I’ve always made it a point to get some fireworks every year during Chinese New Year to properly get into the festive spirit. I have a lot of photos of the variety available this year at the store but I took it using my iPhone, which was stolen during CNY so I’m left with the ones taken using the digicam I used to film this year’s pyrotechnics. T_T
No matter – even though my budget for firecrackers and fireworks this year is significantly reduced, I still managed to get some gems.
25 shot cake configuration (RM 100)
This 25 shot cake contains 5 different types “effects” in a cake configuration. You’ll notice that this is taller than the other one – the reason for the height merely indicates how high it will go. Taller cake configurations shoots the conflagration higher up in the sky while more compact ones goes lower.
It also has a larger diameter, which allows for bigger fireworks. However, the optimal viewing angle has to be taken into account – you’ll need to be further away to fully appreciate this without craning your necks. The shorter ones can be let off at a lesser distance and it still goes high enough so you can admire the bursts of color and sound.
Here’s the video of this firework in action. It’s rather disappointing since the next one (which is half the price) produces a better effect. I’ll give this a pass next year.
49 shot cake configuration (RM 50)
This beautifully made firework cake produces 7 different type of effects with an amazing ending. Kudos to the manufacturer for this impressive display.
This is the video of this cake – there’s a nice variety among the shots and the climax is beautiful. I’ll say this is the best value for money this year.
This comes highly recommended and I’ll be getting more of this next year. 🙂
2” display shell (RM 15)
This is a consumer grade firework that shoots out 2 inch shells instead of the usual 1.5 inch ones. I was very surprised at the price since a similar looking 1.5” display shell was going for RM 30.
It contains 6 individual shells which you put into a disposable cardboard launcher (included) before lighting the fuse.
This is what it looks like – you can see that I accidentally burnt my fingers on the fuse in the video. Heh!
I finally realized why this box of “fireworks” is so cheap. It’s not fireworks at all – the 1.5” display shells launches with a burst of color while this just produces a sound.
It’s basically just a glorified firecracker but for the price and the sonic effect, I can’t complain.
The only downside to the cylindrical design is that sometimes the entire shell does not eject, leaving the cylinder still inside the launcher. This can be a Bad Thing (TM) if you don’t realize it coz if you put another one in, it’ll stack up and run the risk of blowing up on the ground.
I’ll still buy this for the bargain basement price but be sure to check the launcher after you let one off to see that the shell has been fully ejected.
I also got some double report firecrackers this year – click on the link to view what that looks like.
Anyway, I got this idea to play Jackass Badminton during Chinese New Year – this requires two people with two rackets. One person lights the firecracker and serves, and you both hit the burning firecracker with your badminton rackets until it explodes. I didn’t get to play it but Willie managed to find some original Thunder Kings when this idea was conceived.
Thunder King / Crazy Bang
This is what the original Thunder Kings are like – it’s a huge ass firecracker with much more flash powder and explosive potential than other similar high grade firecrackers (e.g. chai lei, da di lei gong etc).
Interestingly, this time it’s labeled Crazy Bang and it is ALSO called da di lei kong (literally “gigantic earth thunder”) in Chinese. It comes in a pack of 5. There is no fuse visible – you’ll have to break the paper at the top to pull the fuse out.
Check out the video of this baby.
Despite the similarity in name to Da Di Crackers, this is much more powerful than the red ones. It’s exactly the same as Thunder King with the base removed.
Intense. I remember people using this during my schooldays with a delayed fuse (usually a mosquito coil) in the toilets to break the cistern. Pity the fool who is taking a dump when one of this goes off. 
It’s been a good Chinese New Year!
I can’t wait for the next one. 🙂
holy CRAP thats a big firecracker! The biggest one you could buy in the US is probably 1/5 that size!
Yeah, the Thunder King / Crazy Bang is one of the more powerful firecrackers out there. It’s loud and it’s explosive. The less academic minded high school students use this with a mosquito coil as a fuse (to avoid being detected and associated with planting it) during the weeks leading up to CNY holidays and plants it in the toilet cistern.
The cracker is enough to actually blast through and break the plastic cistern. The schools have to replace it and it drives the administration nuts. 🙂
you daredevil! haha i rather sit at a table and lit a cigar then lit those fireworks!
Oh no! Now you’ve given me a rather disturbing image, of me lighting the firecracker and putting it into my mouth as a cigar. Haha!
These are not dangerous in general even if you’re careless around them. I guess I’m a bit careless coz I grew up playing with firecrackers and fireworks so you kinda get used to it.
Unless you light it with your head peering down into the cake of fireworks, it’s pretty safe! 🙂
Oh ya, I haven’t smoked a good cigar in a while. 😉
Happy CNY to you HB. Boy, you still enjoying those stuff. I gathered that the blasting atmosphere no longer what it used to be. I remembered last time back in the 80s, CNY eve in Sibu was like a war zone, very tense. The fun went on hours after hours of heavy blast and you can tell just by looking at the aftermath near alley like Tiong Hua Rd, Tong Sun, Hua Kiaw, it was “red” all the way.
Anyway, best wishes and all the best man.
Yeah, back in the days Sibu was awesome.
I hope we can relive those days again with the rumored un-banning of fireworks next year. 🙂
All the best to you too my friend!
i tot it is banned in Malaysia?
Yeah it’s banned in Malaysia but people still buy it.
When there’s demand, there’s always supply. 😉
Sibu holds on to its Chinese traditions so there’s always going to be demand. 🙂
Say YEAH to Thunder King …
HELL YEAH! =D
It’s awesome stuff bro. 🙂
You are truely a sibu dude. LOL !
Haha! Born and bred, my friend. 🙂
Fireworks looks huge and awesome now…must be a great blast.
Yup, it’s awesome! I love cake fireworks but it’s aways a bit of a hit and miss thing unless you go to a preview event and see how it looks like. Sometimes you chance upon a good one, sometimes you don’t. 🙂
the only fireworks i saw this year was the one they lit before boat set sail to our dive trip, hard to find fireworks in KL these days
Yeah, even in Sibu, the variety that we use to have (and we’re quite good in this department, if nothing else) has decreased despite the best efforts in smuggling. :S
HB, hope your sister and famiy OK . Heard of earthquake there in New Zeland.
Thanks for the concern Vickie! Yup, they’re fine. 🙂
Nothing beats CNY with firecrackers man.
My boss let off a 8 foot long firecracker – good thing the boys in blue didn’t turn up – saved us kopi money this year 🙂
Heh! Well, luckily in Sibu we don’t have this problem this year. People are letting off fireworks and firecrackers and no sight of any uniformed people anywhere. I guess being a predominantly Chinese town with a traditional heritage does have its advantages sometimes. 🙂
I can’t imagine CNY without firecrackers. 🙁
Hello Bro , Where You Get Your Fireworks with cheap ?
Hello! It’s not cheap, I bought this retail so there’s a markup to pay off cops, gangsters as bouncers etc etc.
It’s sold at a shop.
It’ll be cheaper if you buy it when they smuggle it in during June/July. 🙂
where buy a fireworks in kl malaysia?
Hmm…that’s a very good question. I don’t celebrate CNY in KL but in my hometown of Sibu.
I hear you can get it in Cheras pasar malam though – the bigger ones you have to ask as it’s under the table. I haven’t verified this, coz like I said, I’m always in Sibu for CNY. 🙂
how can i buy these?
Hi. I’m Singaporean.. I was planning to head over to Malaysia during Chinese new year. But heard from my friends that it is alrd banned. I would like to ask, may I know where can I buy? Or do I have to go to kampong areas? Pls do reply me thru email. Thank you so much
Nice, 49 shot cake configuration… Where can I get it in KL?
Hi. We are going to buy firework. Can you give us contact number?