Giant Lanterns are Here Again

It's time for the Mid Autumn Festival! And that means mooncakes, parades, giant lanterns and more mooncakes. This time the lantern display is at the Chinese Gardens, a sprawling 8 hectares of park in Jurong West. The theme: The World of Legends:



The monkey king striking a pose:

Animals of the zodiac:

Ever heard of the legend of the archer who shot down the extra suns?

 

Guardians of the bridge:

 

No display is complete without pandas:

Lions guarding the steps to the pagoda:

Taking a rest after a long walk:

 Too bad the fireworks are only for Sundays and the parade won't be till the 12th. Still had lots of fun taking photos. Got really tired after an hour of walking though. Actually, been getting tired easily for the past week. Hmm...
 

A Trip to the Zoo

I've always dreamed of having a pet tiger. Liked them better than lions or ponies even. But since that isn't feasible nor legal, the next best thing is seeing them close at hand. And like a kid oohed and ahhed at the majestic white creatures at the Singapore Zoo.

There was still a lot to see so I had to bid them farewell and trained my lenses on the other denizens of the place. They do have an excellent collection of animals. The tamer of the lot you can even feed by hand on scheduled token feeding sessions or watch during various educational shows.

It's wonderful and amazing how the zoo keeps the animals in spacious, well landscaped enclosures that closely mimic their natural habitat. No constricting cages here. For visitors there are glass panels that allow for unobtrusive viewing.

Not only are the animals well taken care of, the zoo also conducts studies and has successful breeding programs that help ensure the continuity of the species hosted there. 

There's plenty of greenery everywhere to keep even visitors cool on shaded walks. And if you do get tired of walking, there are trams and scooters you can hop on for stress free circumnavigation of the place.

We enjoyed touring the place very much. Certainly worth a visit. Without going on a safari, where else can you see a Nyala peering back curiously at close quarters?

Or pet a giraffe's head while giving it some treats?

And watch a lion lounge lazily on the next corner?

And ride on a friendly elephant?

Enjoy the fauna...

And go on a boat ride

...all on the same day?

It is the best zoo I've been to yet.

Dinner at Centris Walk

My honey and I were in Manila for a few days. We arrived just before a good friend of mine left again for the place she now calls home. It's been quite a while since we last saw each other (has it really been SEVEN years??). Therefore a meet-up was in order. Decided to have dinner that Friday at Centris Walk. I've never been there but my curiosity has been piqued by its towering mushroom like structures.

The place reminds me of Serendra a bit, with coffee shops and restaurants along a trailing walk. There is a playground off center with a kiddy train going round. There is a pretty carousel too but I'll save that for next time. Some areas are still under construction though. Then again, with its strategic location at the junction of EDSA and Quezon Avenue, the place holds much potential.

We arrived a little early so we stopped by a yogurt shop called Tutti Frutti. They sell yogurt by the ounce and you can pick your own flavors and toppings. We tried raspberry, chocolate and lychee and topped them off with marshmallows, coco strips and wafer rolls. They were not bad though they seemed more like ice cream than the frozen yogurt I got used to. Probably a little too sweet for yogurt fans. Not something I'd be craving at three in the morning.

We met up with the rest of the gang at Asya, one of the few establishments already open.

There we ordered spring rolls, barbecued ribs, pork belly, salmon belly, chicken pandan, fish fillet and some other dishes one after another. They all tasted good. I'll take their word for the kare-kare since I've never been fond of the dish. Some of the dishes such as the ribs and pork belly are on the sweet side though. Then again, don't most Filipinos like their food either sweet or salty?

 

The following photos are those of food I placed on my plate. Yes, I know it's bad to play with my food. Well, I'm not actually playing with them. Just setting them up a little nicely before I devour them. =D

The restaurant was cozy and not too crowded. We were startled every so often by bugs setting off the electric insect catcher but none bothered us while we dined. I liked how the staff were very attentive. Their rates are reasonable too.  

I enjoyed reminiscing and catching up with good friends but we still had appointments early the next day. Yes, on a Saturday. So though the night was still young, it was time to go.

The towering structures outside were all ablaze. I read they were supposed to serve as giant umbrellas and catch rainwater for the greenery. I love how they change color. You can find more information about Centris Walk here.

Our friend left Manila the next day while we stayed a few more. It was a whirlwind of activity but that will be another story.

Mid-Autumn Festival 2010 | At the Riverside

For the third part of our Saturday adventure my honey and I went to Clarke Quay Riverside for the rest of the Mid-Autumn festivities.

We got off Clarke Quay station about five minutes after we got on the train at Chinatown. Quite a number of lantern toting youngsters took the same route with their teachers. A very rowdy bunch.

A goggle-eyed rooster greeted us when we got out of the mall. The lanterns were so big!

Other animals of the Chinese zodiac lined Riverwalk like this mischievous looking monkey. Is that a whip?

Lantern floats also decorated the left side of the river where we were on. The detail and intricacy of the designs denote much effort and preparation. Just love the lights and the ambiance!

Further upriver, the bridge that leads to Read St. was decorated with bright lanterns depicting a scene from the sea.  It has also been taken over by merchants selling festive wares and bazaar items.

 

Before we got there, a few more giant lanterns marked the way. 

I was tickled to see the pig zodiac playfully depicted (yes, I was born on the year of the boar =P ).

And we got a closer look at lantern mural on the bridge.

Soon we got to the Taiwan exhibits and food stalls. The stalls' placement and the people buying from them created a bottleneck before the bridge so it took us a while to get through. It didn't help that the bitterly pungent smell of the aged tofu they were selling permeated the air in the immediate area. Quite a few hands flew to cover mouths and nostrils as senses were assailed.

Thank goodness we finally got through to fresher surroundings on the other side of the river.

The lanterns made the waters upriver so colorful that night. I just love the glow of lights at night! Especially on water.

Down river, the Eu Tong Sen St. Bridge bathed the waters in electric blue while the ever familiar silhouette of the Sands Hotel loomed farther off. 

Only one giant lantern stood on this side of the river: a hulking dragon.

We were headed for the mall to have a late dinner when we were surprised by fireworks. I just can't get enough of fireworks displays! Good thing I hadn't stowed away my camera yet. ^^

Had to drastically reduce the video quality so I can upload it though.

After all that excitement and walking, it's on to a big dinner!