For a long time, I have never had this much fun for Chinese New Year. IMG_6708a

 

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Chor Yat (First Day) started with the standard prayers, and the most important part…

  

 

FIRECRACKERS!

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This is the only time I can get a good shot of firecrackers. Once it’s lit, all I can get is a pic of a HUGE bunch of smoke, like how Hindraf protestors get loaded with teargas during their demonstrations.

 

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But the highlight of CNY 2010 wasn’t the firecrackers.

 

On the first day, my house was the meeting point for many of my mum’s side relatives.

 

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Now, everyone has long-lost cousins. They could be working or studying abroad, pursuing some gold mine or some sugar daddy / sugar mummy. As in, they’re normally far away.

 

But for me, I’m possibly the only guy in town whose long lost cousins actually live in KL. The only problem was that we lost contact… for over 15 years wei. And so we were reunited in one single makan sesh.

 

 

IMG_6661a I now have 2 additional cousing who’re half-Malay. Happening kan?

 

This is 80+ year old granny. She forgot to give out angpau this year. Maybe she wanted to save $$ for a pair of dentures.

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IMG_6709a IMG_6720a JoyLKChan is naughty.

 

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Me, Ego and cousins.

 

In countries like Taiwan or China, the very enthusiastic people like to release big lanterns during the Mooncake Festival.

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Back home, we Malaysians are too impatient to wait til September. So we do it during Chinese New Year.

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And it works! Hahaa.

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We initially planned to make our first trip in 10 years to Butterworth, dad’s hometown…and this, I was very excited about. The only thing was, the above party ended about 3am and we were supposed to leave at 8am the next day.

 

So we left only at 10.30am cos too tired haha. Reach Butterworth at 5pm. Fail!

 

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This is my Dad’s Dad, Ahkong’s house.

 

The best moment is upon stepping into the house and breathing in all the once-so-familiar sights and smells that I was attached to when I was a kid.

 

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Old school cupboard, big cross-stitch hanging on the wall, old pillow. Banana on the doorknob. Nostalgia was imminent. Lucky I never emo on the spot or I’ll be crying on the first day of CNY lol.

 

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My first CNY gambling session involved Anglia Shandy, lots of coins, EGo, myself….

 

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….and my cousins : in their pyjamas. Dah lah damn hot, still wearing long sleeve and pants hahahaha.

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In my Siew Kucheh’s room was where 4 of us bunked in for the night.

 

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And in the corner of the room, was a picture on the wall. It was my favorite part of the house:

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No, that’s not my Siew Kucheh! Haha.

 

 

Next day was the reunion with more uncles, aunties and cousins. Thanks for lunch AhKong :)

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Again, I must be the only guy in town who fails so badly in keeping contact with these cousins (dad’s side). Because despite their northern-state origins, most of them study / work around KL. Fail # 2.

 

:) :):)

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My AhKong is 81 years old. The coolest grandpa around because he’s one of the nicest, most independent, steady gramps you will ever meet.

 

Why is he cool? Because his house is equipped with a home PC + broadband + router. And he even has a Gmail account and MSN.

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What’s even cooler is that he calls me EVo online. Shiok. ahkong

Next, I will teach him how to Facebook and Twitter.

 

Cheers!
EVo