Chinese New Year at Toa Payoh
On the last day of Chinese New Year, we went to Swatow Seafood in Toa Payoh for dinner
On the last day of Chinese New Year, we went to Swatow Seafood in Toa Payoh for dinner
All the decorations were still up, and as it happened, that night was the neighborhood’s big CNY celebration
All the decorations were still up, and as it happened, that night was the neighborhood’s big CNY celebration
Even before dinner, people were crowded around the main pavilion for the big show, to be followed later by a neighborhood chingay parade
Even before dinner, people were crowded around the main pavilion for the big show, to be followed later by a neighborhood chingay parade
A view of the other side of the square, from the restaurant’s building
A view of the other side of the square, from the restaurant’s building
After dinner, the party continues and the lights have transformed the scene
After dinner, the party continues and the lights have transformed the scene
The parade route was beautifully lit with all these strands of lights hanging from the trees
The parade route was beautifully lit with all these strands of lights hanging from the trees
While lion dances are done regularly all over town, we did not often get to see a dragon dance
While lion dances are done regularly all over town, we did not often get to see a dragon dance
Toa Payoh presented two of them! Complete with fireballs and loud noises (this skeletal dragon was covered in bundles of firecrackers, lit periodically by the performers).
Toa Payoh presented two of them! Complete with fireballs and loud noises (this skeletal dragon was covered in bundles of firecrackers, lit periodically by the performers).
These shops weren’t particularly CNY-relevant, but the decor is still definitely worth a picture ☺
These shops weren’t particularly CNY-relevant, but the decor is still definitely worth a picture ☺
Hanging around the more modern area of Toa Payoh’s shopping area
Hanging around the more modern area of Toa Payoh’s shopping area
We left just a little late, and got stuck waiting to exit the parking garage while the floats went by, on their way to the parade
We left just a little late, and got stuck waiting to exit the parking garage while the floats went by, on their way to the parade
It took some practice, but eventually I got the pictures to be reasonably sharp in spite of the long exposure
It took some practice, but eventually I got the pictures to be reasonably sharp in spite of the long exposure
Of course, shooting from the car limited the options, and so there were still things like poles, trees, and signs in the way
Of course, shooting from the car limited the options, and so there were still things like poles, trees, and signs in the way
But you can still get a pretty good idea of what the floats looked like ☺
But you can still get a pretty good idea of what the floats looked like ☺
We were lucky. Only a half-dozen or so cars in the back-up could actually see what was going on. The rest were stuck in the parking garage structure.
We were lucky. Only a half-dozen or so cars in the back-up could actually see what was going on. The rest were stuck in the parking garage structure.
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