The Malaysian Lunar New Year has a Taiwanese flair, with red lanterns hanging high and a festive atmosphere everywhere.

Looking back to 2009, I returned to my wife’s hometown in Malaysia with her father to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Celebrating the Lunar New Year in Malaysia is very traditional and very lively. The streets and alleys are adorned with lanterns and decorations, every household hangs up lanterns, and even the potted plants at home are decorated with small Lunar New Year ornaments or red paper cuttings. Shops, department stores, radio stations, and TV channels all play festive New Year music. When you hear the joyful New Year tunes and feel the slightly cool spring breeze, you know the Lunar New Year is truly just around the corner.
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Some people invite lion dance troupes to their homes or shops to liven things up, believing the lions will bring good luck and a smooth year ahead. On Malacca’s Cultural Street stage, there is also a series of Lunar New Year performances, and of course, there are dragon and lion dances.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, my wife went to explore the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur.

The interior of the Twin Towers was also decorated with a strong Lunar New Year vibe, with red tassels and lanterns hanging down, looking very grand.

There was also a traditional Chinese orchestra performing in the main hall of the Twin Towers.

These few days in Malaysia were very relaxing—we took my father-in-law to experience the Lunar New Year atmosphere in Malaysia and the enthusiasm of the local Chinese community as they visited relatives and friends to offer New Year greetings. We also flew kites on the beach in Malacca.

The endless sea, the vast blue sky and white clouds—it was so uplifting to the heart.

Visiting Malacca’s ancient city gate during the Lunar New Year felt quite peaceful, as if everyone was busy visiting relatives and friends. In Taiwan, going to tourist spots during the Lunar New Year tends to be more crowded.
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That night, we also encountered a Malay wedding.

A group of dancers, fitting the festive mood, wore the lucky color red for Chinese culture and performed graceful traditional Malay dances.

After watching the Malay dance, we took a boat ride along the nearby Malacca River.

A few days later, we also went to Port Dickson beach, had a picnic under the coconut trees, drank coconut water, and ate coconut flesh—so relaxing.

Cendol ice, which my wife always has to eat when she returns to Malaysia, is a shaved ice dessert made with Malaccan coconut sugar, coconut milk, red beans, and green noodles that resemble glass noodles.

This is the story of Malaccan coconut sugar.

The 10-day Lunar New Year I spent in Malaysia with my father-in-law was the first time I truly immersed myself in the warmth and culture of celebrating the Lunar New Year in Malaysia—it was truly a memorable experience.

My wife shares a very popular Malaysian Lunar New Year song, “MYAstro Monkey King Grand Celebration.” The MyAstro Lunar New Year album has been around for 8 years, and this year’s edition is just as enjoyable and lively.
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Every time I hear Malaysian Lunar New Year music, images of my distant hometown’s festive scenes come to mind—a traditional Lunar New Year full of warm human connections; tables laden with sweet New Year pastries; dressing in bright red and gold to visit every household; greeting everyone with “Kung Hei Fat Choi” and “Happy New Year!” It’s all so nostalgic.