Bound With the Dishes
A Dinner With Immigrants

I came to know about a Singapore Chinese website of literature and art 《随笔南洋》 in 2008. When I attended a seminar regarding the traditional Chinese Opera, I met some friends from Siong Leng Musical Association (湘灵音乐社). The Chairman of Siong Leng Mr. Teng Hong Hai and 林少凌老师 recommended me the website to. After surfing the website, I found that the members did not hold extreme views. Hence, I registered to be a member.

I usually visit the column of "News of Singapore Activities" (狮城消息站). I posted a number of news related to the performance of Chinese Opera. I noticed the differences between this website and other Chinese websites. Majority of the members of this website are humble. They did not easily criticize others or spread rumours.

A few months later, I read the news of a dinner to be held for the members on 17.01.2009. I contacted the organizer Mr. Ma Yun Long (马龙云). Mr. Ma told me that the foods would not be spicy and I decided to take part. I would like to experience the different dishes I had never tasted. Besides, I would like to know our members emigrated from China.

The restaurant was located at West Coast Road. As I stayed nearby, I went to the restaurant by myself and did not go to the assembly place in Clementi.

We had eight persons to a table. We started our dinner at 7.00 p.m.

The immigrated Chinese friends were kind. They introduced me those dishes from northwest China.
I tried to get rid of the Chinese immigrants in the recent years after reading the postings in their Chinese websites and their news in the local newspapers.
Of course, there were Chinese immigrants I liked. I knew a few of workers from China staying around our place. They were nice and friendly.
There were immigrants who did not know Singapore and Singaporeans well but liked to criticize us and our Country. They were very rude. Some of them liked to complaint and even made our taxi-drivers out of jobs because of the minor misunderstanding. Those 'smart' immigrants from China had project a very bad image of China and its people. They were the black sheep who made many Singaporeans avoid meeting the immigrants from China.

The website 随笔南洋 has done a good job. Its members consist of local Chinese and immigrants from China. They get together with harmony. Since we wish to attract more talents to settle down in Singapore, I should praise that 随笔南洋 had contributed its effort in this aspect.

Best wishes to the website of 随笔南洋.

Some of the pictures were contributed by the organizer Mr. Ma Yun Long (马龙云先生).


Enjoying the foods and friendship

The dishes 凉菜 川西老檀子 酿皮 水晶皮冻 老拌胗肝

Pastry - 葱饼

Pastry - 发糕

The dish of 雀巢海中宝

The dish of 梅菜扣肉

The dish of 银川炒糊饽

The dish of 水果锅巴虾仁

The dish of 八珍豆腐煲

The dish of 豉汁蒸鲶鱼

Enjoying dishes of

 Northwest China

The younger

 generation

Knowing each other

Family Group photo

See how we enjoyed!

Hope to see more members in future

Written in Chinese on 24.01.2009
Translated on 29.04.2010