Weekend Fun (Singapore) @ Singapore River

No aircon

No shopping

Clammy crowd

Yes, the easily excited family has spent a hot clammy night at the Singapore River admiring the beautiful lanterns which were on display along the river for the Mid Autumn Festival.







The easily excited adult-to-be was not too enthusiastic about the clammy heat, the easily excited little one was anxious about getting lost in the crowd and the easily excited dad was not too excited this time and shows a sullen face. Regardless, the easily excited mom insisted on coming here so that the easily excited family will be exposed to Mid Autumn Festival Singapore style.



Beautiful during the day, even more enchanting at night

We were gasping in awe in the early evening when we drove past to the car park. In the past, we used to be able to see such lanterns at the Chinese Garden, which is very far for us and the entrance fee can be quite costly for a family. 

There was alot of bustle at the food kiosks. A lot of variety of food here like "Sharksfin" soup, deep fried chicken cutlet, kebabs, Shanghai buns, roasted cuttlefish. All the smells created were so enticing and helped create the excitement in the air.                            

There was a cart selling "birdnest" drink, which rekindles my memory of being brought to the local funfair by my parents when I was really young. There was always a cart selling "birdnext" drink at the entrance. From far, I would be able to spot the big white signboard with blue, red, green colors words the black swallows. The delicious smell would come drifting and always built up on my excitement.

Look at the crowd!

Street performers

 This glass ball juggling act is Selina's favourite. We have seen it once somewhere else and she was mersmerized by the graceful performance. In support of her love for such performance, I gave her $2 to support the performer, which she shyly deposited in his box.

We heard this performer from afar. The easily excited adult-to-be commented,"Where is the lion dance?" The performer was actually blowing into the horn to the sounds of drums in the background.

 Little blinking toys for sale

This was one of the large lanterns floating on the river and it was such a beautiful sight!

The night ended with us taking pictures with the animals from the Chinese Horoscope.

 

 

 

 

 

There has never been a more
solemn cow than him......

 



Clammy, hot, sweating as it was and always has been, this is one of the ways Singaporeans celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival (besides lantern gatherings at the neighbourhood playground or park) and we should never miss any part of this growing up.

If a picture speaks a thousand words

Weekend Fun @ Batu aka 花好月圆周末 2012

The easily excited family once again set off on another adventure - this time to the easily excited hubby's hometown BATU PAHAT.

We visit the hometown every month, but with the easily excited family, everyday out of the house is an adventure.

Music blaring away loudly as we sped along the highway in the night

We reached around midnight and went to sleep as we have a busy day planned the next day. 

The easily excited little one wakes up to a silent house the next day as everyone was still asleep. She sits at the door and waits mournfully for her grandmother to come back.



 Breakfast in this quiet little town is usually simple, like toast with kaya spread with eggs, or prata, or like what we had - they call it the economical beehoon.

 

 

The sleepy town makes our easily excited adult-to-be sluggish too...

We come home to find welcome home gifts for us

Our busy day starts with the easily excited family pouncing on the poor bakery store assistant for supplies to make snowskin mooncakes.

The pre-mixed flour came with instructions. How handy!

The instructions were simple, it's just mix, knead and you're ready to go!

The easily excited little one tries out her hand in making too!

The easily excited aunt is fast on her hands!

Ta-daa............

Photo taking frenzy..... we were so proud of our work!

A close up

Soon it was evening and we are ready to go for dinner. Besides nice chinese seafood restaurant, Batu Pahat has many little non-airconditioned aircon which serves food that taste almost homecooked. The eager children quickly scrambled into our car, wondering with excitement where we will be heading for dinner this time.



The Restaurant - first time trying out

The hungry men

Dinner being served. We had 9 dishes in total!

Grandpa is an early sleeper, thus we dropped him off and went for our second round - DESSERT!!!

The place we went to is called U-Dessert and serves a very large variety of very delicious looking desserts.

Then the kids started to get restless as they have been looking forward to a gathering of their own - WITHOUT ADULTS

 

Hmmm......

When the kids started to get tired, they then trotted into the house for a shower and bed, and as practised every year for this occasion, they leave the beautiful lanterns hanging till the candles burned out.

The next morning, we woke up early to bring grandpa to his regular breakfast hangout



The always grumpy aunty



Doesn't look appetising, but goes really well with the beehoon

 

It was almost time to leave for Singapore, so we head back home to pack our luggage and hang out for awhile.