Kuching City At First Day of Chinese New Year (the only day with empty street).

This is KUCHING CITY as you’ve never seen it before; a ghost town empty of people, traffic and life, with  no shops open and deathly quiet streets.It’s a reality for just one day a year, I shows  a series of photos taken on first day of Chinese New Year.I went all round the city on January 31st, taking series shots of the usually bustling city center  without  any activity.

Colourful and Joyous 50th Years Sarawak Merdeka in Malaysia.

Yesterday 16 September,2013 the 50th Malaysia Day celebration was an enjoyable and colourful one with thousands of people, including foreigners, converging to Padang Merdeka, the venue of the event, as early as 7am, to watch the parade.
The celebration began soon after the arrival of The King and Queen of Malaysia at 8am, who were greeted upon arrival by The federal & State Ministers.
The national anthem was then played, accompanied by a fly-past by two Royal Malaysia Air Force (RMAF) Nuri helicopters and 21 gun-salute by the Royal Artillery Regiment.
The King then inspected the guard-of-honour mounted by the 13th battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment.
More Picture HERE anyway Let the Pictures Tell the Story.

The national anthem was then played, accompanied by a fly-past by two Royal Malaysia Air Force (RMAF) Nuri helicopters and 21 gun-salute by the Royal Artillery Regiment,

A fly-past by Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) fighter jets

 Happy Birthday Sarawak in Malaysia .

Sarawak Regatta 2013 and International Dragon Boat Race.

Sarawak Regatta 2013

With the theme ‘Race for Harmony’ this year, the Sarawak Regatta 2013 involves 44 boat races including five races under the international events. The main highlight of the event is the Dragon Boat Race, involving participants from Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Aside from boat races, there will also be side attractions like ‘Brooke Swim’, kayaking and duck catching competitions.
Read more news HERE
Photo by Awang Kassim with Olympus E-620 + Zuiko lens 70-300mm & P&S Camera Lumix LX3.

Foreign teams competing at the International Dragon Boat Exhibition Race

Foreign teams competing at the International Dragon Boat Exhibition Race

My lens zuiko 70-300mm at work.

Sarawak Regatta 2013 opening ceremonies...

Crowds at Sarawak Regatta.

Curious Tourist

Ladies Rowers from International Dragon Boat Race @ Sarawak Regatta 2013

Foreign teams competing at the International Dragon Boat Exhibition Race

Foreign teams competing at the International Dragon Boat Exhibition Race

Merdeka! – Malaysia’s Independence Day.

I read a very interesting view from another blogger regarding MERDEKA !!! Malaysia's Independence Day.His view:"This is how we continue to insult and alienate our fellow citizens in Sabah and Sarawak!The ignoramus in Malaya – politicians, pundits, editors,journalists, advertisers; including ‘ I was there at the Padang down memory lane ramblers – continue to use ‘ Happy 56th Birthday Malaysia’.
The historical fact is that the Federation of Malaysia was formed on 16th September 1963 – so it will be the 50th Malaysia Day ( National Day,  Birthday call it what you will) come 16 September 2013.
Definitely NOT 56th!
The greatest insult is of course to hoist the 31 August 56th Merdeka Day on our fellow citizens in Sabah and Sarawak.
Please get it right – 31st August 1957 has no significance to our fellow citizens across the South Cina Sea!
And by the way the Federation of Malaya passed into history on midnight 15th September1963! “”
Blogger Haris Ibrahim  HERE .

What ever it is here is my massage to fellow Malaysian.
 As we celebrate our nation’s 56th Independence Day, let us be thankful and reflective on all the blessings we have so far enjoyed.  Admittedly Malaysia is not paradise, nor is it the ‘best’, nor ‘safest’, nor ‘happiest’ country in the world.  That’s all very subjective.  Still, there is much for us to celebrate, such as our climate, our fertile land, our abundant resources, our cultural diversity, and our wonderful people.
 Love for Malaysia is not only exhibited by those who display the biggest ‘Jalur Gemilang’ in their houses or offices.  Love for Malaysia also means to abide by our nation’s laws, to respect our national institutions, to care for our natural environment, and to care for the common rights of all Malaysians.

Should we Malaysians love our nation, and should we cultivate and exhibit wisdom and integrity always, then perhaps, our country’s great promise can then be fulfilled.
Dirgahayu Malaysia!  Selamat Hari Merdeka ke-56  kepada semua rakyat Malaysia.

 Patriotism is a culture .

 Small village shop selling Jalur Gamilang (Malaysia flag)

 Kampong people show they Patriotism for Merdeka Day.

“Last Minute Shopping” before Hari Raya.

Muslim families started their shopping to prepare for the coming festival. India Street Pedestrian Mall & Gambier Street in Kuching has been packed with shoppers for over two weeks, especially on the weekends. Shoppers are mostly looking for new clothes, cookies decoration for their homes to celebrate the Hari Raya Aidifitri, which is expected to fall on Aug 8. The date for Hari Raya Aidifitri is decided from the sighting of the new moon in the 29 locations throughout the country and The Keeper of Rulers’ Seal will declare the final actual date over the radio and television after decided.

  Muslims all over the world will celebrate Eid. For Malaysian that means "balik kampung" to or travelling back to our hometown to be with our family.

  songkok for Raya.

  songkok for Raya.

 Gambier Street are the best place to shop for spices, clothing, textiles

 Gambier Raod in Kuching crowded with shoppers shopping for clothes and others necessary items for upcoming Hari Raya

 Gambier Road in Kuching.

The Last Day of Chinese New Year,Chap Goh Meh.

The last day of Chinese New Year, i.e., the 15th day is also known as Chap Goh Meh literally translated as the 15th night in the Fujian/Hokkien and Teochew dialects.My Tiong Hua friends told me that this traditional Chinese festival (on the 15th of the first month of the Chinese New Year) marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations.Chap Goh Meh, also dubbed as the Chinese Valentine’s Day, takes place on the  fifteenth night of Chinese New Year, and it is a day where young Chinese singletons gather up at a location in town to celebrate this special day. They celebrate this day in high hopes of finding their true love by writing their name and contact details on the mandarin oranges before throwing them into the pool of water.

 There are many different legends surrounding the festival’s origins, but most people believe it’s an old tradition to carry lanterns around on the street and set-off firecrackers on this day. Legend has it that because the Jade Emperor was angered by the death of his favourite crane when it was sent down from heaven but was killed by some villagers. The Jade Emperor then sent a troop to incinerate the village only to find that the village was already burnt to the ground. The villagers were able to escape death as the Jade Emperor’s daughter took pity on the villagers and warned the villagers beforehand. A wise man from another village also suggested hanging red lanterns around their house and set-off firecrackers on the 14^th, 15^th and 16^th lunar days.

Chap Goh Meh was also believed that it is the only day where young maidens were allowed to stroll on street and pray in temples in hopes to find the suitable match. That way, potential suitors would catch a glimpse of the young maidens who have dressed up to find their love. It is also believed that the maidens who threw oranges into lakes will find her future match when her ‘suitor’ picks up her orange. This story is possibly the reason why the tradition continues to be preserved until today.
Although the origin of the festival is quite superstitious, it is still a celebration that Chinese singletons look forward to each year. Apart from throwing oranges, cultural performances will also take place during the festival as well.

Millions celebrate Chinese New Year, welcoming Year of the Snake.

Chinese New Year is being celebrated around the globe, as Asians focus on family and friends in celebration of spring and new beginnings.Chinese New Year has been celebrated for centuries and is immersed in myths, legends and traditions. It’s a time to honor ancestors and deities.Families gather together for traditional meals, and homes are cleaned to “sweep” away any bad fortune that might have accumulated during the year. The heart and home is made ready for incoming good fortune in the new year.Homes are decorated with all sorts of items usually in red, which is the color for good luck symbolizing good fortune, wealth, happiness and longevity. Firecrackers are lighted to scare away bad fortune, and money is given in red envelopes for good luck.

The New Year Celebrations can only begin after paying respect to the ancestors.

On New Year's Eve, people will go to the temples and pray for good fortune for the new year.

They bring offerings of food and incense to please the spirits of the deceased so that they might bring good luck.

While traditions change from country to country, many families will thoroughly clean their homes on the eve of the New Year to "sweep out" the bad luck and make room for good luck.
However, families do not clean on New Year because that sweeps away the good luck.

 However, people learned that the Nian is scared of the color red. That is why many people will wear red on Chinese New Year, hang red lanterns or scrolls from their home or even paint their window frames the fortuitious color.

 The Year of the Snake is said to bring great opportunities to embark on a new career or studies