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Chinese New Year is not complete without the lion dance. It is significant to good luck and prosperity in our coming lives besides usher the jolly times of Chinese New Year. Lion dance is usually performed by 2 dancers. These are pictures of the recent lion dances I watched at Palm Sqare, KK and in my campus in Universiti Malaysia Sabah...This part shows the lion dance performed at the campus' cafe in conjunction of Pesta Ang Pau which will be held this week in UMS.

Men’s circuit in tennis has been a debut especially when it came into Grand Slam events. It was the Serbian Novak Djokovic who ended the fairytale run by Frenchmen Jo-Wilfred Tsonga in the 2008 Australian Open men’s final. It seems Djokovic who was also nicknamed Nole, was very fit to win the title. The 2 time defending champion of the Swiss masterclass, Roger Federer somehow ended his reign in the semifinal against Djokovic, lost to the Serb 5-7, 3-6, 6-7(5-7). The Swiss explained that the lost in the most important Grand Slam tournament was due to the glandular fever he caught before the event. It was a miserable starting of his career in 2008 and continues when he failed to overcome the current world number 1, Spainard Rafael Nadal in Roland Garros and the Wimbledon. Somehow, he managed to win 3 ATP titles (Estoril, Halle, and Basel), the US Open and Beijing Olympics (gold, doubles w/Stainslas Wawrinka).

What about Nadal? In last year’s action in Australian Open, he lost to the unseeded Tsonga in straight sets 2-6, 3-6, 2-6, also in semifinal. This might be his challenge for a new world number 1, to win his first Australian Open title. He also need to defend his top ranking as it might be Roger Federer to dethrone him by the end of 2009, according to a poll made by the ATP website.

The Lunar celebration of the year 2009 is around the corner. The Chinese community have observed this event as the most important as it shows the beginning of the new season of the year. What makes me take notice most as the Chinese New Year is coming is the preparation made to usher the coming celebration. Recently, I have been walking around Kota Kinabalu city and I noticed some decorations such as the red lantern or ‘tanglung’ have been put up. Shops also take the opportunity to sell ornaments relating to the festival. But since it was still around three weeks time to celebrate the Chinese New Year, there were only few decorations around the city. Perhaps it is too early, or else the spirit to bring life to the coming festival is not so obvious. Unlike in my hometown in Kuching, Sarawak, lots of Chinese New Year decorations can be seen everywhere around the city even before Christmas! Anyway, here are some pictures taken around Kota Kinabalu city and 1Borneo Hypermall, on how communities around here prepare the coming of the Chinese New Year…

'Tanglung's in Kota Kinabalu Streets

Apart of decorations being sold at Centre Point KK

Warisan Square's 'tanglung'

Actually, some of the things exhibited in this picture is on sale!

A very huge artificial gold coin with the 1Borneo Hypermall icon.

Flowers exhibited at 1Borneo Hypermall. Note the artificial gold coins on the ceiling of the mall.

1Borneo's North Atrium also being decorated with 'tanglungs' and artificial coins.

Polo boutique with its red products displayed.

No 'tanglung' anyway, but a boutique's own way....quite unique

Gaza Strip have been in a chaotic situation recently. A devastating beginning of the new year 2009. The Gaza Holocaust, a massacre between the two popular Israel and Palestine is seen as the world's most condemned siege and a very concerned situation. People around the globe would have been hoping for a peaceful resolution in the region achieved in the beginning of 2009. Unfortunately......

All of us have the right to support the cease-fire. We should not be people who looks out others' mistakes instantly, we should look them as a cause to solve a problem. But it is most important that let it be all of us who supports humanity and promote peace in the world be the instruments to change minds of those who are responsible to this holocaust....and let there be love among every humankind, each of us.

Worst flood ever in south Sarawak happened recently..according to The Star, rainfall in Kuching is expected to touch 299mm. At the peak in 2004, the rainfall measured 205mm. It was the highest measurement recorded until it exceeds due to the recent flood. Kpg Suba Buan in Bau has been the worst area affected by the flood. Landslides also occur in certain areas like Jalan Kuching-Sri Aman, Jalan Kuching-Serian and Jalan Bau-Serikin near to west Kalimantan border, leaving the main roads blocked. Air traffic also affected doe to heavy rain where two Malaysia Airlines flights, one each from Kuching and Kuala Lumpur, to Sibu were diverted due to the rains.