It has been an unusual Lunar New Year so far. I am not feeling the festivities. So much so, we only put up the customary red cloth at our home entrance two days before the New Year! Two days, that’s cutting it really close. But we made some effort and hung tiny lanterns up on the trees in the front garden.
Some effort with little red lanterns
Despite the effort, the nonchalant feeling remained, perhaps due to the weather. Typically, during this time of the year, it is hot and dry. But it has been raining cats and dogs! Cold and gloomy. Ugh.
I think this sentiment could be due to the Lunar New Year being so late, mid-February, and all the holiday and festive mood has evaporated. The weather has not helped either. And the joys of Christmas and the New Year feelings have dissipated with the lengthy break from then until the Lunar New Year came around. Oh well.
I guess I have to change my mindset and make the best of the Lunar New Year. After all, I always believe, you are what you preach. Be positive to have a good time!
Gong Xi Fa Cai! We have officially ushered in the Year of the Fire Horse at the stroke of midnight. The fireworks last night were non-stop and loud; what a boisterous way to welcome the new year.
The family reunion dinner last night was a gastronomic adventure. The spread was a test of our tummy space! I definitely gained a kilogram. Burp!
Decorated our Yee Sang to look like a horse!
Here’s wishing everyone a very Happy and Prosperous 2026 ahead! May you gallop into the year with zest and positivity.
The Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year feeling is not there at all! We have another week left before we usher in the Year of the Fire Horse. I’m feeling so nonchalant about it, I don’t understand myself.
I have been a slowpoke in preparing for the New Year this year, unlike the previous years. While we did manage to purchase the necessary festive things for gift exchanges and did some cleaning, it was minimal. The New Year decorations are out of storage, but yet to be set up. Really don’t understand why I’m so nonchalant this year.
I suspect this is due to our procrastination in hanging up the red cloth at the entrance to the house. It is yet to be up. The house does not feel festive. Maybe if we get to it, then we will be triggered! So, we’d better hang it up before the weekend comes around. Chop chop!
Suddenly, it is February already! Good gracious me, where did time go? This year, the Lunar New Year falls in February, and we are doing a slow gallop to usher in the Year of the Horse. Or is it a slow gallop? January has flown by.
What started as business as usual, as far as routine is concerned, has been thrown into disarray! The follow-up medical last week had us waiting for almost seven hours. The doctor had 50 patients ahead of us, remember? It was not a good idea to do our blood tests and see the doctor separately. We should plan to do both on just one day. Oh well, now we know, right?
Then the weekend golf was weather-interrupted. The Interclub game, organized by my golf club over the weekend, was a washout because the skies opened up gloriously and dumped a whole lot of rain. This unexpected downpour came after a period of hot and dry weather leading up to the Lunar New Year. And typically, this festive time is hot and dry.
It’s been a while since I last played a round of golf that was incomplete. My flight had six more holes to play, while some other flights had fewer holes left than we did. Nonetheless, everyone ended up drenched from top to toe. My golf shoes were soaked through to the inner sole, and my golf bag and clubs had to air out for over 24 hours when I got home. That’s how bad the situation was.
Well, golf games and activities aside, the focus should now shift to preparing for the Lunar New Year, which is just two weeks away! Gosh. Where do I even begin my preparations?
Last week, I thought it would be business as usual after the festivities, holiday breaks, and travel. But one week in, I misread the situation.
My activities (pickleball and golf) are affected by my scheduling and health issues. No big scare, so nothing to worry about; just my annual medical check-up. It was deferred from last year, and the follow-up appointment needs to, well, be followed up.
Now, my doctor is very popular at the medical center. More than half the patients at the waiting lounge are waiting to see him. On our last visit, after waiting more than four hours, we couldn’t wait any longer; hence, we rescheduled the appointment for today. And there are 50 patients ahead of us! Yikes.
Is it normal to have 50 patients ahead each time? No, usually there are about 30 ahead of us. The situation is not business as usual. The good doctor had been on leave. And upon his return, all the appointments piled up, ours included. Oh well.
The situation calls for practicing patience, so we have to be patient patients. Hahaha, so lame.
You know the holidays are over when routine kicks in once again. The girls are back to work, and our weekly activities are business as usual. I did not realize we actually took a five-week break from pickleball. With the festivities and long holiday stretches towards the end of last year, and our recent New Year trip to Chiang Mai, that is quite a stretch!
Last week, we played our first pickleball game for the new year, and it felt good to sweat despite the cool air-conditioned court. There were nine of us, and two courts, at two hours each! No wonder everyone worked up a sweat. Hahaha.
The weekly golf games have also resumed. This year, I’d like focus on participating more in events organized by our club, such as monthly medal games and tournaments. It will be beneficial to build my mental strength by competing in these games rather than just playing casual matches with friends. It doesn’t mean fewer social games, but more club-organized games. A busy year ahead, and I’m looking forward to it.
Last week, we flew to Chiang Mai, Thailand, for three rounds of golf. It was just the four of us: hubby and I, along with two friends. The weather in Chiang Mai was excellent! I’m glad we chose this destination over Jakarta for our trip when we were deciding where to go.
The temperature was around 14 to 15 degrees Celsius every morning, which made it wonderful to play in such comfortable conditions. By noon, when we finished our game each day, it was still cool. And being buggy to the ball on the fairway for all three courses, we hardly broke a sweat.
At Alpine Golf ResortChiang Mai Highlands and Summit Green Valley
We played at Alpine Golf Resort, Chiang Mai Highlands Golf & Spa Resort, and Summit Green Valley Chiang Mai Country Club. All three courses were enjoyable, yet challenging as well. And for the first time, after-game foot massage was unnecessary for the whole trip! Amazing.
The highlight of the trip was definitely the food—there were so many palate-pleasing gastronomic delights! Then again, on this trip, we ate at Michelin-level restaurants, something we never did when in Bangkok. Somehow, Chiang Mai’s cuisine has more finesse and flavor than the options in Bangkok. However, this is unfair to say because I have yet to visit a Michelin-level restaurant in Bangkok. Can’t compare apples with oranges, right?
At Ekachan Ethnic Thai CuisineWantan noodle choices and Vanilla Coke!At Baan Landai Fine Thai Cuisine
Anyway, besides the two Michelin-level restaurants, we had noodles in a roadside shop and food from a food court in Nimman Square. To cap off the wonderful trip, the shopping after golf was so satisfying! I cannot recall the last golf trip being so relaxed and carefree. I have added several new golf shirts to my wardrobe.
Doi Suthep templeWat Rajamontean
All in all, every aspect of the first golf trip of the year was excellent! From the company, the golf courses, the sights, to the food and shopping, I am blessed to kick off 2026 with a memorable start. More to come? Definitely.
What better way to kick off the new year than to go on a golfing trip with friends? A very Happy New Year indeed.
It was an impromptu trip planned within a few short months. We decided to keep the group micro small, as such, there are only four of us, unlike previous golf trips, where there were 16 to 20 people.
Anyway, four is enough to make a flight, and it’s perfect. I hope this will be the start of many more trips for 2026! Yay.
Two more days before we say goodbye to 2025. What a year it has been for me, and I cannot gush enough about it. Thank you, 2025, for the people, the places, the experiences, and the wonderful memories.
I look forward to the coming new year with excitement! Here’s wishing all my readers, friends, and family a very Happy New Year! May the new year bring exciting adventures and experiences, a healthier lifestyle, and good well-being to all.
While I excitedly recounted my travel highlights for 2025, I regrettably noticed a decline in my other activities. My carving dwindled to just a few pieces, and building miniature creations has become a thing of the past!
Instead of sitting to create, I sit and play my games on the iPad Mini. Too much at times! I do feel guilty, but I can’t seem to break away from this addiction. And it’s just two games—two silly games only—that sometimes take up to mindless and endless hours on the device. So bad! Ugh.
Perhaps in 2026, I should reconsider my sedentary activities and return to carving or building miniatures. There were other games that I was playing on the iPad, but I managed to tear myself away from them and even deleted them. However, Homescapes and Tasty Travels are still keeping their hold on me. I need to be stronger!
Angieneering 
Remarks