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Thursday February 7, 2008

Welcome the Year of the Rat

By STEVEN DANIEL

MALACCA city is dressed with red lanterns of all sizes and designs at strategic areas, where the Chinese live predominantly, in conjunction with the Lunar New Year.

And Chinese New Year greetings were aplenty along streets like Jonker Walk, Jalan Bunga Raya, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Jalan Tukang Besi and Jalan Kubu.

The Chinese love the colour red as it signifies life, dynamism and prosperity and the New Year bears testimony to the rich heritage of Chinese society and culture.

Auspicious: Heritage buildings on Heeren Street are more vibrant this year with red lights installed on each of the buildings.
While firecrackers are banned in Malaysia, people stayed up until midnight setting off fireworks to frighten away evil spirits.

The last couple of days was a frenzy for some as they went about buying fresh fruits and flowers for their houses.

The Chinese believe that each household should have blooming plants to symbolise rebirth and new growth.

Festive air: Workers putting up decorations along Jonker walk.
The city's hotels have jumped in to offer Chinese New Year feasts to families, which decide to have their New Year Eve dinner out.

Many of them are offering New Year delights over an extended period.

The Prosperity Yee Sang Buffet Dinner is on offer at Café Mahkota/Pizza Terrace and two types of Chinese New Year menus are available at Hibiscus Room until Feb 13.

Distinctive feel: Decorations at A'Famosa Resort in Alor Gajah.
Bayview Hotel Melaka has put together three special feasts for lunch and dinner at its Southern Court Chinese Restaurant until Chap Goh Mei on Feb 21.

It is serving festive favourites such as Bayview Five Happiness, Golden Fortune Bamboo Fish, Auspicious Yin and Yang Prawns, Golden Yam Ring of Health, Steamed Fresh Water Prawns with Garlic and Longevity Glass Noodles, Deep Fried Nian Gao with Yam and Sweet Potato and others.

At Palette Café, flavours of prosperity are in the line-up with popular dishes such as Lucky Yee Sang and Sweet Nian Gao for its Fa Cai buffet lunch until Saturday.

Prominent: Lanterns hanging in front of the Kampung Hulu mosque, reflecting harmonious living among the state’s various races.
Yee sang with salmon, fresh fruit, scallop and abalone is also available at Southern Court until Feb 21.

At Long Feng Restaurant in Renaissance Melaka Hotel, special Chinese New Year set menus and yee sang in four varieties are available for lunch and dinner until Chap Goh Meh.

To add cheer to the festive season, guests at Renaissance Melaka Hotel and Bayview Hotel Melaka will be entertained with lion dance performances tomorrow.

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