Gong Xi Fa Cai (Happy New Year)!!

The past week has been full of interesting events as we experience our first Lunar (a/k/a Chinese) New Year in Penang.  With Penang's population being ~60% Chinese descent, this festival is celebrated here like nowhere else in Malaysia!  We will provide more details later (after a few outings we have planned this week), but we at least wanted to share a few photos and quick descriptions to whet your appetite...

Cookies given to us by our friend Chun How Lee, baked by his sister and not only adorable, but very yummy!  Might have to add these to our Christmas cookie exchange next year..

Oranges.... the humble orange is a common gift during this festival as the golden orange flesh resembles a pot of gold!  We bought a box and have been enjoying our golden treasures every day.  In Penang, there is also a custom (Chap Goh Meh) at the end of the Chinese New Year celebration where single ladies seeking partners toss an orange into the sea as an offering.  We may not be here for that event this year...

Lion dances!!  We found this small lion head at the trusty Tesco and just couldn't pass it up.  Lion dances are common throughout the year as when a new business or home is opened, a ceremony to fighten away any evil spirits is held.  The lions are accompanied by drums and crashing cymbals and can be quite loud.  Many businesses wait until the New Year festival to hold their official opening, so we have seen (and heard) many lion dances in the past week.  This particular lion was none other than our own Brenna Boo (if you look closely, you will see pink nightgown peeking out at the bottom).  We are hoping it frightens away the bad electronic spirits that visited while we were home, disabling two aircon units, our clothes washer, one hot water heater and finally... our refrigerator all within a two week period.  All is fixed now and we are keeping our fingers crossed!

Some photos of a real lion dance at the opening of the Gurney Paragon complex next door to our building (the two towers reflected in the lion's mirror above).  We now have another Coffee Bean, TGI Friday's, an Italian restaurant and a noodle shop to add to our restaurant choices.  Will share more a bit later this week...