Whilst Christmas is over, the snow has been falling in the UK and USA, but it's warm in Singapore, where the city is preparing for the warmth and jollity of Chinese New Year.
The red lights and lanterns are already out for Chinese New Year in some places, like Christmas, commercial organizations are advertising their festive meals.
If you are planning a change of flight plan in the week starting Feb 6th and 7th you had better get on the waiting list now. Expect delays at airports, check ins, because of the increased numbers of travellers going home for the annual family get together.
If you are first though the door of a shop on the first day of Chinese New Year you might get given two oranges or a discount (which may or may not continue all day). You might need to have two 'oranges' - not oranges but the easy peel variety which you can buy in bulk. You might even be given rather sad looking oranges. You simply pass them on at the next opportunity.
Red packets are offered free by many organisations such as banks, because the Chinese like to give money to unmarried young relatives. Not only banks, who will benefit from transactions if you take out or pay in money, but fast food outlets might also give you a free red packet, sometimes with a discount voucher inside or printed on the cover, or at very least a good will message with their company logo.
If you like the bright jolly colours of orange and red you will enjoy the Chinese New Year decorations. A great time to visit any area with a Chinese community.
Lion Dances
You might also hear groups practising the music for the lion dances.
When the time comes, you will see parades or trucks carrying groups to and from the venues where they will perform lion dances. Large restaurants, department stores, malls, all sorts of venues have lion dances.
I find them rather noisy, but if you are Chinese or like spectacles and noise you will enjoy them. Certainly mesmerising to watch.
Where can you see Chinese New Year celebrations?
Singapore Restaurants & Events
In Singapore a special local dish is served, a colourful communal dish of mixed noodles and usually fish and vegetables. Diners stand around raising the food in the air with their chopsticks. Expect to be offered this (more expensive) dish at many restaurants. Wear washable clothes! Singapore newspapers will run articles on the origin of the dish, which restaurant or hotel claims to have originated it. Lo Hei. Learn the greeting you shout.
Look in supermarkets for Chinese New Year specials, foods, gifts, wrapping, cards. Send a Chinese New Year card to your Chinese business associates or friends and family. Practice the New year greeting which will have a local version, usually either Mandarin or Cantonese, only four syllables, and you will see it on banners everywhere. Gong Shi Fa Choy or something similar. Learn both versions so you can echo it appropriately.
If you visit friends who are local or expats, the public housing estates and private housing condominiums are likely to have strings of red lanterns and red lights which they store and bring out every year.
If somebody tells you they are away or can't see you because of CNY, that means Chinese New Year. Watch out for signs: not valid PH; PH means Public Holiday.
Ice Skating performances
The most unusual advertisement I have seen is for pre Chinese New Year ice skating.
See the website. www.therink.sg
On Saturday 13 Feb they are offering acrobatic lion dance performance and balloon sculptured lion dance costume 1-4 pm Cube level 1; Snowfall, acrobatic lion dance performances and photo opportunity with balloon sculptured lion 5.15-7.15, The Rink, Cube level 3.
A pre-Valentine's Day Disco on ice on 12 and 13 Feb 2016.
Skating Costs
What will it cost? You can buy tickets online from www.therink.sg or at their self-ticketing kiosk.
2 hour admission adult $14, child $12; skate boots rental $3.50 skating aid rental $10/15 per 2 hours.
Party package is $35 per person including 2-hour admission with skate boots rental, 30 min dedicated party host on ice and 2-hr usage of party room.
Bumper Car On Ice
Another skating idea: Bumper car on ice: every Saturday 5.15-10.15, $8 per 10 minute ride Sate and Bump $4 per 10 minute rides, this excludes admission and skate boots rental. You can also get student passes for three months from date of purchase (from age 6 to 22, costing $100 for age 6-17 and $135 for age 18-22) but you must show a Student pass or IC (identity card) - I am not sure if this is only for locals or also for visitors.
You can't skate? Learn-to-skate weekly classes are available, at $171.20 per participant.
See www.therink.sg for the latest on public skating sessions.
Cube, 2 Jurong East
Central 1
Singapore 609731
tel:6684 2153
www.jcube.sg That should be j c u b e without spaces. Spell auto correct wants to drop the j and change it to cub or cut.
www.javenue.sg
Where To Go
China
Hong Kong
Singapore - major malls and Chinatown (easily reached via the MRT or mass transit railway line).
Taiwan
Malaysia - Malaysian Chinese shopping areas and restaurants.
UK Chinatown in London, England, as well as Manchester and other cities. Look for Chinese restaurants and advertisements in local newspapers. Almost every major high street has a Chinese restaurant and they can tell you the nearest place to see celebrations.
USA Chinatowns in New York, San Francisco and other major cities.
Canada: Chinatown areas of Vancouver and other cities.
(Pictures being added shortly.)
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author, speaker.
