Somehow to me and my cousins, Chinese new year gets a little more boring with each passing year. But this is probably before I realised that it is already considered as one of the most happening within my different groups of friends. With my family, every year is like the same standard procedure so whatever you see that I do on the first day of CNY is pretty much the same every single year, except for the high tea location I guess.
#1 FAMILY GATHERING AT MY GRANDMA'S PLACE
Take classic annual family portraits. We wanted to re-enact the whole family portrait from a few days ago and were made to sit at the exact position from almost 7 years ago (haha) I don't have the photo since it's on my uncle's canon but I'll post it up when I get the picture from him!
Family photo with the grandparents. Btw, when I mean family in this post, it's mostly my entire maternal side. We are very much closer to my mom's side, relatives that you see every Saturday for family dinners.
#2 VISIT THE TEMPLE TO PAY OUR RESPECTS
Every year, we will go to the same temple to pay our respects to my dad's grandparents. The reason why we are closer to my maternal side is also because my dad's mom has passed away a few years ago and his dad even before I was present on Earth. It's hard to meet up with his family as well because my dad has 9 siblings and it just gets slightly harder with that much people in the family. I still have no idea how we managed to squeeze 10 families in a 3 room flat in Buona Vista last time.
My brother and I in the back seat of the car
#3 VISITING MY DAD'S 2ND BROTHER
I think this was slightly different this year as we usually visit my dad's 1st brother's family. However, my cousin just gave birth to a baby boy on the 16th so it was not very convenient for us all this year I guess. I miss out on good food! I LOVE teochew home-cooked food I swear. But these awesome chocolate chip cookies made up for it (:
Yummy soup that my aunt made
My new Hello Kitty iphone cover that I got in Shanghai for $4 (awesome deal) and then i saw many people using it when I came back -_- Anyway I only decided to switch it on the first day of CNY. The start of new beginnings haha
#4 VISITING MY GU MA AT PASIR RIS
I am very confused with my maternal family tree because my mom has quite a number of cousins. Up till now, I still have no idea how I am supposed to call everyone. Really need to take some time to draw up my family tree one of these days.
#5 HIGH TEA AT SHANG-RI LA ROSE VERANDA
This is where our high tea tradition continues every year. This year, we decided to try out Shang-ri La's high tea. It was about $40++ per pax. I got so irritated when I called them to make a booking for 19 pax because the lady either sounded very disinterested or very lazy. I mean, considering it was from Shang-ri La, I would have expected the phone service from an operator to be much better.
I think my parents are quite good looking haha. I picked out the dress for my mom cos I think the cutting of it was really good and I told her to buy it because it gets very rare when you come across clothes with good cutting and having a good fit on yourself. Actually, I picked out all her CNY outfits haha. Fashion advisor yo.
THIS DRAGON SCULPTURE WAS CARVED OUT OF CHOCOLATE
I am still in utter amazement at such things. Ice sculptures to me are quite alright but this chocolate one simply just blows my mind away. Don't chocolate melt at touch? For all I know, it may be hollow inside and the chocolate is just a layering on top but, who cares! The details are too intricate!
Just look at those scales layered atop one another!
We were early so we decided to cam-whore at the hotel lobby.
Finally proceeded to Rose Veranda when everyone started appearing
I had high tea here a few years ago as a treat with the Pluckies a few years back and it pretty much still looks the same. What I like about high tea here is that they offer a range of 164 premium tea blends from TWG. I feel like trying all of them.
We took up an entire long stretch of table and I absolutely love the plush cushions!
They have a decent spread of savory and sweet for high tea selection. It may not be more widespread than some high teas that we've been to but the food was really good.
The shrimp salad that I couldn't have any since I'm not allowed to eat prawns yet ):
I have myself a bowl of laksa instead (without prawns)
This piece of mustard cod fish is of worthy mention because it was so yummy! Jedrek and I kept going back for more.
I got myself a pot of Geisha Blossom Tea which is a blend of green tea and refreshing ripe southern fruits. It is also on the list of The Rose Veranda Top 10 Favourite Teas which I found out after I have ordered it. It was very light and refreshing and not overpowering. <3
Desserts! Nom Nom Nom.
(Top Left) Classic Blueberry Cheesecake with a dragon imprint on a piece of choc
(Top Right) Tiramisu!
(Bottom Left) Chocolate Cremax with Cocoa
(Bottom Right) Mango Sorbet
Family portrait at the hotel lobby <3
My grandpa is a lucky man :D
#6 MORNING SIDE TO VISIT MY GRANDPA'S TWIN BROTHER
Cute baby spotted at the lobby of the block
My grandpa's younger brother, grandpa's twin, and grandpa.
They are doing the twist sign so cute! haha
The mess of shoes at the door.
#7 JESSE'S PLACE
#8 BUKIT BATOK NIGEL'S MATERNAL SIDE
I dropped by jesse's place to visit his parents for a while before we headed off to gather with my family
Scottie! who is not very friendly cos she bit my grandma oops
#9 YAWEN'S PLACE WEST COAST
We always end off our Day 1 at my uncle's place where we will have dinner and eat yu-sheng. That's all of us gathering at the table and waiting to make a mess out of it haha.
J bought oranges and bak-kwa from Msia and lobster bak-kwa for my mom and grandma. Can't wait to try out the lobster bak-kwa haha. And that's my uncle looking like Kim Jong Il on the first day of CNY. Cracked me up the entire day!
#10 DASH BERLIN AT ZOUK
Finally visited the refurbished Velvet Lounge at Zouk. Apparently you have to be signed in to get into the lounge since a normal velvet chop will only get you onto the velvet dance floor. The lounge was very spacious and had comfy sofas. Yay to that.
The friggin crowded Zouk area. I was really trying my best to shield myself from everyone jumping up and down to prevent aggravating my wound.
A video for you guys to feel the atmosphere that night.
We ended up waiting for Dash Berlin's meet and greet at the Velvet Lounge to get his autograph and picture!
He spelt my name wrongly but IT'S OKAY!
Awesome way to end off the night. Went home feeling extremely tired nonetheless.
A great start to a brand new year!
The Rose Veranda is located at
Shangri-La Hotel Singapore
22 Orange Grove Road
Tel: +65 6213 4486
High Tea only available on weekends & public holidays
(1130am - 230pm / 3pm - 6pm)
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