Quiet Chinese New Year 2021 in Malaysia

  We waited for more than 4 hours for this Poon Choi dish to thaw before we started cooking it over a gas stove for our Chinese New Year 2021 eve dinner (Tuan Yuan with family). It was the first time we ordered this dish from Din Tai Fung. It was an unusual CNY eve preparation for me this year of the Metal Ox. Stocking up on food, drinks and daily necessities as well as settling bills (including my father's admission bill to Medical Centre) were all being done within Klang Valley. The doors to this temple in Kun Yam Thong Chinese temple along Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur remained closed to the public the week before Chinese New Year 2021 celebration in Malaysia. Chrysanthemums were in full bloom at this Large Florist Shop in Pudu Ria, which was a short drive from my sister's condo in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. I usually see pots and pots in Chinese temples back in my hometown in Johor but with global covid-19 pandemic still around, it was not possible to cross Wilayah Persekutuan KL border at all without risking a hefty fine by the police.

Lime plants as tall as I am at the Florist Shop.

Wanted to buy this pot of lime tree. It was the shortest tree of all the lime and tangerine trees variety on sale at the Florist Shop during the first day of Chinese New Year, but I read somewhere that the fruits were inedible and not safe for animals. It would have been more practical to have edible fruits from a tree. 

The tallest tree was this last remaining pot at the site. Full of tangerines and lovely to look at. Fruits were inedible. Nothing can compare to the trees growing in farms particularly the commercial farms in Southern China, which produce the boxes of oranges. Malaysia imports these in very high numbers which are made available for sale in supermarkets and sundry shops prior to Chinese New Year. The Cantonese name for Mandarin Orange rhymes with "GOLD" and the shape resembles gold ingots that China used as currency in the historical era of the Emperors and Dynasties.     

Our dinner during the first (or was it second) day of Chinese New Year. It was a quiet Chinese New Year in 2021 as we usher in the Metal Ox with family members only. The Mandatory Conditional Order (MCO) 2.0 was still in effect and has since been extended until 4th March 2021. The Top 5 CNY video advertisements for 2021 premised on the heartfelt stories and spirit of celebration can be viewed through this Blog HERE.

电视电影“飞越高桩”主题曲MV -“飞跃青春”

I usually write about the Travel Advisory issued by the Plus Highway Authority before Chinese New Year commences in Malaysia. Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, travel restrictions are still in place during the MCO which has been extended until 18th February 2021. New normal means for the first time   

in all these years, I'll be unable to cross States and drive home for "Springtime Festival" in my tropical hometown. These are unprecedented times, where the streets of Kuala Lumpur will be very quiet as no LIVE Lion and Dragon Dance Performances are allowed under the tighter SOP issued by the Government. Let's watch them ONLINE for 2021. Plenty of videos are available in LionDance Freak Facebook page HERE. I hope to catch this TV movie centered around Lion Dance which will be aired by TV2, our national news channel. Their official music video as shared above. Family reunion dinner and meals will be with my family in KL as we usher in Year of Metal Ox, and say goodbye to a year symbolized by the Rat Zodiac. It was a harsh year with the pandemic affecting almost every continent on earth. Borders were closed, prohibiting any overseas trip. I made a quick pit-stop at the Lego Display area during the weekend to stock up on groceries and food before midnight of CNY eve, at Mid-Valley Mall below. Chinese lanterns, bamboo, family, Lion dance were included in this Lego- themed Chinese New Year decor:-

Ox or Cattle was THE Zodiac animal depicted by Lego amidst a family to emphasize the importance of family reunion, Chinese culture and heritage such as the pair of Lego lions below.