Singapore: Chinatown (The Weekend Before Chinese New Year)

The 2014 zodiac is the Horse, so expect lots of horses amidst the prosperous hues of red, orange and gold.

Here's a poem I weaved around the photos, because I was in the mood for it.

Here's a chance to countdown again to the (Chinese) New Year.

In the run up to the next (Lunar) Year,

Set your sights far

And your goals high

Stop going in rounds

Be the stallion that you are.

The God of Fortune, will shine upon you

As will the Fortune Cats here, here

And here.

And you'd realise that money doesn't come easy but it will fall, in the day

And at night.

Meanwhile, find time to soak up the festive atmosphere

Weather the crowd

Brave the squeeze

Emerge victorious

In the process, grab a few pouches,

decorations,

balloons,

chimes,

cats,

horses,

or even the entire zodiac (you'd be covered for life).

The crowd will make you invisible,

so why not indulge in a little people-watching,

observing,

or tailing?

In the end of it all, you might find yourself in need of a rest,

or something to fill up that rumbling tummy of yours

(if food samples didn't suffice).

Once it's over, you can't wait

for it to come again soon!

Happy (Belated and Advance) CNY!

Don't we all love holidays? Well the Chinese New Year (31 January this year), as the name suggests, marks the new year according to the Lunar calendar which is a little behind the Gregorian calendar. If you don't have agoraphobia, visiting any Chinatown around the world during the weekends leading up to the actual day will be an experience like no other. Expect slashed prices and an even bigger crowd on Chinese New Year's eve!

Also, the evergreen sights around Chinatown (in regular Lea Pof-style)

At the Chinatown museum

How eclectic is Chinatown?

Chinatown

Cost: free

Access: Outram MRT / Chinatown MRT

Singapore: Pearl Bank Apartments

I've always noticed the Pearl Bank Apartments from afar when around Chinatown, and I just jumped at the chance to finally see it up close. It was the tallest and densest residential building in Singapore when it was completed in 1976 (that's way before my time!) and I hope it's preserved for a long time to come. I especially love how iconic the building is, and you have to admit, it does bear resemblance to the Hakka (a dialect) Mud Houses, or 土楼（tulou) in Fujian Province, China.

It has shops and even its own preschool.

Pearl Bank Apartments

Cost: free but open only to residents

Access: Outram MRT Station rather than Chinatown Station

*Post on Chinese New Year in Chinatown (only 4 months overdue!) and deers in Nara (it's been a while) coming soon!