Laporan Sambutan Tahun Baru Cina

Methinks I've neglected this blog for a li'l too long. Sigh. Right. It's been a week since the start of Chinese New Year and yeah, you bet your guns I've been too lazy to get down and write. Although I've been itching to. It's just a small matter of turning on the computer and waiting for it to load and logging in and ... you get the picture.

Anyway, I'll just do this day by day.

Tuesday - CNY Eve
Travelled down to M'cca in a car that was filled with more food than humans. Word of advice : Never go on a 2 hour journey with a heavenly smelling, uncut brownie on your lap. It's sheer torture, I tell you!

Didn't take long for us to get around to going to the Jetty. As expected, the place was still heavenly. Even though in the last 6 months or so that we've not been here, two large holes have appeared in the wood. Bah. That didn't deter my pest of a brother from crossing over, though (and scaring me nearly to death half a dozen times).

Wednesday - First day of CNY
Spent the morning at the graveyard. Grandkids sat around and chatted in the blazing hot sun while the kids cleaned the graves. An exercise in futility if you asked me. Especially when you light joss sticks and won't visit the grave for at least another month.

But the experience was rather enlightening. Thanks to a filial grand-daughter of an aunt, we got to see our great grandmother's grave - Oh Bin Niyu, was her name. And believe me, we wouldn't have known two bits about her otherwise. And we got to see the grave of a grand-uncle that we never saw. Ong Kam Choon - my grandma's younger brother who died at 46 of kidney (or liver - they can't decide *rolls eyes*) failure. And also my great grandpa's grave. Weehoo. Family history. You gotta love it.

Went out at night in search of cafes. All were jam packed. Like sardines. With (excuse me, but I have to say this) Ah Bengs, Ah Lians and what my cousins called "Lalas". Malacca sure is a mini China! Anyway, we finally managed to find one with enough place for 10 people but BOY! Was the service slow! Someone tell me how long does it really take to open 4 bottles of beer? I really doubt it takes longer than to make an ice blended mocha latte. Sheesh!

We finally abandoned that cafe (and good riddance too!) and went in search of kerang celup. By that time it was... hm... 1 a.m., I think. But we found one! Oh yes indeedy! Bliss bliss bliss! And oh yeah. I reinforced why I detest beer. Beer in the can sucks. Big time. Ugh.

Thursday - Second day of CNY
Half the gang went home. *sobs* Mind, this wouldn'ta happened if ol' gran had been alive. Sigh. People dying sucks. 3 of us went to see Constantine. Man, it feels good to be (almost) 18!!! Now I can take out my ID with ease. Hehe.

Managed to convince my 58 year old aunt (who's a self-confessed lover of shandy) to try Bailey's Irish Cream. Which, as anyone will tell you, is a thousand times nicer than shandy *grins* Ended up at the Geographer on Jonker Street where David spent a 100 bucks ++ on drinks. (Their vodka lime sucked, by the way. Too much ice, not enough vodka. Bah.)

Friday - Third day of Chinese New Year
Trudged on home. With more things than we left home with. Sigh. That, m'dears, is the nature of the Lim Aunties. It's a taboo to go back with your car less than nine tenths full. Huh. Someone explain that to me.

Well, suffice to say, we'll be lobbyin' like hell for another CNY there. Too many memories. Lesson for the Day : NOTHING beats tradition. And you better believe it.