Chinese Lion Dance Performance

Check out the above Chinese lion dance performance we saw during our recent Malaysia vacation to Cherating during the Spring Festival where the Chinese wish each other 'gong xi fa cai' i.e. blessings and prosperity. The Chinese lion dance is part of the Chinese New Year traditions and heralds in good luck and prosperity.




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Cruise To Nowhere 26th – 28th Feb 2010

SuperStar Virgo

Friday 26th February saw us going on bard the holiday cruise ship SuperStar Virgo for a cruise to nowhere again. With the Lunar New Year dinner especially for invited VIP88 members on the day of embarkation, this was a special Chinese New Year cruise. Although the first day of the Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year fell on 14th February this year, the celebration lasts for 15 days, which is till this Sunday, 28th February. Thus you could spot the gaiety of this casino cruise ship with its Chinese New Year decorations.

Harbour Front Cruise Centre

The meeting point was at Harbour Front Cruise Centre at 1800 hrs. Being a full cruise with more than 2000 passengers, the check-in took quite some time. By the time we cleared through customs and immigration, boarded our holiday cruise ship, it was almost1830 hrs.

Harbour Front

Cruise Centre

Cruising in a wheelchair

We passed by the Reception on Deck 7 and had the welcome drink as well as admired the Chinese New Year decorations of proud dragons and majestic lion adorning the grand staircase.

The Chinese New Year decorations at the Grand Piazza

Posing with the Chinese Lion

More Chinese New Year decorations

Note the Chinese lantern

Since the Lunar New Year celebration dinner for VIP 88 members would only commence at 2000 hrs, we proceeded direct to Blue Lagoon, an Asian Bistro a-la-carte restaurant to have a bite as some members amongst our group of eight were starting to get hunger pangs. Ordering Mother’s favourite fish noodles as well as fried chicken wings and satay (meat on skewers) to be shared amongst the rest of us, we took our time and enjoyed the ‘snack’.

Yummy chicken wings

Satay

Proceeding to Bella Vista at 1920 hrs, we managed to get a table not too far from the stage. It was a lavish 8-course meal with Yu Sheng (raw fish salad) LoHei (tossing) to start.

Bella Vista Restaurant

Bella Vista closed for the Lunar New Year celebration dinner

More wheelchair passengers

Chinese lions as decoration - the type used in Chinese lion dance

Another view of the lions

Chinese dragon

Proceeding to Bella Vista at 1920 hrs, we managed to get a table not too far from the stage. It was a lavish 8-course meal with Yu Sheng (raw fish salad) LoHei (tossing) to start.

Eagerly awaiting dinner

The friendly lion mascot

As with any Chinese New Year traditions, there was the Chinese lion dance to usher in blessings and prosperity especially for the Star Cruise VIP88 members who regularly frequent the casino.

The Chinese lion dance performed by Star Cruise staff

The 2 lions on stage with comediennes Mark Lee and Michelle Tay

The big head doll accompanying the Chinese lion dance

The 8-course menu for the Star VIP 88 Lunar New Year Celebration Dinner was as follows:-

Fatt Choy Salmon YuSheng

Shark’s Fin Soup with Crab Roe and Meat

Braised Sliced Abalone with Sea Moss, Golden Oyster and Green Vegetables

Crisp Fried East Star Garoupa “Hong Kong” Style

Pork Ribs “Imperial Style”

Poached Garden Greens with Preserved Meats

Stewed Ee Fu Noodle in XO Sauce with Pan-fried King Prawn in Mongolian Sauce

Chilled Avocado Cream with Strawberry

Placing the raw fish into the dish of yu sheng (raw fish salad), symbol of prosperity and abundance

Tossing of Yu Sheng It is believed that the higher the toss, the greater the fortune

Mediacorp artistes Mark Lee and Michelle Tay entertained us. Pan Xiu Qiong (veteran singer) and Wen Zhang put in special guest appearances as well. The highlight of the evening, I thought, was the acrobatic duo with super strength and concentration. Pity I did not manage to get good pictures of them at their best!

The acrobatic duo

Powerful!

Mark Lee

Pan Xiu Qiong

Mark Lee & Michelle Tay reading out the names of the lucky draw winners

Wen Zhang

Door gift for each diner

Chocolates

Red packet with toto ticket - a legalized form of lottery sold in Singapore

Dinner was good and we thoroughly enjoyed the Chinese New Year dinner specially prepared for all the Star Cruise VIP 88 members. The ambience was great and the entertainment was awesome. It was a great Spring Festival celebration indeed by Star Cruise.

By the time the Chinese New Year celebration was over, it was already 2230 hrs. As Mother was tired and it was already beyond her bedtime, we settled her into bed before going to the casino and trying our luck at the SGD 2 (USD 1.5) cents jackpot.

Since we had an extremely filling dinner, we did not go for supper and retired for the night soon after.

The Spring Festival or Lunar New Year is celebrated once a year and as such, is a grand affair. Star Cruise line, SuperStar Virgo, being a casino ship, did its best to woo its VIP 88 casino members on this Cruise to Nowhere. I must admit that they were pretty good and the Chinese lion dance performance as well as the special guest artistes were entertaining.



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Malaysia Vacation – Cherating and Rompin Beach Resort Day 5

Another Malaysia beach resort

Time just flies past during this Malaysia vacation in Cherating, Kuantan. With a feeling of sadness, we left The Legend Resort, our resort accommodation for the past 4 nights. Today, we headed to another Malaysia beach resort, Summerset Resort in Rompin, approximately 130 km away. However, before that, we had the good fortune to watch part of the

We were excited to learn about the Chinese lion dance in The Legend Resort from 1000 – 1200 hrs. The lion dance is popular during Chinese New Year to usher in good luck and prosperity especially in the coming new year. However, as we had a business meeting at Summerset Resort at 1400 hrs, it was with disappointment that we had to leave The Legend Resort without watching the main lion dance performance. Although the lion dance started at 1000 hrs, they were led to strategic locations throughout the resort to shower blessings and prosperity.

Mandarin oranges ready for the Chinese lion dance performance at The Legend Resort entrance - part of the Chinese New Year traditions

The lion entering the back office of The Legend Resort

Part of the Chinese Lion Dance troupe

Busy with the music whilst the lion is performing in the back office

One of the lions emerging from the back office

Spot the big head doll with the lion?

Clearer shot of the big head doll

Staff trying to get a good shot of the Chinese Lion Dance

Leaving The Legend Resort soon after 1030 hrs, we arrived at our next beach resort destination The Summerset Resort in Rompin approximately 2 hours later. Upon arrival, we met up with friends of ours who had just arrived at the resort for the 1400 hrs meeting as well.

The souvenir shop in the lobby of The Summerset Resort

Spring Festival decorations

The resort staff had specially prepared lunch for us comprising curry chicken, mixed vegetables, omelette and black pepper prawns. We enjoyed the delicious meal and had an enjoyable time finishing our lunch.

Black pepper prawns

Omelette

Mixed vegetables

Curry chicken

Rice served on banana leaf

Healthy fruits

Great place for lunch - view of the serene gardens

After lunch we headed to our rooms in the South wing. We were fortunate to be roomed in a junior suite. Comprising a bedroom and a living room that can be partitioned off, the room was nice and spacious. The bathroom looks modern with it double glass basins. You have a choice to use the fan or air-conditioner or both if you so desire.

The living room

The bedroom

Bathroom

Relax on the verandah

Our meeting was pushed to 1430 hrs and we met up with Chef Talak, Masitah (F&B), Rahman (Rooms), Rohan (Sales), Mohan (Director of Sales & Marketing) and Yati (secretary to the GM) for our event The Opening, an awakening enlightenment program, also known as a journey of self discovery, to be held in Summerset Resort next month. After the meeting, we did a walk through of the function rooms and activity areas that we were going to use. By the time we were through with our task, it was almost 1700 hrs.

Hurriedly, we changed into our swimwear and met by the pool. We were surprised and disappointed to see the beach almost gone. Serious beach erosion had taken place and the resort had to place sandbags as a breaker. The waves from the South China Sea were very strong and the water appeared brown due to the strong waves stirring up the sand. Ironically Summer Resort has turned into a beach resort with little or no beach left.

We had fun dipping into the pool and even whilst enjoying ourselves, we continued with our discussion of the awakening enlightenment event. As there was a lovely sea breeze, it was quite chilly in the water.

Having fun

Dinner saw us at our favourite fresh seafood restaurant here, Rompin River Seafood, 14 km from Summerset Resort. Next to the Rompin River Seafood is the Rompin River Chalet, also run by James Ooi who can be contacted at 013-7726961 or 019-7479933. Located at Kampung Kelebur, Depan Rumah Murah Sg Puteri, 26800 Kuala Rompin, Pahang Darul Makmur, we enjoyed the sea breeze throughout the 3 hours we were there.

Spring Festival banner

Our favorite fresh seafood restaurant in Rompin

Dinner consisting of marmite baked crab, salted egg crabs, sambal petai (stink bean in chilli), sambal kangkong (water convolvulus in chilli), bean sprout with salted fish and steamed prawns with 11 glasses of drinks between the 5 of us cost RM175 (USD53.25).

The marmite crabs is one of our must-have dishes. The steamed prawns were very fresh and juicy. The flesh of the salted eggs crab somehow tended to stick to the shell making it harder to eat.

Sambal petai

Sambal kang kong

Marmite crabs

Steamed prawns

Beansprouts with salted fish

Salted egg crabs

Some of the thirst quenchers we enjoyed

Complimentary jelly

Our new feline friend

After dinner, we discussed business with the owner, James. As James also runs the New Rompin Travel & Tour Sdn. Bhd., a travel agency, he also provides transport services. As we were assisting with organizing The Opening, the awakening enlightenment event for next month, we needed to make use of his transportation services.

Discussing business with James, centre

Enjoying ourselves

Returning to our beach resort accommodation for the night, we continued with our discussion and only retired for the night close to 0200 hrs.

The second last day of our Malaysia vacation, we were glad that we managed to settle quite a number of issues and concerns for the awakening enlightenment event next month. We had a great time connecting with the resort staff and during this holiday, we also managed to try various kinds of Malaysian food. As always, whenever we are up in Rompin beach resort, we would make our way to the fresh seafood restaurant, Rompin River Seafood and enjoy the seafood selection there.

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