This post is a little late but it's never too late to share a good time.
Here in Sitiawan, Malaysia, Chinese New Year celebrations started early at the local morning markets and we were lucky enough to be there to see it. It was our first excursion to this market and we were so happy that we had inadvertently pick the right day to check them out.
Just as we arrived, so too did a local high school team of musicians and dragons. I've seen the Chinese dragons in Australia during Chinese New Year in the past but this was a real treat for our eyes and ears. Not just one dragon, but two. And a band of cymbals and drums. Very loud cymbals and drums. Quite the extravaganza.
The dragons performed a fabulous dance, moving through the whole market and blessing the stalls. They leaped and shimmied and shook their bodies and, following tradition, the dragons jumped up high to reach lettuce placed above the stalls which they gobbled up then spat back out. Not as nasty as it sounds 😉.This symbolises blessing the stall owners with wealth and prosperity for the new year.
https://youtu.be/4oQrfNSELwI
The whole market was just buzzing with laughter and excited chatter. It was very busy as it was just a couple of days before the New Year and many people were buying fruit to give as gifts, and lanterns to hang. Lantern wise, it was an extraordinary sea of beautiful lanterns and other decorative hangings, all red in colour to bring good luck.
The fruit stalls were laden with a huge array of produce from large pomelos, a grapefruit style of citrus fruit, hundreds of boxes of mandarins, to enormous apples bigger than Hubby's fist. There were pineapples galore, red ribbon wrapped, sweet strawberries and blueberries, even beautiful peaches all the way from Australia. There were buckets of flowers, even pineapple flowers which is something I've never seen before. Truly spectacular.
the little apple is actually a normal sized apple
peaches from my home country!
tiny little pineapple flowers
Then we wandered further into the market and found the fresh seafood section with large and small fish, prawns, squid and crabs available. All freshly caught and on display. There were chickens, and their feet, to be had. Or just the feet if that's where your tastebuds lie. Just can't bring myself to try them although deep fried they are delicious I'm told. Happy to take their word on that. There were pork after pork after pork stalls. The most popular parts being pork belly and offal. I have to say "eww yuck" on the offal. All very popular with the Chinese though.
We kicked back with a local coffee each and indulged in a piping hot, fresh out of the oil, local pastry while we watched the festivities. What a way to start our day.
Until next time, Watusi Woman - entertained sailor, out.
