Chinese New Year – What’s Your Plans?

837 days ago

Hohoho – Chinese New Year is coming very soon. I am betting everyone is looking forward to the long holidays and a break from work. We have been working very hard...

Hohoho – Chinese New Year is coming very soon. I am betting everyone is looking forward to the long holidays and a break from work. We have been working very hard since New Year (which was like 6 weeks ago) and surely this is a good time for a rest. But the problem as usual is that it is the holidays. Everywhere you go, there will bound be the crowds. Want to go Malaysia? Expect a huge crowd there as well. Airports, the Causeway which links Singapore to Johor, the shopping malls, the bus terminals, the train terminals…..they all will be crowded. If you are like me who hates the crowd, then squeezing through thongs of people isn’t your cup of tea. I know a number of people who actually enjoy crowding with others though. Not sure why. But perhaps they like the atmosphere and the smell of sweaty people. Hey, whatever yanks your chain I guess.

Anyway, for me, I will be staying home. Perhaps go for some slow walks around my neighbourhood. And of course visit some of my friends and relatives. For me, Chinese New Year is basically that. I don’t like going for tours or overseas during the holidays. Why join the crowd right? I just rent a few DVDs and enjoy the movies at home. Or check up with some reading. Or simply relax at home doing absolutely nothing at all! Of course, since the majority of Singaporeans are Chinese, a number of places are closed. But I know that some supermarkets are open even during the holidays. This shows that Singapore does have a huge influx of foreign workers, so they would be able to field enough workers to open their supermarkets. Although a lot of Chinese nationals will be going number, a number would be staying as well. Furthermore, there are a lot of other foreigners who do not celebrate Chinese New Year. This would be a good time for them to make some extra money from working during the holidays.

How about you guys? What would you be doing for the holidays? Since this Chinese New Year falls on Sunday, we get a 4 day long weekend! Long enough to go for a short trip to a nearby tourist resort right? Most people will be going to Malaysia. Some to visit their relatives but mostly to enjoy the sights and the sounds of our northern neighbour. But do note that you will be joining crowds of Singaporeans as well. And it is not like Malaysian businessmen do not know that it is also Chinese New Year down here. They will be charging you an arm and a foot – this is what they call “chop carrot head” in Singapore. If I am not wrong, if you go to Genting Highlands resort, it is 3 times the normal rate for this upcoming holiday season. Why pay so much for the same thing when you can enjoy the resort at a much lower price at other times? I mean just take leave on a normal day and travel without the extra expenses and the crowds. Singapore is crowded. The purpose is to get away from the crowd.  But I guess Singaporeans are so stressed that we try to enjoy ourselves whenever we can. Long weekends are the best time for that! Don’t you just wish that you can leave Singapore and the stressful lifestyle and go somewhere quiet and peaceful without your stupid boss telling you what to do?

Anyway, I hope that whatever your plans are, it would turn out enjoyable. Gong Xi Fa Cai and enjoy the holidays!