I work to travel and when my work allows me to travel I get the best of both worlds! A 2-week workshop in Malaysia equalled experiencing a few more sights that I didn’t see the first time. The highlight was the preparations for Chinese New Year! What a privilege to be in Asia at this time.
Chinese New Year 2026 ~ The Year of the Horse
Chinese New Year was Tuesday, February 17 to Tuesday, March 3. Chinese New Year (CNY), also known as the
Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, is one of Malaysia’s most significant cultural events, reflecting the country’s rich multicultural heritage. It is a national public holiday where families gather for reunion dinners, cities are adorned with red lanterns, and traditional lion and dragon dances fill the streets with energy.
Malaysian Traditions:
- Yee Sang (Prosperity Toss): A vibrant raw fish salad believed to have originated in Malaysia. Families and friends toss the ingredients high in the air while shouting auspicious wishes to welcome good fortune. I did this twice and said Lotto Max both times!
- Open Houses: A uniquely Malaysian concept where families open their homes to friends and neighbors of all races and religions to share festive meals.
- Lion & Dragon Dances: Performers visit homes and businesses to bring luck and ward off evil spirits, accompanied by the loud clashing of cymbals and drums. My work office even had dragons dancing!
- Ang Pau: Unmarried individuals and children receive red envelopes containing money as a symbol of good luck and prosperity.
- Festive Dishes: Popular foods include Nian Gao (sticky rice cake), Pineapple Tarts (symbolizing “fortune comes”), and Bak Kwa (barbecued meat).
Decorations are everywhere!
Putra Mosque
The Putra Mosque (Masjid Putra) is a world-renowned landmark in Putrajaya, Malaysia, famous for its distinctive rose-tinted granite architecture and “floating” appearance on Putrajaya Lake. Completed in 1999, it can accommodate up to 15,000 worshippers and serves as a primary place of worship in the capital.
- The Pink Dome: Its most striking feature, the 50-meter high main dome is crafted from rose-tinted granite.
- The Minaret: Standing at 116 meters, it is one of the tallest in the region and was inspired by the Sheikh Omar Mosque in Baghdad.
- The Basement: Inspired by the King Hassan Mosque in Morocco.
KLCC
Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) is a multipurpose development in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, anchored by the iconic 88-story Petronas Twin Towers. It is a major tourist and business hub featuring the Suria KLCC shopping mall, KLCC Park, the Aquaria KLCC aquarium, and the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas concert hall.
- Petronas Twin Towers: Formerly the world’s tallest buildings, these 88-story towers are the centerpiece of the area
- Suria KLCC: A 6-story premium shopping mall located at the foot of the towers, featuring over 300 stores
- KLCC Park: A 50-acre green space featuring walking paths, a fountain show (Lake Symphony), and playgrounds
- Aquaria KLCC: A large underground aquarium holding over 150 species of marine life
- Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre: A premier venue for international conferences and exhibitions
The Christian Louboutin store had a lady painting for Chinese New Year ~ my picture has “Jackie” and “Happiness” on it.
Batu Caves
Batu Caves is an iconic Hindu temple complex and limestone hill located about 13 km north of Kuala Lumpur. It is one of Malaysia’s most important religious landmarks, famous for its massive 42.7-meter golden statue of Lord Murugan and the 272 rainbow-coloured steps leading up to the main Temple Cave.
- Temple Cave (Cathedral Cave): The largest and most popular cave, featuring high ceilings and various Hindu shrines
- Lord Murugan Statue: The tallest statue of a Hindu deity in Malaysia, guarding the entrance
- Ramayana Cave: Located to the left of the entrance, it features psychedelic dioramas and murals depicting Hindu mythology
- Dark Cave: Located on the 204th step, it offers guided educational tours for those interested in cave ecology and bats
- The Monkeys: Wild macaques live on the stairs and snatch food, drinks, and loose items like sunglasses or cameras
The caves are open from 7 am to 9 pm and are free to enter.
Airport & Hotel
I was in & out of the Kuala Lumpur Airport a few times on this trip!
I stayed at the Le Méridien Putrajaya, a 5-star hotel situated in the heart of IOI Resort City in Putrajaya, Malaysia. It has a direct connection to IOI City Mall, the largest shopping mall in Malaysia!
The mall was fabulous! I spent a bit of time in here.
My colleagues in the KL office invited our project team to their Chinese New Year celebration lunch in the hotel and I tried Durian (the last picture).
Durian is a unique tropical fruit native to Southeast Asia, widely known as the “King of Fruits”. It is most famous for its large size, thorn-covered husk, and a powerful, polarizing odor that has led to it being banned from many public spaces and transportation systems in Asia.
Out & About
Happy Travels!
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Jackie is “Mom” to one amazing son, an IT professional and an obsessed traveller. She spends her time reading, golfing at Ladies League and implementing software projects. Jackie has travelled to 7 continents, 5 oceans and 104 countries and she is always planning the next destination and adventure!
Totally awesome. 😎 the caves, the food, the shoes 👠. Perfection!!
It was fun! Nice to hang out with the team on the weekend too.