Welcoming the Wood Dragon in Johor

The Dragon display was resplendent and shinning brightly in Abdullah New Village as the association goes all out to welcome the Wood Dragon in 2024. 

All 12 Zodiac Animals (including the Tiger above and the Dragon below) were represented in life-size mascot floats which were securely pinned onto the ground.

The ball of fire in front of the dragon was suspended in mid-air by thin strings. The light displays were impressive and though it was of a much smaller scale compared with the record-setting ones at Dong Zen temple in Jenjarom, Selangor, this New Village in Segamat, Johor set the bar in the District of Segamat, Johor. After all, amongst the twelve animal zodiacs, the dragon is the only mythical animal which represents auspiciousness, renewal, strength, values of which are sorely needed for us to pull through together and make up for the years lost to covid-19 pandemic and for us and our nation to recover fully economically, socially and politically. 

My mum was delighted to visit the light displays below:-

Chinese New Year and how it was celebrated worldwide in pictures by Says portal can be viewed HERE. The seven days of Chinese New Year and what each day signifies, as explained by The South China Morning Post which you can read HERE - Ren Ri is also the day employers must not reprimand their employees. A very good practical advice for Chinese bosses and generally good tip for all employers. Employees should behave well not just on 7th day of CNY but all year round to minimize such reprimands:) Schumi Wu (birding friend from Taiwan) shared a very beautiful picture of the crane in his Chinese New Year greeting as pictured below. The Lantern Festival myth has its origin in the killing of the Jade Emperor's crane by villagers and how the emperor's merciful daughter warned them of impending wrath. Read about this myth HERE

My mum visited her friends in Jementah on the second day of Chinese New Year. Pictured above are her friends from the Breast Cancer Welfare Association (BCWA). We had visited my mother's good friend Mr and Mrs Tan earlier that morning. We had previously bought pomelos from Mr and Mrs Tan. However due to current economic situation and viability of fruit crops, they switched to planting durians of Musang King variety instead for the past few years. They did have friends who still maintained pomelo plantations and had kindly gifted some to us. Jementah's agricultural background is evident in that almost every house had a plot of land filled with home-grown vegetables, fruits including sugar-cane, yam etc. Really reminded me of the villages I came across when I visited Chiayi, Taiwan years ago.    

Lovely mural painting on the side walls of this corner shop-lot.

Grove of bamboo plants painted on a section of the wall with a sink. Gives a calm effect when washing hands after a meal:)  

Mum enjoying her half-boiled eggs and toast at the only coffee shop that was opened that afternoon on the second day of CNY in Jementah. The nasi lemak was bought from a Makcik nearby. Not pictured above were the yummy cendol which we bought from a mobile stall next to the Chinese Guanyin temple. The Malaysian Indian couple speaks fluent Mandarin and we were very glad to know their children continued their cendol business legacy and their grand-daughter speaks Mandarin as well! 

Wall art of cat and dog peacefully co-existing with each other.  

 

A quiet green corner at the end of the row of shop-lots. My sister calling me to resume driving after we had completed our afternoon tea at Jementah.