Maverick's New Year's Eve

While we step into a new year, this Maverick has a new experience and learning to share.

So this time, having spent the New Year’s Eve in a new city and a new country, there were loads of new things to observe and talk about.

Countdown to the New Year 2012

While the way we celebrate New Year’s Eve in India and the way its celebrated here in Malaysia are stark contrasts.  Even though culturally both the Indian and Malay societies are family oriented, I believe the youth behaviour is a lot different. On the last day of the year for almost 28 year’s either I have celebrated the New Year with parents, watching TV or going to some party with them. When I grew young, either went with friends for outings or house parties at some friend’s place. When I talk about my plan’s I almost generalise the pattern of almost eighty per cent of Indian families. Roads are empty, or if there’s crowd, its full of brazen, heavily drunk bunch of men you are always suggested to stay away from. Infact New year’s eve is a celebration of alcohol for many, extra patrolling and check points for the police, and an occasion considered being at home in order to be safe especially for the ladies!

Crowd at Pavillion Mall, Bukit Bintang, KL

Coming back to Malaysia, here the scene is quite different.  For Dec 31^st every year , the Malaysian Government makes special plans for crowds to be gathered ( Though here the focus is tourism to attract Asian and European Tourists) .  The Main down town area from KL City Central to Bukit Bintang, is lit up beautifully and there are different kinds of performances everywhere.  Malaysian Cultural dances, 3D Shows, road shows, evening performances and special theme dinners by most of the hotels here, to celebrate the New Year countdown.

   So while we stepped out to see how Malaysia welcomes New Year, post 9 pm there was only one thing you could see on the roads- CROWD!! It appeared as if the entire   Kualalumpur was on road. Every Mall in the central area had a setup of its own, with a DJ and you could see the crowd going mad over music.

Initially we decided to stay at Pavilion Mall and see how they welcome the New Year, but within an hour we released that it would be impossible for us to stay there as it was a packed house. A mall with close to 500 premium outlets     ! So we moved back to Petronas Twin Towers to see the fireworks at mid night. It was a little better here and we even got a place to sit and wait for the fireworks to happen. Though some basic fireworks, but seeing them with the phenomenally beautiful twin towers, it looked majestic.

Firworks at Petronas Twin Towers

With this, we began our year by experiencing the magnificence of two towers which stand tall, strong and determined and a grand welcome for the year ahead with fireworks adding a testimony to the gleaming mega structures.

                                    While on our way back, I realised that it was a beautiful way to welcome the New Year 2012.We sometimes get so lost in our daily quest’s that as individual’s we stop looking beyond the obvious , do not  stretch and do things differently. May be next time around when I am in Mumbai on New Year’s Eve, Juhu beach or the Queen’s Necklace would be a good idea with family.

Wishing a Healthy, happy and prosperous New Year 2012

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Selling tips and a Rambutan Convert!

Quite near to where I stay, there is a lane full of food hawkers selling local Malay and Tamil delicacies. Both my fruit and vegetable vendor’s also have their vans here.

The fruit vendor is a Chinese Malay whereas the Vegetable vendor is a Tamil Malay. Only the Chinese guy understands bit of English but the Tamil guy has to make serious effort to even tell me the price of vegetables in Ringgit’s. It’s an interesting contrast to make, how both these guys sell their products. Whenever I pass through the Chinese guy and ask him the price of a new and interesting fruit, he will tell me the price and immediately give me the fruit to taste! The first fruit I tasted is the Rambutan, a close cousin of our very own Lychee and it was amazing to taste

At the same time, whenever I go to the Tamil guy, it’s a tussle to figure out prices for the veggies which I am aware of. Most of the times, we end up calling someone nearby who understands English and then I buy the vegetables!

While the Chinese guy has taken pains to learn very slight English only which can make him sell his fruits, the Tamil guy almost adamant no to use any other language or learn it even at the cost of loosing customers!

So while the Chinese guy has already converted me to a Rambutan lover, here’s how the fruit looks . It tastes similar to a Lychee and has almost similar nutritional content.