Gong Hei

Gong Xi Fatt Chai, Sien Nien Kui Leh, Happy Chinese New Year everyone.

A little late in my update but been busy - visiting family, relatives and friends - wishing, greeting, celebrating, feasting moving from house to house, etc.

Its been an interesting time, let me summarize some highlights otherwise this could end up being a long post:

• Weather was REALLY Chinese New Year style - HOT AND HUMID, phew by late afternoon we are usually 'wilting' away. Could only stay longer where places were air-conditioned (so spoilt ya!).
  
  
• DH was away for a week and while we were having a heat wave, he was surround in SNOW....let's see, he had lunch at London and dinner at Boston. First day he was at Boston, he said it was snowing and since don't see snow that often, was very excited and happy. Too bad they didn't get into any snow fights, build snow mans or snow angels!!! But he had fun tasting fresh falling snow though, Lolz.
  
  
• I ended up with an eye infection, sigh...need to put medication hourly for 2 days! Think the late nights prior to the eve triggered it.
  
  
• On 4th day of CNY, MIL fell and hit her head. Rather scary time for us (got big pool of blood on the floor) but she is ok. Got 4 stitches in total. The wait in the emergency area of the hospital was a killer - we finally left after 3+ hours. She is fine and recovering well. Definitely one tough lady. I was watching (not too near) the Doctor inject the anesthetic like 4-5 times near the wound and was feeling faint as the Doctor stitched her up. Ask her painful or not, she said "Not at all!!!".
  
  
• Had overload of 'chai choy' (vegetarian dish which is usually served on the 1st day of CNY) - at my great grandmother's place, at my grandmother's place, MIL's house and parent's place!! Not that I mind as this dish is pretty tasty eaten with plain rice as the red fermented bean curd (nam yee) is pretty salty. Interesting to taste the different cooking style of chai choy in each household. Needless to say, I prefer mum's best :)
  
  
• Of course Master Prince enjoyed himself the most - get red packets or any pows, eat lots of cookies, fried snacks and treats, get to sleep late, play fire crackers, no school/homework, play with cousins, drink fizzy drinks, etc.
  
  

Hope everyone is enjoying their 2010 Chinese New Year celebrations which ends this weekend. Oh, did I mention that I've also been busy at work, its been one thing after another!!

Snap shot

All the hustle, fuss and pomp of Chinese New Year atmosphere can really be noticed at the local wet market. There will be lots of additional stalls selling CNY food, goods, deco, clothes, plants and what have you. Despite the large crowd, enjoyed browsing and seeing what CNY stuff are being sold. ku

Here are some quick snaps - quick as 1) lots of people 2) not sure if people mind me taking pictures, etc.

Food stuff

Nian Gao - sweet sticky pudding, eating this symbolises greater prosperity and rank in the new year.

Chinese 'delicacies' like abalone (pau yee), shark fin (yee chee), sea cucumber etc.

Stall selling dried stuff - red dates and mushrooms.

Chinese sausages.

Pomelo - nice to have include some in yee sang - a colourful salad with bits of vegetables, fish, nuts, etc - the act/symbol for this is is to raise 'good luck' (lou hei) for the new year.

Lots of CNY snacks and cookies.

Buying mandarin (kum) oranges which symbolises 'gold' or wealth.

More Chinese sausages.

Deco items

Some ratan furniture and household items.

Lucky bamboo plants in assorted shapes and pots - can you see the three '8' on the top right. Eight in Chinese symbolises 'good fortune' (fatt).

Interesting plant isn't it. Lots of odd looking yellow fruits on a bare branch.
Botanical name is solanum mammosum (quite a mouthful huh, can't recall the local name for this) or wu dai tong tang, meaning Five Generations Living Harmoniously Under One Roof to symbolise longevity, prosperity and happiness.

This stall was selling cushion and table runners with the auspicious colours, red and gold.

New plates anyone??

Red fabric fashioned into a bouquet/flower knot used to decorate the main entrance door or tie onto big pots.

Shoes anyone?

CNY decorations for the house.

New clothes for CNY.


Worship

Decorative gourd.

Various candles and incense.

Plates and cups for the alter.

Lotus flower shaped buns to be placed on altar (not for consumption).