The Gates Of Hell Are Open

Since last mid night (1.08) the seventh month in the Chinese calendar, the most inauspicious time of the year is back. The "Month of the Hungry Ghosts” is a festival widely observed by

Chinese in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia.

Buddhists, Taoists and believers of Chinese folk religions believe that hungry ghosts are ghosts of people that did not find everything they need to survive in their afterlife. If a ghost passes on, but does not have enough food, water, shelter, and other material things, it will come back into the world of the living to scare people and feed off their energy and fear. This month is believed to be the time when the gates of hell are opened to free the hungry ghosts who then wander not only to seek food on Earth but also to cause misfortune to the living. During this dangerous time they suspend all important activities and decisions. At its climax, they celebrate the Festival of the Hungry Ghosts.

This festival goes back to the Buddhist Ullambana Sutra, which tells of Maudgalyayana, who as a young boy left home to become a disciple of Brahma, and later of Buddha. When he attained enlightenment, he remembered his parents and looked for them. He found his father in heaven, but his mother had been reborn into the Realm of the Hungry Ghosts, a realm of hell. She hadn't respected his wish that she welcome any Buddhist monk, and had instead been greedy with money and kindness.

The description of her ghost is terrifying. Her skin was "like that of a golden pheasant when its feathers have been plucked, her bones were like round stones placed one beside the other. Her head was big as a ball, her neck thin as a thread, and her stomach like a great sea swelling out." Because her throat was too narrow to eat or drink, but her belly so distended, she went terribly hungry. But the rice and water that Maudgalyayana gave her caught fire in her belly. So he pled with the Buddha, who instructed him to gather the Buddhist monks and sacrifice food and drink, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. Maudgalyayana did so, and his mother was liberated.
Both Chinese Buddhists and Taoists claim that the Ghost Festival originated with their religion, but its roots are probably in Chinese folk religion and antedates both religions.

In the Tang Dynasty, the Buddhist festival Ullambana and the Ghost Festival were mixed and celebrated together. Chinese Buddhists often say that there is a difference between Ullambana and the traditional Chinese Zhongyuan Jie, usually saying people have mixed superstitions (such as burning joss paper items) and delusional thoughts, rather than think that Ullambana is actually a time of happiness. This time of happiness is sometimes used as a reason for the festival to be called as the Chinese Halloween.

How is it celebrated?

For those who maintain these traditional beliefs, all sorts of activities may grind to a halt. People have to be home before midnight of August 1 so ghosts don’t find “empty” houses to enter and occupy.

I witnessed this year’s start here in Chinatown and at about 9 pm you could see how fast streets emptied and shops shut down to get home in time. The ones who stayed started to set up tables with a tablecloth and chopsticks and plates and glasses of wine, beer, a roasted chicken and duck in the middle of it, but no one sitting at it. That’s because it’s reserved ......for the ghosts.

Even here you could see the “kiasuism” of some Singaporeans trying to be the first to start burning the incenses and offerings, because after one year in hell the ghosts are hungry and the ones serving them first will be blessed with the most luck. If you’re late the ghosts might be already full and not taking your offers! But it’s not only food which is offered daily items for spirits to use in the after-life are being burnt as well, paper effigies of homes, maids, money, (paper) fabrics for making cloths and more. In this modern but still superstitious city’s such as Singapore and Hong Kong, people wind down their nightlife, property and car sales usually enter a lull period during the festival, people are also not supposed to get married and many more activities must stop. I overheard someone saying that when they were young, their parents used to tell them not to go to the beach during the "hungry ghosts" festival because they were afraid that they might be captured by ghosts in the water.

Surprise Visit

A dear "old" friend had to make an unexpected but welcome stopover in Singapore. Due to overbooking of his SQ flight to Australia, Gerald and his partner were grounded here for a day, however stuffed with a very generous, adequate compensation. No wonder they charge as so much at SQ! Gerald better known as "Der Maulwurf (the mole)" was in Singapore not too long ago and dug the huge hole under Ford Canning park, called tunnel.
If anyone has complaints regarding this tunnel, get in touch with me I can forward to Gerald.

Of course immediately after checking into his "day only" hotel room his first visit was Chinatown and Erich's! That's what I call loyal customers and this is a driving factor for running this blog, to keep former expats but also friends and locals updated whatz up in Singapore and the region.
The other thing is: Who does not like to gossip at least once in a while. But I promise I will not try to compete or start a war with Singapore's 2 most famous blogger Xiaxue and Dawn Yang who are in a legal battle now. The reason why I mention this issue is because they are all over the newspapers, not gossip magazines, Singapore's No.1 "Straits Times" and others!!! Ya right, don't they have better things to write about than about 2 pseudo celebrities?

Well our policy is to fight differences eye on eye at Erich's Wuerstelstand with his delicious sausages and bread and probably Erdinger beer. The loser has to pay for food and drinks! Way cheaper and so much more fun than hiring lawyers, isn't it?

So Gerald, enjoy your holiday in down under, come back soon there are a lot of tunnels to dig here. Was great seeing you again. Best regards to "big mole" Hannes who is doomed to dig in Vienna the next few years.

Chicken Rice Finals

And then there were 12 at the thorough briefing with the judges and no change in the menu but definitely a change in quantity.

A 70 year old auntie next to me was pretty sure the 8 1/2 bowls from the qualifying round have to be beaten in order to cash in the price money. She seemed to be more excited than the contestants and proudly told me all the details about last year's contest.

Another sweltering Sunday in Singapore but despite the heat, again people didn't want to miss the spectacle and flocked to the Square from all over the Island.

Not really sure what their motives were, was it sympathy for the contestants, a lust for sensation if someone might not be able to keep the food (??) or just being curious?

The 2 hosts Zhang Ying and Jeff did a great job in building up the excitement with their bilingual moderation.

The Taiwanese "Burger King" made it to the final, so far the trip was worth it, but can he win? Can he beat the Singaporeans on their home soil and with one of their most favorite dish if not THE FAVORITE one?

By the way one lady made it to the finals as well. Is the time ripe for Tan Hui Ling?

....or will it be the big boy Peter Low who, as the winner on Saturday, will go as favorite into the finals with 8 1/2 bowls down.

......or a fifty four year old seasoned and experienced guy like Ng Weng Hong who gobbled 7 bowls in the 1st round

....or Ng Chin Sheng, last years runner up (8 bowls). Will he stand on the podium again?

The Contestants were ready to Rock and Roll, the bowls served and it's Showtime now:

Tan Hui Ling
Koh Song Yee

Tan Kok Beng, one of last years finalists, can he win it this year?

Li Rong

Wong Kai Hu
Zhang Shi Chao

Li Jian
Leong Ing Kiat, quietly but steadily finished one bowl after the other

Liu Chao Chiang , the Taiwanese was not able to beat the locals he only made it to 7 bowls. As we all know: Don't play, play with Singaporeans!Ng Chin Sheng tried different positions to get things down. Did it help in the end?

Ng Weng Hong (54) was not able to keep it up and as it seemed to keep it in as well so he had to retire after 4 1/2bowls only

Peter Low very confident

10 minutes are over! Every single grain counts. The judges take their job very seriously and are usinge a scale 3rd place is last years runner up Ng Chin Sheng with 9 1/2 bowls
2nd place Peter Low finishing 10 bowls

and the winner and Chicken Rice Eating Contest 2008 Champion is Leong Ing Kiat with 10 1/4 bowls

You want to be part of it and win great cash prices next year, then start your training now! You can find the best chicken rice stalls all over the island.
Maybe you're one of them next year:

If you want to see the whole Chicken Rice Eating Competition Album:

Just click the photo

CHICKEN RICE EATING COMPETITION 2008

Chicken Rice Eating Competition Attracts Overseas Contestants

The annual chicken rice contest was once again one of the highlights of the Chinatown food festival. Close to 1000 spectators, locals and tourists, gathered around the stage at Kreta Ayer Square in Chinatown to watch witness as close as possible how many bowls of rice a human can swallow within a 10 minute time limit. Last years record of 8 bowls might not be enough to cash in the price money. Due to the limitation of 75 people, by the organisers more than 20 last minute walk in contestants had to be rejected. 10 percent of them were Malaysians, Ang Moh's and even Taiwan's Burger Eating Champion Lu Chao Ching from Taiwan flew in to win the price money.

Before the start of the contest Wong Chi Keong, Chairman of the Chinatown Business Association welcomed the guest of honour MP Dr. Lily Neo and presented a cheque of $ 10,000 for the Yong En Care Centre.

But then it started what people came to see for. The first group in the qualification round tried to beat last years record.

Only 12 of the 75 will qualify for the finals next day. To me it seemed so much easier compared to last year for the contestants to swallow that much chicken rice. As it turned out 7 bowls was the minimum to proceed to the next round.

Watch some of the contestants during their task

Would there be an advantage for big boys?

Or does size not matter? Or can a woman win this year?

You'll find out the answer in our next post. So stay tuned.

CHICKEN RICE EATING COMPETITION

The eating competition is back and it'll be an annual event. If you want to be part of it and win up to $2000 call at 6474 7909 for more event details. A nominal registration fee of $5 applies.

You are just curious and want to see how much humans can swallow in 10 min come to Kreta Ayer Square on Saturday 12.July from 11am to 9pm for qualification rounds or on Sunday 13.July afternoon for the finals.

SINGAPORE FOOD FESTIVAL (4.- 27.July): Eat Like a Local

The 24-day Singapore Food Festival will show you what it is all about in our City-State, besides shopping and making money. You will learn what food makes the locals so passionate about eating (365 days a year).

This festival is dedicated to celebrating the best of Singapore food.

With a line-up of themed events, master classes, tasting sessions and more, the 15th Singapore Food Festival (4 – 27 July) will enlighten you on the multi-ethnic heritage of Singapore food as we know it today. Chinese, Malay, Indian, Peranakan and Eurasian cuisines have played key roles in the evolution of a unique “foodscape”, so come and discover Singapore’s culinary traditions and secrets.

To find out details checkout this website: Singapore Food Festival

In Chinatown some events of the food festival take place as well.

During the Chinese Dialect Food Showcase (12th & 13th JULY 2008; Kreta Ayer Square)
you can look back and explore the Chinese traditional heritage through its diverse range of foods from the established dialects in Singapore including the three main dialects (Cantonese, Teochew, Hokkien) and other dialects such as Hakka, Hainanese, Shanghainese, and Henghua.

Chinatown Old Brands Showcase
In the HUNT for Most Popular Signature Dish just dive into the Chinatown Food Paradise with a Food Hunt Booklet specially launched to help locals and tourists navigate around. Check out the Old Brands Restaurants, each of more than 30 years in history, indulge in their well-known signature dishes and enjoy exclusive discounts just for this July!

Support your favourite 'Chinatown Old Brand Restaurant' simply by voting for their signature dish and you might be rewarded at the Grand Lucky Draw with cash prizes up to $1000!