Writing At Eagles International

Me.

Saturdays are days of rest and reflections.

But yesterday I decided that I want to visit the golden triangle of Malaysia via the LRT. It is always the case . You learn best out of necessity and out of the comfort zone. With the availability of a car and a set of lazy bones, there is hardly anything else you need to do except driving to designated destinations.

In London, Seoul and even Taipei, dad and I used to commute via these links but back home when I asked if he could accompany on the ride, he shook his head and asked "what for"?

Shopping la. What else.

The decision was final.

I would go on the transit alone with the help of maps and people.

The map that was so helpful.

The ride started from the USJ 7 station and lady luck was with me as I met a lovely university student who told me that she was going to Bukit Bintang but there was a need to hit KL Sentral for another mode; this time to catch the monorail which will connect us to the heart of the city. With someone guiding you, the mission is never impossible.

Believe it or not but truly this was my maiden visit to the hub. I was very impressed by the hustle and bustle and Malaysia does not look as though she was in any form of financial crisis as the transactions and the throng was huge. How did the Ringgit slide against the US dollar? When you are at KL Sentral, Malaysia is likened to a developed nation just as when you are at TBS.

Alighting from Bukit Bintang, I found myself at Sungei Wang Plaza.

We all know the LUnar Year Celebration is just around the corner.

Every mall has different themes to highlight the event.

Sungei Wang like previous years was moderate and the centre stage is again adorned with lanterns, coloured papers and sayings of luck, prosperity and health. Shopping at the place was not attractive enough for me as there was a clash in taste.

I witnessed a display of ornaments; rings, necklaces, pendants which had the image of the rooster as 2017 is the year of the rooster.

The ornaments are of different status; some are genuine while others are fake.

Can you tell the difference or does the person who wear them make the difference? Silver and gold which signify wealth but all will have no meaning at the end of life. So, fake ones will do the trick too.

When I became bored with the place, it was my aim to visit the next spot.

I walked and walked; but no big deal.

Berjaya Times Square was around the corner.

I believe the goods would be similar to those at Sungai Wang but I just wanted to feel the mood there.

Berjaya has a more elaborate outlook for the rooster year.

Spring. a new beginning and luck attached to the wall of the building.

The Chinese has this belief that the Red colour will denote good things and drives out evil.

Now you know why Air Asia has all in the colour. Clever boss.

The sedan is for the atas and privileged ones. The wooden carriage is used during weddings, when the boss goes to town and when the judge transits from one point to another. For the peasants, a ride on it is the ultimate experience.

In the kitchen, it must be full to the brim with rice, wine and ducks are a common bird during the festival. I must also remember to go to the local mall to get rice and other essentials to start the year good as all believe. They are just symbols; real blessings are from the grace of God. The cultural practice add fun and a good mood to the impending festival.

The Chinese character attached to the sack is "full". Rice pots and sacks must be full so that the year will promise a pocket full of money.

Did I buy anything here? Nothing.

So, to Lot 10 and Isetan; but was in for some surprises.

The golden arrows invite you down to a food court called Hutong.

The food court boasts of some of the best local cuisines ranging from teochew porridge to char koey teow and hokkien noodles. Apparently the recipes have been passed down from generation to generation.

It has been quite a while but I can feel the difference in price for the goods.

Nothing seems to be below RM10.50. It is surely pricey.

No major reason for a revisit; unless to show foreign friends.

But the cultural outlook is thick and nostalgic.

Perhaps the best surprise was to find the boss taking a concerted effort to spread the Word through prints. The booklets are left on counters and to be taken home by anyone. He remembers his Abba in Heaven and is grateful for the abundance in his life. I love this gesture of his.

"I will give you praise, for I am strangely and delicately formed; your works are great wonders and of this my soul is fully conscious." Psalms 139 :14.

That is gratitude.

After a bowl of fish ball soup, I went up for Isetan shopping.

But it was a rude shock.

It is now known as the Japan Store; no more Isetan. No more clothes to buy.

I asked what had happened. The sales personnel told me there was a change in concept and that the old Isetan can now be found in a few places like KLCC.

At Lot 10, there was not much of my taste after Isetan is gone.

H & M is for the young and trendy.

So, I left the building to discover Pavillion Elite which is a covered walkway which will lead me to Pavillion; a new discovery for me. No need for umbrellas as it was cool and comfortable; excellent.

The golden rooster says it all.

Pavillion is always so elaborate and purposeful in all seasons.

Throngs of visitors and locals buying like nobody's business.

At Parkson, there were many choices but you need to look for clothes that can agree with the inches of your body. So, the difficult me found nothing except a 'flower blossom' top. Well, at least the hours of shopping ended with a top.

The lantern and the Chinese character again depicts luck.

Of course the beautiful red golden cheongsam is lovely; but who wants to look like a bride?

It was 4.55pm. Sara told me to use another long walkway to go to KLCC via Pavillion.

This covered stretch reminded me of Bangkok when we used such walkways connecting major malls there. I like it. It makes me feel KL is in with the world.

There is so much potential here.

Very soon I reached the entrance to KLCC and I walked again to Suria KLCC.
All along there were reminders of thinking big and be in sync with development.

At KLCC the main theme was the family. Everyone meets during the eve of the season. Here, I recall my own plight. When you are blessed with daughters, the downside is that they are not with you during the eve.

Who created this idea?

The Chinese and their cultural practices.

So what if it is a daughter? Do you not provide them as much? Do you not give them the education that they need? Do you not look after them well?

Why do Chinese families need to make it a point that daughters in law must leave their maternal homes for paternal ones?

How about taking turns?

It is a practice that needs a revisit.