Seafood: A lovely treat for my taste buds!

Hiang Kee seafood restaurant is located at Jalan Keris, Taman Sri Tebrau, Johor Bahru. The restaurant is situated right behind a market. It is clean and the best part is that it was free of cats when I went there (I don't fancy cats). Another plus point is that the restaurant opens till late! I reached the restaurant at 11pm on Friday night and surprisingly it was still opened; More customers started coming in just after midnight as well. My family and I ordered a large hotplate bean curd, sambal kang kong, salted vegetable soup, cereal prawns, mango fried fish and rice for four people. We ended up paying 104 ringgit; A very reasonable price. The food was worth every penny. It is by far, one of the best seafood I have tasted and I would highly recommend anyone who wants satisfying asian seafood to visit this place. 

The day where prices of bouquets suddenly shoot up, is here!

I remember being so excited about Valentine's day, during my secondary school & JC days. Gifts and cards would be exchanged amongst friends; 'Secret' admirers would make themselves known by leaving a rose or two on your desk. Flowers and gifts were sold in school itself and there was also a special song dedication segment which took place during recess time; All in the attempt of raising funds at the expense of adolescents, willing to spend part of their allowances to impress their crushes.

Although buying gifts on valentine's day can be such a rip off, we should be thankful that such a day exists. It allows us to remind the people we love and care about that they play a special part in our lives. Some people might not be so expressive with their love and valentine's day might give them the perfect opportunity to open up and surprise the ones they love. There is no need for ridiculously pricey watches, over-priced bouquets or an extravagant dinner; A simple home-cooked meal, a hand-made card containing a very sweet message and a box of chocolates would do the trick (at least for me!)

“Love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous. Loves is never boastful or conceited. It is never rude or selfish. It dose not take offense and is not resentful. Love take no pleasure in others people's sins, but delights in the truth. It is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes.” ― Nicholas Sparks, A Walk to Remember

Happy valentines day, peepz!
xoxo

Thaipusam-A (not-so) lively festival in Singapore

On Tuesday, 7th February, the Tamil community celebrated Thaipusam. Thaipusam is a yearly affair, celebrated in a grand way in India wherein the Tamil community constitutes the majority. Here, in Singapore, we celebrate Thaipusam yearly too (amidst many restrictions). Thaipusam is celebrated in memory of the day Lord Murugan, one of the many hindu gods, received a spear (called, a vel) so that he could destroy an evil demon. 

On Thaipusam day in Singapore, devotees of all ages would walk from one temple ( Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple) to another temple (Tank road temple); A total distance of 4 kilometres. Most of them would adorn yellow traditional Indian attires and carry milk pots on their head. They would walk the whole distance, never stopping for a break, despite the weariness that starts to weigh them down. Men with kavadis attached to their bodies would be surrounded by friends and family who sing devotional songs to motivate them, throughout the 4km, to remain focused and reach their destination despite the physical pain that they feel. 

My brother carrying his Kavadi  

My brother has been carrying the kavadi for the past four years. His kavadi consists of long spikes, made of steel, which are pierced through the skin. Two semicircular steel pieces are balanced on his shoulders; His kavadi is decorated with a statue of lord Murugan, surrounded by peacock feathers. Those who carry kavadis have to be very focused and are required to eat vegetarian food for at least two weeks prior to Thaipusam. They are also required to sleep on the floor and abstain from activities that are considered impure. 

Thaipusam in Singapore, used to be a very flamboyant affair; Filled with colours, music and dance. Due to the restrictions on the type of musical instruments allowed and the bans on musical instruments such as the gongs/drums, the event is not as lively as it used to be, many years back. Many devotees are unhappy about the restrictions as they feel that musical instruments are necessary to motivate kavadi carriers to complete the 4km successfully and music would serve as a good distraction from the pain that they might feel. Despite the restrictions and the decrease in liveliness, Thaipusam continues to be one of the major Indian festivals celebrated in Singapore.

For more information on Thaipusam, please visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thaipusam.