Deeparaya

~*~*~*Deeparaya*~*~*~

Damn glad that it's the festive season again =)

Thanks to the combination of both Deepavali and Hari Raya Aidilfitri that I'm having like a 5-day break! woohooOoo~

Was walking around Subang Parade (after gym) and chanced upon this raya bazaar. It's the perfect time to shop for Baju Kurung/Kebaya. I am actually quite fond of baju kebaya, especially the modern nyonya kebaya. It's so ever feminine and sexy.

Love these raya goodies!! So pretty looking sommore, cone-shaped, heart-shaped..who can resist? Not me!

However, it'll be another 39 years or so (i heard) till the next Deepavali and Hari Raya will coincide. Therefore, must really savour this long break.

Am just gonna chill, chill and chill at home. Though mum and dad have gone on a long cruise along East Coast. Good for them.

Here's wishing all my Hindu and Muslim frens a very Happy Deepavali and Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri. To the rest, enjoy the long hols.

Mid Autumn festival

~*~*Mid Autumn Festival*~*~

Been wanting to post this entry earlier, but since Sweetie passed away, i didnt feel it was appropriate to do so at the time.

I feel funny coming to work, and not being able to go check on Sweetie.

I hope she rests in peace in kitty heaven. I pray that her mum is alright and well too.

Yes, i know it's time to move on... I'm slowly getting used to the fact that she's no longer here.

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Moving on...I'm gonna post this entry to liven my mood up a little.

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Friday - 06102006 - in celebration of the 15th day of the 8th month of the year 2006 (lunar calendar)

Top left: Me getting ready to go to grandma's house to celebrate mid autumn festival. I was really excited, i even bought a tanglung (lantern) from a nearby grocery store at work.

Top right: Me and sis (Caryn) lighting our lanterns. It's so cool to relive our childhood!

My dad was such a good sport. He helped us to hang the lanterns by the a/c unit. How cool's that?! =)

Dad, me and sis (Claudine) with the colourful tanglungs.

My dad and mum. Aren't they loving?

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I'm a lil disappointed with the handiwork of the tanglungs nowadays. I remember back when i was a little girl, i used to admire the floral designs drawn on the lanterns. The details from this batch of lanterns were very lousy and so barely visible that you'll have to use a magnifying glass to see what was being scrawled on the lantern. tsk tsk..

One for the family.

One big happy family :)

I cherish this picture very much.

I realise that as I'm getting older, the ppl around me are getting older too (duh). I used to think that my parents nor my grandparents never aged. But everytime i look at their pictures, i see their hair getting a little more gray.

Papa and Gong-gong. The 2 most influential men in my life.

Lil cousin, sis and Poh-poh.

This is my fave part – lighting up candles and lanterns. There is no age discrimination whatsoever. =)

Meimei doin the “superman” pose. Ah boy was too shy to pose together eventhough the superman lantern actually belongs to him.

I dun remember seeing these kinda lanterns when I was a kid. Powerpuff girl? Superman? Cute character from Professor IQ?

Grandma worships the lady on the moon with these paraphernalia : mooncakes, pomelo, mini yam, fruits, Chinese tea, candles & joss sticks .

Was kinda disappointed as the moon wasn't visible at all that night. This is the night when the moon is supposed to be at its fullest and brightest. Thanks to the haze, there was no moon.

Moon cake craze...

~*~*Moon cake craze*~*~

It's all about the packaging these days, isn't it?

I remember most vividly that mooncakes back then usually came packed in red boxes, with a picture of two mooncakes, a moon, and some Chinese characters greeting the occasion.

This is about as traditional a packaging as you can get in the market nowadays. With the quest for all things cute/creative/classy to suit different people with different needs, there is a strong demand for packaging with a difference.

And I was exposed to these kind of lanterns when i was a kid

Now we have these kinda lanterns...

Powerpuff girl? Superman? ?? I remember we only had a choice of different type of animals to choose from (fish, rabbit, dragon, squirrel, etc). Now, kids can choose their fave cartoon characters as lanterns.

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Look around you, everything is so bloody commercialised...

Now almost every single bakery or self-deserving Chinese restaurant sells mooncakes or produce their own in-house mooncake for sale.

Just look at all these available mooncakes for sale…it’s absolutely crazy out there!!

Traditionally, only Chinese restaurants sell mooncakes.

Tai Thong

Hei Yuet Thong

Hei Yuet Thong

Kam Lun Tai

Kam Lun Tai

Now, even the infamous hoteliers sell mooncakes. And they're like so atas..RM20 for a piece of mooncake.

I like mooncakes from Mandarin Oriental, not too sweet. Melts in the mouth too.

Equatorial Hotel

Hilton

This box i damn like.

It's even crazier in HK..i remember seeing hello kitty, little twin star, forever friends mooncakes when i was in Sogo (Causeway bay) few years back...

I LoVE Hello Kitty!!!!

Now you can buy mooncakes from bakeries as well...

Baker's Cottage

King's Confectionary

And i heard that even Bread Story has its own line of mooncakes.

for coffee lovers..

If you don't like the conventional mooncakes out there...try Starbucks' tiramisu mooncake, good stuff!

..i didn’t quite like the greentea mooncake from Starbucks, it didnt taste that authentic.

And for ice-cream lovers...

there's nothing as heavenly as haagen dazs mooncake

Something fancy for the kids?

How about Tare panda mooncakes?

Or jelly mooncakes?You can even order mooncakes online and have it delivered to your loved ones...

There are so many packages to choose from..you can team your mooncakes with roses, lilies, orchids and whatnots, wines and... even a teddy bear!!

hrmm, i think it kinda takes away the fun of mooncake tasting and shopping. I'll still do it the traditional way.


Happy mooncake Mid Autumn festival everyone!