Chinese New Year 2013

open house

I compiled a list of random photos from CNY open houses, visiting friends and generally doing the things I do each year during Chinese New Year. πŸ˜€

This is a performance of a yu – a traditional Chinese musical instrument. I don’t know what it’s actually called, I just looked at the list of Chinese instruments at Wikipedia and the yu seems to fit it best. It’s a flute of sorts with a gourd at the back – there’s multiple tubes and it can make quite an enchanting melody.

cny visiting

I also managed to catch up with Ting Chuan, a very old friend of mine. We went through the same class in primary school *and* high school together. Luke is to the other side of me.

ting chuan hb luke

My high school mate has been married for a long time (his wife Siew Ling and their daughter is in the first photo) – was one of his heng tai during the wedding and he’s now the proud father of a bouncy new baby. This is the cute Megan. πŸ™‚

megan

I’m always amazed and a little envious when see stuff like this. I’ll love to have kids of my own too. Unfortunately, I haven’t found a soul mate yet. I’ll see how things pan out. πŸ˜‰

romeo steph

I went clubbing three times too – it’s been a while since I drank this much. It was a lot of fun! That’s Romeo and Stephanie @ The Base. I get to see this bunch of friends only once a year since we all work at different places.

cousins

This is 3 Degrees. We made a new tradition of going clubbing with just cousins starting this year. πŸ˜€

birthday present

I also got my very first birthday present from Patricia Felicia – my birthday is not until 5th of April but she reckons she’ll not see me then coz I’ll be in KL so this is a 2-month early birthday gift. Thanks Pat! πŸ™‚

chinese 80th birthday

Speaking of birthdays…this is my great aunt’s 80th birthday!

great aunt

She remembers me as a little kid when I lived in Sungai Merah. To be honest, I don’t even remember living in Sungai Merah but that’s what the older generation is for. Haha!

sky lantern cny

Letting of sky lanterns with my bros Eddy, Calvin, Romeo, Ah Tong. This is a RM 2.50 biodegradable sky lantern sold as an alternative to fireworks.

sky lantern

It really goes up high with a 15 minute burn time.

fountain cake fireworks

We also let off a fireworks cake called Jin Se Pu Bu (Golden Conflagration – a classic barrage from the early days way before the ban). This is up there with Colorpeony in terms of multi-tube aerial shots – back in the days (talking about the ’80s here) these are the *really popular* ones.

Two foot long fountains were also lit simultaneously beside it for a better show.

muesli cookies

I also visited Arthur’s house, which is just around the corner. Those are his muesli cookies.

arthur grace

Arthur has been a good friend of mine since I was a little kid. I didn’t have a car (mom’s car broke down) so Grace picked me up.

josiah

It’s has been an awesome Chinese New Year! I’ll be getting the annual fireworks and firecrackers post up before Chap Goh Meh (the 15th day and the end of the Lunar New Year). Hope ya’ll had a great CNY too! πŸ˜€

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25 thoughts on “Chinese New Year 2013”

  1. HB, your friend cookies look so yummy. Wonder did anyone try to put firework in those floating lanterns in the sky since they do burn up in time?

    Reply
    • Yup, that’s very good muesli cookies! πŸ™‚

      He gave some to me just now too. I’ll eat them as a midnight snack.

      Haha! Well, honestly, I don’t think the sky lanterns have the lift potential to carry fireworks. It’s hard enough for the hot air to generate enough lift for the sky lanterns itself, for it to carry a small fireworks/salute payload…

      I think it’s impossible unless it’s a very light one like the triangle salutes from the Philippines.

      Reply
  2. You know, HB, I thought that you were posing with your kid until you explained that it was your friend’s child. >.<

    Btw, I think you'll be perfect with children. suituapui's cookies look tasty!

    Reply
    • Thanks Ciana! πŸ™‚

      Which one? The last photo is actually my nephew Josiah. The 4th photo is my friend’s daughter Megan. They’re both around the same age.

      I love kids but then again I’ve never been subjected to the responsibilities of one so I wouldn’t know until I have some. I think I’ll be a good dad and I’ll love to try. I’ll probably spoil my kids though.

      Yup, the cookies are delicious! πŸ˜€

      Reply
  3. CNY is the time where we get to see family and friends each other. I love the gatherings.
    You have a fatherly look. I bet you will find your soul mate very soon πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Indeed! That’s the best thing about Chinese New Year! πŸ™‚

      We get to see all the family and friends we usually just see once a year coz we’re all based in different places.

      Fatherly look eh? I’ll sure love to have kids of my own.

      Let’s hope it pans out.

      Thanks Andrew! Hope you and your family had an awesome Chinese New Year! πŸ˜€

      Reply
  4. Hmmm…you sure have that paternal look – bet you would make a truly loving and caring father.

    Thanks so much for taking time to drop by my place – was a pleasure having you and everybody coming by.

    Hey! Wait a minute! Was that the lantern that landed right in the middle of my garden? Was it blue in colour? Can’t show you anymore cos I left it out there and when it rained, it just dissolved…and disappeared without a trace except for the wire frame.

    Hope your great New Year festivities will be the start of an equally great or even more awesome year ahead. Cheers to that, my friend.

    Reply
    • The pleasure is mine buddy! πŸ™‚

      Thanks for sending some of the muesli cookies over just now. I had a great dinner and dessert session.

      Haha! I don’t think so, it would be quite a feat for the lantern to fly that far.

      (not unheard of, though, it goes up high and follows the wind)

      …but it eventually comes down though, which is why I don’t see why it’s a “safe alternative” to fireworks – it can cause combustion due to the long burning fuel if it comes down before it burns out.

      Yup, those are the biodegradable ones, but the wire frames should disappear in time as well – it’s not made of metal but biodegradable material.

      Thanks for the well wishes my friend! I hope you and your family have a great year ahead! πŸ˜€

      Reply
      • I always wish you well, you know that. Had a great time too – hope to do it again before you leave town. πŸ™‚

        Oh? Didn’t know about the wires. I thought somebody threw them away. Will ask and see…if they actually disappeared too. They’re banned in the country – they say it poses a danger to aircrafts.

        Reply
        • Cheers for that buddy! πŸ™‚

          Yup, I’m going back this weekend – let’s meet up before that!

          The wires are supposed to dissolve in water eventually (not sure how long it’ll take though) – that’s what the packaging advertises anyway.

          RM 2.50 for a biodegradable sky lantern. I’ve been seeing more of these lately.

          Posing a danger to aircrafts? Hmm…I didn’t know it goes up so high! But it’s plausible during landing and takeoff.

          I don’t think sky lanterns are all the safe anyway, not compared to fireworks if you let them off properly. πŸ˜€

          I didn’t know they were banned in Malaysia too! Learn something new every day. See ya soon mate!

          Reply
    • Firecrackers and fireworks are awesome! πŸ™‚

      I light them off every single year – it’s a bit of a tradition for me. I love playing with fireworks.

      It’s fun to arrange an array like that and hand fire it – else use a Visco fuse and tie them all together for a performance. I’ll do that next year.

      Hope you had a good CNY bro!

      Reply
    • They are indeed, Kelly. The one that landed in the garden – when the rain came that night, it literally melted and vanished into thin air. The frame was there the next morning…and when that disappeared, I thought somebody took it and dumped it in the rubbish bin. Will ask to see if that’s biodegradable too.

      Reply
      • Interesting! πŸ™‚

        I haven’t seen it in action, no sky lanterns landed at my place but *a lot* of debris from fireworks did (tubes, chalk, other misc cardboard from aerial cakes).

        It says it’s biodegradable in the packaging but I don’t know how long it takes. It’ll be interesting to find out. πŸ˜€

        Reply
    • Yeah, it does sound a bit weird eh?

      Biodegradable is good though – no messes to clean up. However, the material seems much more fragile than the regular ones. I don’t know how long it takes for the main support frame to degrade too, but it apparently will in time.

      Happy CNY Kelly! πŸ˜€

      Reply
  5. I too believe age can change a person…….I see in you!! hopefully I am right! Best of everything for you in the year of Snake!!

    Reply
    • Thanks mate! πŸ™‚

      I appreciate the vote of confidence and the well wishes! I hope to too!

      All the best in the upcoming year to you and your family! Happy CNY! πŸ˜€

      Reply
  6. It’s always nice catching up with friends. Thank goodness, this year my besties and I manage to meet up before CNY. ends. Indeed, that was the greatest night I had with them throughout the CNY celebration although just for the short two hours.

    I am confidence you will be a good and loving dad just like Arthur. Don’t worry, I am sure you can find your soul mate who can walk with you for the rest of your life.

    Reply
    • That’s good to hear! πŸ™‚

      Yup, Chinese New Year is all about the reunions – I read that in your blog too, it’s good that you enjoyed yourself with your best friends before CNY proper.

      Thanks for the vote of confidence Yee Ling!

      I am interested in someone, I just seriously doubt it’ll work out. 😑

      Yeah, having kids and all that, I’ll love to find a soul mate.

      Happy CNY Yee Ling! πŸ˜€

      Reply
    • Thanks Jess! πŸ™‚

      I had a lot of fun this CNY, now it’s time to go back to KL and get back to the work schedule.

      Happy CNY Jess! πŸ˜€

      Reply
  7. that’s a lot of fun gatherings…that’s what i love about festivities. i am now running through my different photos too from the many sessions of catching up with friends and relatives.

    Reply
    • Yup! That’s the best thing about CNY for me – the reunion with family and friends, as well as fireworks and firecrackers. πŸ™‚

      Nice! It looks like you had a lot of fun during CNY too!

      Still two days more to go till Chap Goh Meh!

      Happy CNY Eve!

      Reply

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