everybody know that the ruling party's rallies always attract miserable crowd, compared to the over flowing carnival at the Opposition's. But this election, you see a significant masses for the PAP. Serious heartlanders stood, motionless, listening intently. I'm dazzled.

My first at a PAP's rally site. It was dead silent when the chief speaker spoke for a good 30 mins. When he finished at 10 pm, the pragmatic people cheered wildly! Then breezily and swift, they dispersed into their nearby homes. 

This was the last night before Singapore goes to the poll.

Rally for East Coast GRC, at 155 Simei Rd. - 09.09.2015, Wed.

Rally for Aljunied GRC, at Defu Ave. 1 - 04.09.2015, Fri.

兴记, Heng Kee Hainanese Curry Rice

Choice of 2 Meat + 2 Veg + Rice ($5, Curry packed separately)

Come down for lunch at Blk 28 Hoy Fatt Rd. You will be moved.

An array of neatly prepared food lies before us where the old hawker stood - chopping, scooping and packing each of our separate orders for takeaway. The old uncle is friendly, quick and ever so generous with his serving. He is a one man show here, and all the cooking is by him. Wow!

If this is your first visit, remember to try their Char Siew, braised pork belly and deep fried Hainanese pork chop. Yummy! The curry is scalding hot, please be careful. To avoid the lunch hour crowd, we were here at 11am today, packing back for the hardworking people in the office.