Hi folks,

Tonight was the grand dinner of Tang Chao Fu as the temple celebrates in honour of Tua Li Ya Pek (Da Er Ye Bo). This was my third attendance at this temple's grand dinner, thanks to KF, who is an active member of this temple. We met through the sintua.com and one of our outings with another sintua event, on the top of a huge lorry speeding across the island. (^^)

Tang Chao Fu celebrates twice a year, in 7th month for Tua Li Ya Pek and in 9th month for Sam Zhong Ong (San Zhong Wang). This must be one of the gatherings where members of sintua.com met. Almost the who's who in sintua.com were there. And from our TS list, we filled up one table .. with Ronni hailing in from Penang, ChayTiong from KL, Gilles from France (I mean whampoa), Aaron from Sengkang, Jave from Woodlands, Tim from Bedok, Chan from Tua Sei Kai (Great World - River Valley Rd) and me, wife and son from Chinatown. I think it is a good idea to meet and chat, and support local sintua events. Of course, we have to shout till our throats were coarse, competing against the auctioneers and the getai singers, who had very powerful public address systems. (^^)

Tonight was a great experience .. when rain suddenly poured onto Chinatown at about 7.35pm. It was almost chaotic as everyone tried to move the tables around to avoid the pouring rain. And then, water started flowing across the grass ... beneath the shoes of the diners. Typical of Chinese dinner, especially at temple dinners (although the last one we attended, the organisers insisted on 7.30pm sharp!) and with the rain, most of the diners were late, either caught in the rain or have been prevented from getting nearer. As soon as the rain stopped at about 8.45pm, the whole place was suddenly swarmed with diners .. and by 9pm, food was served. Typical times would be 8.30pm. But it did not matter nor affect the diners as all were there for a good time.

A squeeky public address system started up (not sure if it was the rain) and the auctioneers started their job. This year, most of the items sponsored by temple supporters for the auction were either wine or cognac. A good idea as in most cases, the one who gets the item would share with their fellow diners of that table. A hugh bottle of cognac - 3 litre? - went to the highest bidder of S$1,688!

A pleasant 8 course dinner had everyone tucked in their fill .. hmm, the kong-bak-pao (braised pork in Chinese buns) is the typical Hokkien cuisine and then, the dessert of hong-tau-sar (red bean soup) with lotus seeds seem like Cantonese. By the final course, everyone was cheering and toasting with everyone. Those diners went back to the Hong Lim Complex to pay their respects to the Gods before going home.

Another group of sintua.com kakis were helping to set up lighting for a new pallanquin that has has arrived in time for this celebration. It looked solid and certainly heavy. It has a touch of Japanese mikoshi aura, being painted in gold and black. Tomorrow, in sending off Jade Emperor, we will be able to see the three huge pallanquins being carried.

Meanwhile, Ronni went into action, talking to a 70+ man about the Gods. The man was explaining the Gods to Ronni. When asked how old the statues were, the man said that he had been involved in the temple since the age of 8 and now he is in his seventies. He even showed how Tua Ya Pek had saved his life when he went for his operation, removing his entire stomach three years ago. He said that it was a matter of life and death, but Tua Ya Pek said that he would save him, since he has been helping him every first and 15th of the lunar month (when he conducts consultations to devotees).

So, behind this scene of many generations of devotees and temple members, there are many stories waiting to be told. The stories here will tell us even more about the early builders of SIngapore. Many of the earlier devotees could have been coolies working on the tongkangs or tua-kows (lighters) that were used to carry goods like copra, rice, wood, sugar, flour, etc from the Singapore River to the ships waiting in the "outer roads" (outside Clifford Pier) or from the ships in. Remember that SIngapore was an important entreport serving the countries around it.

Tomorrow promises to be exciting .. if you have the time, don't miss the mini yewkeng in the afternoon.

Victor
SIngapore