Chinese New Year, also called the Lunar New Year, is set to fall on 12 February this year. It marks the beginning of a new year according to the traditional lunar calendar, and heralds the arrival of spring. Here in Malaysia, Chinese New Year is a pretty big thing, since people of Chinese descent make up more than 20% of the population (about 6 million … Continue reading Celebrating Chinese New Year In The Middle Of A Pandemic
Hey guys! It’s 12/10 and the gov just announced that we’re having another CMCO (for the benefit of my foreign readers, that’s a Conditional Movement Control Order – kinda like a ‘loose’ quarantine but not a total lockdown) in my area: which means no interstate travel allowed, plus restrictions on the operating hours of some businesses, for two weeks. Schools will be closed, as well … Continue reading Mid-October Update
Hey guys! We’ve officially entered the second half of the year. I don’t know about you, but I think the first half of the year was shite. Bushfires in Australia, COVID, social unrest in the States… I wouldn’t be surprised if an alien invasion is next on the agenda lol. Malaysia has not gone unscathed. The economy has taken a hit, businesses have closed and people … Continue reading Cinemas And Spas Are Open Again! Theme Parks to Follow On July 4
Late last year, Malaysia announced this huge Visit Malaysia 2020 campaign, aimed at drawing international and regional tourists to the country. This had to take a backseat due to the coronavirus pandemic, which decimated the tourism industry. Empty hotel rooms and high costs resulted in the closure of several prominent hotels, including Four Points Sandakan, G Tower Kuala Lumpur, Parkroyal KL and Ramada Plaza Melaka. … Continue reading Domestic Travel Is Allowed Again in Malaysia
On May 4, after close to two months under a strict movement control order, the Malaysian government started lifting restrictions, allowing for most businesses to resume their operations –provided they follow strict ‘SOPs’ (standard operating procedures). They’ve also called for people to observe social distancing and practice good hygiene. Some parties (and medical experts) have decried the move as premature, since the number of daily … Continue reading Are Shops Actually Observing SOPs? – An Ordinary Malaysian’s Observations
If you wanted to sweat the deets, then we’re technically still under a movement control order until May 12. But I’m calling it Post-MCO because all businesses (except close contact ones like spas and hair salons) have already been allowed to reopen on May 4. At my workplace, we’re currently doing rotational shifts where we go into the office twice a week on different days. … Continue reading Day 1 Of A New Normal – Returning to Work Post-MCO in Malaysia
Hey, guys! This is going to be a long post. We’re coming to the end of the first quarter of 2020. To say that it has been a shitty year so far (for humanity as a whole) is an understatement, with thousands dying around the world, healthcare services overwhelmed, businesses shuttering and people getting laid off (I talked to a friend in Seattle a couple … Continue reading Covid-19 : The Battle for Malaysia
Hey guys! It’s Day 6 of the Restricted Movement Order in Malaysia. Officially, there are 8 more days to go – but looking at the upward trend of cases, an extension might be imminent. 😦 I know I am luckier than most in that I have enough savings to tide me over should the RMO be prolonged, but there are many out there such as … Continue reading My Mini Library
