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My Open House during Tiger Chinese New Year

Written by Nicholas Chan on March 9, 2010 – 11:02 pm -

New Year, New Year, I am still talking about new year because there’s nothing much to talk already, my long holiday is coming to an end. That’s sad. I will be going to National Service on 28th March 2010, so please do miss me and don’t stop visiting my blog. ^^

Chinese New Year is always fun and is the best part of the year. It’s about food, money, gambling, friends, talking, traveling, and holidaying. Only dislike thing is, it’s traffic jam everywhere! Especially my place, near to a shopping mall and the sea. That sucks for me.

Met Phei Qin at Gurney.

Met Chen Yuen with Sher Reen. ^^

To make Chinese New Year even more fun, more happenings, friends came visit to my place. Obviously was to get ang bao from my beloved parents, but nevermind, it’s Chinese New Year, everyone’s happy. Hehe.

Ok, the two photos above were not about open house. It’s before open house where I went to Gurney Plaza for a walk, it’s too bored at home, lazy to go onto the Internet also and met some friends.

The first visit by friend wasn’t really open house, it’s just visit, but I’ll considered it as open house, because my house was open for visit and they came. Thanks all, the first visit was by the Leo Club juniors, shit, should not say junior because it makes me sound so old, they are all my Leo Club friends, the younger one. ^^ Check list, there’s Kenny, Kelvin, Amanda and Corrinne.

Kenny.

Corrinne, gambling queen. Look at the card, no point. LOL.

Kelvin Seow.

Kelvin with Amanda’s pose.

Cool brother, Yikhung.

Actually visits during Chinese New Year do simple thing only, gambling and talking.

Only a little attention paid on what’s showing on the television. It’s always, blackjack, blackjack, 7 point, 8 point. Chinese loves to gamble during CNY. I like winning money. XD

The next visit was on the next day. It’s very last minute where I asked my friend whether want to come over to my place or not. Parents had a real open house, with lots of food, drinks, beer and their friend.

These adults gamble very powerful, it’s tens and hundreds whereas us were like, cents and bucks.

The Chinese style of party. I don’t really know how to organize a party, the main reason is because I don’t really know how a party goes on, dance? food? talk? shout? scream? games? I am not that kind of person who think, but in my mind, I love party, I would like to go to and see how it’s like if there’s a chance. You see like in those American teenager film, their party is like so cool, so happenings.

It was Whitney’s birthday that day. Whitney is the daughter of my mom’s friend. They brought cake to our place, unfortunately, there’s no candle.

With Ker Ying and Sheue Yen.

Alvin Yang.

Alvin, Ker Ying, Sheue Yen, Wei Chung, Yong Chieh and Zheng Feng came over to my place late at night. Thanks people. Played cards again and won some money on the last round. Pretty fun!

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Tags: cny 10, Friends, Gathering, Happenings, Lifelog, open house
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Kek Lok Si Visit Number 1 During Chinese New Year

Written by Nicholas Chan on March 5, 2010 – 1:49 am -

Kek Lok Si Temple, Penang most famous pagoda temple, also very famous with big big Kuan Yin statue in South East Asia, perhaps Asia. During the past 15 days of Chinese New Year, the temple was lighted up with lamps and LED at night. The only problem is that they only light it up during the Chinese New Year and not during normal day, no idea why and don’t like not lighting up during normal days.

Road towards Kek Lok Si temple was jam with cars going up to the temple every day for the past 2 weeks. I wanted to go there to take photos for a long time already, and I have got chance. Why Visit Number 1 because that I went up twice, this was my first time, with the Leo Club people and I was there late, so didn’t take many photos.

Stupid traffic jam made me stuck in the car for almost an hour. It’s really that crazy, the road is so narrow and we were hanging there. Reached the temple at around 10pm and it’s late already. Didn’t really have the mood to shoot and there’s too many people, I don’t like people without camera waiting me to take photos, because they will be just standing there looking at me with the tripod. So, I thought of going there the other day.

More over, due to time constrain, I can’t shoot the whole Kek Lok Si, every corner of it.

KOKahKOK, user of Canon EOS 400D.

Alvin Yang, user of Nikon D90.

Him Keat, no camera.

Lion Ong Lai, user of Canon EOS 500D.

Wallace, no camera.

Kenny, user of Canon EOS 400D, most powerful with 17-40 F4/L Lens.

The Leo Club people was Lion Ong Lai, Kok Sheng, Tze Yang, Tee Jin, Him Keat, Kenny and Wallace. Some were there early already, so they get to shoot more, and for me, who were late, only get to shoot a little.

We took the lift up to the Kuan Yin statue there, unfortunately, it’s late and we only get to go up but not down. Paid RM2 for it and met a long-time-no-see friend, Ah Leng.

Got up but didn’t get the chance to go near to the foot of Kuan Yin statue and when I wanted go up, they closed the lights already. OMG, that’s why, I planned to go there again on the other.

Although lights closed, we took some group shot before walking down to the car park, in the dark! Stay tune for the post of my next visit. =)

Tags: cny 10, Friends, Leo Club, Lifelog, Light, Night, outing, Penang, photoshoot, Temple
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First Day of Tiger Chinese New Year

Written by Nicholas Chan on March 1, 2010 – 8:51 pm -

This year’s Chinese New Year fell on the date same as the Valentine’s Day. Still remember last year that I went to Chin Ping’s place to BBQ and celebrate the day together, this year is different already, I am single, no Valentine, and the whole day was with my brother, my mother, my father and everyone at home. Also it’s also the day people came to visit and received a lot of ang bao. Very fun.

Looking at the Star Map on my phone early in the morning. So bright, where got star?

I then only realized that I took not many photos on that day, perhaps that I was busy collecting money in ang bao (red packet) and eating Chinese New Year’s tidbits. Yummy.

This year was a little bit different, brother and I woke up pretty late in the morning, it’s almost noon. Freshen up, wishes my dear daddy and mommy and I received ang bao from them. Then same like every year, we will go to grandma place for brunch and gong hei fatt choi to everyone. What’s different was that we stopped there, didn’t go visit relative’s place already where the Chinese calls this kind of visit during CNY as bai nian.

Instead, relatives came over to grandma place and they talked and gave me ang bao. ^^

For me, there’s nothing much to do except saying GONG HEI FATT CHOI, eating and drinking.

Stayed there till late afternoon then we went back home to sleep. And at night, no idea where to eat and we ordered pizza and grandma and cousins of mommy’s side came over to my place to eat PIZZA. =D So weird. No cinema for us because it’s damn fully booked and sold out. OMG.

Tags: Chinese New Year, cny 10, home, Lifelog, Visit
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More About My Previous Part-Time for DiGi at Queensbay Mall

Written by Nicholas Chan on February 24, 2010 – 11:54 pm -

I am going to talk about my recent part-time job at Queensbay Mall few weeks back again. I know working part-time is very normal and common thing, but I am a little bit crazy, took photos and like talking very big about my job. Actually it’s just for a little memories of mine, at least I did go to work during this long 3-4 months holidays. There will be a part-time for me again this weekend, not at Queensbay Mall but at Gurney Plaza.

My job was promoter and assistant event organizer, I was not dealer, people can’t sign line through me, I only promote and bring them to the dealer. So basically my job was standing and giving out flyers and taking care of the customer service counter. Very interesting thing is that Maxis, the rival’s booth was not far away.

On these 3 days of work, I met many friends, and also made new friends at work. To be honest, time passes very slow but yet, it’s already passed. =) Money money come.

Lunch break and dinner break was always the 3 same place, Ultimaxx Cafe, Chopper Board and Breeks Cafe. RM4-7 per meal. There’s a rule that I can’t go for break in pairs, but luckily for the 3 days, I found friends at the mall to eat together with.

Working there burns calories because I stand a lot, standing, standing and keep standing, for more than 9 hours. Morning till night. Not that bad afterall, at night still got Chinese oldies played from speaker of central zone as part of Chinese New Year celebration.

Very fast, 3 days passed and it’s fun.

Last day working, after work, I took photos before going home. Yay. Thanks for everyone who came by to visit and support DiGi.

And for the 3 nights while we were going home, we always stuck in the jam for like 5-10 minutes. It’s the car of all who works at Queensbay Mall, not shoppers. Wow.

One tip for working at Queensbay Mall, parking at the open site car park is only RM1.50 as per entry.

Tags: Friends, Lifelog, part time, queensbay mall, work, work life
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Tiger Chinese New Year’s Eve

Written by Nicholas Chan on February 24, 2010 – 11:49 am -

I am back everyone. This is really shit, had been hiatus, had been on holiday for so long and I suddenly feel uncomfortable with typing and writing blog. But I guess I must stop myself being a lazy butt slacking everyday during this of my very own Chinese New Year holiday. Although I am already in holiday right now and before CNY, but CNY’s holiday is more lazy than before.

No idea where to start writing and sharing, so gonna share my Chinese New Year’s Eve which is also the reunion day with family of all Chinese in the world.

Most people have their reunion DINNER, as for me, I have it for both LUNCH and DINNER. Shops as usual were open on that day until 6pm only because it’s still not an official holiday. Though on this year, the eve fell on a Saturday, so it’s nice for the schooling. Yay, I am not schooling at the moment.

People like steamboat, because it’s everyone-sit-down-together and share saliva and it’s reunion. Haha, few years back we still had steamboat but now we don’t. Grandma said it’s troublesome, a lot to prepare and IMO, I don’t really like steamboat a lot. Now people either just go to the restaurant, buffet, or just cook some nice dishes and eat-together.

Watching Opening Ceremony of Winter Olympics Vancouver 2010 and lunch at the same time.

Unfortunately, it’s not everyone on the table. Some were stuck on the jam, some were far away in Australia studying and so, it’s not fully reunited. It’s still good to have many people in the house. For lunch, I go to family of daddy’s side at night would be family of mommy’s side.

Brother Yikhung.

Many food and very full. There’s abalone too! Don’t know why during New Year, people cooks abalone. Didn’t stay long at grandma’s place because nothing much to do there. We went elsewhere.

Stay at home also boring, so brother, cousin Wai Leong and I went to Gurney Plaza to walk around and eat ice cream! Ice cream on a hot day was nice. Something’s wrong with the weather, from the eve till now, it’s so hot everyday outside.

There’s still many people in the mall despite it’s an eve, you will be thinking everyone went for reunion meal but not. I believe it’s their last minute shopping! =D I bought a t-shirt on that day too. And everything will be new on the next day, the New Year day.

Wai Leong.

Still, we were not going home. We went to town for another dessert again, Famous Penang Road Chendul.

It’s just so refreshing and chilling. Although I got a little flu that time, still, this really chill me off. One question, is it that when people is having a flu, he/she can’t take in cold things?

Night time came, and it’s reunion dinner of mommy side’s family! It had been many years that grandma didn’t cook for reunion dinner, have forgotten for how many years already. Every year, we would just book a restaurant which opens on the eve, then eat there. Uncles and aunties all came back from Johor and Sungai Petani, so nice that Penang is the meet-up point and I am there, no traveling far. =D

Texting on reunion dinner!

Rui, Lee and Yik.

Yik and Chun.

Chun and Lily.

It’s a few-courses dinner. Forgotten how many course, OOPS, because that the dinner wasn’t that nice. Just simply stuck the food in, I only liked that roasted piglet the most. Meat, I like!

I have think before that New Year must go to the cinema but somehow I didn’t go before, now only I know that movie tickets were all purchased few days before CNY and the cinema is very full during CNY! No chance to watch movie for latecomer like me.

We didn’t want to go home so early, so went to the jazz bar at G Hotel which have an awkward name, G SPOT. There’s live Jazz music playing all night long.

Played with the lights, listened to the Jazz, drank some cocktail, and finally everyone went home. It’s Valentine’s Day the next day man, and also Chinese New Year, but heck I don’t have a Valentine, so chocolate was off and red packet was ON, and still ON! Come give me red packet, it gives you prosper. Hehe.

Gong Hei Fatt Choi. Live Long and Prosper. XD

Tags: cny 10, eve, Family, Lifelog, Reunion
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Throw Coconut on Thaipusam Day at Datuk Keramat

Written by Nicholas Chan on February 13, 2010 – 2:52 am -

Oh hello, I am back again and now I am going to talk about the Indian’s big Thaipusam Day that happened two weeks ago. I am so lucky to be in one of the states that has big celebration for this big Indian/Tamil/Hindu festival. As far as I know, Penang and Kuala Lumpur are the two places here in Malaysia that have it big.

Last year, some friends did invite me to go to the festival to do some photoshooting, but because I couldn’t wake up so early in the morning, so I missed it. This year was different, I didn’t plan to go photo shooting too, but it’s just that on the day before, Thaipusam’s Eve, the procession has already started and I was going no where after the Chung Ling Memorial thing, so Chien Chern, my friend decided to go visit a friend at Datuk Keramat Road whose his dad’s shop is just right in front of the Thaipusam thing.

So what they had that afternoon was the coconut throwing and some procession take place and people pays respect to the Indian god by contributing prayers thing like fruits, candles.

Till now, I still remembered it’s a very hot day, the sun was hanging high in the sky, shinning down, with the heat radiating the ground. I didn’t care because I wanted to shoot the festival and share it up.

The coconuts were bought by people mostly have their business along the road, they throw the coconut on the ground, break it, is to clean the road for procession, as a respect to god, a prayer, for wealth and health. It’s said to be good luck to throw the coconut. I did try before long time ago when I was small, when my dad had a furniture shop at Datuk Keramat Road, it’s now moved to Gottlieb Road though.

Arron and his family.

At the time 2.30pm sharp, “piak piak piak” sound can be heard and coconuts were everywhere on the ground with the juice splashing out. The scene was epic. Try not to stand near to them because the coconut can be rebounded. Hehe, just like a basketball.

Part of the road was block for this thing and people who bought coconut were at the middle of the road while me and other people like me who see for fun and takes photo were on the other side, hoping that did not get hit by the coconut.

These coconuts although are hard, but it’s actually kinda easy to be squashed. At some time, some un-squashed will roll to my place and I will pick it up and join the fun too!

Chien Chern, Me and Arron.

The whole thing was like 15 minutes. The aftermath was cool with a wet coconut juiced road and coconut every where.

The MPPP people were very efficient, when everything stopped, they quickly come and swept the coconut to a side and let the real procession began and don’t want to stuck the road.

The next thing after the coconut throwing was the procession thing, with devotees paying respect and offerings.

They walk with their bare feet and I believed the road is not hot already because it had been juiced.

I don’t really know how to describe this, so I’ll let the photos speak. =)

Happy Thaipusam, super belated!

Tags: datuk keramat, Festival, fun, Happenings, Hot, Lifelog, Many People, Penang, sunny, thaipusam
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