Cahaya Rain in 2011: February 2011

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Creepy Crawlies ~ Giant Caterpillars! February 2011

18 Creepy Crawlies!

Mom found these gorgeouslygigantanormous caterpillars exactly where Lucy's Dad told her to look... and we collected so many of them to give to friends and neighbours!

Thrilled to bits!

Weaving, spinning, cocooning, chrysalising!

Another Spin Doctor!

The Poser ~ Feb 2011

Checking out some super cool boots!

Oh my.. and the posing begins!
How do girls learn this stuff??

Kashwini's Birthday Party ~ Feb 2011

Princesses discussing the cake

Errmm Kashwini... !

OOOooo just look at that cake!!

Barbie even got a nose ring and a potu!!

Herby Girl February 2011

She robbed a neighbour of some Dill from their nursery
and stuck it on her face

She called it "Eyelashes"!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Cahaya's Gems ~ February 2011

Last night when the madness ensued and Cahaya showed no sign of slowing down, I said to her, "Do you EVER stop??" and she answer loud, clear and emphatically, "NEVER!!"

the bum bum vjj dance by Cahaya Rain

My favourite style of painting Feb 2011

Friday, February 18, 2011

Grandpa's Owls ~ Palm Resort Johore Feb 2011

The Father Owl Measuring In At About 2 Feet Tall With His
Gorgeous Eyebrows!

The Mama Owl With Her Hauntingly Big Eye Bags

This is Baby Charlie Owl
Standing Tall At One Foot
Still Unable To Fly

We need to make a trip to visit Kung Kung at his new workplace asap before Charlie can fly! What a beautiful family!!

Palm Resort Golf & Country Club
Jalan Persiaran Golf,
Off Jalan Jumbo,
81250 Senai,
Johor - Malaysia.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Lion Dance ~ Chinese New Year 2011

Checking To Make Sure Its' Not Alive

Circling The Lion Looking For The Right Moment To Feed It Its' Ang Pow

First Feeding

Second Feeding Because Gaspard Backed Out

In China, dragon and lion dances have a long tradition. Whereas lion dancing as an art form dates back approximately 1,000 years, the first recorded dances actually occurred during the Han Dynasty (205 BC - 220 CE). It reached its peak during the Tang Dynasty, which is the generally accepted date of its beginning as we know it. That the lion exists in the popular mythology is unusual since lions are not native to China. They were, in fact, brought to China by Silk Road merchants hoping to sell the fabulous beasts to the emperor and his nobles. Originally, Chinese lions were inventions of the imagination. This accounts for some of the more fantastical elements of their image, such as horns. Also, since real lions are not native to China, the dancing lions have over the years taken on characteristics of the mythical dragon and phoenix.

The Origins of Lion Dancing

It isn't known exactly how lion dancing came into existence, but there are numerous stories about it. One of the most popular legends has it that a Tang Dynasty (618-906 AD) emperor awoke from a dream in which a strange looking animal had saved his life. At his council meeting the next morning, he described this beast to his ministers. One well-travelled old gentleman told the emperor that the descripion sounded like an animal he had seen in the West — a lion. Since the lion had saved the emperor's life in the dream, it quickly became a symbol of good luck throughout China. Lions, it was believed, were able to chase away evil spirits and very soon lion dancing was born.

During the Tang dynasty, the lion dance was performed in groups of five. Each lion was a different color and was followed by twelve men dressed in colorful costumes with a red band tied round the forehead and carrying a red brush. They were called 'lion-men' and they danced in tempo to the music called the 'Tai-pin' melody. Initially, the lion dance was entertainment for the nobles, but it soon spread to the army and then to the general population.