Change 变

Singapore - Chinatown

新加坡 — 牛车水

The annual Mid-Autumn Festival is here again.

一年一度的中秋节又到了。

This year Mid-Autumn Festival, Chang'E is very busy.

今年的中秋节，嫦娥非常忙。

What exactly is Chang'E busy with?

嫦娥到底在忙什么碗糕呢？

Busy appearing in the newspaper and change faces.

忙着上报及变脸。

The makeup artist Chang'E engaged this year must be cuckoo.

嫦娥今年请来的化妆师，应该是头壳进水。

Turned feminine Chang'E into musculine Mulan!

婀娜多姿的嫦娥竟然变阳刚的花木兰！

Before and after face change

变脸前后

The main newspapers are scrambling to report

各大报章争相报道

Perhaps the moon is scared by the face changing Chang'E, this year Mid-Autumn Festival full moon is the smallest of the year.

可能月亮被嫦娥的尊颜吓到缩水，今年的中秋月是今年内最小的满月。

Joke aside, let's know some astronomical facts.

开个玩笑，让我们来了解一些天文知识。

The moon rotates around the earth in an elliptical orbit.

月球是在椭圆轨道上绕地球转动的。

The average distance between the moon and the earth is 384,000 kilometers, so the nearest is 356,000 kilometers and the farthest is 406,000 kilometers.

月球和地球平均距离为38.4万公里，所以最近约35.6万公里，而最远约40.6万公里。

Due to the distance, through the naked eyes, the diameter of the moon can have a difference of one-eighth in size.

由于距离的关系，通过肉眼看月亮大小之分的直径相差为八分之一。

P/S: The English spelling of 嫦娥 is Chang'E, remove the apostrophe and it becomes change; no wonder this year Chang'E needs to change faces! Wathehaha!

注：嫦娥的英文拼写为Chang'E，而英文change的意思为变；难怪今年嫦娥需要变、变、变脸啦！哇的哈哈！

Getai 歌台

Singapore

新加坡

There are many sayings about the origin of the culture of getai, but most of them agree that it should be derived from the Zhongyuan Festival.

歌台文化起源有多种说法，但其中多数人赞同的应该源自于中元节。

The seventh month of the lunar calendar is commonly known as the ghost month because the Chinese believe that the door of the netherworld is open for the whole month and the ghosts can wander freely in the mortal world.

农历七月俗称鬼月，因为华人相信这整个月阴间鬼门开，孤魂野鬼得以在人间游荡。

In order to appease these "good brothers", the business owners will organise the Zhongyuan Association to seek smooth business benefits.

为了安抚这些“好兄弟”，经商的老板们会组织中元会以求生意顺顺利利。

These Zhongyuan Association will organise getai to entertain these "good brothers".

这些中元会就会筹办歌台来酬神祭“好兄弟”。

The first row of seats at the getai is not reserved for the living but for the "good brothers".

歌台的第一排座位不是留给活人而是专留给“好兄弟”的。

So do not sit on these seats just because they are vacant, or else good luck to you!

所以不要因为空置而坐在这些座位上，否则祝你好自为之了！

Getai veteran: Liu Lingling

歌台大姐大：刘玲玲

The getai host is versatile

歌台主持人都八面玲珑

Getai entertainers are all talented

歌台艺人都才华横溢

Getai literally means 'song stage', it is a very grass-roots culture, a product during the era where entertainment was lack.

歌台顾名思义就是载歌载舞的舞台，是一种非常草根的文化，是娱乐缺乏时代的产物。

In 2007, the movie "881" which featured the Getai culture as background, let the once dying culture to be reintroduced into the young audience once again.

2007年一部以歌台为背景的电影《881》使一度没落的歌台文化，再次让年轻观众认识。

National Day 国庆日

Singapore

新加坡

In 1819, Sir Stamford Raffles founded colonial Singapore as a trading post of the British East India Company.

After the company's collapse in 1858, the islands were ceded to the British Raj as a crown colony.

During the Second World War, Singapore was occupied by Japan.

The Japanese occupation of Singapore or Syonan-to took place from 1942 to 1945.

Singapore was renamed Syonan-to, meaning "Light of the South Island".

Singapore was officially returned to British colonial rule on 12 September 1945.

Singapore gained independence from the British Empire in 1963 by joining Malaysia along with other former British territories Sabah and Sarawak.

But Singapore separated two years later over ideological differences, becoming a sovereign state in 1965.

Today Singapore celebrates its 54th Birthday.

Majulah Singapura! (Onward Singapore!)

1819年，史丹福莱佛士爵士成立了新加坡殖民地，成为英国东印度公司的贸易站。

该公司于1858年倒闭后，这些岛屿被割让给英国皇家殖民地。

在第二次世界大战期间，新加坡被日本占领。

日本对新加坡或昭南島的占领发生在1942年至1945年。

新加坡更名为昭南島，意为“南岛之光”。

新加坡于1945年9月12日正式回归英国殖民统治。

新加坡于1963年以及其他前英国领土沙巴和沙捞越通过加入马来西亚而获得独立。

但两年后新加坡因意识形态分歧而分离，于1965年成为一个主权国家。

今天新加坡庆祝独立54周年。

前进吧，新加坡！

Cherish 珍惜

Singapore

新加坡

The open space below the Singapore public housing estate has many functions.

新加坡公共组屋楼下的空地有许多功能。

Most Malays hold weddings below their own flats.

多数马来人会在自己组屋楼下办婚礼。

Most Chinese, on the other hand, hold their funeral below their own flats.

另一方面，多数的华人则会在自己组屋楼下办丧事。

There have been new immigrants complaining about why Singaporeans do not hold their funeral in funeral parlor?

曾经就有新移民抱怨说为什么新加坡人不是在殡仪馆举行丧礼？

What is even more amazing is that sometimes this flat is holding a wedding function and the opposite flat is holding a funeral.

更令人惊奇的是有时这座组屋在办婚礼，而对面座组屋则是在办丧礼。

In fact this is something unique in Singapore, different ethnic groups are considerated and tolerant. 

其实这就是新加坡独特的地方，不同族群大家都能互相体谅与包容。

Recently a relative died suddenly due to heart attack without warning.

最近一位亲戚在没预警的情况下因心脏病发作而突然离世。

The family was caught off guard by this sudden incident.

一家人为这突如其来的事故感到措手不及。

Although the deceased suffered from chronic diseases, but it was still unexpected for him to leave so soon.

虽然说死者生前患有慢性疾病，但怎么也没料到会那么快撒手归西。

My late granny once said, old folk is like candle, it extinguishes once being blown.

我已故祖母曾说过，老人就像蜡烛一样，风一吹就熄灭了。

We should cherish the time we have with our loved ones, rather than to regret it when the time is up.

我们应该在至亲还在时好好珍惜相聚时光，莫等到最后才来后悔。

When we understand that life is impermanent, everything should not be too persistent; after all, nothing is sadder than separation from life and death.

当我们了解到生命无常时，凡事都应该别太执着；毕竟没什么比生离死别更哀伤、痛心。

Although death is a highly taboo topic for many elderly, if one can state his will when alive, at least it is comforted for the descendants because they can fulfil the ancestor's will.

虽然死亡对许多长辈是个高度忌讳的话题，但如果能在生前交代清楚自己的意愿，至少后人在伤心之余，因能为先人完成心愿而有所慰藉。

Read a very interesting sentence: When you born, you cry but everyone cheers; when you die, everyone cries but you are already unconscious.

读过很有意思的句子：当你出世时，你在哭而大家在欢呼；当你过世时，大家在哭而你已无知觉。

Climate 气候

With the temperature-boosting El Nino, all the global temperature records were broken in 2019.

随着温度提升的厄尔尼诺现象，所有全球温度记录在2019年都被打破。

France recorded an all-time highest temperature of 45.9°C.

法国的最高气温为摄氏度45.9。

The hot and dry weather prompted a 10,000-acre wildfire in Spain.

炎热干燥的天气引发了西班牙的一场10,000英亩的野火。

The heat wave in India had already killed dozens.

印度的热浪已经造成数十人死亡。

Countries around the equator are usually very hot.

赤道周围的国家通常都非常热。

Singapore is one-and-a-half degrees north of the equator.

新加坡位于赤道以北一点半的地方。

Singapore's climate is characterized by uniform temperature and pressure, high humidity and abundant rainfall.

新加坡的气候特点是温度和压力均匀，湿度高，雨量充沛。

Singapore's temperature hovers around a diurnal range of a minimum of 25°C and a maximum of 33°C.

新加坡的温度徘徊在最低温为摄氏度25和最高温为摄氏度33的昼夜温度范围内。

April is the hottest month of the year in Singapore, followed by May.

4月是新加坡一年中最热的月份，其次是5月份。

The highest recorded temperature in Singapore was 41°C on April 17, 2019.

2019年4月17日新加坡的最高气温纪录为摄氏度41。

The lowest recorded temperature in Singapore was 19.4°C on February 14, 1989.

1989年2月14日新加坡的最低温度记录为摄氏度19.4。

Hotel 旅馆

Thailand - Bangkok

泰国 – 曼谷

Wonder what kind of hotel I stay in when I am in Bangkok?

想知道我在曼谷住的是什么样的旅馆？

My request for the hotel is simple, that is, the room should be clean and the price should be reasonable.

我对旅馆的要求很简单，就是客房要干净、价钱要合理。

If possible, must have a bathtub in the toilet.

如果可能，浴室要有浴缸。

I dislike heat, so I like to immerse myself in the bathtub to cool down.

我怕热，喜欢把自己浸泡在浴缸里降温。

The hotel name is very unique.

旅馆名称非常独特。

Its name is Malaysia Hotel.

它的名字是马来西亚旅馆。

It is not posh, price is reasonable, near town and has a swimming pool.

它并不豪华，价钱平民，靠近市区，还有一个泳池。

Such a hotel can only be described as value for money.

这样一家旅馆只能用物超所值来形容。

It has a 24 hour restaurant.

它有一间24小时的餐厅。

I like 'kao pad boo' (fried rice with crab meat) in this restaurant.

我喜欢这餐厅的 ‘烤扒卜’（蟹肉炒饭）。

When you stay in a hotel, has any hotel staff greeted you by your name?

入住旅馆时，有没有旅馆员工能够以你的名字称呼你？

Only in very high-end hotels will have it! 

只有在非常高级的旅馆才会有吧！

But here, the receptionists do address most regular guests by their names.

但是在这，接待员都能以常客的名字称呼。

I am very particular about the toiletries and will only use my own.

对于沐浴用品，我很龟毛，只用我自己带来的。

Another reason I like to stay in this hotel is that I can deposit my personal toiletries with them and collect them on my next visit.

喜欢入住这家旅馆的另一个原因是，我的私人沐浴用品能寄放在那，等下次回来再取。

This hotel was the very first hotel I stayed when I first visited Bangkok.

这家旅馆是我第一次去曼谷旅游时入住的第一家旅馆。

Since then, I have stayed in this same hotel for more than decades.

从那时起，我就在同一家旅馆待了数十年。

P/S: I had ever stayed in hotel called 'Singapore' in Hattyai.

注：我曾经在合艾住过名为‘新加坡’的旅馆。

Royal Month Of Asia 亚洲的皇家月份

Japan & Thailand

日本及泰国

This May can be regarded as the royal month of Asia.

今年五月份可被视为亚洲的皇家月份。

On May 1, Japan ushered in the 126th Emperor.

5月1日，日本迎来了第126代天皇。

Emperor Naruhito's reign heralds the dawn of the Reiwa epoch.

德仁正式继承皇位，并开启了“令和”时代。

On May 4, Thailand ushered in the 10th King of the Chakri Dynasty and is also known as King Rama X.

5月4日，泰国迎来了 Chakri 王朝的第10位国王，也被称为国王拉玛十世。

Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who ascended the throne three years ago, is officially crowned today.

三年前登上王位的泰国国王玛哈哇集拉隆功今天正式加冕。