Life Goes On

That's the way.

Amidst so many fears of all kinds; a bleak economy, the shrinking of the ringgit, security threats and general lethargy, it was comforting to see shoppers shelving the gloom and come out in throngs to celebrate the Lunar New Year of the monkey.

I had to catch that cheer and find defend the meaning of joy. 

 The Monkey Year

The malls are covered with images of the mascot of the year.

Every business man is asking for the year to be a year of bounty and the ill fortune of the previous year to wane away. How long more?

Despite the need to consolidate and salvage, the Chinese businessman will never compromise on the call of the drum and the auspicious creature.

Here, much effort is involved to  install the stilts for the creature to perform on.

 The lion dance and the roar of the drums must be here to usher in a good year.

It was a majestic performance as the lion deftly hopped from stilt to stilt without  fumbling and each time a feat is accomplished, the enthusiastic crowd from the young to old of all racial compositions put their hands together.

It is true.

Being happy is universal. 

People want to be happy for as long as they can but many times they suffer when others make mistakes.

So we can only pray for peace.

The display of colourful hues and decor surely heighten one's mood and reason to celebrate. Blatantly I mingled among them and stole every opportunity to inch my way to the front to watch the lion dancers perform and clapped too every time there was reason to do so. It was good to let go; unabashed. 

 A cultural street was created where everything Chinese was seen. The bamboo stalks are here to energize the home with strength and steadiness. So the more bamboo stalks the better.

Raise the red lanterns.

Evil is driven away and prosperity affirmed.

When I suggested to dad to hang some at home, he looked at me hard and long.

So I gave up.

He says God is in control.

The calligraphic writing I believe says to usher in the new Spring as the 6th generation of the mascot brings in peace. Oh I think that is what it means.

The undergarment advertisement reminded me again about the auspicious color.

Some old pals gathered over lunch for this very local cuisine; the yee sang.

It's as if a Chinese cannot start  the new year without the call of blessing over it.

Some practices are done for fun; this is one.

What connotation can it hold?

The New Spring.