Remember how I waxed lyrical about my recent trips to China? about the charm of X'ian? the cultural depth of Chengdu? Well, my rosy view of Chinese cities was abruptly and rudely changed with my visit to Xiamen.
The city has the feel of a rough border town. It has embraced the worst of two sets of value systems where communist efficiency is used to feed capitalist avarice.
Highrise and highways dominate the city. Buildings are architecturally void of aesthetics - a fact further emphasised by garish neon-lit signs when night falls.
Entertainment takes the form of hard boozing and hard whoring in custom built KTVs that boast hundreds of private rooms and thousands of hostesses.
For the tourist looking for nostalgia and natural scenic beauty in Xiamen, the time has past. For the tourist looking for modern gentility that accompanies economic success, the time has not yet come.
In order that we maintain our balanced diet even when on holiday, we ate everything in sight :-)
Gulangyu is a small 2 sq km island that lies 500 km off the southwest end of Xiamen - a 5-minute ferry ride from the city.
A once thriving community of rich foreigners and consulates in the early 1900s, most homes today are sadly derelict. The island is a pedestrian-only tourist favourite for visitors wishing to escape the hustle and bustle of Xiamen.
Cobble footpaths snake along the hillsides.Grand and elegant mansions are shielded from inquisitive eyes by high walls.
Motorised vehicles are prohibited on Gulangyu. Raw manpower hauls everything, including construction material, up the hilly island.
On a sunny afternoon in Xiamen, I spied
1. Hokkien ah peks all in a row
2. Scarlet O'hara
3. baby Ronaldo
4. the leader of the lau Hokkiens
5. a hopeful couple
I will be away for a week from Monday. Somehow, I have a feeling that this destination is less "foreign" compared to the other China destinations I have been to. On the other hand, I may be totally wrong with my guess, so stay tuned for updates upon my return.
Raqs Sharqi - the beauty of Bellydance on Tuesday 29 April at the Victoria Theatre.
Susanna Lawren is a teacher at Claribel's Raks Sharki Studio.
In conjunction with the recent opening of the studio, students who sign up for a course of 8 lessons will receive free tickets to the concert (while stocks last).
There will also be a series of bellydance workshops with Melina the guest performer of the Raqs Sharqi concert.
I hope to see many of you at the concert and the workshops.
The friends got around to organizing a pig-out at their favourite zhi char joint in Tiong Bahru.
I cannot make out the name of the place: there are several shop signs above their front door. They do not have business cards to hand out either. The friends said they have been coming to this place for years, but never knew the name either. So much for sound research and background information from me :)
The place is bare walls and naked light bulbs. Sit outside. It is a lot more atmospheric. And you get a great view of the eating frenzy going on at its famous neighbour, Sin Hoi Sai in Block 55 (above picture).
There is no menu either. The boss lady/order- taker tells you what they have that night, and then proceeds to tell what you will like to have. She will also decide for you how many dishes and what size order is enough for your party.
But all this unconventional protocol is forgiven once the food hits your table. Everything they do is superb. It is real, it is old-fashioned, it is honest. You cannot get better zhi char than this.
No wonder the friends have been coming to this place for years and willing to put up with the total absence of polite niceties. I, too, am now a convert.
The zhi char place is located at Block 57 Eng Hoon Street in Tiong Bahru.
has moved to a new location downtown. Friends, instructors, students and newcomers celebrated the occasion yesterday with music, dance and refreshment.
There are many reasons to be excited about the new studio.
The place is conveniently located downtown. The studio is beautifully outfitted to inspire any dancer. The class schedule is extremely flexible and there are many instructors to learn from. The studio is also a great place to drop in for a cup of coffee and meeting up with other bellydance friends.
Classes start next week. If you have always thought of taking up bellydance, now is a great time to begin.
I hope to see many of you soon.
Claribel's Raks Sharki Studio is located at:
31A & 33A New Bridge Road
S. 059394
Tel: 97972261
email: info@bellydanceinsingapore.com
The Spanish girlfriend cooked us the most delicious seafood paella.
Batter:Years of pounding on the studio floor doing aerobics and dance have taken its toll on my poor knees which had been screaming pain for months now.
I resisted comfort shoes for years because I always saw them as orthopaedic shoes - clunky ugly footwear in basic browns, blacks, whites and beiges for the crippled. (And I am not ready to concede defeat yet!) But I finally decided I have to stop wearing sexy strappy high-heeled sandals unnecessarily, and go for something sensible when there is no need for heels. Before my knees give out on me completely out of protest.
But comfort shoes that look half way decent are really and truly difficult to find. I got really upset and annoyed at myself for making the poor staff working the shoe department at Taka bring out just about the entire inventory.
By the 10th pair that I rejected after trying, I started to think they must think me a bored bitch! By the 15th pair, I was convinced they must think me a sadistic bored bitch! I kept apologising, I kept telling myself the next pair would be IT. But no, the hunt went on.
I finally managed to find a pair of lace-ups and a pair of ballet flats that I actually really liked. Phew! I would hate to have left the store with nothing! After all their effort, and all my time!
I could not thank the staff enough for their patience with me and helping me with my selection.
I know it is their job, but it is really a physically demanding job - having to retrieve shoes from storeroom, having to squat down to place the shoes at your feet, having to bend to pick up the shoes, then packing the rejects and starting over with the next pairs. Having to do this over and over umpteen times in the course of their work day.
And I wonder how long before the nature of their work take its toll on their knees...
This is an invitation from Claribel to all ladies who are bellydance enthusiasts of any level.
Hi Ladies,
We are excited to announce that our studio will be moving to a new location in town :)
The Official Opening of the new studio is scheduled to take place in July, but we are holding a party on April 11 Friday at 1:30 pm at the new studio to mark its 'start of operation'.
You are cordially invited to join us at the party for some belly dance fun and light refreshment.
See you,
Claribel
Do join us for an afternoon of music, dance and friendship. We look forward to seeing you there.
was the month
- we went to Chengdu mid-month
- and came back on Thursday, one day before Good Friday
- which made it a super long Sunday to Sunday break
- which put us in the mood to cook Sichuan for the friends.
- a girlfriend celebrated her birthday with a four day-to-night marathon party
- of which I could only stand to be at 2 of the nights
- and even then could only handle about 3 hours each time.
We went to work 9 afternoons this month.
I am so getting used to this kind of work schedule.
