More of Chinese New Year

Wednesday, 25th January
Chor Sam

After a good trip down south, we are finally back at home sweet home. William says it's good to be home although he and the sister loves to stay at hotels (sigh!) and run around the spacious lobby area. From the time we came back from Bangkok, he kept asking if we can go back to the Bangkok hotel again, and we promised him a Singapore package. After this, another trip to East Malaysia and that's it for sometime, kids!

My garden looked like we are running a small dobi business with many rounds of laundry taking turns to dry. Popo GongGong was up in town visiting Tai Gong and the other relatives. Yee Yee and Yi Jiong with cousins Grace and Andrew was scheduled to leave Teluk Intan and stop by our place for dinner. We invited Tai Gong over and had a mini family reunion with a last minute yee sang bought from Giant, but with sashimi salmon - first class vacuumed packed, air flown New Zealand salmon courtesy of Yee Ma from Singapore.

Simple home cooked - last minute planned as fridge was almost emptied before CNY, and did not expect to do a home cooked. We had steamed garoupa, steamed otak otak with egg, steamed arrowhead with chinese sausage, stewed pork something (from 3rd Aunt), Ayamas chicken, stirfry broccolli, and very expensive char siu (RM40 per plate) and siu yoke (RM40 per plate).

After dinner, Daddy set off some fireworks much to the amusement of the little children. The 8 feet long firecracker was not as good as last year's because the red wrappers did not split evenly and to me, it was not red enough. We didn't play long because of the slight drizzle.

Saturday, 28th January
Chor Loke

As with previous Chinese New Years, we try to catch as many lion dances as possible because my two kids are big fan of this traditional culture.  So we headed to Pavillion shopping mall, but their lion dance troupe was late by 15minutes, and we had to watch them set up the stilts whilst being squeezed in our seats at the Centre Court.

By far, this is the WORSE lion dance I have ever saw, and the feeling is worse off because it was held at an upmarket shopping mall.  Only one lion went up the stilts, did a little prancing around VERY CAREFULLY, and then he came down in less than 10 minutes.  Then the second lion together with the first, started walking around to greet the audience and COLLECT ANGPOWS.  The guys in the lion costume were skinny ones before they put on the costume, but after 15 minutes of collecting angpow, they came out with big bellies each - filled with red packets!  For what, I don't know, they don't deserve this because they hardly did the customary dance!  Not even peeling of the orange, nor climbing up to eat the vege, nor prance around on the ground!

The better part of this visit to Pavillion was that the kids had a great time spending time with Yeh Yeh, especially Vic as the little princess was carried on Yeh Yeh's shoulders.

Sunday, 29th January
Chor Chat

Attended two open houses. Seriously think I've put on some weight now, which would be a good thing but the fats are all building up at the wrong parts. : ( Kids looking for tadpoles and fishes at a friend's pond.

Looking forward to a little CNY getaway to East Malaysia soon...