2008 CNY: My Most Memorable

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After missing out on a few Chinese New Year celebrations due to my being overseas where it's just another day or just another dinner with friends...
coming home & celebrating it here in Malaysia really really really does makes a difference!!

When the clock strikes midnight, the fireworks begin
Under the moonlight, the city sparkles and glitters
Excited yet afraid, the children close their ears
To the loud declaration of a mighty celebration

I miss the fireworks reminding sleeping people that it is CNY
Joy & hope suddenly become tangible like thick smoke from fireworks
Smell it, taste it, take it in...
Smile for we have a new start, a new vision for a long new year

This year I got to celebrate this occassion in all its majesty!
And I also got to celebrate it with family & friends who have stuck with me for so many years!
Furthermore, I also discovered my type of woman!
This year's CNY is absolutely my most memorable!

Celebrating In Kuching...

In the days before CNY, I cleaned the tiling outside my parent's house & lead my siblings in doing the various tasks in the house required for the festival.
It was very very tiring...
I got cut, bruised & even severely sunburned on my back but it was even more rewarding to see the good fruits from your hard labour!
=D

I am very priviledged to have parents who set a good example in honouring heritage & promoting wisdom... I thank God for them & I appreciate them for all they have done for the 6 of us... Esp because I think I got the best & most of their "teaching"... hehe...

My siblings are still young but I think that they are awesome!
We are all so differently gifted, yet we do one thing best...
Annoy our parents!
hahahahaha!
WE ROCK!!!

I also took this CNY to visit all my relatives... especially the "golden generation"...
NO, I wasnt looking for $$$Hong Pao$$$
I was authenticly looking to spend time with these older people even though I can barely converse with them...
They give me a sense of peace... assurance...

Many of them have given me something in my younger days...
It's time for me to visit them & give them my heartfelt thanks...
They wont be here for long, it's time I appreciated them...
May they live happily... the rest of their lives...

Some of my best ever friends are those I met during my lower Secondary School education in Chung Hua Middle School No1...
I had no qualms when deciding to sacrifice sleep to spend the limited time I had in Kuching with them...
We've been playing football for years...
Now we play futsal but the team spirit & camaraderie still exists between us...
They are the most humble yet propitious group!

Having spent my upper Secondary School years in SMK Batu Lintang, I have also got a group of friends there who are just as good to me!
I appreciate these guys for leading me from being a child to being a teenager...
They have opened my eyes to the complications in life & I appreciate them for that!

Then again, it seems they are still doing it today!
As it was during the night out with them when I had a moment of realisation...
meeting my type of girl.
Thanks for everything fellas!

Celebrating in Kuala Lumpur...

I only had a few days of CNY in Kuching before I have to return to KL for my studies...
However, since the CNY celebration lasts for 15 days, I also had a good time celebrating in KL!
I had a big Chinese dinner with the Chinese members of my course & year (Cohort 2).

To start our dinner off, together, we mixed up a dish of (the ever so popular in Peninsula Malaysia & Singapore) Yee Sang for "good luck".
It tastes good... but it's something that you can only have once a year...
I couldnt take anymore after the first one...

My Cell Group from Damansara Utama Methodist Church also had a party to celebrate CNY...
As per the custom in Peninsula Malaysia... we mixed Yee Sang too...
I didn't eat this one...
hehehe...

But the highlight of the party was the Durian Cake sponsored by the ever so lovely Audrey Kho who is currently studying in Wellington, NZ!
Thanks, baby!

We used it as Vera's Birthday Cake...
Had a slice...
And it was...
Very Nice!!


IPBA CNY Celebration

IPBA had its own CNY Celebration organised by the Chinese members in the institute.
It was graced by Pn Satinah, our deputy director, who, a year ago, was serving in the NZ Malaysian High Commission in Wellington, NZ.
Dont know her very well but she seems like a nice lady...
Looking forward to great advances in IPBA with her presence...

The celebration started off with a lion dance escorting the VIPs into the auditorium.
The sound of drums, dongs & fire crackers were played from a recording & blasted from a set of good and expencive speakers coutesy of Chai YuTak.
The lion dance was performed by a young Wushu master so it was very impressive!

Our VIP, Pn Satinah, was invited to toss the Yee Sang with all the honoured guests & lecturers to officiate the event.
They had a good time playing with the food!
I didn't eat this one neither...
=D

There was a sketch on that day telling the story of Nian, the beast that terrorised the ancient Chinese.

The sketch was simple but very entertaining!
=D


Here is our Wushu master...
He performed a Wushu demonstration with agility, fexibility & speed.
Well done, dear master... Well done...

There was also a fan dance performed by the talented ladies from Cohort 2.

Even though, they had limited time to come up with the moves & practise...
They did an awesome job & was able to captivate the audience with their graceful moves & creative display of fan postitioning.

The final production of the night was the CNY songs medley presentation.
I took part in this presentation & had to memorise paper after paper of Chinese characters that I have forgotten to recognise over years of non-use...
However, I think we did alright & I have a better understanding of the songs that my father sings in the shower during CNY.

In the performance, I was paired up with ST to sing several parts of the medley.
She was a positive & honest young lady who was very easy to lead & open to sharing ideas.
Keep it up, ST!

~~~~~
My CNY this year was nothing short of wonderful!
It serves as a great boost to the new year & will help me perform better this year!
Looking forward to greater CNYs to come!

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