Hiss! It's the Year of the Snake!

It's that time of the year again. Chinese New Year is coming and it is time for spring cleaning and decorating! Already the shopping malls are decorated with Chinese lanterns and Chinese New Year paraphernalia are being sold there and elsewhere too in night markets and shops. Just months ago, I met two Japanese men in town. The men were on a cycling tour and one of them who had cycled down from China could manage a smattering of Mandarin.When asked about Chinese New Year, he had said that the Japanese in Japan had now mostly celebrated New Year on the first of January. Japanese used to celebrate Chinese New Year but it seems that this is but a thing of the past. In Malaysia though where there is a sizable population of Chinese, Chinese New Year is very much alive and kicking. It is the year of the Snake. Happy Chinese New Year! Hiss....

Chinese New Year is in the air!