GONG XI FA CAI - 新年快樂

Chinese New Year is the biggest and most important annual festival for Chinese communities worldwide. Prior to the celebrations, homes are cleaned and decorated. Come this Friday, 31January, it's Chinese new year!  

In new year mood - red lanterns above Foh Sang's shops. 

It's red everywhere.

Many shops are opened late into the night to accommodate the shoppers.

Popular cookies for the New Year celebration.

Tons of mandarin oranges.

New Year cakes.

Waxed duck's thighs and Chinese sausages are traditional food and a must buy for the occasion.  

 

  Citrus trees with fruits symbolize good fortune. 

The pomelo are symbolic of family unity and prosperity.

 

One of Chinese New Year traditions is to clean yourself up before the New year. It is believed that taking a bath with pomelo leaves can wash away all the dirt and cast away the evil spirit. 

Many believe pineapples will bring good luck and fortune to all in the family.

May the year of the "Horse" bring us the best of luck, good fortune, good health and prosperity throughout 2014!

"Gong Xi Fa Cai" to every one!

  

A GARDEN TO APPRECIATE

We have a reasonable size garden in our home. I must give credit to my wife for all the hard work she has put in to making our garden a place to enjoy.  

 View of the greenery.

 

Occasionally, I could see sun birds like this one feeding on the flower nectar.

 Another regular visitor.

 
The orchid shade.

Mango in season.

A pair of olive back sun birds feeding on one of the fruits.

The yellow vented bulbul is another mango lover.

 A black squirrel in our backyard. 

Our 3 dogs relaxing in the late afternoon. 

My garden is a good place to sit back, relax and enjoy it after a hard day's work. I am sure my wife can make our garden even more of a haven than it already is.

HAPPY 2014

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014 FROM SABAH, THE LAND BELOW THE WIND!

We are happy to welcome the New Year, but sad as it will be a year of inflation. 

2014 will be a difficult year for the medium and low income groups in Sabah. The government of the day does not seemed to understand the needs of the people. All the promises made by the ruling party before the 13th general election in 2013 have disappeared. 

The cost of living is expected to be the highest ever since Malaysia was formed. The giant killers are the  increase in petrol, diesel, electricity and water tariff.

I filled up 52.7 litres of diesel costing RM105.40 just after the new year. I need only to pay RM84.30 for the same amount of litres the previous year. 

The diesel price has increased twice from RM1.60 per litre to RM2.00 per litre just before the year end. Petrol (RON95) is now RM2.10. I heard that there would be a further increase in the coming months. It is unbelievable that Malaysia being an oil producing country is unable to help the ordinary people. The Petronas (Malaysia Oil company) earned billions of dollars each year and the huge profit has gone into the pockets of only a few.

Enjoying a break in the coffee shop is no longer a cheap past time.  A cup of coffee or tea which costs around RM1.80 per cup may go up from RM2.00 or more. With no salary increase for the ordinary folks, people have to tighten their belts, unless some drastic changes are made by the government, which is very unlikely.

The ministers, directors of various government agencies, heads of government departments including the PM and DPM do not pay electricity, water, petrol and many other bills as these are settled by the government funds. They do not care how the ordinary people suffer with the ever increase of the cost of living.          

The worst is yet to come as the Government will introduce a 6% GST (good and service tax) effective from April 2015. Life will not be easy for those in the medium and lower income groups.

May God help us!