Settled back at home after the wonderful holiday in Sri Lanka we returned to routine.The staff mtg was as droll as ever but this time Libby has a win, getting agreement to move the water filter away from the far corner to the opposite end of the room beside the fridge and coffee cups. It has taken since January to get this to happen. Nothing changes quickly here.
On Thursday we went for a walk through the local bush and came across a number of keen wildlife photographers. I stopped to chat to them and was told the migrant birds are starting to arrive from the colder zones as winter approaches so we should be able to see a whole range of new species in the coming months like the wagtails and flycatchers.
As we walked to and from work each day last week we watched the culmination of the Hungry Ghosts Festival at the HDB across the road. One afternoon a stage was built to accommodate a traditional Chinese orchestra that we saw performing that night, the next day it had been dismantled and in its place was a huge LCD screen and stage. When we came by that evening there were popular personalities on stage. There is a lot of smoke and ash in the air and the offerings tables are sagging under the weight of all the contributions.
On Monday morning we climbed to the summit of Bukit Timah again, we are all dedicated to making it to Gudel now so no slacking off in the training. Eric and a Richard, a mate from work, went to see Joe Bonamassa play at the Entertainment Centre in the evening. That's the building that looks like a durian. It is the first opportunity to see any live music since we have been here as other concerts have been on while we are working. They finished off the night at Richard's local haunt, 'The Crazy Elephant' which has live Blues music every night of the week from 10pm. Usually too late to interest us. They both really enjoyed it all and are looking ahead to the next opportunity to see a concert already.
The Mid-Autumn Festival, also called the Mooncake or Lantern Festival, is now beginning. (One festival ends and another begins). This is celebrated annually by both Chinese and Vietnamese as a traditional harvest festival. This year, the festival takes place from 11 September to 10 October, when the moon is at its fullest. Chinatown, Clarke Quay and The Chinese Gardens are dressed up with lanterns and fairy lights and the stalls are now specializing in mooncakes, pomelos, tea and other festive treats.
Mooncakes
On Tuesday evening we went to Clarke Quay to see the lanterns turned on at dusk. We sat by the river at a Spanish Bar eating tapas and drinking Sangria, but it didn't feel anything like Madrid in 2011. The river has a number of lantern floats on it, there are animated lanterns depicting the Chinese ancestral beings all along one bank and the pedestrian bridge has turned into sideshow alley. We find it all a bit gaudy to tell you the truth, the floats look more like Disney creations crossed with The Simpsons. I much prefer the traditional rock ancestral beings at the Chinese Gardens.
Eric with his Monkey.
Me and my Rooster.
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