My Kung Hei Fat Choy! Part 1

Over the years I have never really knew what a true Chinise New Year experience in either Philippines or Australia. I always have heard bits and pieces of the tradition and has always been fascinated.

In Brisbane there are dragon dance performances to look forward to however I have never really understood the spectacular customs. 

2013 I had my Chinese New Year in Malaysia Kuala Lumpur. I didn't actually plan it to be on the Chinese New Year week, everything was a huge coincident and I was so lucky to have booked it during the special week because it was an amazing sight!

Kuala Lumpur has amazing shopping district and I was informed that is the number four shopping district in the world. Our first stop was to visit a shopping centre and everything was so lively and colourful due to the special occassion. Buildings in Kuala Lumpur are absolutely beautiful, and was admiring architecture as soon as we got out of the airport. 

Our first destination was in Pavilion Shopping Mall, where I didn't expect to be really packed.

I took a photo of some of the captions on the decorations to have a bit more understanding of the tradition rather than just admiring the decoration and scenery.
As informed, this year is officially the snakes year, and I am suppose to expect good things to come this year.
I was a bit puzzled though as the decoration near the Pavillion stage area were fishes and not snake.

Every Chinese Zodiac animal was displayed with a brief summary of what to expect this year. The Decorations were so adorable!

On top of this Pavillion shopping centre was the most amazing thing I have encountered, they had a floor for Tokyo Street and all you eat and buy are Japanese introduced items.
I had so much fun wondering the entire floor and came back another day.

These crepes were to die for. I did not manage to try the strawberry crepe as apparently they ran out, I think that flavour was the most popular one. But this Multicoloured chocolate was exceptional too! The only downside that I didn't expect were raisins and I was not very happy as I am not a big fan.

The Next day we went on a food tour to have a taste of the real Malaysian food. I wanted an experience what the actual locals eat. Not just what's on the shopping malls but what were the popular spots with good Malaysian experience.

The first food we ate was Yee Sang as the main dish in our first stop, The famous Chinese Restaurant.
Yee Sang only comes in chinese restaurants once a year and most of the time you eat this dish with loved ones and toss the dish with chopstick in the air as high as you can. The higher the better luck you'll be given for the coming year. Chinese were described as very superstitious people with wealth and luck.
I have to say I like the concept of Yee Sang, it gives family something to look forward to eating the dish together every year.

Posting with the tour group, nice to see different people from different backgrounds were up for the full Malaysian experience. In our group tour were Germans, French, Canadian and Australian-Filipino. Very Muliticultural tour group if you ask me. 

The next hot spot was the industrial fast food sort of thing, they are famous for their Nasi lemak wrapped in banana leaf and fish and chicken steamed.

The store lady was so nice and happy going, even though we couldn't understand what she was saying, we were laughing because she just kept talking as if we understood and was apparently making jokes according to the translator.

We went to one of Kuala Lumpur famous night outdoor market where the local buy cheap food, poultry and other stuff. Apparently a lot of Malaysians do not go grocery shopping in shopping malls as they can find good quality stuff in the night market for a better price. The hygiene on food being sold are also same quality as the ones you will buy in the shopping malls.

The next stop was a place famous for the Indian dishes, the place was called Little India. The Food was really good, we had curry with this bread and everything had a really distinct taste from one another.

I took a phot of the paintings on the floor painted all over Little India I felt that not many people appreciated the effort put into it so I took this photo.

Our tour guide gave us a rose for a head start for Valentines day, which coincidentally coincides with Chinese New Year week as well. It was very sweet if you ask me.

I took a photo with it since I wasn't expecting a rose for this occassion.

After tour I wanted to have a photo session in the Hotel I stayed at for memory as it was a really great hotel. I stayed in Sheraton Kuala Lumpur, where transport was so easy to catch because we had two route monorail close to us, which made everything cheaper. Service was really good as well everybody was very attentive.

Next destination, guess where?

The shopping centre right between the Petronas Tower, yes there is a shopping centre was very posh if you ask me.

 This was the day I found out that my straightener was broken due to my make up cleanser leaking all over my luggage. So I had my hair in a bun and later on will have it down because I got my hair curled by hair salon. Did a lot of shopping in this place, they have many items I have never seen before.

My valentines date happened in Atmosphere 360, where the restaurant was literally going round Kuala Lumpur night sky, everything was so romantic and it was probably one of the sweetest dates I have had. The food was so yummy and drank a lot of alcohol.

The night didn't end without any souvenier the restaurant provided us a photo of us two with chocolate in the box to remember this night and they put it in a frame as this night was a special event.

This trip keeps getting better and better.