Mahjong

Mahjong's used to have 4 players but not anymore. Now a day, we normally play with 3 players as 3 players game is shorter compare to 4 players (the game finished faster for every round).

You can loose easily but you can also win easily. How come? Well, initially, when you have a good start like wining a lot but if you continue playing, you may also win back a lot like I played yesterday. I lost about Rm20 - 30 but towards the end, I won RM4 which initially, I won back all my money plus extra about RM20. It also depends on luck too!

Playing mahjong can not only helps to improve calculations and also memories. Is not a joke! You see, in order to win, you have to watch your opponent what types of cards they are keeping & what they have put out (requires memories). You also need to do some calculations using your brain (statistic).

A sets of Mahjong consists of 1-9 numbers x 4 (each must have 4 sets) = 36 pcs. North, South, East & west must also consistes of 4 sets = 16 pcs. Middle (Zhong), Prosperity (Fatt) & White (Pak), another 4 sets = 12pcs. 2 set with 4 different types of flower = 8pcs and 1 set of animals = 4 pcs. 4 heads (jokers) plus 4 "fei" = 8pcs. Total of 84 pcs, Phew! How to remember?

Those who played mahjong can hardly infected by Parkinson's Disease and they have a very good memory eventhough they are old. Like my mom-in-law. She has a very good memory eventhough she is younger than my mom by 2 years whereas my mom is so forgetful. Both of them are over 70 of age.

Chinese New Year - Day 6 & 7

This year day 6 is the best day to reopen after a long holiday. Not only you have to see the day but also the time. Heard from a customer that the best time is 10am plus. She was lucky as her boss as her to come on that time only.

Day 7 is everyone's birthday ("Yan Yat"). This day, we will have fish porridge. Not any fish but have to be snakehead fish/ophiocehalus striatus (good for heal cuts too). During CNY, this fish sells quite expensive as not becuase of the porridge, for "yue sang or lo sang" too.

I'll take a picture of it when I go "Lo Sang" as I only eat sushi king's "yue sang". I'm quite a choosy type person as I don't eat a lots of stuff like the ginger. That is why I prefer Sushi king, with jellyfish, scallop, radish & etc.

Day 8, nothing special except Day 9. Got prayer/worship. Day 10 - 14, also nothing special. Day 15, the last day of CNY is also know as "Chap Goh Mei"

Chinese New Year - Day 3

On the 3 rd of CNY, according to the old saying, it is a bad day for visiting relatives or friends. I'm not sure why but I guess is superstious again.

Anyway, I need to visit a friend tomorrow as we doesn't left with much time. When school starts or when we get back to work, everyone will be busy with their life back.

I've actually forgotten to mention, all foods sold are more expensive then the normal day especially the Chinese restaurant or the hawker foods. Some increment was a shock! It was like robbing in the day light. Still remember one incident where the customer went to the consumer to complain as he & his wife have the beansprout chicken where he normally pays for about RM20-30. During the CNY, he was charge 5 to 6 times higher.

Well, that is al for day 3. Day 4 & 5 nothing special. I'll go for Day 6 & 7 in my next post.

Chinese New Year - Day 2

Second day of CNY after lunch, the lady plus her hubby and children will be visit ("pai lean") the lady's parent ("Leung ka") which is the old Chinese custom. Lucky for me, I can go back to my mom house at anytime as my mom in law is a very modern lady.

By the way, CNY is celebrate for 15 days and within the 15 days, you can't escape for not giving red packets to your relatives, colleagues, friends or anyone who is single. There are so other items required when you go for visiting like the Mandarin/Honey Orange ("kum") which is a must cost "kum" in Cantonese means gold. Of course everyone loves it, right?

There are also decorations like hanging the CNY lamps, plants & etc which are used or sell only during this time of the year. Of course biscuits plus some other type of junk foods will be served which can only get it during the CNY.

Will tell you more later as I need to gather more pictures & also information as I only know the words in Cantonese & I need to find out what it's called in English.

Chinese New Year - Day 1

On the first day of Chinese New Year, lots of people will go for vegetarian. Reason is, they do not want to kill any animals on the first day of Chinese ("Tai Ka Lai See"), I guess.

Early in the morning, we will have to wish our parent with all the good wishes like Wishing you Good Health/Longevity (older generations love this type of wishes), Wishing you Prosperity (which all younger generation loves to hear), Wishing you more & more Prettier & Younger (ladies sure love this) & etc.

Of course Ang Pow (Red Packet) will given by those who are not married. Those who got married can receive red packet too but by their parents as a blessing for health and have a smooth year. For sure those who are over 30 years of age will be question when are you getting married? Hope next year I don't have to give you Red Packet anymore (no wonder I got married so fast after knowing Pat for 6 months?) Hehehe....

Since CNY has started, lion dance begin to start too. You can see houses having lion dance. This is to make your house more "WONG" (prosperity, good business, good health & etc). One performance cost around RM168 (with all the 8 - means "fatt"). Not only that, have to give each person a Red Packet

Chinese New Year - Eve

The first day of Chinese New Year (CNY) falls on the 7 Feb 2008 this year under the lunar calendar. On the eve of CNY, some people will pray or to welcome the Propserity God, whatever you call it (which required a suitable time do held this event).

You can also see all the lights being switched on (make it more brighter) in a house. I guess is most probably that the God of Prosperity can find his way easier. My mom didn't tell me why as I once asked. If someone knows, please send me a comment.

Some were saying on the eve of CNY, get yourself a red under garment in order to have a good year, like more prosperity and lucky. Well, believe it or not, is up to you but I guess I'll try my luck this year and see if it works.

On the eve of CNY, all families must eat a reunion dinner and all the poor youngster are not able to go for any outing or dating. After the dinner, some families do allow their children to go out and some don't as they are required to entertain the rest of the families members (maybe coming back from outstation or overseas). This happened to me & my cousins when we were young. You know, real poor thing as it was so boring!

What else do we do on the eve? Oh, the most important thing! Mob the whole house! Reason is the first day of CNY, we are not allow to sweep or mob the floor (try not too) as the older generation believes that if you sweep, you're sweeping all your luck, prosperity & etc. I know is superstitious but again it depends.

Next, I'll talk about Day 1 of Chinese New Year what to do & what are not allow to do. Added a CNY song to boost up the CNY enviroment.

Gong Xi Fatt Cai

Chinese New Year is just around the corner and I would like to wish my readers "Gong Xi Fa Cai". Well, since my reader is from everywhere around the world, here is your ang pow (red packet) which is the 12 chinese zodiac.

Sorry, can't put in money inside but is the thought that counts, right? Once again, wish everyone Happy New Year and may the rat year brings more prosperity, good health, good promotions and many many more.