Gong Xi Fa Chai

The Year of The Dog


While walking around the busy City of Kuching I saw this banner at the Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (LHDN). So if you do not pay taxes - you are not in their greeting list. I pondered over it for a while and would like to make it a point to wish everyone a Happy Chinese New Year, Gong Xi Fa Chai, Kong Hee Fatt Choy.... Being a multi ethnic State it does seem that almost everyone is celebrating it - I can't say only the Chinese community are celebrating it. There's a couple of friends who are of mixed parentage - some Iban-Chinese, Bidayuh Chinese and another a Chinese Muslim convert while another is a Tuan Haji title but they invited me along to visit their open house on Chinese New year as well. It looks like I will be celebrating in Kuching but that still depends on how my daughter is recovering. She makes us feel the spirit of Chinese New Year more meaningful - as she speaks better Mandarin than us now as they are taught the language during the nursery classes. This past few days as we pick her up from the nursery she was singing 'Kong Si Kong Si Kong Si Ni' all the way back to the house. Anyway, she caught the flu bug recently and is having running nose, bad cough and slight fever so the original plan of driving back to Sibu and spend CNY with all my ex Sacred Heart Classmates would have to be put on hold. They are organising a reunion for the Class of 85 at Tanahmas Sibu on Tues 1 Feb 2006. Now those guys were the ones most responsible for teaching me lots of things during our Primary years - especially the fun of Chinese New Year, ang pows and fireworks - firecrakers. I may leave that as a blog for another day, especially my adventures with Johnny Hii - so once again, I wish to convey my sincerest New Year Greetings to all of you out there.


Wishes only for the tax payers??

So i guess the LHDN won't be thinking about the unfortunate people who won't be able to pay taxes - retirees, the unfortunate, the old folks etc. I am blogging safely here after reading Indu Cina Iban advice to blog safely - its not that I am commenting harshly on that statement in the banner. Sometimes its worth it to think deeper before declaring publicly those seasonal wishes. It can be included in the bloops and blunders.


Spare a thought for them.

Also do not forgot to take care of your personal belongings/property during this time. There has been a report of 3 car break in this morning and afternoon. One happened to a colleague of mine whose Mitsubishi Lancer side window was smashed by thieves as it was parked in the car parking lot outside Wisma Bapa Malaysia, Petra Jaya. His CD Player and Super Woofer were stolen and the thieves damaged the interiors also. When he made a police report at Simpang Tiga it was learnt that two other cars owners near Matang area experienced the same fate.



The CD Compartment - Dashboard

Luckily the glass had a tinted layer - preventing the side window glasses from being broken into dangerous pieces

The Super Woofer was taken from the car boot

Lunch

Now the main worry when it comes to the Chinese New Year Holidays is whether we can have our favourite kampua mee, laksa and kopi 'o' kow at the coffee shops this next few days - at a reasonable price as the cost of things during the next two to three days would surely be inflated. When I visited by regular Alex Boh with my wife and sister I found out that Alex Boh Authentic Penang would be open during the New Year celebrations. That's good news - as my favourite Penang Prawn Mee can substitute my craving for Kampua Mee. Yummy!


Penang Prawn Mee

Comments

Miriguy said…
Hey Desmond. Well, Happy Chinese New Year to you too :-)
Keep in touch, I got something interesting I am about to share with you. Check ur email ok? :-)
Will do pal :)
Uchu Keling said…
Send my greetings to Mario if you happen to visit him this CNY.
Uchu Keling said…
Who is this Gaing Kunding? Is he the son-in-law of a former council staff?
UK - he will be at Mango tree. I don know if Gaing is the same Gaing who is our chatter geng last time

Pierce - Dat is Dzuren's car - kesian kawan.