9th Day Of The 9th Lunar Month

"This festival actually commemorates two occasions. Chung Yeung Jit is also known as "Chung Gau". Being the 9th day of the 9th month, it is the DOUBLE NINE, also means forever and is the day on which Chinese people go to the hillsides to tend their ancestors graves, make sacrifices of special paper money and paper winter clothing, after which a picnic is held. It also commemorates the day during the Han Dynasty when a Taoist soothsayer, Fei Chang-fei advised a scholar, Huan Jing, to escape to the hills with his family to avoid an impending disaster. Huan Jing took the advice and went to the hillside with his family, taking food and chrysanthemum wine. When returned home all his livestock dead from a plague and realized the soothsayer had saved the lives of himself and his family.

From that date, Chinese people have celebrated by taking food and chrysanthemum wine to picnic on the hillsides. It is also the time when chrysanthemums are at their finest and parties would be held to admire the flowers, which are the symbols of good health and longevity.

As the number nine is regarded as being auspicious, therefore feasts, ascending a height, country walk and flying kites on the hill are part of the features of the day, which people believe will bring good luck."

So every year there would be a dinner, held by the Temple that my Uncle is associated with, at Clementi Ave 4. The very first time we went to one of these dinners we found out that the caterer was actually my Grandfather's neighbour.

Bad picture of the setting - Poh Huat Restaurant

Over the years the dishes have got better in taste and portioning. But no matter how good the food is, it's still interrupted by the auctioning of items. It's not exactly the auctioneer that is noisy, it's the other people looking out for bidders that blow a whistle right behind u and call out the bids over their megaphones. If you decide ever to come early for dinner and you're not interested in offering joss-sticks, then you can just watch the Chinese Opera that's performing in the background.

Lead performer in his room


Grand scene with lead & co-preformer

Guess you're expecting more pictures huh? Well stupid me deleted everything in a rush after actually editing all the yummy food picture!

BLAAAAAHHH!!!

Have to wait a year for the next FEAST... MMMmmmm. If you can't, leave me a message and I'll get Tony or Eric's number for you.