Hanging AngPow at Hotel Lobby

For Chinese people, the Lunar New Year that falls on Jan26 will be a great occassion to reflect on what they have achieved in the past year as well as to make a wish for the year to come.

As for all who work away from home, reunion with loved ones in the Lunar New Year holiday is the best, or one of the best, remunerations for all the hardships that have been endured during the year. Bringing money and gifts home to aged parents and young children is the greatest joy after year’s hardwork. These are the values of Chinese culture that have remained for thousands of years.

For me, who is now working on a dredging project, this year is an exception. Neither family gathering nor lavish reunion dinner, here am I in a Muslim dominated country - Indonesia. Red packets (angpow) collecting sessions, waking up fresh with new red clothes, visiting around with friends are replaced by a word that no one will like it (W-O-R-K).

Barongsai - Lion Dance

Disappointment increased when the festive occasion will be celebrated as a low-key event in a world where Chinese is minority. Before the reform era, Imlek (Chinese) related celebrations were shunned by the New Order government. At least now, it’s good to see people openly celebrating Imlek. However, it is a different story in Aceh - the only province in the country that has adopted Islamic sharia law. Chinese have to abide by all existing regulations in Aceh. Many Chinese are fearful of publicly performing the world-reowned lion dance, known as Barongsai, wary of riling followers of other religions.

It was Jan25, a day that every Chinese longed for. My grumbling stomach reminded me, it’s time for the big feast. This time no expensive abalone soup, auspicious fatt choi or delicious home-cooked mun cabbage, instead, I had a quite sumptuous feast with my colleague at an Indonesian-Chinese restaurant (halal). I had no complains… at least we had a reunion lunch as scheduled.

Me and the so called Reunion Lunch

I wondered since when the BBQ tradition started in my life. The BBQ dinner haunted me twice in a row this year. First, the New Year celebration in Singapore and now Chinese New Year in Banjarmasin. Our celebration continued with an early simple BBQ dinner with guys from work.

A bbq dinner by Penkonindo guys for Penkonindo guys.

After the fun messing around with our food, we then rushed back for a Lion Dance performance scheduled at the hotel lobby. The funny word “Barongsai” which means Lion Dance in Indonesian was introduced. The ceremonial drumming added some spices and create the exotic, authentic atmosphere for the auspicious celebration. As the drum goes on, I whispered to myself, “At least, I had something different this year! I’ve never watched Lion Dance performance during Lunar’s eve.” Hours of walking, sniffing, acting curious and pawing on the ground, the Barongsai ended. As usual I’ve filled up my memory card with all the interesting shots.

Greetings from the lions on CNY Eve at Swissbel Hotel Lobby, Banjarmasin Indonesia.

Nope, it’s not the end of our day. We ended up at the hotel lounge singing in public. Being forced by my half-drunked colleague, I was asked to sing with the contract singer. First, the popular Indonesian song by ST12 named PUSPA (Putuskan Saja Pacarmu), then touching love song “Terima Kasih Cinta” by Afghan and lastly, the duet of oldies “Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You”. I was a bit nervous during the first song, but then confidence was gained when fun rolls in.

Singing 3 songs in a row after the Lion Dance.

Cheers and claps from colleagues, guests and hotel staff made my day. The supposed to be an unexciting day became an extraordinary experience. As the famous Chinese proverb goes, “When you are at home, you depend on your family. When you are out of home, you depends on your friends”. I seconded. Nowadays, hotel is treated as my second home, while hoteliers and colleagues became my family members. On my second thought, I am already back home for Chinese New Year.

CNY Moment with Swissbel Hoteliers

We visited the only temple in Banjarmasin on the next day. Quite surprised to be greeted by some local Chinese who speaks Chinese! Although they are not fluent, I managed to have a good chat and got to know about the best place for non-halal Chinese food and where all the Chinese hang around. According to them, the number of ethnic Chinese here who embrace Buddhism is falling, with many converting to Protestantism and Catholicism.

Banjarmasin Tri Dharma Temple

Tri Dharma Temple at Banjarmasin

No matter if they are Christian or Muslim-Christian, most of them will throng temples to burn incense, and pay respect to their ancestors during the prosperous day. For them, this is not defying their religion but a chance to reflect on life and remember their ancestors. Most of them want their kids to know who their ancestors were and they don’t think praying for their souls and remembering why they are here now makes them less of a Muslim or Christian. I felt proud as the Chinese over here stand as one even they are from various religions.