Like Doraemon, I love Dorayaki a lot so needless to say, I picked up a pack of them. I'm sure these are Doraemon-approved!

Further down the street, I spotted Koi Kei Bakery. I love their almond cookies! I never fail to bring back a couple of them each time I visit Hong Kong or Macau. Now that its available in Singapore, I won't have to wait till I travel to satisfy my craving. 

Koi Kei Bakery Macao products

In terms of prices, it is definitely much more expensive than if you were to get it from either Macau or Hong Kong. Koi Kei Bakery products is the cheapest in Macau because its from there. Prices in Singapore is more expensive than Hong Kong's. I didn't managed to snap pictures of the products available in store because the staff told me that in-store photography is not allowed in quite an abrupt manner. 

Before you head down to get your favourite Koi Kei Bakery products, don't say I didn't warn you - be prepared for a no-frills shopping experience. The staffs there ain't really what you would call patient. I was only in the store for less than 5 minutes and I was quite appalled with their responses to customers' enquiries regarding the products. I guess even without good customer service, people are still willing to purchase because Koi Kei Bakery is a well-known brand in the market hence they are able to survive till now.

After that, we proceeded to the Festive Street Bazaar. In fact, this is the main reason why we are there. Chinatown Festive Street Bazaar runs annually for about 20 days before Chinese New Year to Chinese New Year Eve along Pagoda Street, Smith Street, Sago Street, Temple Street and Trengganu Street.

Chinatown Festive Street Bazaar

Pagoda Street, Smith Street, Sago Street, Temple Street and Trengganu Street

6.00pm – 10.30pm (Daily)

6.00pm – 1.00am (Chinese New Year’s Eve)

At our first stop, we spotted peanuts in vintage packaging. I thought they looked very much like how Char Kway Teow was packed in the olden days. 

Peanuts a la old school style

Dried Persimmon

The benefits of basil seeds includes aid in digestion, treat colds, relieves stress and help treat infections. Mummy was sold by the benefits of it so she picked up a bottle.

The next stall that we stopped by had preserved candies on sale but what caught my attention was the way they were marketed as they all had prosperous names!

Yet another stall selling Chinese candies. This stall's candies' has got prosperous names too!

It is a tradition to buy flowers (both fresh flowers and bonsai) for Chinese New Year as in Chinese, we have a saying - 花开富貴 meaning the blooming of flowers brings prosper. The popular ones include pussy willow, peach blossom, narcissus and kumquat.

Narcissus 水仙花

Known to the Chinese as Water Fairy Flower, Elegant Garlic, or Fairy of the Waves, the narcissus, a symbol of good fortune and prosperity, is an important and beloved flower of the Chinese New Year. Narcissus has a pleasant fragrance. 

The yellow cup resting on white petals gives it another elegant name, jinzhan yintai, or Gold Cup on a Silver Stand. This flower came originally from Europe, but was already known in the Tang dynasty. Legend has it that Emperor Minghuang (712–756 ce) presented twelve pots of red narcissus to Lady Guoguo, the sister of his beloved concubine Yang Guifei.

Peach Blossom 桃花

The peach tree with its pink blossoms is a standarddecoration for the New Year. Considered sacred in China, the wood of the peach tree was used as a charm (taofu) against evil in ancient times. 

The peach, an emblem of longevity, is of paramount importance in Chinese culture and is one of the most popular motifs found in Chinese art. It is the symbol of the venerable God of Longevity, Shoulao.

At one of the junctions, a lot of people stopped to check out this stall. I was puzzled and then Mummy said to me, "That's a durian tree". Quite an interesting sight huh? A durian tree in the midst of Chinatown. 

This year's Chinese New Year horse plushies are so adorable, no?

Horse plushies

Chinese New Year decor

There are also a lot of very affordable cheongsams on sale at the bazaar!

Cheongsam

Chinese New Year ain't complete without Chinese New Year goodies! Check out the Chinese New Year goodies available for sale at the bazaar! The popular ones include pineapple tarts, prawn rolls, almond cookies etc.

Chinese New Year goodies

We also passed by this street that has lots of Taiwan food products on sale!

Peanuts

Taiwan Pineapple cake

Taiwan Chinese New Year Cake 年糕

Taiwan Muah Chee 麻糍 and Konnyaku Jelly 果冻

Ending off this post with not just one but two street view of Chinatown.

Once again, I wish everyone a very Happy Chinese New Year! 发啊！Enjoy the rest of your holidays and do remember to drink lots of water especially after tucking into so many Chinese New Year goodies because the last thing you would want is to end up with sore throat or having breakouts after Chinese New Year.

Love,
Patricia