WISHING ALL FAMILY AND FRIENDS
ALL OVER THE WORLD
HAPPIEST NEW YEAR
OF GALLOPING
PROSPERITY, WEALTH, HAPPINESS!
Jeannie & Alan
#lunarnewyear
HAPPY NEW YEAR ~ INSPIRE
GONG XI FA CAI ~ HAPPY NEW YEAR
BEST WISHES ALWAYS TO OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
ALAN & JEANNIE ATKINSON
IT’S EVERYBODY’S BIRTHDAY
Chinese New Year continues. The seventh day.
From the time I was young(-er) and can remember till now, I have been made to understand that the Chinese in Malaysia work very hard throughout the year. Then, when it comes to Chinese New Year or the Lunar New Year, they stop work and “lay down their tools” (a symbol of them actually stopping work) for 15 days. They go all out to welcome and live the new year, right from the very beginning, every Chinese New Year. I have to mention “Chinese” New Year because the date differs from the Gregorian calendar, the most widely used calendar system today. New Year occurs on January 1 (New Year’s Day, preceded by New Year’s Eve).
Jeannie and I spent the second and third day in the South central state of Negri Sembilan, in their famous holiday resort town of Port Dickson, more affectionately known as P. D.. The weather was beautiful, the to and fro trip was a breeze, the whole holiday was perfect. We definitely want to make Port Dickson a getaway chill & relax on a more frequent basis.
On Tuesday morning, the 4th day. We were invited by our neighbours, Alison & Desmond, across the street (road) to their home for Chinese New Year. We had an awesome time getting to know one another much better. They are more settled in their newly renovated home. According to Desmond, Alison designed the renovations, making their home just the way they want it. We even had the honour of getting a tour of their beautiful home.
Alison makes good 3-in-1 coffee. Many of these 3-in-1 coffees are too sweet. She knows how to put just the right amount of mixture for the mug size. Desmond is always cheerful, full of laughter. Both Alison and Desmond are dedicated to their little garden of potted plants. We had a wonderful time with them.
Fast forward and we are now towards the end of the 7th day, which is everybody’s birthday. From observations, no one actually celebrates this birthday except to wish everyone (or at least those who are Chinese), “Happy Birthday”.
The next big celebration in this festive season is on the 9th day, which is the Hokkien New Year. It will start with fireworks and firecrackers. More merriment with visits to each other’s houses. Malaysians from diverse cultures celebrate in each other’s festivities. Lots of food – something very Malaysian. Malaysians love to eat. We are blessed with cultural festivals throughout that year.
On the 15th day of the Lunar New Year is Chap Goh Mei. This marks the last day of festivities in the lunar new year celebrations. It is also when single women, while standing on a bridge; will toss oranges (Do they throw one or more than one or a whole carton? More than one improves the chances) into the water with the hopes of right male suitors plucking these oranges from the water (one male suitor to one lady). I wonder if this is where the term “lucky dip” was derived from. On these oranges will have written contact numbers and social media handles. Otherwise, how will men know which orange is from which lady?
Before all you men (hopefully single and available only) go and wait under bridges in Malaysia, hoping to find the right orange to get your Ms. Right; I don’t think that this ritual of Chinese (perhaps other races included) single ladies throwing oranges to find their right suitor is practised any longer in this modern day and age.
So, just as we about to see close of one festivity in a few days time; another will begin not long after that with the beginning of 1 month of fasting. During this period, food bazaars are set up…did I say “food”?😁
ALWAYS YOUR CHOICE
Friday – morning before the afternoon. Jeannie and Laura are on leave from work for the lunar new year (known as Chinese New Year [C.N.Y.]) holidays in Malaysia. The traffic was somewhat more than half, yesterday; meaning that many people have already left for their hometowns just to beat the expected long traffic jams, on the highways.
That is the “secret”. People leave a day or two earlier to avoid the jams and aim at coming back a day or two earlier. Picture this: they quietly leave home to get on the highway. Why is it a secret? It is because everyone thinks they are getting an upper hand on the next person to beat the jam. The only thing is that when get on the highway (“freeway” for the Americans), the traffic is at near crawling speeds – everyone else had privy to that “secret”, too.
back to the “Friday, morning before noon”. Breakfast. Laura is out already. Which left Jeannie and I with the question, “What do you want to eat?” But before that question was asked, I decided that we go to A.Y.C., an Indian restaurant, near our house. A. Y. C.’s tagline is “Always Your Choice” – catchy. Jeannie just noticed their tagline a few days ago. This tagline has always been there, however we never took notice of it until recently. Now, whenever we past the restaurant, the tagline will almost always be the first thing we notice on their signboard.
Parking our car is relatively easy around A.Y.C. and its neighbouring shops in the mornings. As we walk in to the restaurant, the food is lined up on either side of the passage. I saw the “doughnut” (donut for those unsure of the spelling) vadai and the bean vadai, both favourites of mine; on the right row of food. I told Jeannie I wanted one of each. I saw this fluffed up bread called “puri” on the left and wanted that, too. It was the last one on their tray. It was already nearing 11.00am so it is understandable that the breakfast offerings was almost all cleared. The restaurant would start preparing for the lunch crowd. From the dishes they had just laid out, it looked like it was going to be a vegetarian affair. The food looked good.
Jeannie chose a currypuff for her bites. A.Y.C.’s currypuffs are really tasty. The fillings are made from potatoes, marinated in spices, which does make the potatoes spicy, but not too spicy.
We both ordered iced coffees, Jeannie’s was with milk and sugar; mine was black, without sugar.
Our breakfast was good. We were relaxed, sitting at a table towards the rear of the restaurant, facing outwards. We always like to face out and watch the world go along with its activities.
I did get quite a few side glances and quick stares. People don’t seem to get to see other people wearing hats, let alone tartan flat hats out to breakfast. I maybe starting a trend for others to follow, who knows.
We were soon back home, as Jeannie then had to go to her mother’s place to help cook the CNY reunion dinner for this evening. At the time this article was getting done, Laura was already at Jeannie’s mother’s place.
Happy Chinese New Year’s eve and reunion dinner to all those celebrating the lunar new year festivities.
