This are photos from last year's CNY celebrations.

Here are the things I really like about Chinese New Year:

1) I'm forever a kid back at the kampong. No one treats me like I'm over 20 at all, and I get to play tag with the children as if I were 12 again.
2) The angpaus! I've got 13 aunties and uncles on my Mum's side. It's going to be a hoot!
3) The food… Kota Bahru has the best Thai food selection in Malaysia, ever! Plus the nasi kukus, nasi dagang, nasi kerabu and laksam are cheap and authentic. And my aunt cooks the best chilli crabs ever! My other aunt makes gorgeous tangkuey chicken and my mom makes the best stewed pork trotter in the world.
4) The fireworks and firecrackers… he he he… my grandmother's house is so far away from town and most houses, we won't really disturb anyone when we let them off.
5) The gambling. Wahahaha…. really, really can't wait. *Crosses fingers and hopes that I've got good money luck this year.*
6) I don't have to work… it's an entire week off. I work in Selangor so I need to take Thursday and Friday off to make the break last 10, stressless days. Wilayah people have it even better, Friday's the only day they've to work next week.
7) My cousins… my youngest cousin will be five this year and he is SOOOOOO CUTE (see photo above). Can't wait to pinch his cheeks…
8) The lion dances… my eldest auntie has a big-ass CNY open house on Day 1 every single year. And they get the local lion dance troupe to head over to add to the festivities. Later in a day usually the lion dance troupe will head to my granny's house. NOTHING like having a lion in your own house, I tell you.
9) Finally, I take a week-long sabbatical from Eric the crab-slayer (but next year he's coming with me to KB too), and more importantly, I get to stop blogging for an entire week!

GONG XI FA CAI!! Blessings of prosperity to everyone! Have fun!