Saturday, February 16, 2013

Seeing Red in Kuala Lumpur - Chinese New Year 2013

Officially Chinese New Year celebrations last for two days in Malaysia; on the 10 and 11 and stretching to 12 February as the first day overlap a Sunday. However most Chinese, particularly those who are self-employed take the opportunity to celebrate the full 15 days. As usual, soothsayers, fortune tellers and Feng Shui masters are kept busy with forecasts and horoscopes for individuals and corporations with the arrival of each new lunar year. Meanwhile shopping malls in the city are all decked out in red and gold to usher in a prosperous 2013, with hopes that robust retail will keep their cash registers ringing throughout the year.

A Chinese junk sails in and berthed at Sunway Pyramid, bring with it an abundance of goods.


Suspended Lanterns over the ice-skating rink at Sunway Pyramid.

The humongous lantern at Kuala Lumpur Suria (KLCC)


Flying cranes and oriental-style clouds at Berjaya Times Square

Dancing lions strutting their stuff at Berjaya Times Square.

The pair of dancing lions prancing vigorously to thunderous drumbeats.
  
The prize for the dancing lions - a red packet with cash.




AT THE GARDENS


Flaming Red Oriental Lanterns at Gardens.




Floral compostion of Magnolias, Chrysantehmums, Camelias and Plum Bolssoms on sheer red silk screen at the Gardens




AT MID-VALLEY
 
 At entrance to Atrium of Centre Court of Mid-Valley, huge containers of Chrysanthemums were sited.


 Red lanterns and plum blossoms borne on tall trees are seen at the central court atrium of Mid Valley.



Fake mustard-yellow flowers and scarlet Heliconiums juxtapose prettily with real flowers.


Masses of pussy willows with their silvery silky buds reminds us of Spring.



Depictions of courtyard scenes in houses in ancient China.



 The atrium was also decked out with both fresh and fake flowers, creating a riot of colours.

  
AT PAVILLION

Window dressing of multi-hued spring blossoms at a retail outlet in Pavilion.


Pavilion went fishy this year with jumping carps for abundance and vitality.

Carp lanterns swimming airily among the traditional round lanterns.


A curtain of lanterns present a facade of prosperity, positive vibes and good fortune.


Happy New Year to all those who celebrate the Spring Festival. Today, 17 February, is the 8th day. The celebrations will culminate with 'Chap Goh Mei', the 15th day of the Lunar New Year which falls on 24 February.

 

28 comments:

  1. OMG, that's a very long celebration. I haven't been to our Chinatown, but in regular malls, the decorations are not as ostentatious as in KL. Maybe there are more Chinese there than here, also the names of those in Malaysia are more Chinese-looking in form than our Chinese Filipino, who already got naturalized names.

    I like natural flower decors, but not as excessive as those.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. The malls here tend to go gaga in their decorations, not only for CNY but also for all the major festivals such as Eid, Deepavali and Christmas, Others such as Valentine's day, Easter, Halloween, Octoberfest, Ponggal, Mid-Autumn festival, Dumpling festival are celebrated to a greater or lesser extent. Of course there is also the commercial edge to all these.

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  2. It looks so lovely in your pictures, all the red colours, the flowers and the decorations, just beautiful! - and very exotic and different for someone living at the other side of the world :-) Wish I could see it and experience it for myself!

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    Replies
    1. This is exactly how I feel when I visit the other part of the world and became so fascinated by all the local flora.

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  3. Wonderful scenery. The biggest impression made ​​on me pink tree, greet

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The pink flowers on the tree are plum blossoms.They are ubiquitous during Chinese New Year. To the Chinese, plum blossoms are as meaningful as what cherry blossoms are to the Japanese.

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  4. Great colorful photographs!
    I really enjoyed

    xoxo, Juliana | PJ’ Happies :) | PJ’ Ecoproject

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Juliana. I see that you are having your Spring in lovely, soft pastel colours.

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  5. Wah..so meriah wooo...i miss the colorful sceneries of CNY ..here we dont have big celebration since not many chinese around and i think many of them from korea....
    i remember when i work with a chinese boss before..we used to have long holiday before the office open on the 'ong' day..:)
    I think you'r lucky since celebrate both Christmas & CNY...where's our angpow? heheeh

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Like the Chinese, the Koreans celebrate the new Lunar Year too. The Chinese still practice the 'ong' day too as age-old tradition still have its hold on people's mentality.

      Hehe, if you visit, only Aidan will receive an angpow as only unmarried ones get them - also tradition lah :)

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  6. Wooh, very colorful... trust that you are enjoying the celebrations... :-)

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    Replies
    1. Yes, enjoying my leisure and holidays. Its my last fling before I re-join the workforce on 1st March which is just round the corner.

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  7. Pięknie i kolorowo jest witany Nowy Rok. Wszędzie jest piękna wiosna. Pozdrawiam.
    Beautiful and colorful New Year is welcomed. Spring is beautiful everywhere. Yours.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I totally agree with you. Spring brings hope of a new beginning, a renewal of old ways and perceptions. Best Regards.

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  8. My goodness, I am in awe at the beauty of your New Year celebration. The decorations are incredibly beautiful!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you RobinL. I'm glad that you appreciate them.

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  9. Thank you for all the photos! Beautiful festive decorations! I missed all that as I am forever at home after back from the holiday celebration during each CNY!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. You must have enjoyed yourself very much during your holidays and at home after that to cook up a storm. It looks like they are painting the town red for the CNY celebration.

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  10. WOW WOW WOW!!!! I love all the lanterns. The second shot is wonderful!!! I wish I had money to fly there and observe all your color. Fantastic pics and it looks like such a fun time!

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    1. I think it would be wonderful to skate under all those wonderful ecliptic lanterns.

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  11. I like those red lanterns! They look so red and so good :-D Hope you have had a wonderful new year.

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    1. They remind me of the movie made by Zhang Yimou 'Raise the Red Lantern'. Wishing you a great year ahead.

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  12. Don't tell me you went to each shopping mall to get these pictures??!
    By the way, you look so 'swee' beside those red lanterns :)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Haha, this year I started my CNY shopping very early, about a month ahead and only during weekends. There are some hampers to take care of and goodies to stock up for the celebration. Some shops and restaurants are closed for extended period during this season. Thanks for the compliments. You know, at this age, I don't want many raised lanterns, so this is to over-compensate :P

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    2. Point taken. You know, I love your attitude!
      Well thought plan :)
      Speaking of age, you'll be going back to work soon?
      Is that why you will be moving to your new house?

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    3. No, moving to a new house has got nothing to do with my work. The new house has a much bigger piece of land to indulge in more gardening. In fact I thought of not working because of the house moving. I have to use the LDP to go to this new work place and the traffic along this route is horrendous. I hope I can survive it.

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  13. Thank you for sharing. I only managed to see the ones at the Curve and Ikano. Too domesticated lately.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was there too before CNY. Domesticity is a luxury in our present hectic pace of urban living.

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