Chap Goh Mei + V Day celebration...

So, while most people probably celebrated Hearts Day with the usual romantic dinner or mushy surprise, I prepared a different kind of "celebration" for me and PG Boy. Hehe!

Coincidentally, 14 Feb this year is also the Chap Goh Mei. Hokkien for "15th night," Chap Goh Mei signals the last day of the Chinese New Year celebrations.

I thought why not celebrate two events with one activity. Without him knowing it, I registered the two of us for a heritage walk around Chinatown to celebrate Chap Goh Mei.

On one hand, it'll be a unique date, at least that's how I see it. On the other hand, it is also one way of closing the CNY celebrations, which PG Boy observes.

Traditionally, Chap Goh Mei is celebrated by carrying lanterns on the street.

I was really quite excited by this. PG Boy initially didn't want to carry a lantern. I somehow managed to convince (or coerce?) him to carry one and that there's no need to be paiseh about it.

For about an hour or so, together with close to 20 other people, our group walked around different parts of Chinatown carrying our lanterns.

Every so often, the guide would stop in front of a building or temple or some random spot in the street to explain the historical significance of the area.

I guess my favourite portion was walking along Telok Ayer St. and Phillip St. to visit three temples - Thian Hock Keng Temple, Fuk Tak Chi Temple and Yueh Hai Ching Temple.

The last temple was quite busy since a lot of people were praying and making offerings.

It was interesting to know that Telok Ayer is considered to be one of the many "Streets of Harmony" in the island with the presence of Thian Hock Keng Temple, Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, Nagore Dargah Indian Muslim Heritage Centre and the Al-Abrar Mosque along the same row. Streets whereby significant places of worship from each of the major religions in the city are found are called "streets of harmony."

Singapore being a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-faith community, it is no surprise to find a number of streets of harmony in different parts of the island.

After the heritage walk, PG Boy and I just proceeded to Chinatown Point for coffee and dessert before heading back.

It was quite a nice activity for a Friday night.

Random blah about the one that got away....

Yesterday, I was having a random chat with a friend.

Out of the blue, I asked my friend, "Do you think here was your 'the one that got away'?"

This caught my friend by surprise. Lol!

I added, "Or do you think you are the one who got away?"

Hmm, I was listening earlier to Ivan Leung's cover of Katy Perry's The One That Got Away. This was probably the reason I thought of asking the question.

To my friend, it was both of them "who got away" (using my friend's words). It doesn't mean like finally escaping from the relationship but more like I'm your The One Who Got Away, You're my The One Who Got AWay.

Then I told my friend about how my first (and up until 2011) and only relationship.

I shared how it took me a month before the truth really sank in. I talked about that very unforgettable Sunday of Holy Week 2006 at the home of my friend Sean in Tagaytay.

Anyway, I dunno the real reason why this whole thought came to mind yesterday.

What's kinda weird though was that the song played again while I was at the gym waiting for Pump class to start. You know how instructors usually play music while waiting for people to come in. I dun ever recall having the Katy Perry son in a Pump class.

On my way home, I was just going through my Facebook feed and I came across this article about The One That Got Away.

So strange. Lol. Or maybe I'm just reading into things too much?

I'm not sure though that X was the one that got away. We were more like "we had the right love at the wrong time." Hehe!

Happy Hearts Day to all!