Year of the Dragon

Heated days call for some necessary outdoor swimming

Cousins

I celebrated the beginnings of the dragon year with relatives on both sides of the family. It was an eventful long weekend complete with visitations, non-stop eating, hours of blackjack gambling and my first introduction to the game of Mah Jong: a game based on tile matching and probability (not at all like the computer version I used to play).

 The most expensive bowl of sashimi I've ever eaten in my life. $90. 

I don't ever have to worry about going hungry in Singapore. I've been fed relentlessly. 

My Uncle's beautiful pool.

Light Show @ Marina Bay Sands. 'It's a Wonderful World' played along. Pure loveliness. 

Audience at the Dash Berlin show

Dash Berlin

Dash Berlin's autograph

For the first night of Chinese New Year, I went to a Dash Berlin show at a nightclub called Zouk. I was accompanied by a friend that I met through last year's internship. After the first couple hours of dancing on an elevated platform, we moved closer to the stage at which point, we got Dash Berlin's autograph. With curiousity and deliberate intention, I made my way backstage by ignoring a 'No Entry' sign. The last part of the night was spent dancing on the stage and hanging out with the great Dash Berlin crew.

With great fortune (I am a dragon year baby after all), I was able to start the Chinese New Year with some memorably epic highlights. With the rest of my trip progressing. I plan on taking advantage of each moment. Although I have limited knowledge about Asian traditions, I have noticed that the well-wishing of prosperity has been in constant emphasis for the Chinese New Year. Even McDonald's has capitalized on this with their limited edition 'Prosperity Burger'. Moreover, during this time there are many traditions that people partake in including the exchanging of oranges and ang pow, tossing of a specially made salad and an analysis of the year's celebrated animal.

Although these supposedly lucky traditions can be fun, I create my prosperity through awareness and action. Relying on my shoddy luck is not enough (the evidence is in my poor Blackjack and Mah Jong gambling).

Happy Chinese New Year to all those who celebrate! 

Pam  xx