Songkran Festival

Thailand

Songkran (สงกรานต์) is celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year's Day from April 13 to 15.

Traditionally, Songkran Festival is an occasion for family reunions, temple visits and annual house cleaning.

During Songkran Festival, the water pouring symbolises washing away all sins and the bad.

Thais perform the Rod Nam Dum Hua ritual on the first day of Songkran, which is the National Elderly Day.

During the ritual, young people would pour fragrant water into the elders’ palms as a gesture of humility and to ask for their blessings.

The second day of Songkran is the National Family Day.

Families would wake up early and give alms to the monks.

An important religious ritual on Songkran is ‘Bathing the Buddha’.

Devout Buddhists pour fragrant water over Buddha statues both at the temple and at home.

While having fun splashing water, take note of the do's and don'ts during Songkran Festival.

Do’s

Do wish the locals a Happy New Year in Thai “Sawadee Pee Mai”
Do give alms and make merit
Do smile when someone douse you

Don’ts

Don't douse monks, babies and elderly
Don't throw dirty water
Don't curse when being doused

P/S: Remember to use waterproof bags to protect your valuables or leave them in the hotel.

兴化话

China - Putian

中国 － 莆田

兴化（即原莆田、仙游两县，古称兴化府），属福建省管辖。

福建省境内的方言不仅品种多，而且内部差异很大。

有的一个县内，就有几种，甚至十几种互不相通的方言。

福建方言大致可以分为闽语、客家话、赣（gan第四声）语三大类。

客家话主要分布于龙岩、漳州等地。

赣语主要分布于建宁、泰宁等地。

闽语使用人数多、地域广，又可以分为五次类：

1）以福州话为代表的闽东方言

2）以厦门话为代表的闽南方言

3）以莆田话为代表的莆仙方言

4）以永安话为代表的闽中方言

5）以建瓯话为代表的闽北方言

莆仙方言（即兴化话）是福建历史悠久、且独别于其他方言的一种方言。

地理位置上，通常相邻的乡镇居民，一般都会讲对方的方言。

莆田与福清接壤，但在莆田境内，没有以福清话为生活语言的乡村民众。

相反的，在福清境内，却有渔溪镇的东际、江山，东张镇的芦岭、金芝，镜洋乡的后溪、善山，以及音西镇的云中等部分村落，有数万人是以莆仙话（兴化话）为生活交际语言的。

甚至远至闽东地区的霞浦县的大屿乡、福安市的下白石乡、福鼎市的沙埕镇等地的部分村落居民，至今也仍以莆仙（即兴化）方言为日常生活交际语。

由此可见，兴化话之影响力有多深远。

Farewell Mr Lee Kuan Yew

Singapore - State Funeral

Today, Singapore bid farewell to Our Founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew.



List of foreign dignitaries attending the State Funeral Service held at the University Cultural Centre, National University of Singapore.

Close friends of Mr Lee Kuan Yew will also attend the State Funeral Service.

State Funeral route map.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew's family.

Even the sky is crying.

Despite the heavy down pour, the crowds brave the weather to bid Singapore's Founding Father goodbye for the last time.

Thank you once again to Our Founding Father Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

You had worked your entire life for Singapore and now is your time to rest.

May your soul rest in peace and god bless.

Pay Homage To Our Founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew

Singapore - Parliament House

Thousands upon thousands of public turned up to pay homage to our Founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

At its perk, people had to wait for at least eight hours.

The Straits Times

Many if not all, would agree that long hours of queuing was nothing compared to what Mr Lee Kuan Yew had done for us.

Many wanted to be there just to say "Thank you".

The Straits Times

The Parliament House open twenty-four hours from March 25 to 28, 2015 and close at 8pm, on March 28, 2015.

Went on March 26, 2015 and paid my last respect to our beloved Founding Father Mr Lee Kuan Yew at around 5.30am.

Bottled water, card and pen for public to write our gratitude.

Security check-points are located just a few meters away from the entrance of The Parliament House.

Everyone queued quietly and busy writing their thoughts on the card.

Cards were deposited at the entrance, before we entered into the hall.

It really saddened me when I finally got to see the coffin.

My entire life, this was the only time I got so close to Mr Lee Kuan Yew, and there he was lying at state.

Thank you for giving what we have today.

Without you, Singapore will not be what she is now.

We owe our success to your devotion to Singapore.

You will always be remembered.

Thank you, Sir.

Lee Kuan Yew 李光耀

Singapore

新加坡

Today, all Singaporeans have lost our founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

今天，全新加坡国民失去了我们的建国总理李光耀先生。

We thank Mr Lee Kuan Yew for promoting bilingual education.

我们感激李光耀先生致力推广双语教育。

I am the beneficiary of the system, that is why I am able to read and write in both English and Chinese.

我就是这制度的受益者，所以我才能读写英文和华文。

This is from our respected founding father Mr Lee Kuan Yew's book Hard Truth.

这是我们尊敬的国父李光耀先生《硬道理》书中所提到的。

“我已不再活跃于政坛。年轻新加坡人怎么看待我都无所谓。对于我的功与过将在我百年后由博士生对我的研究来下结论。

鉴于当时那种情况与压力，我做我知识范围内认为对的决策。事情解决后，我向前跨进。如果继续回想，那简直是在浪费时间。

我没遗憾。我耗尽一生来建立这个国家。没什么再需要我做的了。到最后，我得到什么？一个成功的新加坡。我给予了什么？我的一生。” 李光耀《硬道理》（希望没翻译错）

Thank you Mr Lee Kuan Yew, may your soul rest in peace.

谢谢您李光耀先生，您一路走好。

农历正月廿六

Singapore - Waterloo Road (Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple)

新加坡 － 小坡四马路（观音堂佛祖庙） 

问：农历正月廿六是什么大日子？

答：农历正月廿六是观世音菩萨开库的日子。

如果想整年财运亨通、财星拱照，可以在观世音菩萨开库日，向观世音菩萨借取财库。

观世音菩萨借库的民俗由来已久。

据传，观世音菩萨在修道的时候，有 500 位护法罗汉，为考核观音大士的修行成绩，化为人间和尚到观音庙化缘讨饭。

大慈大悲的观音于是打开仓库，让他们和前来参拜的善信尽情享用各种精美斋菜。

此后，每逢农历正月廿六，千千万万的信徒，都会涌到观音庙祈福及借库，希望借库后有财运。

希望众善信都能够财源滚滚，有了钱别忘了做更多的好事、善事，就像观世音菩萨那样度更多众生。

这样才不辜负观世音菩萨开库的用心良苦。

南无大慈大悲观世音菩萨。

The World's Top 100 Airlines in 2014

Singapore

The World's Top 100 Airlines in 2014

In 2013, the top three airlines are Emirates, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines.

In 2014, the top three airlines are Cathay Pacific Airways, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines.

Cathay Pacific Airways was ranked number six in 2013.

Most flyers would agree, what matters to them when flying, are the services provided by the airlines.

Looking back at the incident I had last year and the professional handling of my feedback by Cathay Pacific Airways.

It is easy to understand why Cathay Pacific Airways soars from position six to number one.

Received the Upgrade Certificate from Cathay Pacific by registered post from Hong Kong on March 13, 2015.

Glad that the incident has come to a satisfactory ending.

Case Closed.