February in Sabah

February
By AV Latinggam

February is almost over. It seems not so long ago that we were going all nostalgic about the year end. Singing Auld Lang Syne to the old year and saying 'Say hey Hello' to January.

Cakes for Valentine's Day at Sabah Oriental Hotel KK Sabah

February, lets see what happened then, besides Chinese New Year. Well there was Valentines Day. There are some interesting stories as who Valentine was, and it just does not seem to tally with the Day of Love so to say. In one story he was a canonised priest who died for his belief in a Leper Colony, and according to Wikipedia..."he was a Roman priest martyred during the reign of Claudius II, known as Claudius Gothicus. He was arrested and imprisoned upon being caught marrying Christian couples and otherwise aiding Christians who were at the time being persecuted by Claudius in Rome. Helping Christians at this time was considered a crime. Claudius took a liking to this prisoner – until Valentinus tried to convert the Emperor – whereupon this priest was condemned to death. He was beaten with clubs and stones; when that failed to kill him, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate." 

So there you go.
In Sabah however not everybody give that a thought, all they do was celebrate it together with their loved ones. Its like everybody got a Valentine wish or card from their children, parents, friends, boyfriends, spouse. They went out for family reunions. They reaffirmed their love and affection to one another. If Cupid was real, he would be one glum angel perched somewhere. On Feb 14, here in this little city North of Borneo Island, hotels. restaurants and eateries, homes and coffee shops were filled with well wishers, sms flew back and forth: hallmark wept and florists sighed.  
Hah, I suppose not really, but it was a far cry from old days when flowers and cards were sent to each other and one another by revelers.

Chinese New Year

CNY Celebrations ala Sabah
By AV Latinggam

Chinese New Year celebrations in North Borneo may be a little odd to some, but to us here its very much part of the culture. This is because the Chinese have been here in this part of the world for a long time and we have celebrated this event with them for as long.
We, the Dusunic-Murutic tribe here are also believed to be descended from China, notably from Alishan Taiwan. We have almost the same costume, and cultural norms. http://www.dmtip.gov.tw
Anyway, even if we don't actually come from that neck of the woods, we do enjoy the occasion like anybody else. As I write I can hear the cymbals in the distance.
HEL who happened to celebrate the occasion in Sydney (Yes, Australia...) says it  rained during the first day of CNY there...his parade got rained on so to say.
But here, the sparklers were everywhere, the Lions danced, the unicorn pranced and the Dragon soared! This year starting from February 10, 2013 is the year of the Snake and will end on January 30, 2014.Meanwhile,  the Lantern festival will end the Chinese New Year season. Cities with Chinese celebrants will usually have spectacular lantern displays. Favourite food during Chap Goh Meh or the 15 days after the first day of CNY, are sticky rice dumplings with sweet or savory fillings.

A Snowy Lion eating Mandarin Oranges

The Dragon soars at the Sabah Oriental Hotel

A golden lion contemplating at the altar