I’m getting ready…

Chinese New Year is in the air here in Sibu…

All the decorations are up…

…and they’re playing those festive songs everywhere.

When I was growing up, with Chinese New Year round the corner, my father would take me to the barber for a haircut. He said that it was a Chinese traditional practice to get rid of all the bad luck in the old year and to usher in the good fortune that the new year would bring. I can’t say that I believe in this age-old superstition but to this date, I would make sure that I would get a haircut before the festival comes each year.

That was why I was in the vicinity of this food court that morning…

…and since the salon was very crowded despite my getting there quite early at around 9 something, I went for a stroll around the shops and in the end, I decided to drop by this dim sum stall…

…for a bite. This wasn’t my first time here – I’ve eaten here at least twice before, a long time ago, but because this place is located on the other side of town and not very near where I live, I have not been here since.

I had their fried carrot cake…

…which was all right – nothing to shout about…and their yam puffs…

…weren’t the best that I’ve had. The exterior was very nicely done though – really crusty and crispy but I wished they had placed the puffs on some kitchen towels to drain away the oil first before putting them in those paper cups. The oily base kind of put me off.

I also asked for the steamed buns…

…and I quite enjoyed them…

– also not the best around but they were o.k.

I don’t know if they have any promotional price like at a couple of dim sum places here – you order three for RM11.50 (it used to be RM10.00 only) – I didn’t ask…but upon being served, I asked the young chap how much it was altogether and he promptly replied, “RM12.30!” I gave him RM15.00 and was digging my wallet for 30 sen when he said it was all right and left. I thought he would give me the RM2.70 difference but instead, he paid me back RM3.00. Oh? He decided to just waive the 30 sen, after all – my, my…that certainly was so very sweet of him!

Well, I was glad that I went for something to eat as when I got back to the hair salon, it was even more crowded but I just sat there and waited…and waited…and waited…till they felt bad that I had waited for so long that they decided to give me my haircut first. I think everybody else was there for more than just a haircut and that would take a mighty long time.

It was almost noon already when it was done…but it was all right by me. At my age, I’ve got all the time in the world and believe you me, I am not in any hurry to go anywhere…just yet! Well, for one thing, they were very apologetic and when I wanted to pay for the work done, they asked for the old price – I hear that they’ve increased the prices starting the beginning of this year and normally, they would jack up the prices further specially for Chinese New Year. Sometimes it does pay to be patient and civil or nice, don’t you think? After all, as they say, what goes around comes around.

Well, I’ve got my haircut done – at least, that is already settled. Now, let’s see what else I would need to do to get ready for the Chinese New Year celebration which is just round the corner…at the end of this month.