My Taste Heaven: January 2009

Chinese New Year part 8: Kek Lok Si Temple 极乐寺

Kek Lok Si Temple is a very famous tourism spot in Penang situated in Air Itam. No doubt this temple is the biggest and the most popular one in Malaysia. This temple is also referred as the "Temple of Supreme Bliss" or the "Pure Land Temple".

During the Chinese New Year, the temple will be lighted with thousands of lanterns. The temple remains open till midnight during the Chinese New Year. Crowds of people will be found praying and shooting for photos there. Once in a year, the temple will be flooded with thousands of people.

The main attraction of this temple is the impressive Pagoda with nearly ten thousand Buddhas.

Great tourist attractions of Kek Lok Si! Cool right?! Only can be seen before and during the Chinese New Year. If you have missed it this year, no worries, go there next year. No regrets~~

Amazing night scene from the Pagoda of Kek Lok Si. This is something that you can't see everyday!
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Chinese New Year part 7: My family's reunion dinner 团圆饭

The reunion dinner is held on the New Year's eve. This is the day when all family members, no matter how far or how near they are, gather around to have their dinner. The venue of reunion dinner will usually be at the home of the most senior member of one's family.

My family's reunion dinner at my grandparents' house

As I said before, most people have steamboats for their reunion dinnner. However, my family is different. Our reunion dinner always turns out to be like an ordinary dinner but with large quantity of food and many people.

See what I meant~~~

p/s: Going to have steamboat soon, will upload the photos as soon as possible. "Reunion dinner" with my ex-classmates

Chinese New Year part 6: Things Needed For Reunion Dinner 团圆饭的材料

During Chinese New Year, the wet markets are always very crowded. People are busy rushing to the markets to get the needed ingredients for their reunion dinner. The pictures below show the crowds at the BATU LANCHANG WET MARKET.

Vegetable Stalls

Seafood Stalls
This part is my least favourite part of the market. These stalls stinks~(my opinion only, no offense!)

Steamboat's ingredients stall
I think this stall is the most popular stall in the market. The ingredients of steamboats like fishballs, meatballs and others are available here.

Sea cucumbers
Sea cucumbers are usually found in black colour. They have a weird smell when they are soaked in water. However, they contain lots of nutrients and they are very expensive.

Cuttlefish

Jellyfish

Beancurds

Various kinds of balls for steamboat

Chinese New Year part 5: Popular fruits found during Chinese New Year 新年的水果

Fruits also play an important role in the Chinese New Year. Many people give fruits to their friends and relatives as gifts.On the other hand, people also offer fruits to the Gods. From the early January till now, my house is already full with mandrin oranges and pineapples. Thank goodness I am a fruit lover, so they are the best gifts for me!

Mini Mandrin Oranges 小柑
Mandrin orange is pronounced as "kam" in Cantonese which symbolises gold. Therefore, the Chinese always fancy the mandrin oranges.

Pamelo 柚子

Pineapples 凤梨
Pineapples are pronounced as "ong li" in Hokkien which ensure good fortune throughout the year.

Pumpkins 南瓜

Gourd 葫芦

Flowers of Pineapples

Most of these fruits are offered to the Gods and they are believed to bring good fortune.

Chinese New Year part 4: Fire Crackers & Fireworks 爆和烟火

A Chinese New Year will not be completed if the fireworks and firecrackers are absent.

In the ancient China, people used banboo stems filled with gunpowder to create small explosions to scare away the evil creatures and spirits for the harmony of their lives. Thus, firecrackers were invented and this tradition continues until now.

When I was young, I used to spend the whole night playing firecrackers with my neighbours till midnight during the Chinese New Year. But now, everybody has grown up and are very busy with their careers and studies. Therefore, those sweet memories can only be kept in our hearts.

Nowadays, many types of firecrackers are available. My favourite were those "POP-POP bomb" and "dinosaurs' egg". I was a coward, so I used to think these 2 were save enough for me! Oh....I miss those days!

Firecrackers and fireworks are very hard to find these days. Give them a try if you have a chance!

Chinese New Year part 3: Things To Buy for prayers 必买的供佛品

After buying the personal new clothes and housing decorations. Then, it is the time to buy things for praying the Gods and ancestors.

In Buddhists' and Taoists' houses, the home altars and statues will be cleaned. On the other hand, the Buddhists and Taoists will also will also "send the Gods to heaven". The most famous example is sending the Kitchen God to the Heaven to report to the Jade Emperor of the family household's good deeds. People will often pray the Kitchen God with "Sweet Cake"年糕. It is believed that after the Kitchen God ate this cake, the God will report only the Good deeds of one's family.

On the ninth day of the Chinese New Year, the Chinese also offer prayers to the Jade Emperor of Heaven. At this time, these things below will be ready to be offered.