Writer Of The Week 每周之作家

Singapore - The Straits Times (Forum)

新加坡 － 海峡时报（论坛）

The Straits Times is an English-language daily broadsheet newspaper based in Singapore.

It is currently owned by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH).

It is Singapore highest-selling newspaper.

Originally established on July 15, 1845 as the The Straits Times and Singapore Journal of Commerce, in the early days of British colonial rule.

The very first letter to forum was published on July 29, 1845.

The Straits Times "Writer Of The Week" is a weekly column.

It features profiles of various Forum writers.

I am honoured to be invited by The Straits Times to be their "Writer Of The Week".

海峡时报是总部设在新加坡的英文日报。

它目前由新加坡报业控股（SPH）所拥有。

这是新加坡销量最高的报纸。

在英国殖民统治的初期，它成立于1845年7月15日作为海峡时报和新加坡商务杂志。

第一封论文在论坛里被发表是于1845年7月29日。

海峡时报里的“每周之作家”是一个每周专栏。

这个专栏里会在每一周介绍一位论坛的作家。

我很荣幸被海峡时报邀请成为他们的“每周之作家”。

Deepavali 屠妖节

Singapore - Little India (Tekka)

新加坡 － 小印度（竹脚）

Deepavali, the festival of lights, is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in autumn (northern hemisphere) or spring (southern hemisphere) every year.

The festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness or good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair.

Its celebration includes millions of lights shining on housetops, outside doors and windows, around temples and other buildings in the communities.

The festival preparations and rituals typically extend over a five-day period.

The main festival night of Deepavali coincides with the darkest, new moon night of the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika.

In the Gregorian calendar, Deepavali night falls between mid-October and mid-November.

On Deepavali night, Hindus dress up in new clothes or their best outfit.

They light up diyas (lamps and candles) inside and outside their home.

Then they participate in family puja (prayers) typically to Lakshmi – the goddess of fertility and prosperity.

屠妖节，灯火节，是每年的秋季（北半球）或春季（南半球）庆祝的一个古老的兴都教节日。

这个节日标志着在精神上，光明战胜黑暗或善良战胜邪恶、知识战胜愚昧、希望战胜绝望。

它的庆祝活动包括数以百万计的灯光照在房顶，外门窗，庙宇和各地社区建筑等。

节日的准备和仪式，通常长达五天的时间。

屠妖节的主要节日之夜，与兴都教日月历月份 － 卡迪卡，刚巧也是最黑暗的、新月之夜。

屠妖节夜幕，降临于阳历的十月中旬和十一月中旬之间。

在屠妖节当晚，兴都人会穿新衣服或者穿他们最好的服装。

他们点亮 diyas（灯和蜡烛）以照亮住家内外。

然后，他们参与家庭 puja（膜拜）拉克希米 － 生育与繁荣女神。

Grand Palace 大皇宫

Thailand - Bangkok (Grand Palace)

泰国 － 曼谷（大皇宫）

The Grand Palace has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam (and later Thailand) since 1782.

自1782年以来大皇宫已经成为暹罗（后来泰国）国王的官邸。

The Grand Palace is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Thailand.

大皇宫是泰国最受欢迎的旅游景点之一。

The Grand Palace is made up of numerous buildings, halls, pavilions set around open lawns, gardens and courtyards.

大皇宫是由无数的建筑物、大厅、展示馆围绕于开放式草坪，花园和庭院设置与组成。

The Grand Palace is currently partially open to the public as a museum, but it remains a working palace with several royal offices still situated inside.

大皇宫目前部分开放给公众作为博物馆，但它仍然是一个工作宫，里面仍然有几个王室办事处。

Construction of the Grand Palace began on May 6, 1782, at the order of King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke (Rama I).

大皇宫的建设始于1782年5月6日，是由拉玛一世浮屠育华朱拉洛登王下令兴建的。

P/S: Thai King coffin will be temporary resting at the Grand Palace for 100days (from October 13, 2016) to receive chanting by eminent monks. Remember to dress modestly (preferably in black during this period) when visiting the Grand Palace, avoid wearing shorts, short skirts and slippers.

注：泰王灵柩会暂厝大皇宫100天（从2016年10月13日起），让高僧诵经。记得游览大皇宫时要穿着端庄（在此期间最好着黑色），忌穿短裤、短裙和拖鞋。

Southern Shaolin Monastery 南少林寺

China - Putian (Southern Shaolin Monastery)

中国 － 莆田（南少林寺）

Southern Shaolin Monastery is located in the western end of town Licheng, Putian, Nine Lotus Mountain Village, about 17km away from the city.

Southern Shaolin Monastery was formerly named "Linquan Temple", built in Southern Yongding years (557AD).

During the Tang dynasty in the reign of Emperor Tang Taizong, warrior monks from Henan Shaolin were deployed from the Shaolin Monastery to combat piracy.

Emperor Tang Taizong passed a special imperial order to Lin Tanzong, Abbot of Northern Shaolin Monastery, to build a Shaolin Monastery in the South which was known as the Southern Shaolin Monastery.

During the early Qing dynasty, the Southern Shaolin Monastery was completely razed due to anti-Qing.

南少林寺位于莆田荔城区西天尾镇九莲山林山村，距市区约17公里。

南少林寺前身名“林泉寺”，建于南朝永定年间（公元557年）。

唐初因十三棍僧救唐主有功，太宗皇帝特敕北少林昙宗方丈，在南方建少林寺，称为南少林寺。

至清初，因反清复明被夷为平地。

Until 1986, archaeologists excavated the site and found the ruins of Southern Shaolin Monastery, hence unveiling to the world.

In 1989, under government strong support, began to rebuild the monastery.

直至1986年，考古学家挖掘发现南少林寺遗址，这才让其呈现在世人面前。

1989年，在政府的大力扶持下开始重建。

Operating hour: Daily                                       开放时间: 全天

Entry fee: Free                                                 入门票: 免费

Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej Dies 泰王蒲眉蓬驾崩

Thailand

泰国

Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej dies, aged 88.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej was born on December 5, 1927.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej was the ninth monarch of Thailand from the Chakri Dynasty as Rama IX.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej was the world's longest-serving head of state and the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history, serving for 70 years.

泰国国王蒲眉蓬驾崩，享年88岁。

泰王蒲眉蓬生于1927年12月5日。

泰王蒲眉蓬是泰国却克里王朝的第9位君主。

泰王蒲眉蓬从18岁开始登基为王，在位70年，是当今世界上在位最久的君主。

黄鹤楼

China - Wuhan (Yellow Crane Tower)

中国 － 武汉（黄鹤楼）

黄鹤楼位于中国湖北省武汉市武昌蛇山上，是江南四大名楼之一。

黄鹤楼共5层，楼高50.4米。

黄鹤楼建于三国时代吴黄武二年（公元223年），距今已有1780多年历史。

历代屡修屡毁，现在的黄鹤楼是于1985年重修的。

唐·崔颢《黄鹤楼》

昔人已乘黄鹤去，此地空余黄鹤楼。

黄鹤一去不复返，白云千载空悠悠。

晴川历历汉阳树，芳草萋萋鹦鹉洲。

日暮乡关何处是？烟波江上使人愁。

唐·李白《黄鹤楼送孟浩然之广陵》

故人西辞黄鹤楼，

烟花三月下扬州。

孤帆远影碧空尽，

唯见长江天际流。

黄鹤楼属于中国国家5A级景区。

开放时间：早上8点 － 傍晚6点（旺季）

                  早上8点 － 傍晚5点（淡季）

入门票：人民币80

很惊喜的发现我们的前总理吴作栋先生在1995年也到此一游。