chinese new year in sibu

Welcome to the first posting of my newly-migrated blog!

I will share with you the fabulous time we had in the past week - my family and I were in Sibu to celebrate the Chinese New Year with my parents-in-law, friends and relatives.

As days preceding to the New Year were rainy, we were concerned about the condition of the roads with reports of landslides along the Bintulu - Tatau road. Fortunately rectifications were done quickly in anticipation of the increased road traffic as people would be travelling during the pre-Chinese New Year weekend. Thanks to the quick action by authorities, we were able to travel by road.

Prior to my arrival my new blogger friend Victor in Sibu had arranged for a bloggers' pre-Chinese New Year dinner on Sat, Jan 24. There I met William, Wong, Bongkersz, Bengbeng, and Alex for the first time. Philip, whom I've met during last Christmas was also there. Sibu's popular blogger Yan also joined us after having dinner with her relatives. Of course, my latest favourite cousin the indomitable Suituapui was also there too; a natural and prolific writer, my cousin has a good write-up on that night here.

The gathering was at Lot 9 Cafe, the new shophouses opposite Delta Mall.



Bengbeng helped to take the group photo. If you understand the dialet Hokkien, you need not be a rocket scientist to figure out where Suituapui was seated! xD.



On the morning of eve of Chinese New Year in town - I was surprised the traffic was tolerable, contrary to the "madness" experienced in previous years.



Cheers on the reunion table!



My father-in-law cooked extra dishes to add-on to the takeaway from Beijing Restaurant. All the Chinese restaurants in Sibu were closed on the eve of the Xin Nian hence takeaway is a popular and convenient option.



After dinner my niece experimented with her newly-bought pair of "phoenix" eye lashes. I secretly took this photo without her knowing, haha!



The fireworks started before midnight. This year it ended early - only 15 minutes of showtime. I also noticed less fireworks were "shot" this year.



The noise was deafening!



On the first morning of the New Year, there was the traditional ang pow giving. The Lees posed for a shot. Only one daughter and family in Sydney did not come back. My in-laws have six children but none of them are in Sibu! I already forewarned my wife not to expect our two sons to be with us in Miri in the future, haha!



My wife Roseline and her dad sharing a light moment.



Roseline and her younger sister with hubby from Kota Kinabalu.



My niece from Perth. I took the opportunity to polish up my photography skills with her as my model, haha!



At the home of the parents-in-laws of Roseline's younger sister.



Aha, the ladies!



Colourful layered cakes, labouriously home-made! There is no shortcut for these steamed cakes because insufficient hours of steaming will cause the end product to become mouldy faster!



I like this black and white photo for its depth and clarity, xD.



After the first day, the tide came up as forecast. Located in a low-laying area, we were sort of "locked-in" for a few days. I joking shared with my wife saying that we were on the Super Virgo (the Star Cruise), haha!



Roseline and her sister from Kuching - they really enjoyed themselves!



Hey be careful and watch your step, they warned. xD.



My wife showed me how high the water level was. Flooding in Sibu brings good memories for us because it remains us of our courtship days in the Dec of 1983, haha!



So how was your New Year, xD?