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Chingay 2009, Singapore!
The beautiful people at Chingay 2009! L-R: Lanette Stuart, Sarah Nicole Conceicao from the Eurasian Association (EA), Singapore. Photo: Courtesy of Sarah Conceicao.
The logo on the left will bring you to the official Chingay Singapore 2009 website where you can purchase tickets to the event.
Chingay, one of Singapore’s most colourful annual street carnival is about to take place on 30th and 31st January, so I thought I’d share with you some pictures from pre-Chingay to whet your appetites before the real blast off of a show!
Having its roots in Penang, Malaysia and then moving south in celebrations to Johor and Singapore, Chingay, which is the Hokkien word for “the art of costume and masquerade”, originated as a simple procession of floats.
As a child, I remember having witnessed these floats, which were usually large vehicles, lorries or trucks that were colourfully decked with lights and transformed into mini-stages of sorts for those performing in them. Each float told a different story and had different accompanying music.
The first Chingay parade was launched in Singapore in 1973, and it was so well received by Singaporeans that it became an annual event. The parade didn’t always have a fixed location, with the procession touring diffrent housing estates annually. But since 1985, the permanent venue for the event is at Orchard Road which allows for tourists and Singaporeans alike to join in the festivities.
I loved Chingay as a child, and today, Chingay 2009 in Singapore is bigger than ever with invites to international performers and costumes so splendidly colourful!
Dancers from Sylvia McCully’s dance school who form part of the EA dance troupe for this event, in front of a Portuguese Carrack. Photo: Courtesy of Sarah Conceicao
Perhaps more fun than watching the show is performing and being a part of it. This year, the Eurasian Association (EA) of Singapore has joined forces with Cedar Girls and Sylvia McCully’s dancers to form their troupe for Chingay 2009. The atmosphere is electric and the excitement is in the air for the performers!
L-R: Lanette Stuart, Jamie Yun, Michelle Loh and Sarah Nicole Conceicao in their costumes of Spanish inspiration, is designed by Debra De Cotta. Photo: Courtesy of Sarah Conceicao
Sarah Conceicao who is part of the EA dance troupe fell in love with the costumes and dancing of the EA dance troupe:
Then came Chingay. My mum was actually in it last year, so this year I got my chance. There was no way I was going to give up the opportunity.
I also joined mainly because of the people that I’d meet along the way, full dress rehearsals and all…everyone has been really friendly throughout the whole process.
Its been alot of hard work. But its alot of fun.
Behind the scenes: putting on make-up in preparation for the full dress rehearsal of Chingay 2009. Photo: Courtesy of Sarah Conceicao.
Practice for the event began in November 2008 with vividly alluring costumes specially designed by Debra De Cotta for the EA dance troupe. You can catch the EA dancers on a stage on the City Hall steps, on 30th and 31st January, 2009.
The dance to be performed at Chingay by the EA dance troupe is choreographed by Sylvia McCully. Photo: Courtesy of Sarah Conceicao.
Some members of the 4,000 strong performers at Chingay 2009. Photo: Courtesy of Sarah Conceicao.
If you’re planning to be at Chingay 2009, you can expect 13 Floats with 4000 performers from 40 local organisations. Cultural groups from 8 different countries such as India, Philippines, Thailand, South Korea and China will also be part of this event.
There are after parties too at this year’s Chingay celebrations and the locations for the various parties / events can be found at the official website.
I think one can expect to have an absolutely smashing time at Chingay 2009!
The spirit of Sue Wong
A brown beaded halter-neck evening dress by Sue Wong.
Model: Cheryl Marie Cordeiro. Photo by Geoffrey Pereira.
A surefire way to kick off a glamorous evening is by picking the right dress. This slinky number by Sue Wong and her inspirations – Garbo, Dietrich, Lombard – certainly fulfills her desire to bring glamour and romance to the modern woman.
Sue Wong began designing under her own name in 1985 and in 1999, her Nocturne label, which showcases elegant evening wear (and is one of my favourite labels to have for evening wear) became an immediate success. Intricately beaded, soft on the body and one that offers a stunning silhouette to the wearer, are her signature traits in evening wear.
Miss Universe 1999 pageant in Trinidad and Tobago – 6th from the 6th TAG
Miss Bolivia Universe, Susana Barrientos Roig in her National Costume for the international Miss Universe 1999 pageant held in Trinidad and Tobago. Her home town is Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
I had a tag from Chey of Stilettoed Praline to pick out the 6th picture from the 6th folder of my photo albums folder and write a story about it.
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The Tower of Pisa, Piazza dei Miracoli, Italy
In front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which up close, looks disconcertingly precarious. The beautiful symmetry of the stacked arches distracts some from the precarious leaning of the tower though.
Text & Photo © JE Nilsson, CM Cordeiro-Nilsson 2008
Pisa, the birthplace of Galileo Galilei the physicist and one of my favourite tenors, Andrea Bocelli (born in Lajatico, Tuscany), is a city that lies in the west coast of the Tuscan region of Italy. Tuscany in central Italy, is a most inspiringly beautiful place to visit in general, with the lands undulating with vineyards and restaurants atop hillocks. Florence is one of the more beautiful cities in Italy to visit, with fantastic food and scenary. The Tuscan region in Italy is like poetry, with its land sculpted via both the force of nature over time and its people.
An architectural marvel and personal curiosity is the Tower of Pisa that in my view, so elegantly leans to one side. Well. Alright, it was miscalculated, but still – beautiful.
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Fun, Food, Forum and modern Gladiators in Rome
The Colosseum in the evening sun, Rome.
It was after the visit to the Vatican City that we took our time with a viewing of Rome. Home to the gladiators and the exciting, at the same time terrifying arena fights where humans and animals were sacrificed for pleasure and honour alike. Continue reading “Fun, Food, Forum and modern Gladiators in Rome”
A Chanel diamond quilt bag in dark blue
Back at work, a pencil dress in deep purple from Mango (MNG) with a Chanel Classic Flap bag with diamond quilting.
Photo: Geoffrey Pereira.
These Chanel classics are quite comfortable in size. The slimmer, sleeker versions are perfect for evenings out and the larger sizes are great for office wear, allowing for A4 documents.
For office wear, I’m favouring pencil skirts and stream lined pencil dresses. This Mango (MNG) rendition is in a deep royal purple with capped sleeves and a skinny belt at the waist.
For more designer handbags such as this Chanel, Gucci, Tod’s, Prada and this Bottega Veneta clutch as pictured above, please contact Jaimie Lim.
New Year’s 2009 in Gothenburg, Sweden!
At the Gothenburg Opera House greeting the New Year, 2009, with a glass of champagne!
No New Year’s party in Sweden is complete without a massive display of fireworks so this year, we made it a point to go see the annual fireworks in Gothenburg, Sweden, sponsored by the local newspaper, Göteborgs Posten (GP). Continue reading “New Year’s 2009 in Gothenburg, Sweden!”
Christmas day in the Swedish west coast archipelago
A nippy Christmas day, at -5 deg C outdoors. In the background, a gliding ferry coming to a controlled and steady halt at the jetty.
It was perfect weather with clear blue skies in the Swedish west coast archipelago today. The sea was perfectly still with not a wave in sight, save the ones created by this ferry that ferries passengers to and from the islands. Continue reading “Christmas day in the Swedish west coast archipelago”
Christmas marketing in Gothenburg
Homemade candy is an irresistible draw at most Christmas markets. This candy stand was at the Saluhallen Christmas market. Saluhallen is a marketing hall famous for good cuts of meat and specialty cheeses, year round.
One of my most favourite things to do during the Christmas season in Sweden is to explore the various Christmas markets around the city center. Gothenburg city has about five or six major markets to explore, all within walking distance from each other, and you can spend an entire day hopping from one Christmas market or julmarknad to the other in exploration. Continue reading “Christmas marketing in Gothenburg”