GONG Xi Fatt Choy. Happy Chinese New Year to all my Chinese friends. The nation is taking a break during this season and it's so weird to see the major roads in the city almost void of cars - I mean I could do a salsa routine in the middle of Jalan Tun Razak without the fear of a freak accident in mind. While I dislike the usual city traffic, a city is not quite a city without the hustle and bustle - traffic makes a city as much as I hate to say it. After today, people are going to take their positions back into the city's tall apartments and office towers, and just like that, we have Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya running like usual again. This happens during all major festivities like Hari Raya Aidilfitri (Eid), Deepavali (Hindu festival) and Christmas.
For someone who works through these celebrations (except Christmas and New Year), I do enjoy driving around a bit. It's a breeze to work and forth, a testing ground to see what my old car is capable of in speed terms and generally, it's just a stress-free period on road. But the experience may not be wholeseome I suppose. The lack of people means, closed shops and that specifically means Chinese businesses. Only I know that man does not live by bread alone because the corner shop Char Kway Teow by that Chinese uncle is like chicken soup to my soul especially when the light that brightens the city is temporarily dimmed (or when I have sibling tiffs, although technically I only have a sibling). So yeah. It can get pretty lonely and depressing if you're by yourself in the city during these times.
It's also a time when you see the number of immigrant workers who are in the city. For them a national holiday like this is big because it's probably the only real off period. So when you drive by the KLCC Twin Towers, you'd see loads of them, all dressed-up in their best for sight-seeing or catching up with brothers from a different construction site. KLCC, being the landmark in the KL city is a popular hang-out for both locals and tourists. But to be honest, I don't quite like it during the major public holidays due to the strong foreign presence - makes me feel ..umm...out of place, especially when their stare follows you like a radar. It's kind of uncomfortable, really.
Well, I've made it to day two of the New Year with the eve being the worst when even some shops in the malls were shut down for the reunion dinner. But it's that time now when friends and colleagues are on their way back to make the city again and to celebrate the remaining of the 15 day celebration with us. I can just imagine the number of invitations to open houses that await us next week !
It's also a time when you see the number of immigrant workers who are in the city. For them a national holiday like this is big because it's probably the only real off period. So when you drive by the KLCC Twin Towers, you'd see loads of them, all dressed-up in their best for sight-seeing or catching up with brothers from a different construction site. KLCC, being the landmark in the KL city is a popular hang-out for both locals and tourists. But to be honest, I don't quite like it during the major public holidays due to the strong foreign presence - makes me feel ..umm...out of place, especially when their stare follows you like a radar. It's kind of uncomfortable, really.
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| This is taken by a friend, Rohaizat Darus. On the foreground is a couple of tourists, getting a snapshot of them together at the KLCC. On the background, there is a another couple (of probably foreign workers) staring. |
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| Another pic by a friend, Azman Ghani. It was taken earlier today at the KLCC. A group of foreign workers are hanging out at the KLCC park. |
I LOL'd at " brothers from a different construction site".
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I' m a bit uncomfortable going out to KL during times like this, mainly because I get unnerved when people stare.
but it's true. they stare and its quite innerving :)
DeleteThat's a great pic! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeletethanks Gia :p
DeleteYour city sounds so cool during Chinese New Year Jaya, especially that nearly empty roads thing. I'd love to be able to drive on a big, non busy road some time haha.
ReplyDeletei know right? its cool to have an empty road - stress free :p
DeleteSeasons Greetings to u Jaya! :)
ReplyDeletethanks for stopping by, Raj.
Delete:)
Sounds like your city truly takes it all in, all the extra people though must be a pain to get through
ReplyDeletethey are okay - just some people trying to make a living here.
Deletesometimes their working arrangement and conditions can be very unpleasant too.
I love Sydney roads during school holidays - the lack of traffic shaves ten minutes off my driving time to work each morning
ReplyDeleteyeah. on a normal day, it take me 45mins to get to work, but minus the traffic, its hardly 15mins.
Delete:)
What fun the roads must be right now. Wish we had that here sometimes.
ReplyDeletewhat about during public holidays ? roads are still busy ?
Deletea holiday stops nothing. less traffic yes, but still plenty of it.
DeleteIt's the year of the dragon! Is it true that many Chinese couples try to have babies in this year?
ReplyDeleteyes GB, although i dont now how extraordinary they can be.
Deletemy former boss is a dragon, and she was a bloody dragon lady in every sense. she didnt have many admirers.
I'd like to go there!
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteHappy Chinese New Years to you too! I wish I could have time off for this holiday as well. :P
ReplyDeleteimportantly youre with your loved ones :p
DeleteLiving in a small town I don't get to see buildings like that close up. They do look impressive. I do live near the ocean so maybe it's a fair trade off. Im still jealous 8p
ReplyDeletei like small towns :)
Deletethey're cosy.
Great photos!
ReplyDeletethanks Anthony and welcome here :)
Deleteha! i love that you're wishing me [or, i mean, all those who celebrate] a happy new year!
ReplyDeleteHave fun!
ReplyDeleteLove,
janie
That sounds very cool to me. One of my biggest wishes for the area I live in is more diversity. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteThe buildings look so impressive!
ReplyDeleteBelated Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteIt looks so hot there, i like that everyone does the attempt to get the buildings in the background.And you have all the angry faces of the locals lol. In England the Chinese New Year is a big thing in most cities they have huge parties, everyone comes out to see the costumes and fireworks and things.What do you mean by foreign presence do you mean the white people or the workers?.
ReplyDeletethey are not locals :) they're the foreign presence.
DeleteCNY is huge here, Jon. that's why Kuala Lumpur is quiet because people go back to their families and hometowns for this celebration. it is celebrated like for 15 days here so the first 3 or 4 days maybe quiet in Kuala Lumpur but after that, it's all noisy and full of people. food, firecrackers and parties are back into the city.
ps. temperature is probably like 32deg ? hahha. its the hottest here during CNY. usually in Jan and Feb.