From dim sum to turkey: Goh (seated, second from right) surrounded by family and friends at their annual ‘traditional’ Christmas Eve dinner. Also at a hotel in George Town, Penang — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: This year-end holiday season, some tourists just want to enjoy a Christmassy feast complete with all sorts of local fare.
A family from Luxembourg chose to visit Penang because of the food and warm weather.
Sergio Keshishian and his wife Nisha Neelkantan, both 41, were seen enjoying their Christmas Eve dinner with their four-year-old son Leo in town.
“We just arrived 24 hours ago and have already had dim sum.
“We usually spend Christmas with our family in the United Kingdom where it is cold and so, this is a pleasant change.
“It is nice to enjoy Christmas in a country with a tropical weather.
“We want to have Nyonya food and that’s our Christmas plans for now,” said Keshishian, who works in finance.
The couple said they would be in town for five days and planned to enjoy the local sights.
“We thought we would have a nice Christmas Eve dinner and then spend the next few days going with the flow.
“Luckily our son is not a picky eater and he is fine with trying anything,” said Keshishian.
Keshishian, Nisha and little Leo. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
Meanwhile for some Malaysians, they just wanted to enjoy a feast complete with roast turkey for the sheer fun of it.
Among them was Goh Inn Lynn, 35, and her family members and friends, who shared a meal together on Christmas Eve.
“There are 20 of us here including my mother, brother, sister, our children, our in-laws and a few friends.
“It is a tradition for us to dress up in festive attire and have Christmas Eve dinner together.
“We may not be Christians but the idea of being together during this festive time is important,” said Goh when met at a hotel here, where she and her family enjoyed a buffet dinner.
She said that her family has been following this Christmas Eve tradition for the past 15 years.
“We also wanted a place with turkey on the menu as it is our ‘Christmas’ tradition to have turkey.
“It is also my mother’s favourite and a must-have during the festive gathering,” she said, adding the celebrations do not end with Christmas as the family will be celebrating New Year together as well.
“We will meet up at a hotel by the beach, stay over and usher in 2025,” she shared.
