CNY is Coming~

U'll know its CNY when:-

1) ChinaTown is painted in RED!!!
2) Bank is flooded with people exchanging for new notes.
3) Festive cookies are invading SG, even petrol kiosks oso got offer.
4) There is an increase in stalls selling ang pows and decoratives.
5) U hear dong dong chiang~ everywhere u go
6) U see a long queue when u exit Chinatown MRT's Pagoda exit, another queue at People's Park exit


All queing for this bak kwa!

Its a phenomenon every yr, people willing to que at least 3 hrs for the infamous bak kwa without complaining. Employees of LCG typically only work those few weeks in a yr, delivering heaps of bak kwa, weighing and packing them at superman speed.

See how they maintain the quality of their bak kwas by limiting the number of shops they have (actually it shld be better during the off peak periods). See how they keep their costs low with 2 shops in SG. See how they increase their profits with 1kg of bak kwas selling at $48 compared to others at $40~$45.

When u can get it easily, like the big bak kwa franchises which I can spot at least 4 of each in the small area of Chinatown, its not that unique/prestige anymore.

I am one of those who is willing/crazy enuff to que (I'm not the ONLY ONE.. One of my polymates jus went to que oso).


Taken from the back alley of Lucky Chinatown, at 11.07am. Take note of the woman in 1 person front of me. She practically hides from the sun as thou she'll melt under the sun. Leads to que not in line. She's Chee-Na.


Reached the front, or rather back, of Chinatown Mrt Pagoda St Exit at 1.00pm to find that there's ANOTHER loop before the shop!


1.30pm. The que is messy at this area.


I hate tis zah bor, not bcos she comes equipped with a portable chair. She's OBSTRUCTING THE QUE MOVEMENT!! Ok she was lazy to get up and move her butt when the que moves and even delayed the que by 撒娇ing when her male companion asked her to move. I feel like slapping her! She seems to be a Chee-Na btw.


2.30pm. Queing outside Fragrance Bak Kwa.

There was one auntie from LCG holding a yellow card that says something like sold out. AT 2.45pm!?!!!??! Its like only 5 hrs since they opened! Anyway the auntie was trying to deter anymore ppl from queing and to warn those at the back that there's no more bbq pork slices. She was holding the card abt 60 persons after me so I'm relatively safe (Means still got bak kwa lah).


Fragrance, with a shop size twice as big as LCG, is lacking of a que.


Apparently the que was like this. (Que = Blue line)

There was an auntie who approached the Chee-Na in front of me asking her to help her buy 2 packets of bak kwa. She claimed that she came all the way from Johore and she's been queing since 12 but she scare sold out so need someone to help her buy. (Not only Singaporeans are kiasu ok!) After much persuasion, the Chee-Na relented. The auntie behind me was pissed lor. When the auntie disappeared to god-knows-where, the couple in front of the Chee-Na pointed out the purchase limit to the Chee-Na. I guess buying for the auntie would exceed the limit. Anyway the auntie nvr appeared even thou it was the Chee-Na's turn already.

I finally got my bak kwas at 4.15pm, 5 hrs 8 min since I started queing. I even had to postpone my salon appt for this. Its freakingly crazy! No thanks to all the idiots who bought the limit of 6kgs packed 500g each. Meaning 12 packets! TMD!! Or worse, 6kg, 200g each! (Although I doubt the possibility of the latter) LCG is not able to prepack their bak kwas bcos its fresh from the grill, so dun give the workers or the fellow que-ers more trouble by requesting to pack ALL in 500g. I bought 2 packets of 1kgs and 2 packets of 500g + 300g of gold coins.

Thankfully LCG rewarded me with an eyeful of a cute guy for the 5 hrs wait. Mwahahhaha!~

Since I've already postponed my salon appt, n with time to burn, I lugged the 3 kg of bak kwas to China Square Central in search of Choro-Q cars to fill the empty void in my ah ma's cupboard. Bad decision. Now I know how much attraction jus the LCG bag alone can attract. The shop uncle even exaggeratingly ask me how long I qued. Walked out of the shop ASAP after grunting an answer. What's so funny abt queing 5 hrs? I like cannot meh..

Now I feel that carrying LCG bags are dangerous. What if someone robs u of the bak kwas!?!?!?

Returned home quickly after, was already on the bus when it started pouring. Lucky. I wun wan my bak kwas to be swimming in rain water.

Bak kwas aside, I've taken pics of the metal strips which caused my horrendous orh cheh a few days ago.




Its a bit blur bcos I was walking while I took the pics. It'll be weird to STOP and take pic of STAIRCASE!

Its been concluded I need a new pair of shoes. Hmm.. I've only got friday to go shopping.

*dreaming of steamboat already*