One of the things I always like to do during the Lunar New Year season is to make a trip down to Kreta Ayer Chinatown and take pictures.
This year was no exception.
It didn't matter if there was no bazaar (again) at Temple Street.
The vibes of Lunar New Year at Chinatown cannot be so easily removed.
It was, of course, a little quieter compared to the years of konnyaku jellies, shitake mushrooms, seaweed crackers, mochi snacks, colorful sweets, preserved persimmons and waxed meats.
Still, judging by the crowds- and the (necessary) deployment of both security officers and patrolling SDAs, many of us locals/visitors trooped down anyway.
We're known to be creating Atmosphere with a capital A.
From the streets of Pagoda Street to Trengganu Street to Temple Street to Smith Street and to Sago Street, the atmosphere was prevalent everywhere.
It began, perhaps, at the junction of Upper Cross Street and Eu Tong Sen Street where, like every year, the (official) entrance of Chinatown was marked by a gigantic sculpture-lantern featuring the zodiac animal for that year.
2022 saw two majestic-looking tigers (with the strongest animated expressions ever) perched on top of a rock looking to the horizon in two different directions.
The two tigers were fascinating enough, but I thought the banners and butterfly decor of Yue Hwa Building in the background a very charming sight too.
Not too far from this junction was bak kwa shop Lim Chee Guan- with their socially distanced queue of patiently-waiting customers stretching all the way down (past Fragrance) to the turn of Pagoda Street.
It was nice, honestly, to see the queue.
Because, virus or no virus, it means something to everybody that we continue to keep the mood.
No problem if you didn't have much of a mood- help was close by in the form of Chinese New Year songs- techno version- blasting through the speakers of the (impromptu) fruit stall on one side of Pagoda Street.
If that wasn't enough, there was the sight of stuffed toy tigers outside the shop that on regular days sold keychains, sling bags, caps, fridge magnets, wooden chopsticks, table runners and cushion covers (in chinoiserie-style) for the interested Tourist.
I thought the buzz particularly strong in the shops offering festive greeting decorations and banners.
I also thought it strong in the stalls open along Trengganu Street.
There was a stall offering greeting banners with words printed in the classic calligraphic style.
There was a stall offering a variety of nuts (peanuts) and seeds (melon seeds) from large sized sacks.
And there was a stall that brought out little wooden figurines and stuffed toy tigers of different designs onto their shelves.
I wish I'd managed to take at least a couple of pictures.
But then it was late afternoon by the time I got there, and the whole place was busy.
There were several sights I didn't miss out on though.
Like the stall at the corner of Smith Street near the (former) alfresco food place selling jars of Chinese New Year cookies.
Like the shop on Smith Street near the hawker center selling some of the prettiest and brightest ornamental decor of the season.
It's not every day I get to see festive reds and golds hanging in abundance on the racks.
It's also not every day I get to see ornamental decorations in bright pinks, bright blues, shiny golds and glorious greens so pretty on the shelves.
It wasn't just these decorations that were colorful and pretty.
There were the flowers too.
In fact they were one of the most charming sights to be seen at Chinatown.
For the very simple reason that they have been there- either at the bazaar- or at the junction of Smith Street and Trengganu Street- (almost) every year.
Yes, everyone needs flowers.
And everyone deserves to be able to look at them, especially during the season of Lunar New Year.
I'm thankful for this picture.
No, I'm thankful for all the pictures.
Because- I'll be honest- if you haven't been able to tell yet- my mood was a little on the bland side this year- and it took many deep breaths before I could go down to snap this collection- but at least I've got something (distinctive) for this blog, and the series of CNY Chinatown 2022.