Duanwu Festival 2011

Today on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month is Duanwu Festival. It is a working day in Malaysia.

HAPPY DUANWU FESTIVAL!

Duanwu Festival is also known as Dumpling Festival, Dragon Boat Festival or Chang Festival. The festival is about Qu Yuan, a much loved and admired ancient Chinese poet cum scholar who committed suicide by jumping into the river. He was devasted because the king refused to listen to his advice. To prevent his body from being devoured by fishes, the people made chang (dumplings) and threw them into the river hoping that the fishes would feed on the dumplings instead of his body. Now, every year during this festival, the Chinese follow this tradition of making and eating chang to commemorate Qu's patriotism and loyalty towards the king and country.

“Duanwu Festival 2011!”, a copyrighted post, was written for Klang, Malaysia Daily Photo blog by Autumn Belle @ http://mymalaysiadailyphoto.blogspot.com/ on June 6th, 2011

Wow, Today is 1-1-11, Happy New Year 2011!

We will open the book. Its pages are blank.

We are going to put words on them ourselves.

The book is called "Opportunity" and its first chapter is New Year's Day.

- Edith Lovejoy Pierce

The picture above was taken at Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. The structure is reflected on the water surface below. Can you identify where is the cut-off line?

This is my entry for Weekend Reflections #67. To participate or view what others have posted for Weekend Reflections, please visit here.

Winter Solstice 2010

On this day today I will celebrate the Winter Solstice Festival or Dōng Zhì (冬至). The first Chinese character, Dōng (冬) means 'winter while the second character Zhì (至) means 'festival' .

Today is ABC Wednesday

W is for .....

Winter Solstice!

According to Chinese culture and custom, I shall offer prayers to the gods and thank them for the protection given and blessings bestowed upon our family throughout the whole year.

During this day of Dōng Zhì Festival, families members get together and eat tāng yuán (湯圓) signifying 'togetherness'. Tang yuan is a sweet soup made of glutinous rice balls. Even though it is not a public holiday here,  those who are working will also make it a point to come home to have dinner together. This is symbolic of family unity and harmony. I am sure many of us will remember our grandparents who used to tell us that today everyone becomes one year older. This is a time we look forward to the next major spring Festival,  i.e. the Lunar New Year. After today we shall be busy spring cleaning our homes and making preparations for the Lunar New Year.

Elsewhere around the world and according to the Western calendar, the Winter Solstice  exact time falls on 23:38pm Universal Time on December 21st, 2010. In Malaysia it is December 22nd, 7:30am (this morning). This year is special in the sense that it comes with a total lunar eclipse at the same time and it is also a full moon day.  It also coincides with the Ursids Meteo shower which occurs from Dec 16th - 26th. The winter solstice lunar eclipse is a rare event, a first time in 372 years. As for me I will not be witnessing this phenomenon.



ABC Wednesday, Round 7 hosted by Mrs. Denise Nesbitt and the ABC Team of Denise, Roger, Jay, Troy, Barb, Gattina, Sylvia, Annelie, Linda and Helen. To participate and view what others have in mind, please log on to this site.

Entrance to Pavilion KL

How many reflections can you see here?

This is my entry for Weekend Reflections #64. To participate or view what others have posted for Weekend Reflections, please visit here.

Reflection on a Christmas Bauble

Shoppers at the Aeon Shopping Complex, Bandar Bukit Tinggi, Klang are reflected in this Christmas bauble. This year, once again the Christmas Tree is made of recycled materials, mainly plastic bottles.

According to wikipedia, "a Christmas bauble is also known as a Christmas ball in American English.
A bauble is a spherical decoration that is commonly used to adorn Christmas trees. The bauble is one of the most popular Christmas ornament design, and they have been in production since 1847. Baubles can have various designs on them, from "baby's first Christmas," to a favorite sports team. The Polish name for bauble is bombka which translates as "a little bomb".

Do you like baubles in your Christmas tree?

This is my entry for Weekend Reflections #63. To participate or view what others have posted for Weekend Reflections, please visit here.

Christmas Enchantments 2010 at the Pavilion KL

Christmas came early at the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. The theme this year is 'Enchantments'.

The kids here are taking part in the Little Santa Workshop supervised by Santa himself and his pretty assistant Lady Elf.

The activities planned during this period include:
’TIS A SNOWY CHRISTMAS 26 Nov – 26 Dec at 8pm
Catch the countless magical snowflakes of a white Christmas every night amidst a sea of giant baubles, charming gazebos and poinsettias in bloom at Bukit Bintang Entrance.

MEET SANTA & HIS ELF 25 Nov – 25 Dec 1pm & 3pm (except Mondays)
Donate RM10 and get your photo taken by us with Santa on his sleigh at Centre Court, Level 2.

SANTA WALKABOUT 25 Nov – 25 Dec 4pm (except Mondays)
Catch Santa for a photo opportunity around the mall.

LITTLE SANTA WORKSHOP 25 Nov – 25 Dec 11am (except Mondays)
Donate RM10 and join the workshop. Free for Pavilion Junior members when you flash your membership card. Limited to 20 children per session (4-12 years old).

CHRISTMAS STROLLERS 13 Nov – 31 Dec 5pm – 10pm (except Mondays)
Indulge in jazzy festive tunes by our stroller band around the mall.

CHRISTMAS CAROLLERS 26-28 Nov, 3-5, 7, 10-12, 17-19, 21-26 Dec 6pm & 7pm
Serenade to the joyful hymns of the Dithyrambic Singers at Centre Court, Level 2.
*Proceeds from charity go to the Special Children Society of Ampang

For further details regarding the happenings and events this season, you can visit the Pavilion KL website here.

This is my entry for That's My World Tuesday Season 3 Episode 8. MyWorld is the place where we become virtual tourists guides and show others the best of our world! To view what others have in their world, please visit here. 

A Purple Elephant For A Happy Deepavali

Deepavali, a Hindu festival will be celebrated this coming Friday, 5th November. This stage decoration with a purple elephant can be viewed at Aeon Shopping Centre, Bandar Bukit Tinggi, Klang.

The Hindu god, Ganesha or Ganesh the elephant god is worshipped as the lord of success and destroyer of evil and obstacles. He is also regarded as the god of education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth.

In Sri Lanka, elephants holds a place of high esteem in their culture. You can see them in religious processions, in wars, as a mode of transportation, in the logging industry and also objects of pagentry.

Elephants are intelligent creatures. They are much loved in Asia and regarded as symbols of wisdom, strength, power and longevity. In Western cultures, elephants are regarded as exotic. A 'white elephant' would mean something expensive, useless and bizzare. But in Thailand, a white elephant is regarded as a holy animal. According to Buddhist scriptures, Buddha's mother, Queen Maya, dreamt that a white bull elephant with six white tusks and carrying a lotus in its trunk entered into her from the right side. She became pregnant and ten months later Prince Siddhartha was born. The elephant is regarded as one of the 7 treasures of Buddhism.

In feng shui, a pair of ceramic elephants is displayed inside the home or flanking both sides of entrances to attract good fortune. In Chinese culture, pictures of children seated on elephants depict good fortune. Childless women hang a picture of the elephant in the bedroom to increase their chances of getting a male child.

Do you have any elephants stories to share?

HAPPY DEEPAVALI!

This is my entry for That's My World Tuesday Season 3 Episode 4. MyWorld is the place where we become virtual tourists guides and show others the best of our world! To view what others have in their world, please visit here. 

Mid Autumn Festival 2010

The theme this month is Old Shanghai during the Mid Autumn Festival. All the stalls are having mooncake promotions. My "FUN" part was when I discovered that mooncakes at going at a discount of 30% here!

This year, I bought the traditional single and double egg-yolk mooncakes, and also snow skin mooncakes with rasberry-blueberry filling and another with yam filling. When the season is over, I have eaten enough mooncakes to last until the next year!

Mid Autumn Festival is also known as Mooncake Festival, Lantern Festival and The Festival of Reunion. Yesterday night, I attended a lantern party and lantern walkabout near my home. A pair of dancing lions lead the way. People from other races also join in the celebration.

This is my entry for Thursday Challenge, the Photo Theme this week is  "FUN" (Festival, Fair, Carnival, Party, Playground, Dancing, Laughing,...). To view what others have for today, click here.

Dumpling Festival & Dragon Boat Festival

Today, the fifth day of the fifth lunar month is Dumpling Festival which also coincides with the Dragon Boat Festival. According to legend, the tradition of eating dumplings and racing dragon boats was to commemorate Qu Yuan, a great scholar cum patriotic poet during the Warring States Period. (475-221 BC).

Qu Yuan was greatly saddened by king's refusal to listen to his advice which resulted in war. He took his own life by jumping into the Miluo River. To prevent the fishes from eating his body, Qu Yuan's friends and supporters made dumplings, set out in boats and threw them into the river so that the fishes would seek out the dumplings instead of his body. The dumplings were made of rice wraped in bamboo leaves.

To commemorate Qu Yuan, this custom is celebrated even to this day. Here, we hold prayers at home and eat dumplings. The dumplings are made of glutinuous rice with fillings of pork or chicken meat, mushrooms, chestnuts, salted eggs and dried shrimps. In Malaysia, the Nyonya or Peranakan community make blue coloured dumplings with peanuts, winter melon and dried shrimps fillings. The blue colour is obtained from the natural dye of the Butterfly Pea flower (Clitoria ternatea).

Annual dragon boat races are still being held all over China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and other overseas Chinese communities.

Some interesting related news from The Star:
1.  Exciting Eggs-periment During "Chang" Festival. Some people believe that eggs can stand on its end on the summer solstice, winter solstice, spring and autumnal equinox but scientist explains to the contrary.

2. Halal Dumpling Treat for Malay Friends - also details of making blue coloured dumplings, the dye from the flowers of the Butterfly Pea.

Today for ABC Wednesday,

V is for a

Very important Chinese festival

Very delicious dumplings

ABC Wednesday hosted by Mrs. Denise Nesbitt and the ABC Team of Denise, Roger, Jay, Troy, Barb, Gattina and Slyvia. To participate and view what others have in mind, please log on to this site.

Love Tree at The Curve

During the recent Lunar New Year which falls on Valentine's Day on February 14th, 2010, many shopping centres put up festive decorations incorporating the two themes. Bamboo, peonies, pussy willows, tigers, teddy bears and heart-shaped items share the same location. There is even a "Love Tree" for shoppers to dedicate messages to their loved ones.

Among the Chinese in Malaysia, Cupid strikes 3 times this year:

1) Lunar New Year Day on 14 Feb 2010 is also Valentine's Day according to western tradition

2) Day 15th of Lunar New Year on 28th Feb 2010 is also known as Lantern Festival in China and Chap Goh Mei in Malaysia. In Malaysia, unmarried ones will throw oranges into the sea and lakes in the hope of finding Prince Charming. This is practised in the coastal towns of Penang, Port Klang and other cities like Ipoh, Klang (Esplanade), Petaling Jaya (Taman Jaya), Cheras (Taman Tasik Permaisuri) and Malacca.

3) Qixi Festival on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month on 16th August 2010 - According to the legend of Niulang and Qi Jie in (Cowherd and Weaving Girl), this is the day when Qi Jie, the weaving girl from Heaven is allowed to meet her lover, Niulang from Earth. Magpies would form a bridge across the Milky Way to make it possible for Qi Jie to meet her lover. The lovers were separated by Heavenly Mother (Qi Jie's mother) as a fairy from Heaven cannot marry a man from Earth. The day they meet is regarded as Lover's Day or Chinese Valentine's Day.

Read more about the festivals by clicking on the links provided in (2) and (3).

It was reported recently that despite all these festivals of romance and marriage, the Chinese in Malaysia are still slow in typing the knot. It is common for the Chinese to place financial stability before other things and this is also the same case among Chinese in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore.


This is my entry for That's My World Tuesday. To view what others have in their world, please visit here.

Deepavali Shopping at Little India, Klang

On Saturday, October 17th, 2009 this year, Hindus around the world will celebrate Deepavali or Diwali. It is also known as the Festival of Lights.


This pictures shows a 'kolam' in the shape of a pair of peacocks at the entrance of the 1-Utama Shopping Complex. It is part of the decoration wishing customers a Happy Deepavali. Kolams are a form of paintings with curved loops, grid lines and beautiful pictures drawn using coloured rice grains or rice powder. You can also find kolams drawn at the entrances of homes. It is said to bring prosperity.

In Klang, the most busy street during this season is Jalan Tengku Kelana, nicknamed The Little India of Klang city. There are quite a number of restaurants here serving authentic Indian and Indian Muslim food. Other shops include goldsmith, blacksmith, groceries, fruits and vegetables, electrical, DVD, textiles, furniture and incense.

Many stores are having festive promotions now, selling a wide variety of foodstuff, clothes, accessories, trendy costume as well as real jewellery, colourful lamps, Persian carpets and home decorative items. Some goods are imported from countries like India, Mexico and Bali, Indonesia. Many shoppers of all races come here to join in the carnival atmosphere and look for bargains.

Look at the lovely, glittering gowns here with intricate sequins and designs. There are also sarees and punjabi suits. This is the place to go if you are looking for some glamour dresses, gowns or beautiful sarees for your coming festive or wedding dinner reception. Fashion here follow the latest Bollywood blockbuster movies and Hindi/Tamil TV serials.

This stall sells plastic flowers, garlands and decorative lights. You can even find the traditional areca nuts and betel leaves or 'pinang and sireh' packs sold here along the five foot ways. Other items include the hand strung jasmine flower garlands. Come here to see how these are made.

This street with the "Welcome to Little India" signage has many many stalls selling cookies, biscuits and food items. My favourite are kacang puteh (a variety of baked or fried nuts), muruku and vadai.

Here is another section of the Deepavali bazaar. The signage says "Happy Deepavali" to all customers. This department stall has a giant Bollywood style signboard.

This is the Flower Street of Little India. These ladies are patiently stringing flower garlands made of jasmine, orchids and chrysanthemum flowers. Cut flowers like roses, lotuses, orchids and chrysanthemums are also available. The air here is scented with the sweet exotic fragranes of all these flowers.

Finally, you can see this type of bazaar at many shopping complexes in the towns and cities here.

This one is at the 1-Utama Shopping Centre .

I would like to wish everyone celebrationg this festival,

A VERY HAPPY DEEPAVALI !

This is my entry for My World Tuesday Season 2 Episode 1, a meme, strictly non-profit, where we have fun by showing you our world. My special thanks to the MyWorld team: Klaus, Sandy, Wren, Fishing Guy, Louise and Sylvia. See how others view their world or to participate, click here.

My World Tuesday Issue LI - Mid-Autumn Festival

On Saturday, October 3rd this year, Chinese around the world will celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival (Zhongqiu) . It is also known as Moon Cake Festival or Lantern Festival. It falls on the 15th day of the 8th month of the chinese lunar calendar. It is the day many of us believe that the full moon will be at its biggest and brightest.

More than a month before the big day, booths are set up at shopping complexes promoting the sale of colourful lanterns and moon cakes, the 2 most important elements of this festival.

Traditional lanterns are shaped as birds, fishes, animals and mythical dragons while the modern ones follow the shapes the latest cartoons such as Ben 10, the latest craze among children here. Traditional lanterns are made of paper and uses candles while the modern ones are made of plastic and battery operated with music and movement. They are so many choices available.

Besides decorative booths at shopping complexes, local town councils, temples and resident associations organise lantern festivals at their locality encouraging mass participation on certain theme nights. It is indeed a sight to behold with families and friends coming out in full force to join in the festivities. Can you imagine how it will be with many beautiful lanterns lighting up the night?

Consumers are spoilt for choice when it comes to the varieties of mooncakes available. Each mooncake can be differentiated by

a) the skin - baked, snow, crystal or pastry type

b) filling - lotus seed paste, dates, red bean, mung bean, egg yolks, mellon seeds, sesame, mixed fruits, nuts, ham, jelly, tiramisu, halal (pork free and conform to Muslim requirements) and even Haagen Dazs Ice-cream mooncakes!

c) flavour - sweet, reduced sugar, pandan, green tea, coffee, chocolate, fruity, etc

Mooncakes used to be produced by traditional chinese confectioners but nowadays many bakeries, hotels and restaurants produce them. Every year it looks like an all out war among them as each race to outdo the other with new designs, fillings and creative names.

The picture below is a sample of how a traditional mooncake looks like. The skin has auspicious pictures and words. Can you see the egg yolk, melon seeds and lotus paste filling inside?

It is customary to buy mooncakes as gifts to family and close friends during this season. Now this custom has extended to corporate-clients level. Mooncakes are packaged in beautifully designed gift boxes made of paper, wood or metal.

In the old days, children come out after dusk, carrying brightly coloured lanterns and have fun roaming the streets and dark corners in groups. On the main day of the festival, families will gather together to perform prayers at night i.e. after the moon is visible in the sky. Some of the offerings are mooncakes, tea, taro root or baby yam, water caltrope (leng kok), goundnuts, incense and joss sticks. After the prayer sessions, family and friends will have a good time enjoying the food amidst some chatter and laughter while children played with lighted candles and lanterns under the moonlight.

Eversince man took the first step on the moon, many of us have discontinued with the practise of praying to the full moon. Instead we hold parties, family gatherings or participate in big scale events organised by the local authorities.

Is this festival celebrated in your country?

Do you have any experience to share regarding this festival?

This is my entry for My World Tuesday Issue LI, a meme, strictly non-profit, where we have fun by showing you our world. My special thanks to the MyWorld team: Klaus Sandy , Ivar Wren , Fishing Guy and Louise. See how others view their world or to participate, click here.

September DP Theme - BIG and Hari Raya Season

September has already started. A BIG celebration is coming our way. On 20th or 21st September, muslims around the world will celebrate Hari Raya.

At shopping complexes such as the Mid Valley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur, the atmosphere is heavy with the Hari Raya feel. Beautiful Hari Raya decorations are everywhere.

Like this Kampung Style theme complete with a Kampung House and traditional dancers in sarong, songkok and kebaya dancing to traditional music. Nearby, there are Hari Raya goodies, cookies stalls and booths selling batik, sarongs and decorative items like ketupat and oil lamps.

There are also festive sales and bargains everywhere. Since this is now the fasting month of Ramadhan, many eateries have put up Buka Puasa promotions to lure shoppers to break fast at their restaurants, cafes and fast food joints.

I wish all muslims a Happy Ramadhan Al-Mubarrak.

To view other BIG entries for this month's September City Daily Photo theme,
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

This is also my entry for My World Tuesday XLVII. To view other MWT entries from around the world or to participate, click here.

Hari Merdeka - Malaysia's Independence Day

Today, August 31st, is Malaysia's National Day. Also Hari Kebangsaan, Hari Merdeka or Independence Day. I wish all Malaysians, local and around the world a Happy 52nd Merdeka Day. Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!

Picture courtesy of 3ff.com.

Our National Flag or Jalur Gemilang (Stripes of Glory)

This year, the theme is 1Malaysia - Rakyat Didahulukan, Pencapaian DiUtamakan (People First, Performance Now). Our current Prime Minister, YAB Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Abdul Razak wishes to unite all races to live harmoniously with mutual respect and work together towards national interest.

As the Bunga Raya (Rosa Sinensis) hibiscus, can be found abundantly everywhere in Malaysia, our first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Alhaj declared it our national flower in 1960. The five petals of bunga raya symbolise the Rukunegara, our 5 Principles of Nationhood.

This yellow hibiscus is my entry for Yellow Mellow Monday. For other YMM posts around the world, please click here.

My Second Picture (1Malaysia) is my entry for Monochrome Maniacs. For other MM posts around the world, please click here.