Three for CNY

It's the 9th day of the CNY and I found myself sitting in front of the computer desk again. We had CNY every year, doing almost the similar stuff, except for some people grew older and some friends come back with their own little family. You hardly recognize those kids on the street now, they grew up pretty fast and I must say that I’m getting it.

It was an unusual 2006 because most of us enjoyed rather long break - almost 10 full days. Normally we'll start leaving our hometown on the 3rd day of CNY, you hardly get your rest, really. With the amount of time given i was able to visit more friends and relatives, and travel more while doing more stuff within that peak period. I am able to enjoy as i go on slower pace, let my eyes and shutter box records the precious moments.


First important thing about CNY is reunion, especially among the family members. Depends on the culture of your family, normally all family members will sit down on the round table for lunch, the day before New Year. Round without any angles, family without any troubles. Traditionally the wife will follows the husband, as some old folks says married daughter it's like pouring water out of the door - - things are much different now, of course.

One typical scenario at my grandparent's house: 11 sons and daughters, in-laws plus dozens of grand child, one dining table for 10 people. Again, only round table is essential, even if it is not big enough for some 50 over peoples!

I took the picture of cicada on the dining table but I’m not about to eat this one. (Pardon my, uh, fingers. I was with my wife just now – my old car!!!) In fact, I am rather glad when the cicada interrupted my dinner, with its trademark high pitched, droning sound. Poor fellow probably lost its way while looking for mating partner.


This picture simply represents our time having fun: Cicada is just one of the kid's games, other than messing around with some fireworks. We don't have winter, flower blossom almost throughout the whole year, but we knew CNY is around the corner when we heard/saw one of these. We start tracking them down, hold them up in front of some girls, hide in one's shirt...you know the rest. Note that we don't touch the cicada green in color - - we believe it's being possessed by our ancestors, that they had come back to visit us. I remember I'm at home only for lunch and dinner, other than that we'll be all over the place.

But that was some old stories. We should be looking at different picture now. Fireworks are banned, you’ll get instant fine once caught playing one of those. You, or your parents, that is. Even in some village family kids don’t play further than 3 feet from their protector, their parents. Perhaps the society has changed, that we don’t live in a safer and friendly environment anymore. But sometime it’s important to look back to the history while making our move, not only set your eyes to the global change. When you thought its coke, I think its PS 2.

Kids, teenagers, adults are hanging around with their friends, most of the time. Perhaps I should be doing the conclusion at the later stage of my life, but these there will remain much related to CNY: Do gamble, house visiting and changing different new clothes everyday. I did a lot of funny stuff this year, perhaps I’ll share it in another post.


For many people, money doesn’t come easy. I mean you have to work for it, it just won't come falling down from the sky, grow inside your pocket. Ang pow are our all time favorite, not because of the money inside, because it was given along with some advices, best wishes and support (money). This culture even adopted by our Malay friends as in green pow. It’s a shame that I’m still eligible for getting some, but I just can't say no, right? Haha!!!

I suppose to be giving some, but not until I’m married. That, is going to take some time so I’ll be happy to be a receiver for now!