Sunday, June 24, 2007
This year's National Day Parade 2007 would be held at the Marina Bay. Therefore, it means that less seats would be available for the people.Only lucky people were able to get the preview or the actual day tickets. This year's National Day Parade was more interesting and was different from last year as this time round the performers at performing on the "floating stage" at the marina bay.
Another thing was that I managed to get the preview tickets!I was really excited knowing that I would be able to watch the preview National day Parade. The last time I went to the National Day Parade was in the year 2003.It was really very different from watching the parade from the television. It was very heartwarming when you are in the crowd, watching the parade, especially when the national enthem was played. we could feel a very stong sense of belonging to singapore and the unity of all singaporeans.
I felt that on the national day, we, the singaporeans should joined in the celebrations of our country's birthday. I was born, grew up, and had my education here.I am realy proud of singapore . Of course on that special day, I want to joined in the celebrations , give my best wishes to my country.
I was really very lucky to have that tickets and also I appreciated it. I am looking forward for that special day to arrive and joined in the celebrations!
--Mary HAD a little lamb--
12:19 AM
Thursday, June 21, 2007
It was a hot day. I felt a hot sensation burning my cheeks and perspired profusely. I was on my way home after the New South Wale Trial Paper In school. I waas taking a bus home. A few mintues later, the bus arrived. The moment I stepped into the bus. I felt a cold sensation. It was so comfortable to be in a bus especially when the weather was so hot.I was listening to my MP3 player, relaxing myself.
There were an married couple, in their sixty.They were seating behind me. They talked so loudly that I could hear them even though I was listening to music. Therefore I overheard they conversation. They were discussing about the changes in Ang Mo kio. Suddenly, the lady tapped my shoulder and asked me," Excuse me, May I know where is the AMK Hub located?". They spoke to me in english. Without thinking, I immediately replied them in "singlish"." oh ! you can alight at the next bus stop, then hor, you cross the traffic light and you will reached the AMK Hub liao lor.". They smiled at me and said," Oh! Thank you!".
They continued telling me that they were also singaporeans but they migrated to another country. They were having their holidays in singapore.The lady was joking to me and told me that she had not speak "singlish' for years. I brust out into laughter when she said that. Before they alighted, The lady whispered to me," You could speak "Singlish" very well!". I smiled at her. Then, She said goodbye to me.
After this, I was overwhelm with happiness whenever I think of the lady.I am proud of myself when she said I speaks "singlish" very well and also because I am a singaporean. I got some thoughts and feelings after this incident. For me, I am satisfied in living in singapore. This is the place where I was born, I grew up and had my education here. Living in singapore for 14 over years, I saw how singapore was changing better and better.
Another thing was, I want to study hospitality and tourism management in a polytechnic after my o level.So, now, I have to study hard in order to achieve this goal.I am really interested in this course as it allowed us to interact with people from different countries and also I enjoyed interacting with people from different countries.
--Mary HAD a little lamb--
11:33 PM
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Our neighbour, Madam Chew had invited us to her son's wedding dinner at The Goodwood Park Hotel. madam chew waited for years and finally, her son is getting married.Her efforts in match-making her son and her daughter-in-law eventually paid off. We arrived at the hotel at7.15pm and we decided to take while waiting for the wedding dinner to start. Though the time for the wedding dinner was 7.30pm which was written in the invitation card, Many people came late and the dinner starts at 9pm.
We waited for an hour. finally, The wedding dinner started. My family and I were seated with the friends of the bride. " Ladies and Gentlemen, Please rise and welcome the bride and the bridegroom" said the MC for the event.The lights were dimmed. the bride and the bridegroom walked in and happiness was shown on their face. They walked to the stage and gave a short speech. After that, the food was served.
Among us who were seating together, there was a chef and a hotel manager. The chef was boasting and and almost commented on all the food that was served. This was to show that he was a professional chef.Wesaid nothing but we just smile.The hotel manager was sharing some jokes with us and explosions of laughters could be heard.These were some of the unusual and interesting characters that I met during the dinner. I found it interesting.
Halfway through the dinner, the bride and the bridegroom walked on to the stage again.Close friends and relatives were invited on the stage to do the traditional "Yam-Seng".The purpose of this "Yam-seng" was to give the couple their best wishes and aso to wish them a loving couple. We did the "yam-seng" three times, each time means different meaning. Followed by the sharing of the bride and the bridegroom on how they met. Both were embarrassed and shy by the questions asked by the MC. The bridegroom even sang a song to the bride to express his love.The crowd were cheering for the bridegroom.
This was the secondtime I attended a wedding dinner. This time round was different from previous wedding dinner because the previous time was my aunt who was married. Therefore, I was seated with my close relatives. This time round I was seated with people who I don't know. From this, I learnt to interact with people who I don't know.
--Mary HAD a little lamb--
1:34 AM
Friday, June 01, 2007
On vesak day, my family and I went to the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple And Mesuem at chinatown.The temple becomes a showcase of our multi-racial and multi-region culture in singapore. It will become a landmark that will draw both singaporeans and tourists alike from all over the world to the chinatown neighbourhood and liven up. The building was conceptualised and designed by Venerable Shi Fa Zha, aided by a team of local and overseas consultants. A number of draft desighs were developed incorporating the best of Tang Dynasty and the Buddhist mandala. There were four storey altogether.
The first storey shows the hundred Dragons Hall on the first floor of the temple is designed according to the Buddist temple of the Tang Dynasty.It is solemn and dignified with the hundred Buddhas on the both sides of the hall.The second Storey is called the Tripitaka Chamber And Exhibition Hall. Enriching religious art exhibitions featuring calligraphy, paintings, and sculptures will be held there regularly. The Dharma hall shows the compassionate Bodhisatta Avalokitesvara sitting in the middle of the hall.There were still alot of hall and museum like the Eminent Sangha Wax museum which shows the wax figurines of the local and foreign monks of eminence.the Ancestral hall shows the Bodhisatta ksitigarbha surround a number of ancestral tables.The Lotus heart Tea House is for the visitors and devotees to savour refreshing tea or enjoy delicious and healthy vegetarian food in the cosy environment.
The third storey is the Buddhist culture museum shows the impressive collections of the Buddhist artefacts and also tells the events in life of a Buddha. The fourth storey is the Scared Buddha tooth relic Chamber which only the Sangha could access to the inner chamber to conduct the daily services. Public could only observe the daily services from the public viewing area. When you entered the Ten Thousand Buddhas pavilion at the roof of the temple, You would be surrounded by sea of fragrant orchids where 10000 Buddhas are enshrined and worshiped.
I believed that the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple And Museum would attract many people around the world to come to Singapore to take a look at the temple at Chinatown. it would attracted both the locals and visitors who are keen to explore the rich history of the Buddhism and Buddhist culture an enriching experience.
--Mary HAD a little lamb--
8:44 PM
