Watch colourful kites soar across the sky! The town of Pasir Gudang in Johor will be in the limelight once again as participants from over 25 countries showcase their kite-flying skills.
For more information, please visit: http://www.kitefestpasirgudang.com
1)
Gong Xi Fa Cai, as many mistakenly believe is, not Happy New Year. It means I Wish You Prosperity.
2)
Dumplings are synonymous with prosperity. It is believed that the more you consume the delicacy, the wealthier you would become.
3)
Sweet food items are usually served in a tray consisting of 8 portions. Apart from symbolizing unity and togetherness and unity, the number 8 is traditionally considered a lucky number.
4)
Noodles signify long life. You’re supposed to be consuming them in the length they come. If you cut them to make swallowing manageable, you run the risk of shortening your life.
5)
One should really be quiet and not say anything while making the nian gao, customarily offered to the Kitchen God before his return to Heaven to present his report on each household to the Jade Emperor. A slip of the tongue is not going to put you in the good books of the God.
6)
What are the differences between five-clawed, four-clawed and three-clawed dragons in ancient China? Not all dragons are created equal in ancient China, though the winged creature was an emblem for the Emperor and royals. During the Zhou Dynasty, the five-clawed dragon signified the Son of Heaven (Emperor), the four-clawed were the nobles and three-clawed were represented the ministers.
7)
We mentioned that Westerners portrayed the dragon as an evil beast. Not all Westerners think of dragons as malevolent though.The Scandinavians, for instance, thought highly of dragons. They worshipped and revered the creature which inspired the design of their famed war boats. Of course these vessels bore the names of venerated dragons.
Catch the live action as yachts from various countries contend on the high seas! This prestigious event draws the participation of yachtsmen and sailors from across the region.
For more information, please visit: http://www.langkawiregatta.com
January 21, 2012 at 12:00 pm
There will be a treat for all Tamil music fans come 28th January 2012 at Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac) at Sentul Park. Nakkeeran is a Malaysian singer, song composer and songwriter who currently lives near London. This talented singer has been singing Tamil songs from a very young age. He recently gained fame after his performance in a television talent quest called ‘Vaanavil Paadal Thiran Potti’, organised by Vaanavil channel of ASTRO. He quickly became a household name after reaching the finals in the talent show and is still remembered for his performances by many even today.
Shades of NAKKEERAN Concert will be happening at klpac on 28th January 2012
Nakkeeran released his first single called ‘Thirumanam’ (Wedding) in 2008 and his debut album in 2010 was called ‘Shades of Nakkeeran’. Fans can now catch his famous hits such as Chellame (Dearest), Kanave (Dreams), Elunthidu (Rise Up) and other new songs specially written for this concert. This two hour concert will also include a fan meet and greet session after the concert. Tickets are priced at RM 30 / RM 40 / RM 50. There is also a promotion where for every 5 tickets purchased, one ticket will be free. 50% of the concert’s profits will be offered to two selected Tamil schools that is in dire need of financial assistance. Concert is scheduled at 6.30 pm and will be held at Pentas 1, klpac at Sentul Park. For more information, please call 03 4047 9000 or log on to the website here.
Tags: Concerts and Live Performances, KLPAC, Kuala Lumpur, Nakkeeran, Shades of NAKKEERAN Concert
Here Comes The Dragon!
Enter the Dragon!
Legend has it that the Jade Emperor, the ruler of the heavens, had called for a meeting of the animals. He had ordained that the Zodiac be named after each animal according to the order of their arrival at the meeting.
It seems the dragon came in fifth. Being a fair and wise ruler, the Jade Emperor questioned the dragon as to why it did not come in first, having wings on its back and all. The latecomer explained that it was held back to help bring some rainfall to some farmers. He later saw a rabbit stranded on a log in a river and had aided the poor creature to the shore.
The Jade Emperor was so impressed with the Dragon’s helpfulness that His Majesty included it into the Zodiac, despite it being the only mythical animal among the lot.
What’s in Store for the Much-Anticipated Dragon Year?
Starting a new business? Embarking on a new career path? Planning to tie the knot or have a baby? If you’re a Chinese, you couldn’t be happier that the Year of the Dragon is just around the corner .
The Dragon Year has always been considered the most auspicious in the Chinese Zodiac and indeed, the 2012 Chinese New Year looks set to provide us a fair share of excitement, prosperity and meaningful events!
Joey Yap, founder of the Joey Yap Consulting Group, author of over 80 books on Feng Shui and face reading, calls 2012 as `a year of changes’. As 2012 is the Year of Water Dragon, it will bring much cleansing and clarification, as water refreshes and nourishes all negative elements.
He added that the Dragon Year also brings growth and renewal. Bickering people will tired of arguing and quarrelling – they would resort to finding solutions and answers to their problems.
Feng Shui expert, Lillian Too, along with her daughter, Jennifer Too, call 2012 a `transformative year’, a harbinger of good luck and prosperity.
The Stuff Dragon People are Made Of
Westerners perceive the dragon as a fire-breathing, man-eating, evil beast and malicious ‘lizard’, with depictions of its viciousness in folklores and movies like “Dragonheart” and “Reign of Fire”. Even the Disney cartoon, “Sleeping Beauty”, portrays the creature as malevolent, with the nasty Queen turning herself into a dragon to kill the Prince!
So, do people born in the Dragon Year exhibit the so-called villainous character of the dragon? They don’t seem to.
The Chinese regard the dragon as a symbol of generosity, auspiciousness, prosperity, not to mention regal and imperial authority. So much so only Emperors were allowed to sport the dragon symbol in their regalia.
A wise guardian, protector of the weak and a symbol of happiness and joy, the mystical dragon is held in high esteem by the Chinese, and like the creature, the people born under this Chinese Zodiac Sign display a great amount of generosity, compassion and other exemplary qualities.
These extroverts enjoy outdoor activities and are essentially thrill-seekers. Being highly imaginative and rather dominant, they make good engineers, architects, philosophers and lawyers.
Dragon People, however, possess a short temper and are prone to emotional eruptions.
Famous Dragon People include Courtney Cox, Sandra Bullock, Reese Witherspoon, Isabella Rossellini, Shirley Temple, Ringo Starr, Pearl Buck, George Bernard Shaw and John Lennon, among others.
