Have You Ever Seen These Noodles?

Okay – yes, my postings have been getting increasingly sporadic! There are many forces pulling at us right now and I still have at least 9 postings more to go. We leave shortly and it’s all too much! I’m glad to be heading back to the States but sad to leave this experience. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

I went to Chinatown today (for the third time?) to get last minute gifts. I can’t wait to post about what I have learned about Singapore’s Chinatown or better known as “Water Cart.” Another posting for later!

One of the things I thoroughly enjoy about Singapore is the access to different arts that have been maintained for, sometimes, centuries! One tradition is the art of “pulling noodles.” Today, I took advantage of going to Lan Zhou La Mian for the second time. The tradition lives on with Mr. Wong – see the video below!

Paul and I saw a documentary about the ancient art of pulling and throwing noodles on NewAsia and were excited to see that there was a Chinese man here practicing the art. As you can see from the photos below, Mr. Wong is quite the celebrity and all of the photos on the wall are of him and his customers together holding the Lamian Noodles.
I researched the Lamian Noodles further and found out that the recipe has Gaoxiaolamianji powder to give elasticity to the noodles thus creating the strands. Wu Zhang Qiu, a master at noodle pulling related this story: “….The recipe was forgotten until 600 years ago when several regions in the north-west of China were struck by poverty, and the natives could no longer afford to buy readymade noodles. Today, the people of the north-western province of Xinjiang still make their noodles at home” (Business Today, Oct. 18, 2008).

The Merchants of Bollywood

Paul and I had another great outing on Saturday night to the Esplanade. The Merchants of Bollywood was full of vibrant color, bright lights and fantastic dancing. What a production! We became interested in this show because of the numerous articles in the newspaper and how it told a story of a family in the Indian Film business: Bollywood. Did you know that more films (800/year) are released out of “Bollywood” than the Hollywood each year?

I don’t have any pictures because photography is now allowed during the show but I had to share this experience. There are some great photos at the show’s website – take a look: http://merchantsofbollywood.com.au/aus/Media_gallery.html

This musical originated in Mumbai (or Bombay) – the Indian Film Capital and now has traveled to globe. The show’s inspiration is the real life story of the Merchant family. Vaibhavi Merchant (now a top choreographer in India) wanted to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps and work in Bollywood. But, he felt “films were no place for decent women.”

The show is “homage to one of the world’s great film industries, but beneath the glitter and glamour, the bangles and the beads is a true story of a granddaughter’s search for her destiny and for the love and approval of her grandfather. A tale of sacrifice and rebellion, a conflict of generations, and a journey to the sacred heart of dance. The music and dance comes from India, but the message…is universal. Make peace with each other while we have the chance. Om Shanti Om.” – Toby Gough (Director)

We were taken with the music and dance – each cast member was phenomenal. There were so many group dances and everyone had to be in sync. We could tell the cast REALLY enjoyed performing; they were flawless! To add to the magic of the evening, some of the Indian women that attended the show wore spectacular Saris & Salwar Kameez suits (Tunic top with flowy pants and sash; Paul brought me back one of these outfits when he came back from a trip to Bangalore).