Crew Blog

Chinese New Year celebrations

08 February 2008

We have been beating upwind up the South China Sea for the past nine days. It certainly felt longer than that as the effect of being heeled over took its toll on us. Despite the tough conditions, morale is still high onboard, especially for the Singaporean crew, as Chinese New Year (CNY) is only 2 days away!

The non-Mandarin speaking crews are busy learning the various Chinese New Year Greetings like Gong Xi Fa Cai (Prosperity), Xin Nian Kuai Le (Happy New Year) etc, to be used during the big day itself. Food wise, we will have some delicacy planned for the day itself, I shall leave it to the mother of the days to reveal the menu as they come.

As part of the Chinese New Year traditions, the juniors will stay up late on the CNY eve for ‘longevity watch’ for their elders, we will definitely be doing that given the odd hours that we keep onboard!

Also, red packets (ang pow) are given from the married ones to the juniors as a blessing. We are definitely expecting some from the married ones onboard! For myself, I was quite touched that my mum actually bothered to prepare an ang pow for me before we set off from Singapore.

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

(P.S. Still enjoying my journey…)

Koh Kok Siong

P/S:  I had ‘Bounty’ candy bar for snack and I thought of both of you, Callum and Callia.  Be good ya.  Hugs and kisses from Ee Ee always…