Bentos # 123-125

Bento #125

Dinner bento - We are trying our best not to get sick. Doesn't help with the erratic wet weather and festive food/treats, not to mention lack of sleep!!! Yesterday was the 9th day of CNY*. Usually all the Hokkiens would pray and 'celebrate' by light noisy fireworks in the wee hours of the morning. I took some medication earlier and was all set for a good night sleep but sad to say, I kept waking up every hour to each noisy and thunderous BANG, wheezing and PoP!!

*Updated - Found out this day is significant for all Hokkien Chinese as they celebrate their ‘liberation day’. According to the ancient tradition, many years ago, the Hokkien people in the Fujian province in China were under bondage to some bandits and didn’t have the opportunity to celebrate the Chinese New Year. To flee from the bandits, the village people successfully hid themselves in the fields/plantations of sugarcane. Following their victory over the bandits, the Hokkien people celebrated CNY which coincided with the birthday of the Jade Emperor (aka “Teen Gong”). Symbolically, it is believed that the Jade Emperor had spared their lives and so on this special day, Hokkiens would offer sugarcanes as offerings to the Jade Emperor for his blessings and mercy. Sugarcane also carry the meanings of tian tian mi mi (sweet and blissful). For more details on the worship, please read here.

Anyway, we've been having rice porridge the last few days. Its difficult to 'bento' porridge so this is the best I could do which is also my first Monokuro Boo bento! Top tier consist of porridge and seaweed cut outs. Bottom tier comprise of some fried fish and anchovies, fried egg, broccoli and some preserved salty vegetables.

Bento #124

Breakfast bento - Some rolled chocolate bread, fruit loops, mandarin orange and marshmallows.

Bento #123

Breakfast bento - Ham sandwich with a cheese imprint of a cat face, some sausages, kamaboko rabbit, tomatoes, mandarin orange and marshmallows.