on the Go with Bo!

Seen at Paragon

So how the heck are we supposed to pee here ...

Segway rides at Changi Airport

And I thought I was the only one with a segway in Singapore! Seems that besides on Sentosa, you can also take them for a ride at Changi Airport ...

Vietnam - Hanoi

Let's start with semantics!  I was wondering as to why in Vietnam and in some books, you always see the Vietnamese capitol spelled as Ha Noi.  So I asked … 'Ha' means river, and Ha Noi means capital surrounded by a river.  Or in this case, three rivers.  Similarly, Viet Nam stands for Viets (the race) living in the south, as to differentiate themselves from the Chinese race who occupied Vietnam for more than 1,000 years.

Read on what happens on 10.10.10 in Hanoi ...

Prive at Keppel Bay Marina

Haven't been to Prive in some time ... But we're doing a performance here tonight and I got reminded what a great place this is. The restaurant has gone a bit more casual now, has a great outdoor terrace and the indoor part has windows. Yeah! The first time I came here we were sitting inside and it was like being in a cave ... Great ozzie food but no windows to the world! But that's all changed ...

Year of the tiger

all in flowers ...

Visit Orchid Garden followed by lunch at Halia Restaurant

When guests come to town, a tried-and-tested formula is to take them to the Orchid Garden in the Botanic Gardens … and then for lunch at Halia Restaurant.  I don't really know much about Orchids … but when I walk through the Orchid Garden and see all the beautiful colours (deep purples, pinks, tiger stripes, etc) I am impressed.  And your guests will be too!  Best of all, the tour only takes 20 odd minutes … after which you head of to Halia Restaurant just around the corner, book yourself a table on their lovely canopied terrace and eat a delightful lunch with a glass of white wine.  The other day we had bread fingers with blue-cheese pate, sprinkled with walnuts and honey.  It always makes for a memorable sight-seeing trip … and easy to put together :-)

  

CNY traditions to remember

I love Chinese New Year and all the colourful festivities that surround it.  And each year I learn something new about the traditions … which usually comes about by me first making a faux pas!

So to help you I've come up with some useful tips that one is not to forget at this time of the year:

> red and yellow are the the colours for good luck and prosperity … so these are the splashes of colour to wear to special events 

> 'Gong Xi Fa Chai' is how you wish Happy New Year … except that this is the Mandarin version.  I learnt this year that there is a slight variation to the Cantonese version.  And I was wondering why I kept hearing different greetings!

> always have a sack of mandarins ready at home!  Last night a great friend came over for dinner and brought us two mandarins … and of course in return, you are to give two mandarins back.  And we didn't have them!!  Thank god it was his birthday … and we made a chocolate butterscotch birthday cake for him instead, with 8 candles.  Prosperity, prosperity.

> Lion Dance … this is my favorite tradition.  We always see it at the Shangri-La Hotel on the first day of the new year.  But over the next 15 days, you will always either here the drumming in the distance, or see a truck with 15 dancers dressed in red and yellow accompanied by a lion head sitting in the trunk, or you'll be in a shopping mall and the lion will be making his way around.  It's basically to bless the owner, tenant, shop-owner, family with prosperity and longevity.

> ang pao envelope:  at social or family gatherings, it's customary to give a red envelope with cash in it to the children, or to the family.  The red symbolizes good luck.  And make sure that the amount you include ends with the auspicious 8.  So $28, $38, etc

> Lo Hei noodle toss:  no CNY is complete without a noodle toss.  As you're tossing the noodles higher and higher while shouting Lo Hei, the group is wishing for prosperity in the coming year.  And best of all, this is a very local tradition which you won't see anywhere else in the region.

With these small tips in mind … have a great and prosperous start to the year of the Tiger!  And enjoy the calmness of Singapore that can be seen on CNY ... for this is as quiet as the city gets!

Pix ads on my mobile

I'm starting to get pix ads on my mobile ... Although this one is not bad. I wonder how long till some nudie girl shots will start appearing in my message folder!!!!

 

Mughal Art comes to Singapore

Emperor Shah Jahan, the Indian ruler who built the Taj Mahal, was from the Mughal empire - said to be one of the wealthiest and most powerful dynasties in history.

And now you can get a glimpse of life in the Mughal court, through a glittering exhibition making its Asian premiere in Singapore.

"Treasury of the World: Jewelled Arts of India in the Age of the Mughals" was officially launched by President S R Nathan on Thursday evening.

via www.channelnewsasia.com

Would love to see this exhibition, which is open till June 27 ... but what when the article doesn't mention where the show is at????

BTW ... another show that I heard is a must see is 'Quest for Immortality: The World of Ancient Egypt' showing at the National Museum of Singapore till Apr 4th.

RWS slowly but surely moving towards opening day

THE casino and theme park at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) will open on Sunday, the first day of the Chinese New Year - but there is a catch.

Not one of the 20 rides or shows at the Universal Studios theme park will be running, and the park itself will be open only for eight days, and for just four hours - from 5pm to 9pm - at a stretch, after which it will be closed to the public.

via www.straitstimes.com

I still haven't gone down there to check out what they've built! I'm thorn between waiting till it's all finished, tried and tested ... or seeing it during its birth which usually has a lot of hiccups!