Gong Xi Fa Cai

Today- Sunday February 14th is the 1st day of Chinese New Years. Wow- last night on the eve...at midnight the whole sky around JB was flashing and booming with fireworks. Of course , fireworks are illegal...but seems like to police must turn the other way- cause I mean there were huge displays every direction you could look. D and I were already asleep- but the loud noise got us out of bed and out on our balcony. Along with the fireworks, you could see lanterns being set free into the night sky. They would glow as the rose and traveled across the sky. At one point- the fireworks were coming straight toward us... and I even decided to step into our bedroom and watch behind the glass doors....not need to be hit with on coming fire! This display was so exciting to Devin- that he went up to the 7th floor to see what he could see. he bumped into a friend of ours and they decided they should get in the car and drive around to see what was going on at all of these celebrations...have no idea what time he returned home- but he was in one piece.
These celebrations bring so much joy- I love ritual. Any form of ritual. When people take the time to celebrate, reflect, hope, clear, remove obstacles, start fresh, be with family, eat special foods, share gifts, light up the sky...well, it just feels hopeful and happy. So to us all Gong Xi Fa Cai (Happy Chinese New Year in Mandarin)!

***If you want to read great information on Chinese New Year, go to wikipedia...great info about the foods, celebrations, traditions, and the importance of each day celebrated. Very interesting indeed.

Blossoms

One of the things I am really loving about the Lunar New Year is the blossoms. Every where is decorated with red and pink blossoms. Cherry blossoms on branches, lotus flower blossoms representing new birth and growth, huge peony looking red and pink blossoms in huge arrangements or on apartment balconies or over door ways. Granted, they are mostly plastic...but who is looking that close up?
These blossoms represent newness, opening to possibility, growth, hope, excitement, wishes of prosperity and luck. A lovely way to bring in a new year~

Johor Bahru International Kite Festival

This weekend was the International Kite Festival. On Sunday, we took a family adventure and went over by where Nevi goes to school to check it out. It was FUN! There are not many festivals that pass through JB...we have been to ones in Singapore and we know they exist in Kuala Lumpur...but this was in our own home town of Johor Bahru! A huge field was designated for the kite fliers from around the globe. Then white tents were set up along the edge selling food, drink, stuff, and of course kites. But in perfect fashion...the diversity was grand....there were some guys selling lizard oil to help with fatigue and digestion...there were sneakers for sale cheap...sunglasses and handbags galore...Devin bought a hand sewing machine thing...endless things to see. It was a nice way to spend a Sunday together~

Genevieve

This child is such a trooper. This festival of Kites was fun and different...but it was about 100 degrees out. She took each moment as it came and had such fun even with sweat cascading down our backs!

Devin pictures

Devin took some really great photos. Thought I would share a bit of his artistry...

people

As always, it was really awesome to witness so many different people all out for the love of Kites...or a festival in general. Malaysia is diverse with Muslim, Chinese, Indian, Indonesian, Thai, Singaporean.....peoples all trying to live in respect and peace. These were just a few of the beautiful people we saw this day.

delectables

At the International Kite Festival, there were lots of tents set up with all kinds of interesting foods and drinks. Above is lots of friend treats: fish balls, chicken hearts, fried banana, fried sweet potato, fried fish cake and god only knows what else. The drinks are things like Milo which is a chocolate mix, lime juice, watermelon juice....and then god only knows what the fluorescent ones are...the yellow one Devin has so bravely chosen is CORN. But not sure how it gets soooo yellow. Devin tried three different ones on this day- cause he is adventurous and it was about 100 degrees out!