I am now back from Hatyai over Chinese New Year of the Bunny. The photo above was taken with my 2 younger sisters during a stop in Changloong to change our ringgit to Thai Baht. The conversion rate is supposed to be better here but we have compared to the rate in Penang road and we still have better returns here in Penang. We decided to dress similarly of yellow green which my second sister (seated left) from Suchou bought for the 3 of us.

I also went for Thai massage with my mother while my 2 other sisters went for their Swedish oil body massage which was more expensive. My mum specially requested for gentle massage for us in a room where we could watch tv at the same time. We bought lots of cashew nuts and braised chest nuts for friends and relatives. Since my second sister loves suji cake, my father’s church friend specially baked for her and she can have the whole cake to herself. We can eat it anytime here in Malaysia. That’s because you cannot get suji cake in China.

I also bought a year’s supply of brasil nut with vanilla shower cream from Boots, a United Kingdom brand that is only found in Thailand for the Asian continent. It is so much cheaper than buying shower cream here in Penang. And the scent is so fragrant. I am simply addicted to it. Also took the opportunity to buy a year’s supply of Intense Beauty Serum No. 7, also from Boots as you can see on the left side of the picture.

My sisters and I took turns to treat the whole family lunch and dinner during our yearly trip to Hatyai. This is the fifth time I went to Hatyai with my sisters and parents during CNY.

Above is a pair of white beaded sandals that I bought for $350 baht or RM35 a pair. I was shopping in Carrefour near JB hotel where the Thai Queen used to stay formerly. The hotel is big but a bit run down and old. Anyway, it was still enjoyable staying in New Season hotel which was much newer and nearer to the city centre for shopping and sight seeing. There was also a baby elephant being walked around for tourists to buy food and feed it. But I was waiting for my bracelet, so I did not take the photo. It was at night anyway, too dark for good non-grainny photos to be put up.

The occasion is marked by feasting and various festivities, including the consumption of tangyuan. In traditional Chinese culture, it is also celebrated as the Lantern Festival or the Shang Yuan Festival. In Southeast Asia, however, it coincides with the Chinese Valentine’s Day. It is also when young unmarried women gather to toss tangerines into the sea, in a hope that their future spouse will pick it up – a custom that originated in Penang, Malaysia. In the past, this was also the only day that unmarried ladies could be seen with their partners.

Tags : chap goh meh, chinese valentine’s day, throw tangerines

The cherry blossom (sakura) is also Japan’s unofficial national flower. It has been celebrated for many centuries and takes a very prominent position in Japanese culture. There are many dozens of different cherry tree varieties in Japan, most of which bloom for just a couple of days in spring. The photo taken above are faux cherry blossoms sold amongst the other flowers and the combination makes it a sight to behold.

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This was what greeted us at the Pesta Site with RM15 entrance. The chinese gods known as ‘Chai’, ‘Chiew’ and ‘Siew’ meaning god of fecundity, god of prosperity and god of longevity.

These are the chinese female fairies winging amongst the colorful clouds of lantern.

This is an aqua theme of fishes for the huge lanterns erected. It reminds me of the closed Penang aquarium in Gelugor.

This is near the entrance/exit of the Pesta site of giant lanterns. The perspective makes a nice picture composition.

This is the final shot of my lantern collection showing a building wiht the chinese type of roof and bright colors.

Also, as it is still the season of celebration and I got 3 new ang pows yesterday from my mother’s side of relatives, I am taking the liberty to put them here for posterity.