The Case of the Mysterious Standing Eggs on Duanwu Festival

Posted on June 23, 2012 by Jan Shim

Finally we did it! After years of missing this attempt at noon on Duanwu Festival aka Dragon Boat aka Dumpling Festival this is the first time we actually remembered and got not one but all three raw eggs to stand. As usual I had the G11 handy to capture this unscientific phenomenon whose legend has survived generations. If you’re skeptical and try to see if props had been used to make the eggs stand, don’t bother — these photos are as raw as the eggs themselves. We left the eggs to stand at the open patio to fetch the kids from school, the entire time uncertain if the breeze would push them over. When we returned, Jamie and Jewel were surprised to see all three still standing.

Dumpling Festival a much celebrated festival by the Chinese community in Belait

The very first attempt filled with uncertainty and silliness had it failed to work.

Beginner’s luck? After my wife got the first egg to stand, she went on with a second egg …

… and finally stopping at auspicious number 3 before it was time to pick the kids up from school.

DUMPLING FESTIVAL. AN ANNUAL BREEZE.

Posted on June 9, 2008 by Jan Shim

It was just a year ago yesterday that Seria and Kuala Belait residents celebrated the Dumpling Festival (more accurately called the Dragon Boat Festival). As I have in the previous post described the Chinese tradition in an easy to digest manner (easier to digest than the rice dumplings, that is), I’ll skip the reminder and head straight to the pictures. Like the previous year, I chose the same stretch of sand right off the Billionth Barrel Monument, an icon that no doubt you’re familiar by now, even if you’re not from this neck of the woods. It was also from one of last year’s beach images that was selected by DST for their EASI Pre-Paid phone cards. Unlike last year, however, my kids decided to stay home in favour of Club Penguin and just as well they didn’t come coz unlike last year, our parade got rained on. So this year, my associate Anthony, yes the Nikon D3 dude you may have read about in the recent Lexus Golf Classic post, and I combed the sand with my EOS 5D and 17-40mm (the RED strap made its public debut)!

Nothing like a celebration with a declaration of love to kick it off. Came across this cryptic “1026″ with two hearts. You’re more than welcome to decode this and let me know what you think it means.

There was a time sea breeze was thought to bring health benefits and you would often find the elderly along the beach in the evenings soaking up what’s left of the setting sun. These days it’s unusual to catch them strolling on the beach anymore but instead you get a number of regular joggers and couples enjoying he fleeting moments before them. Below, an elderly gentleman sat alone on one of many washed up logs as more people began populating the beach.

I’ll admit this. Yesterday was the first time I’d seen an actual dumpling that appeared to have been washed up or one that got left behind by accident. Regardless, people seemed oblivious to this lone item and kids were far too busy running after one another while a mom with her youngest kid kept a watchful eye on her other two kids. There were pockets of fun everywhere from adults to kids soaked in sea water and mothers keeping their kids entertained.

A group of young foreign workers can often be seen in my neighbourhood like this but not at the beach. Yesterday was an exception and over the years, the Dumpling Festival has become such an integral part of the Seria and Kuala Belait experience that a large proportion of the non Chinese and expatriate community enjoy the ambience. I only wish it’s like this every other day! After all the beach is public property and there’s really no reason we cannot make our reasonably clean beaches a part of our life style.

Here’s Anthony chimping his Nikon D3 to a group of young crowd whom he had fired off a few shots of. I must say, the large 3.0 inch 922,000-pixel LCD is actually useful for critical viewing. It’s one feature I hope to see on the imminent EOS 5D successor.

In the absence of dumplings, you can always have a buddy thrown out to the sea. Unorthodox yes but not unheard of.

Moments before Anthony and I got hit by drops of rain as we made our way to the car park, no sooner had we decided it was wise to leave before we got soaked, intimidating cloud formation was tell-tale sign that it is not going to clear up any time soon.

You never know who you might run into on this stretch. I ran into non other than Award winning blogger, Miss SPIRITUAL GARDEN herself in the flesh along with her best mates in this exclusive WIDESCREEN capture of her larger-than-life persona and with their matching wide grins! As Dumpling Festival is commonly called Dragon Boat Festival elsewhere in the world, check out Nonnie’s post on this occasion—no Dragon Boats in sight but plenty of splashes all the same!

Within a stone’s throw from the Billionth Barrel Monument is an massive drilling operation that towers over the otherwise large nodding donkey. Quite the contrast between the serene beach and heavy equipment.

Check out the Dumpling Festival 2008 Flash Gallery that contains additional pictures not posted here.

I used to bring my trusty EOS 20D and EFs 10-22mm for non-work occasions but this time, I decided the 5D and EF 17-40mm would be more appropriate but only gained a few mm’s in the long end. The resolution, clarity, colours and sharpness of this combination is noticeably better too! The difference in quality between an L and non-L lens can at times be quite glaring and this seems to be one of those times!

DUMPLING FESTIVAL. A BIG DAY OUT.

Posted on June 19, 2007 by Jan Shim

Today is the fifth day of the fifth lunar month when the Chinese celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival or Duan Wu Jie or in my case, I’ve come to call this day Dumpling Festival since I was a kid. The origins of Duan Wu Jie goes like this (as told by one interpretation …)

Qu Yuan (屈原), an honest minister, was undermined in his efforts to fight corruption in the state of Chu. Slandered by false allegations, he was disgraced and banished. He drowned himself in Mi Luo River. Hundreds of “dragon boats” searched for his body. The people beat gongs to frighten the “River Dragon” into returning Qu Yuan. They threw overboard rice dumplings wrapped in leaves to divert the fish from eating the patriot.

Today, the Chinese hold dragon bost races to commemorate the event. But more importantly, they remember Qu Yuan by eating dumplings filled with meat, eggs, chestnuts, beans and spices on Dragon Boat Day. – source: internet

The tradition Chinese in Brunei follow is a simple one and has been as such for as long as I can remember. While we have no dragon boats here, we do have the most symbolic item of all and that’s rice dumplings, glutinous rice with meat and beans wrapped in bamboo leaves in a pyramid shape. Rice dumplings are sold everyday in a variety of popular flavours, curry being my favourite. Once a year, the Bruneian Chinese especially those in the Belait District make plans for a late afternoon out at the beach and is the only day out of a whole calendar year when people congregate including expatriates who have lived here long enough to understand the tradition and indulge in the festivity, even if it’s just for a few hours!

A recent visit to the same spot: SCHOOL’S OUT. SANITY RESTORED.

Ryan Cornelsen: your photos never cease to impress, Jan
Jan Shim: thanks!
Jan Shim: your appreciation helps
Ryan Cornelsen: It’s not so much appreciation as it is jealousy :D