清明节 09

FRIDAY POST (11/4)

went to 扫墓. (direct translation: clean tombstone) it is a Chinese tradition and it's called "清明节". my grandpa said, in Singapore it is on 4th April, while China it's on 5th April. not sure why is it like this. however, most people took the time on Good Friday to 'clean tombstone'.

woke up at 6.50AM!! was dragging myself to wash up. =/ went to the 'terrace house' first at Chao Chu Kang. why 'terrace house'? because it is still buried and you have your own land. that's why. after burning offerings, we went to this temple, "万佛林" at Bedok. there, we didn't burn any offerings, just offer food. there are about 3 or 4 relative ashes in this temple. we say that they are staying in 'HDB' instead of 'terrace house' because it is so so pack!

the Choa Chu Kang cemetry.

the offerings burnt at the 'terrace house' deceased relative.

instead of the round thing at the above picture, some tombstone have this lion instead.

flowers grown at my relative tomebstone.

flowers grown on others tombstone.

the so called "HDB".
yea.. it looks that gloomy in there.

there's a poem about "清明节". here it goes.

清明

作者：杜牧

清明时节雨纷纷,

路上行人欲断魂。

借问酒家何处有，

牧童遥指杏花村。

translate to English.

It drizzles endlessly during the rainy season in spring,

Travellers along the road look gloomy and miserable.

When I ask a shepherd boy where I can find a tavern,

He points at a distant hamlet nestling amidst apricot blossoms.