The Tiger, the Lion & the Dragon

A fierce alliance. One that happens only every twelve years. By experience, it was feral for Singapore's Chinatown.

As soon as Sharon Cheong, Tiger Airways Customer Relations Officer, knew that I haven't had the chance to experience how Singapore gear up for the Chinese New Year, she quickly extended an invitation to visit the Lion City anew.

"There is a large Chinese community here in Singapore, close to 75% of the country's population," she said, and excitedly relayed how Singapore's Chinatown transforms into its festive state weeks before the Lunar New Year arrives.

How can I decline?

Out of the three races comprising the population of Singapore, Chinese, Indian and Malay, the Chinese constitutes the largest ethnic group in the country.

Outside of Greater China, It is the only country in the world that accounts for the majority of its population.

In the Chinese calendar, the Lunar New Year is the most important and the longest festivity, lasting for two weeks, for the community. It is customary to splurge on presents, decoration, food and clothing. The houses undergo thorough cleaning, sweeping away any ill-fortune and make way for good incoming luck. The interiors are decorated with auspicious ornaments like red paper cuts and couplets, lanterns; lucky fruits, the mandarin symbolizes gold; and plants that will usher in good fortune, happiness, wealth and long life.

Most importantly, the family. On the Eve of Chinese New Year, supper is a feast with the families. A family reunion dinner where everyone is sporting new clothes in red and aside from the well wishes, the giving of "hongbao", a red envelope with money for good luck, is a common practice done by the elders for the children.

What is new year without the firecrackers and loud beating of drums? This ensures a prominent year ahead and rid the home and business place of unlucky spirits.

In the Singapore Chinatown, Sharon was Kenneth and I's official tour guide. See pointed out every good luck charm and explained what it meant, and identified all the must-eat food along the streets and what it symbolizes. Of course, you know what that entailed- a lot of eating. To be fair, she did warn me.

We finally made it to Yum Cha, after successfully navigating the maze of stalls, where Dave Perring, Tiger Airways' Commercial Director, was patiently waiting for us. We dined on Peking Duck, hot pot, tofu and vegetables that we had to toss up high in the air for soaring good luck.

A "family reunion dinner" of sorts. Tiger Airways' Customer Relations Officer Sharon Cheong, chic in chinoiserie, and Commercial Director Dave Perring, hosts the Davao press,Kenneth Ong of EDGE and who else?