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The City's Soul

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.

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.
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.
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 !

Comments

  1. I LOL'd at " brothers from a different construction site".

    To be honest, I' m a bit uncomfortable going out to KL during times like this, mainly because I get unnerved when people stare.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. but it's true. they stare and its quite innerving :)

      Delete
  2. That's a great pic! Happy New Year!

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  3. Your 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i know right? its cool to have an empty road - stress free :p

      Delete
  4. Seasons Greetings to u Jaya! :)

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  5. Sounds like your city truly takes it all in, all the extra people though must be a pain to get through

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. they are okay - just some people trying to make a living here.
      sometimes their working arrangement and conditions can be very unpleasant too.

      Delete
  6. I love Sydney roads during school holidays - the lack of traffic shaves ten minutes off my driving time to work each morning

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yeah. on a normal day, it take me 45mins to get to work, but minus the traffic, its hardly 15mins.
      :)

      Delete
  7. What fun the roads must be right now. Wish we had that here sometimes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. what about during public holidays ? roads are still busy ?

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    2. a holiday stops nothing. less traffic yes, but still plenty of it.

      Delete
  8. It's the year of the dragon! Is it true that many Chinese couples try to have babies in this year?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes GB, although i dont now how extraordinary they can be.
      my former boss is a dragon, and she was a bloody dragon lady in every sense. she didnt have many admirers.

      Delete
  9. I'd like to go there!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Happy Chinese New Years to you too! I wish I could have time off for this holiday as well. :P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. importantly youre with your loved ones :p

      Delete
  11. Living 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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i like small towns :)
      they're cosy.

      Delete
  12. Replies
    1. thanks Anthony and welcome here :)

      Delete
  13. ha! i love that you're wishing me [or, i mean, all those who celebrate] a happy new year!

    ReplyDelete
  14. That sounds very cool to me. One of my biggest wishes for the area I live in is more diversity. Happy New Year!

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  15. The buildings look so impressive!

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  16. Belated Happy New Year!

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  17. It 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?.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. they are not locals :) they're the foreign presence.
      CNY 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.

      Delete

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