The Petronas Twin Towers lit up for the Chinese New Year
A place to all home.
If you are of a certain age you might think I am referring to one of those public phone booths where, with the use of coins or a phone card, you would call someone when you are out and about. Calling home would mean to a landline, of course. Or if you are older, that cubicle would serve instead as a changing room for Clark Kent, transforming from regular reporter to superhero.
But I am thinking of how easily I slip in Kuala Lumpur life once I touch down because of the soft infrastructure I have put around me. A big part of this is where I stay and to this end I have stayed in the same serviced apartment for the past three years. My place to call home in KL.
I am coming into my second week of this KL trip and have already met up with many of my relatives over the Chinese New Year, which lasts for two weeks and ends on 03 March. Ipoh Auntie and Nottingham Cousin stayed with me at the apartment over the weekend. I have my third dinner with Cousin A, Banker Uncle and Lawyer Cousin on Wednesday.
Photos below of some of the things I have been doing, besides spending time with my mother. Mr Gochugaru arrives to join me this weekend and already we have four dinners arranged with friends to keep us busy and happily, to keep me out of the kitchen. Despite the frequent tropical downpours, the sunshine and warmth here is a huge positive.
My first highlight: eating durian with Boston-Florida Cousin and his wife. Everyone should eat more durian to support our local farmers
I made yee sang for our own family reunion dinner
Lion dances are a big part of Chinese New Year here in Malaysia. Local businesses believe that the noise from the drums and firecrackers drives aways evil spirits, bringing in good fortune as a result
A walk in Chinatown with KL Sister, including a stop at Fung Wong Biscuits (85, Jalan Sultan, 50000 Kuala Lumpur)
Afternoon tea at the Mandarin Oriental with KL Sister
Having some solo quiet time by the pool at the MO, with a seafood pizza and durian ice cream
Ginger, the cat who adopted our family, is nine years old
The city is awash with the colour red at the moment. We are very fortunate, as CNY is followed by Hari Raya Aidilfitri/ Eid al-Fitr which marks the end of the Muslim fasting month. I will try to feature some photos in the next post of the various festive decorations in the local area.