Dragons Descend Into Kuala Lumpur

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s the year of the dragon and shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia have gone all out in getting ready to usher in a memorable Chinese New Year.

 

Not to be outdone, Kuala Lumpur International Airport are welcoming the lunar new year with a giant golden dragon sculpture. 

 

Standing tall at 12 feet in height and 25 feet in length, the hand-crafted model made of polystyrene and painted in dazzling gold is the crown jewel of KLIA’s Chinese New Year campaign themed Celestial Splendour at Terminal 1 this year.

 

The dragon which symbolises power, tradition and imperial grandeur is also accompanied by a majestic dragon throne centrepiece, taking passengers back to the glorious days of ‘Old China’.

 

The whole "Coming collapse of China" thing is a boring Western propaganda that keeps repeating and repeating and repeating. Somebody, anybody, please tell Uncle Sam, it is a futile pursuit!

 

Whether the US likes it or not, China remains the engine of growth for the global economy.

 

In Malaysia's case, we must recognise that our trade with China is already substantial, comprising over $200 billion and constituting 20% of China's total trade with ASEAN.

 

As the trade volume between China and ASEAN is projected to surpass $1 trillion this year, Malaysia could be in an advantageous position and benefit.

Missing Appendage

A dragon penis is missing on the Welsh flag. And Rhŷn Williams has started an online petition to demand its inclusion! 

Y Ddraig Goch, or the red dragon, is the official heraldic symbol of Wales, whose visage has served as a formal symbol of the nation since around 1800. 

In 2016, the UK Royal Mint added the dragon's dong to the £20 coin – which is why some Welsh want it added to the flag as well. One might say that penile precedent has already been laid bare. 

According to that British bastion of rigorous journalism known as the Daily Mail, Williams also added the following commentary in a Facebook comment: “Who the hell knows why the poor sod was turned into an eunuch, it could be down to obscenity, it could be down to forgetting to include it, or it could be down to politics, where those responsible for producing the flags removed it to symbolise Wales' role within the British kingdom. 

This confusion has bewildered many artists, poets, songwriters and authors alike for centuries by mistaking his sex. But what we do know is that the penis is still being added via royal imagery so this should convince the Welsh government to add a penis to our flag”. 

I'm not Welsh and I’ll admit, I don’t have a clue about the mythology of Y Ddraig Goch nor do I know anything about Welsh nationalism. So I can't speak to the symbolic political or cultural weight of that mythical creature's penis. 

Still, I say, give the dragon the dick it (he) deserves! Make it (him) complete!  

I just checked and learned that there are now 794 pro-penis signatories, which is enough – the minimum number required to ensure that Y Ddraig Goch's dong will at the very least be discussed by the Petitions Committee is 51 signatures – but for it to be considered for formal debate in the Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament),  it’ll need more than 10,000 signatures. 

So far, it doesn’t seem to have broad support among the Welsh. 

Auspicious Pets

The mythical dragon may not be real but in this Dragon Year, animals “related” to it are enjoying great popularity among pet lovers – they are deemed to be auspicious animals, bringing luck to their owners!

The most common “relations” will be the reptiles such as the Chinese water dragons (Physignathus cocincinus), the bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) and other related species.

Another is the dragon fish or the Asian arowana (genus Scleropages).– already a popular aquarium fish that has seen the “gold”-colored ones being completely sold out in the pet market in China by the time Lunar New Year visited us. A Sunday Star (January 29, 2012, DOTS, p 11) report that I read talked about a silver arowana about 20 cm long being sold for around 100 yuan (RM50), while a golden fish about the same size commanded about 4,000 yuan (RM2,000).

The dragon prawn has also joined the aquarium, as a pet rather than food. The prawns are about 3 cm to 4 cm long, come in red, blue or white, and sell for 15 yuan (RM7.50) each. [This is not to be confused with lobsters, which in Mandarin Chinese is "Long-xia" which translates as “dragon prawn”]. Despite my best efforts, I cannot find out more about these sea animals.

And the chinchilla, a rodent known as the “dragon cat” in Mandarin (“long mao”) is in demand too. A news report I checked, i.e. Jakarta Globe – put their price tag at between 700 and 3,000 Singapore dollars each.

So, don’t be surprised if there are people who do go out and get any one of the above as pets – just so they have luck!

"Forever" Dragon

Even the US is getting into the act. The US Postal Service issued the "Forever" Dragon stamp on Monday to celebrate the Lunar New Year. And it was not a limited edition – unlike in Malaysia! Yet much like elsewhere, it was very well-received because according to one report (webpage http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-01/24/c_131374615.htm) that I came across, the stamps were snapped up just as quickly. “The dragon stamps go fast," said an employee at a post office in the city of Sugar Land, Texas. “The office opened at 9:00 AM on Monday, and at about 10:00 AM, only two sheets of the dragon stamp were left”, the same employee added.

The dragon is really swoon-worthy!

Liverpool with a slim one-goal advantage had to fight hard to match Manchester City in this Carling Cup semi-final game. The latter took the lead twice to revive their hopes of joining Cardiff City in the final – their goals coming from Nigel De Jong (31) and Edin Dzeko (67).

Liverpool, however, were equally determined not to let the prize slip from their grasp, responding with spirit to earn the aggregate 3-2 victory that their performance on the night deserved. Liverpool’s two goals came from Gerrard’s penalty kick in the 41st minute, followed by Craig Bellamy’s 74th-minute strike.

City’s Micah Richards had blocked Daniel Agger's shot with his foot only for the ball to ricochet up and strike his hand. Referee Phil Dowd pointed to the spot and Gerrard, as he had in the first leg, beat City keeper Joe Hart with power and placement. Liverpool’s second came when Dirk Kuyt worked hard to create an opening and slid a pass to Bellamy who knocked it to Glen Johnson, got the return and shot past Hart.

This victory represents a long-overdue return to Wembley for the seven-times League Cup winners! Let's bring back the Carling Cup before I celebrate...

An Assembly of Dragons

I have more pictures of dragons in Malaysia.

At the Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen temple in Jenjarom, Selangor.

At Sunway Pyramid.

But if you happen to go to the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur – you will get to meet so many dragons. Never have I seen so many assembled in one venue! Here's a sample:

At Center Court.

At Tangs.

At Food Republic, Gourmet Emporium.

At Royal Selangor.

All photos were taken today, i.e. Lunar New Year's Eve.

Luxury Brands Feature Dragons

It's meant to bring riches and power befitting an emperor, but if Western luxury brands have their way the Year of the Dragon will cost their wealthy Chinese customers a fortune instead.

French high-end accessory maker ST Dupont has rolled out limited editions of pens and lighters adorned with gold-plated dragons embellished with 88 diamonds around the dragon’s body and eyes. The price? Between HK$300,100 (RM120,131) and HK$390,700 (RM156,398).

Swiss luxury watchmaker Piaget launched 24 Dragon watches with a price range from HK$193,000 (RM77,258) to HK$16 million (RM6.4 million).

Image credit: http://www.luxuo.com/luxury-phones

Nokia’s luxury brand Vertu is celebrating the Lunar New Year with a luxury dragon-themed mobile phone based on its Signature collection. Each quad-band dragon phone comes in stainless steel with emeralds, black steel with Rubies, or gold with diamonds. The handsets cost about $20,800.

Image: Plush Asia

Italian fashion house Versace's Dragon Year gambit is a specially designed jewel handbag, which comes with a gold handle and traditional golden dragon drawings on a black body. The handbag is also studded with precious stones and each one is engraved with “Year of the Dragon 2012” tags along with a limited edition number. The bag is limited to 210 pieces and sold exclusively in Asia.

The bag is priced at HK$31,800 (RM12,700), while an even more exclusive red python skin version will set you back HK$45,000 (RM18,000). Versace says the product is "testament to the brand's focus on the Asian market".

"The dragon means good fortune, power and success," says Torsten Muller-Otvos, chief executive at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, the German-owned automaker which has launched a line of limited edition "Dragon" Phantoms.


Image credit: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-11/rolls-royce-sells-out-dragon-phantom-in-china.html

The edition, available in two models, features hand-painted golden dragons on the side panels, hand-embroidered dragons on the leather headrests and illuminated door treadplates with the words "Year of the Dragon 2012".

The car, which starts at 7.4 million yuan ($1.2 million) in China, was sold out within eight weeks of its launch in August, and the firm says it is now looking at extending production.

China overtook the United States to become Rolls-Royce's largest market in 2011, with the Chinese market accounting for about one-third of its record 3,538 cars sold worldwide.

Luxury brands are really hoping to reap riches in the Year of the Dragon!

Lunar New Year 2012

Image credit: http://www.zazzle.com/year_of_the_dragon_2012_gold_calligraphy_card-137631536529402082

It is that time of the year again and I wish everybody A Happy & Prosperous Lunar New Year 2012! Indeed, may the Dragon Year bring you good tidings and good fortune!

And I don't think I am wrong in saying that we're all hoping the mightiest sign in the Chinese zodiac will usher in the wealth and power it represents.

Celtic continued their magnificent run when they triumphed over stubborn Paisley outfit St Mirren 2-0. James Forrest's low controlled shot after 70 minutes and Scott Brown's curler in the 88th minute won it for Celtic. This win ensured that they extend their lead at the top of the SPL to five points.

The Dragons Cometh

Not surprisingly, in China, the dragon is everywhere! Particularly when ushering this Lunar New Year:

Image credit: http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/277799/20120106/chinese-new-year-2012-dragon.htm

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In Hong Kong, a Chow Tai Fook jewelery store displays a nine-tael 24K gold in the shape of a dragon forming the numerals “2012” symbolizing the upcoming Year of the Dragon.

Image credit: Carlos Barria/Reuters

In downtown Shanghai, a dragon lantern is seen among other Lunar New Year decorations at Yuyuan Garden.

Image credit: http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/284488/20120119/chinese-new-year-2012-pictures-dragon-photos.htm

In a Guangzhou park in Guangdong province, a dragon decoration is displayed.

Image credit: http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/284488/20120119/chinese-new-year-2012-pictures-dragon-photos.htm

In a Nanjing shopping mall in Jiangsu province,, there is a display of an art piece of a dragon and other Chinese Zodiac figures created by cutting patterns on paper as part of the Lunar New year celebrations.

Image credit: http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/277799/20120106/chinese-new-year-2012-dragon.htm

In Suining, Sichuan province, a dragon-shaped lantern is set up as shown in the above photo taken January 02, 2012.

Even Dubai is not spared of the dragon! I read that there are nearly 200,000 Chinese residents in the UAE, and so the dragon will likewise show itself there too! Burj Al Arab's iconic exterior ‘sail' will be illuminated by a massive red dragon which can be seen from miles away, to welcome the Lunar New Year in grand style!

Image credit: http://gulfnews.com/life-style/general/enter-the-dragon-1.967733

Underwater Dragon Dance

Divers performed a dragon dance at an aquarium during an event to welcome the Year of Dragon in Beijing, China on January 05, 2012: