This Hari Raya, there is money inside money. I was at the crowded Bazar Larut Malam Danau Kota this morning when I noticed money flying everywhere.
Money For Sale at 3am
The little green packets for duit raya now come printed as currency notes in various denominations. Just slip some real money into the packets and the recipients will be doubly thrilled, I’m sure. I think it is brilliant but I wonder if Bank Negara approves of the idea though.
Money In Money
Have you noticed the recent Chinese fascination with stainless steel? The shiny metal adorns the front entrance of so many Chinese homes these days.
Shiny Thing
Being practical folks, they are probably attracted to the maintenance-free and longer lasting properties of stainless steel. It is ideal under our weather, especially when used for gates and grills.
So what can you give a Chinese homeowner who has every chrome railing and bannister? No. Not blue roof tiles. That is passe. Get him a set of matching, shiny stainless steel water tanks lah. It must be externally mounted though. 🙂
Spotted: 3-in-1 roof top symbols and obsession. Stainless steel tank with stainless steel fence 🙂
In keeping with the fine tradition of the month-long Hungry Ghosts Festival, the filial believers would send the latest gadgets to relatives residing in the netherworld.
This year they were seen burning paper versions of the new Astro B.Yond HD decoder and iPhone 4. For those of you unfamiliar with the tradition, the Chinese believe they can send gifts to their relatives in hell by burning paper replicas of consumer electronics, home appliances, clothes, cars, houses and other material possessions.
Originally, life was simpler up here and below. The living just send Hell Bank Notes currency (Bank Neraka Legal Tender) and the dead will go shopping themselves. See my photo essay on the Chinese Ghost Month of 2007.
At the ‘Por Tor’ festival in Jalan Pahang the other night, a 1Malaysia effigy and Paul the Octopus were the star attraction. I was told the oracle octopus will be helping the dead relatives predict the outcome of future Premier League games. Sports betting is legal down there.
1Malaysia & Octopaul Going 'Down Under'?
I didn’t stay long enough but I heard the organisers were planning to roast the octopus and toss the 1Malaysia effigy into the bonfire send-off later. Let us all hope there be racial unity in hell now that the concept is being promoted there too 🙂
Moving on, there was a really creative display. Instead of outlandish lifestyle products and the usual meat sacrifices, this family put up a beautiful undersea spread, made entirely from fruits and vegetables. I hope this trend catches on…
Dragonfruit & Chilli Fishes
Durian & Lemon Fishes, Mushroom Sotong & Potato Rocks