Chinese New Year's 1st Day was spent visiting all relatives on the wife's side as we do every year to "eratkan silaturrahim" as the muslim's say (tighten the bonds of relation) and it normally culminates with a sumptuous Lunch in Tangga Batu at the Home of one of the aunties where upon every one within the family will congregate to no matter where they started from initially and /or ended at eventually and the jovial atmosphere of the Home with children running around, adults catching up with distant relatives and good old fashion ribbing causing the sporadic but constant laughter and screams then drive home the point that this is what Family is all about. Satiated to the brim with home cooked good food and fond memories of good natured conversation, fun and frolictivities everyone will gather around for more chatter and conversation before departing to their individual abodes happy and looking forward to the next get together.
This year, dinner was at Utheya's girlfriend house in Semabok where the whole family was invited to join in the festivities of the New Year Celebrations. The pictures above reflect some last minute pics taken as everyone was too busy eating and making merry to remember to take pictures ! Joey's family prepared not just a feast for the tummy but also for our eyes as they had fire crackers a plenty, loud veritable paper bombs that cause sparklers of all colors to be emitted and other fancy exploding sticks and platters; lion dancings and gongs and drums a beating with plenty of mutual joviality, food & drinks. Another episode in the Good Life show, indeed !
For the next day we were invited over to Michelle's brothers' place where the Wong Family Lunch was again laid out for us to feast on and relax.
It is interesting that to the Chinese Food encapsulates relationship.bonding and personality as this simple dish of Mee Hoon with carrots and leek is a symbolism on the bonding and intertwining of relationship amongst family members no matter how far apart or colorful they are!
A typical time honored tasty & simple chinese family get together meal.
As I lowered myself down unto the wicker chair in the patio, under the residual heat of the afternoon shade after the heavy Lunch, I remembered thinking about the many opportunities we've had to enjoy such repast these past 20 years or so and suddenly it dawned on me that the very things that we take for granted in our daily life characterises our desires and outlook on life and it makes us who we are and what we become. My position, privileges and pomroy outlook on life is due in part to the stability and love my wife and I have shared, through thick and thin these past 2 decades, and the privilege of the shared meal in another's home and hearth symbolizes that sanctity of sacrifice; love & care for others that epitomizes the Family unit.
Though, epistles of truth aside,as my gaze turns towards the beautiful young children playing with their smart phones and MP5's, happily learning about the world through their eyes in the safety and comfort of the familial surroundings,all I wanted to do at that moment was to totter off to my warm and comforting bed and doze happily away the afternoon heat and sweat !
This dish below is a home made broth with Braised Top Hat ; pig intestines and tender succulent pork meat laced with white pepper and kayu manis. Delicious !
Another traditional home based dish- Lap Cheong and sauteed onions and Chinese Leek.
And oh yeah, I forgot another tradisi : You gotta have Beer to go with Lunch, down here !
The Long Weekend was also reason enough for my sisters and their children to pop into Melaka from the various states they reside in ( Ipoh,Klang,KL) for an opportunity to meet up with each other and pay me and mummy a visit. It is an enjoyable respite for all of us to catch up with one another and for all the young ones to get to know their related cousins and nieces. This occasion also presides an opportunity for two separate cultures of the same root (both Indian & Chinese) to meet up and catch up on each others present condition and situations ! (Gossip-la tu). Time and distance does indeed make the heart grow fonder.
All of us later adjourned to The HTH Cafe for some serious R&R and FUN ! The weather was accomodating and everyone enjoyed the ambiance of the cafe and the crowd watching was particularly interesting this night, what with it being the long weekend and Jonker Street being the main attraction down here.
All this and the week end is just starting!
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