Its the time of the year again when Chinese families gather and reunite to celebrate the arrival of the Lunar new year. Since starting work in Seremban last year, we've started the trend of celebrating Chinese New Year (CNY) in this new place annually ever since, away from hometown Kelantan. Since we siblings are either working or studying in the east coast., that makes my current home the most ideal place for the gathering.
Enter CNY's eve, the reunion dinner. Hats down to Karling who single-handedly prepared all the hearty dishes on the table. Previous day we went marketing at the hypermarket for fresh produce at whatever hiked-up price it cost. Mind you seafood from the Straits of Malacca are not as palatable as the ones from South China sea.
While the master chef was steadily working in the kitchen, I was running around doing last minute shopping, in anticipation of visiting relatives and guests. Our little rented house has been thoroughly swept and moped so no worries in the cleaning department. House decoration was kept moderate nonetheless enough to exude a festive mood. Finally one by one arrived and when the numbers were completed, we partook the symbolic reunion dinner together. Head count: Prosperous no. 8.
I can't remember what we had for lunch on the 1st day of CNY but dinner was a feast of gluttony. We booked a table at a local Chinese restaurant and ordered an 8 course dinner. I was a tad ambitious and overestimated everyone's gastronomic capacity. Steamed fish, white-skin chicken, prawns, pork, stir-fried vegetables all came in huge platters. Most of us being small eaters weren't helping at all so, my bad. How time flies, exactly a year ago Karling was under confinement after just delivering Nana while the rest of us were having CNY dinner at this same restaurant.
Right, so with all of us stuffed to the brim we headed back and sat immobilized while wishing our digestive process would picked up an extra gear. We boys just had little beer to accompany the food so not much merry-drinking involved. Gambling, as in Chinese custom, is a big no-no on my account so not much mental figure skating either. Nana as usual will waddle from person to person to keep us all entertained and amused, always the show-stopper.
The moment I've been waiting for, one or 2 might even be dreading it, is the family photo session. This must have been the first ever family shot since our wedding, and the most complete and up-to-date. Very amateurish though, shot using a simple 10 megapixel camera with assistance of the 10sec timer. The trick was just to pacify the fidgety Nana and catch her looking towards the camera, or at least facing its direction. A little description of the cast:
The Matriarch (my grandma): Undisputed winner of best photogenic award. Decades of practice has honed her effortless skill.
Dad: The essence of laid back and coolness.
Mum: the Pillar (beside THE Pillar) of the family. Who can be like her? Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Karling: Straight, focused and loving. Flawness with warm beauty.
Chi Voon: A shimmering light gathering energy to scorch our universe.
Chi Phoy: The critic, the maverick (someone like me), a boat with sail (goes wherever the wind brings him).
Christiana: Our bundle of joy, The reason we are all here together.
...and me: The narrator.
As the case in most married couple, first few days of CNY are always spent with hubby's family, which then only followed by wifey's family. On the 2nd day CNY we parted with the rest of my family who headed Malacca for continuation of the festive celebration at my maternal grandma's side. Another huge network of family (10 siblings including my mum) awaits them there. While we, traveled north to Subang to meet the city folks.
By now Nana has grown accustomed to all her uncles and aunts. On the flip side she warms up to strangers, which means distant relatives, pretty easily. She stays close to mummy but doesn't stick to her all the time. Not a constant attention-seeker at this point and most importantly, to the old folk's well-being, not a cry baby. It's still quite difficult to feed her, especially when eating out. We ought to determine what's baby palatable and scrutinize healthy from the non-healthy food.
Which opportunity do we have other than during a festive Chinese New Year to adorn our precious baby with eye-catching red. Its like parading our prized trophy, Nana gets dressed in red top, red dress, red skirt everyday (and yes, red panties too). Red is an auspicious color in Chinese custom and it signify prosperity, though nowadays the new generation don't necessarily adhere to the customary CNY dress code and instead dress up in black or white.
Every year we wouldn't miss visiting Sa ku ( karling's 3rd uncle's) bungalow for CNY lunch. Some other relatives will be there and its good to pay the older relatives some respect, aside from catching up and exchanging pleasantries. Nana would receive some Ang Pow, which is red packet which contain paper currency, given as a form of auspicious blessing throughout the whole fortnight duration of CNY celebration.
Although Nana doesn't know the meaning of it, she certainly looks cute walking around with the Ang Pow in her hand. And since both karling and I are married working couple, we ought to reciprocate the gesture by handing out Ang Pows to the younger ones too.
CNY dinner among the Chin (that's karling's family) was enjoyed at a Japanese restaurant in Sunway Pyramid. My father in-law loves Japanese food over the rest and would treat the family with it on rare big occasions. Maybe it has to do with his previous working stint in Japan before his retirement days. And of course, Japanese food is an healthier options as compared to Mamak, Indian or Western in terms cooking preparation. I'm still familiarizing myself with the names of the various dishes since i consider eating Japanese as a luxury. The only thing Nana could eat is Chawanmushi (Jap steamed egg) and a bit of sushi rice, which suffice.
Sunway Pyramid never seize to amaze with its festive decoration especially during Christmas and Chinese New Year. From outside the building along the street, the shopping mall appears impressive with arrays of red themed bright lights and Chinese lanterns. From the main entrance to the concourse area the Qing/Ming dynasty-like interior design is nothing short of grandiose and somewhat mystifying. Makeshift pillars, walls and dividers with a touch of Chinese architecture transport one back to olden China, like dwelling in the Forbidden City. Artificial statues and inflatable cartoon figurines adds a modern touch to the splendid Chinese decorative set-up.
Back at home, away from the busy mall and festive crowd, the merry mood is still palpable with our noise and laughter, especially Christiana's. Good thing she had a nap in the afternoon or else she would be cranky and moody. And she looks dazzling in bright red, sashaying in the dress which she would outgrow in matter of weeks. Being transferred from 1 arm to another, she was nice to hold and squeeze.
We did the customary Ang Pow distribution with exchanging of Lokam( mandarin orange which signify gold in Chinese). As the practice took place, we wished each other well ahead of the new year in health, career and academics. I guess everyone was blessed abundantly that day both in giving and receiving.
Another Chinese custom we observed is the Lou Sang, an activity known as the Prosperity Toss. The dish name is Yee Sang, which is a Teochew-style raw fish salad. The act of tossing Yee Sang before eating it is considered a symbol of abundance in prosperity. So, with chopsticks in our hands, and a very perplexed Nana looking on, we mixed and tossed the dish within the boundaries of the table(ok i'm exaggerating), and hope and pray for abundant blessings throughout the new year. Wishful thinking would be to dream of striking jackpot without even buying lottery, but that's just me.
Family obligation had past, i decided to bring karling for a little you and me time. The stress level of daily expectation had gotten into the both of us which culminated into us fighting more frequent than we had wished for. I found myself grinding my teeth fitting in graveyard shifts of locum for our upcoming new home and failed to see I was neglecting my wife, who was carrying our second one while working at the same time. Time to make amends, brought Karling out to a restaurant bar, catch a movie, and the rest was history.
Reminiscing those times, she looked so beautiful and I failed to see what I could ever wish and hope for was standing right beside me all along, yearning for me just to show her some affection.
What if i lose her 1 day? If I lose myself 1 day, become a pale shadow of my former self, cause non-amendable destruction to our relation that she can't find it in herself to love me anymore. Too much hurt and scarring until there's no room for love anymore. What should I do then? We might still be meeting for the sake of our children, but knowing things can never return to its former glorious days, I don't think i can live with myself carrying the burden of guilt and regret, the hurt and hollowness inside. How do i find the love & strength from which i had drawn from her, to carry on caring for the kids, when she's no longer around.
Even if I did something to myself, not merely threatening to do it but had actually done it, and she still doesn't take me back. What then?
Its undeniable that with the arrival of children, husband and wife's intimate life takes a drastic plunge. The focus of our universe has change in the sense that we make them the center of our life. Ironic that children can actually draw spouses closer to each other or even create distance. In either case, we both ought to make effort to maintain and practice the love and passion we shared. By practice i mean its 1 thing to confess love, its another to show love together with affection. So i hope no matter how occupied we are with career and children, we ought to keep each other in-check, not to neglect but set aside quality time to spend with each other.
Most of the time we become too engrossed chasing what we deem could provide us a more comfortable and luxurious life, in the process neglecting the aspects that really matters. When we sit down to catch a breather, do ponder whether what we're pursuing is worth it, what is at stake and what are we leaving behind. For me, after some hard lessons and moments of clarity, the most precious gift is the gift of lives around me. I have now been entrusted with Karling, Nana & Peter, as a husband and father. Apart from climbing my career path to provide financially for my family, I would love to cherish them, spend time and give my all to them.
I want to grow old gracefully with Karling, and grow wiser, more mature and from strength to strength together with Nana and Peter. I want them to be loved and feel love, from me, one heart to another. Its not about me anymore, but their comfort and well-being which i'm responsible for. I need to hold the pillar, and keep my path straight, and burn for them for as long as i shall live.
To be by Karling's side, that whenever she turns her face to seek me, i'm there. And whenever she stretches her hand out, it will be my hand to hold it, and lead it. I wanna live in Nana and Peter's cute and adorable moments to watch them progress, and uphold them in the future whenever they face trials and tribulations.
I commit myself to the righteousness of life. For the people who look to me as husband, father, son and brother, I'll run the race, fight the good fight, make myself accountable to each one of them. As for me, what do I get in return? I just wanna carry enough sweet memories through the day of my reckoning, and hear my Father's voice saying," Well done, son".
A simple yet hearty reunion dinner.
Where's Nana you ask? She's fast asleep recharging for the new year ahead.
Enter CNY's eve, the reunion dinner. Hats down to Karling who single-handedly prepared all the hearty dishes on the table. Previous day we went marketing at the hypermarket for fresh produce at whatever hiked-up price it cost. Mind you seafood from the Straits of Malacca are not as palatable as the ones from South China sea.
While the master chef was steadily working in the kitchen, I was running around doing last minute shopping, in anticipation of visiting relatives and guests. Our little rented house has been thoroughly swept and moped so no worries in the cleaning department. House decoration was kept moderate nonetheless enough to exude a festive mood. Finally one by one arrived and when the numbers were completed, we partook the symbolic reunion dinner together. Head count: Prosperous no. 8.
Grandma & grand-daughter. Gong Xi Fa Cai!!
1st dish of the 8-course dinner.
I can't remember what we had for lunch on the 1st day of CNY but dinner was a feast of gluttony. We booked a table at a local Chinese restaurant and ordered an 8 course dinner. I was a tad ambitious and overestimated everyone's gastronomic capacity. Steamed fish, white-skin chicken, prawns, pork, stir-fried vegetables all came in huge platters. Most of us being small eaters weren't helping at all so, my bad. How time flies, exactly a year ago Karling was under confinement after just delivering Nana while the rest of us were having CNY dinner at this same restaurant.
Feast of the year on 1st day of CNY.
Never before been fed with so much food.
We all agree to make dietary modification during the current inflation situation.
Right, so with all of us stuffed to the brim we headed back and sat immobilized while wishing our digestive process would picked up an extra gear. We boys just had little beer to accompany the food so not much merry-drinking involved. Gambling, as in Chinese custom, is a big no-no on my account so not much mental figure skating either. Nana as usual will waddle from person to person to keep us all entertained and amused, always the show-stopper.
Standing is good for digestion. Its a pot-belly buster.
Since both shu shu (uncle) busy with their hand phones, let me talk to Quack quack's (duckie) foot.
The moment I've been waiting for, one or 2 might even be dreading it, is the family photo session. This must have been the first ever family shot since our wedding, and the most complete and up-to-date. Very amateurish though, shot using a simple 10 megapixel camera with assistance of the 10sec timer. The trick was just to pacify the fidgety Nana and catch her looking towards the camera, or at least facing its direction. A little description of the cast:
The Matriarch (my grandma): Undisputed winner of best photogenic award. Decades of practice has honed her effortless skill.
Dad: The essence of laid back and coolness.
Mum: the Pillar (beside THE Pillar) of the family. Who can be like her? Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Karling: Straight, focused and loving. Flawness with warm beauty.
Chi Voon: A shimmering light gathering energy to scorch our universe.
Chi Phoy: The critic, the maverick (someone like me), a boat with sail (goes wherever the wind brings him).
Christiana: Our bundle of joy, The reason we are all here together.
...and me: The narrator.
The family picture that has been long time coming.
Please ask Po po to get up, its my place, i want to sit there~
As the case in most married couple, first few days of CNY are always spent with hubby's family, which then only followed by wifey's family. On the 2nd day CNY we parted with the rest of my family who headed Malacca for continuation of the festive celebration at my maternal grandma's side. Another huge network of family (10 siblings including my mum) awaits them there. While we, traveled north to Subang to meet the city folks.
The 3 beautiful sisters who don't look alike.
Hey pa, who's the fairest among us all, me, mummy or ah yee (aunts) ?
By now Nana has grown accustomed to all her uncles and aunts. On the flip side she warms up to strangers, which means distant relatives, pretty easily. She stays close to mummy but doesn't stick to her all the time. Not a constant attention-seeker at this point and most importantly, to the old folk's well-being, not a cry baby. It's still quite difficult to feed her, especially when eating out. We ought to determine what's baby palatable and scrutinize healthy from the non-healthy food.
Mummy daddy, i wish i have long hair to tie 2 side ponytails.
Woo~woo~Japanese food just ain't for me.
Which opportunity do we have other than during a festive Chinese New Year to adorn our precious baby with eye-catching red. Its like parading our prized trophy, Nana gets dressed in red top, red dress, red skirt everyday (and yes, red panties too). Red is an auspicious color in Chinese custom and it signify prosperity, though nowadays the new generation don't necessarily adhere to the customary CNY dress code and instead dress up in black or white.
Every year we wouldn't miss visiting Sa ku ( karling's 3rd uncle's) bungalow for CNY lunch. Some other relatives will be there and its good to pay the older relatives some respect, aside from catching up and exchanging pleasantries. Nana would receive some Ang Pow, which is red packet which contain paper currency, given as a form of auspicious blessing throughout the whole fortnight duration of CNY celebration.
Although Nana doesn't know the meaning of it, she certainly looks cute walking around with the Ang Pow in her hand. And since both karling and I are married working couple, we ought to reciprocate the gesture by handing out Ang Pows to the younger ones too.
Charming smiles after a hearty meal.
Wait, are we inside Egypt's pyramid or China's forbidden city?
CNY dinner among the Chin (that's karling's family) was enjoyed at a Japanese restaurant in Sunway Pyramid. My father in-law loves Japanese food over the rest and would treat the family with it on rare big occasions. Maybe it has to do with his previous working stint in Japan before his retirement days. And of course, Japanese food is an healthier options as compared to Mamak, Indian or Western in terms cooking preparation. I'm still familiarizing myself with the names of the various dishes since i consider eating Japanese as a luxury. The only thing Nana could eat is Chawanmushi (Jap steamed egg) and a bit of sushi rice, which suffice.
Wow look! A flying Sphinx! A lion with Pharaoh's head and has wings, I think i'm gonna faint.
Mummy daddy, there's another mystical creature behind us. It doesn't seem to be moving. Lets not wake it up okay?
There's just so much happening around me i'm trying to soak it in.
Oh gosh, 2 giant decapitated heads behind me, how come everyone is still acting normal?
The Chins, my extended family.
Back at home, away from the busy mall and festive crowd, the merry mood is still palpable with our noise and laughter, especially Christiana's. Good thing she had a nap in the afternoon or else she would be cranky and moody. And she looks dazzling in bright red, sashaying in the dress which she would outgrow in matter of weeks. Being transferred from 1 arm to another, she was nice to hold and squeeze.
We did the customary Ang Pow distribution with exchanging of Lokam( mandarin orange which signify gold in Chinese). As the practice took place, we wished each other well ahead of the new year in health, career and academics. I guess everyone was blessed abundantly that day both in giving and receiving.
Back in mummy's arm again where i belong (Tired of being passed around).
Gong gong is knocking some sense into my head.
The customary Ang Pow giving on every Chinese new year.
Another Chinese custom we observed is the Lou Sang, an activity known as the Prosperity Toss. The dish name is Yee Sang, which is a Teochew-style raw fish salad. The act of tossing Yee Sang before eating it is considered a symbol of abundance in prosperity. So, with chopsticks in our hands, and a very perplexed Nana looking on, we mixed and tossed the dish within the boundaries of the table(ok i'm exaggerating), and hope and pray for abundant blessings throughout the new year. Wishful thinking would be to dream of striking jackpot without even buying lottery, but that's just me.
Little curious Nana wants to Lou Sang together. Never too early to observe Chinese custom.
She's independent enough to climb chairs and tables to tap into our conversations.
Family obligation had past, i decided to bring karling for a little you and me time. The stress level of daily expectation had gotten into the both of us which culminated into us fighting more frequent than we had wished for. I found myself grinding my teeth fitting in graveyard shifts of locum for our upcoming new home and failed to see I was neglecting my wife, who was carrying our second one while working at the same time. Time to make amends, brought Karling out to a restaurant bar, catch a movie, and the rest was history.
Reminiscing those times, she looked so beautiful and I failed to see what I could ever wish and hope for was standing right beside me all along, yearning for me just to show her some affection.
"Even with our children, I want you to love me the same intensity you did everyday before them."
A glass of Martini gets the mood going, too much is not good for the baby though.
What if i lose her 1 day? If I lose myself 1 day, become a pale shadow of my former self, cause non-amendable destruction to our relation that she can't find it in herself to love me anymore. Too much hurt and scarring until there's no room for love anymore. What should I do then? We might still be meeting for the sake of our children, but knowing things can never return to its former glorious days, I don't think i can live with myself carrying the burden of guilt and regret, the hurt and hollowness inside. How do i find the love & strength from which i had drawn from her, to carry on caring for the kids, when she's no longer around.
Even if I did something to myself, not merely threatening to do it but had actually done it, and she still doesn't take me back. What then?
Say cheeseee. No, say chocolate donutssss~`
I love it whenever mummy and daddy at home. Best time ever!~
Its undeniable that with the arrival of children, husband and wife's intimate life takes a drastic plunge. The focus of our universe has change in the sense that we make them the center of our life. Ironic that children can actually draw spouses closer to each other or even create distance. In either case, we both ought to make effort to maintain and practice the love and passion we shared. By practice i mean its 1 thing to confess love, its another to show love together with affection. So i hope no matter how occupied we are with career and children, we ought to keep each other in-check, not to neglect but set aside quality time to spend with each other.
Most of the time we become too engrossed chasing what we deem could provide us a more comfortable and luxurious life, in the process neglecting the aspects that really matters. When we sit down to catch a breather, do ponder whether what we're pursuing is worth it, what is at stake and what are we leaving behind. For me, after some hard lessons and moments of clarity, the most precious gift is the gift of lives around me. I have now been entrusted with Karling, Nana & Peter, as a husband and father. Apart from climbing my career path to provide financially for my family, I would love to cherish them, spend time and give my all to them.
Right, Chinese new year is over. Everything's back to normal again. Mum is off to work and just daddy to bring me to playground.
Dad always like coming out with the camera. He takes good pictures of me.
Or maybe i'm simply natural in front of the camera. Hehe~
Daddy, can't you and mummy talk nicely and stop hurting each other?
To be by Karling's side, that whenever she turns her face to seek me, i'm there. And whenever she stretches her hand out, it will be my hand to hold it, and lead it. I wanna live in Nana and Peter's cute and adorable moments to watch them progress, and uphold them in the future whenever they face trials and tribulations.
I commit myself to the righteousness of life. For the people who look to me as husband, father, son and brother, I'll run the race, fight the good fight, make myself accountable to each one of them. As for me, what do I get in return? I just wanna carry enough sweet memories through the day of my reckoning, and hear my Father's voice saying," Well done, son".
A child's expression is innocent. What you get is what you see.
Unlike ours, there's just something more you wish to believe.
