OH NO, THAT SOUNDS LIKE...DEATH

The English language uses a play of words, the Chinese use a play of sounds. We take the sound of words very seriously as it could mean life or death, prosperity or bad luck.

A LUCKY CAR

We go to the extend of choosing our house, hand phone and car numbers based on sounds. Chinese love the number 8 the most, as "patt" (8 ) sounds like "fatt" which means prosperous. Three and nine are also favourites as "san" (3) sounds like "sang" which means birth; "gao" (9) sounds like "kho" which means high.

Car number plates with 3, 8, 9 or any of these combinations (88, 899, 388) are highly sort after and Chinese businessmen are willing to part with thousands or tens of thousands of dollars to book these unique number plates. Even big money will sometimes not buy these number plates as there is only one such combination. Take 168 which translates to "all the way (road) to prosperity," as "lok" (6) and "lo" (road) sound similar.

A much sort after number plate is 138 which means "born to prosperity"

Sad to say with limited money, my car number plate is "none of the above" but it DOES NOT have the number 4 which is a taboo. "Sei" (4) has exactly the same sound as "death." Cars with 4 in their number plates have lower resale value when sold as second hand cars. Chinese would not buy cars with this number.

This car definitely does not belong to a Chinese


Even house numbers are changed to avoid the sound of DEATH. In Malaysia, houses are numbered with even numbers on one side and odd numbers on the opposite side. Thus, the first house No. 2 is followed by house No. 4, then No. 6... Here, house No. 4 has been changed to No. 2A. So the house numbers are No. 2, No 2A, No. 6, No.8... down the road.

House No. 44 hs been changed to No. 42A


We are definitly a superstitious lot - my friend's father forbade her to buy a Suzuki or Daihatsu, 2 car models that have small engines that are affordable. Why? "Su" means "to loose" in Chinese. It even went to the extend that we did not openly carry books around her house on days that her dad bought his lottery tickets (Chinese have an affinity for gambling too...) as the Chinese word for books is also prounced "su." But, he placed great emphasis on books and studies, is a fantastic dad, and gave us pocket money (when his lottery number wins a prize) for ice creams and junk food. We enjoyed hanging out in her place, just extra careful on lottery days.

House No. 34 has been changed to No. 32A

It may seem so illogical or weird for other cultures to understand this. But, some Westerners have accepted this, as when a certain automobile company launched their new car model in Hong Kong, the model XXX 164 was changed to XXX 168 for the Asian market. From "All the way to Death" to "All the way to Prosperity." What a difference ONE NUMBER makes!

CAKES TO START A REVOLUTION

Moon cake festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the eight month, on the night of a full moon. It falls on October 3rd this year. The festival has its origins from the 14th century when during this period, China was ruled by the Mongols. Unknown to the Mongol rulers, moon cakes with secret messages inside were distributed to the citizens during the Mid-Autum Festival. The messages contained information on plans to coordinate a revolution to overthrow the Mongols. The revolution was a success and moon cakes now commemorate the legend.
The cakes come in many varieties in beautiful boxes and paper bags. Moon cakes are exchanged as gifts during this time.

The baked golden skin (outer layer) of the cake contains Chinese symbols of the Mid-Autum Festival. They are very sweet and rich in flavour and is nevert eaten as a whole, but cut into wedges and shared. When the moon cake is cut into half, the full moon (duck egg yolk) clearly stands out in the centre of the brown lotus paste filling.

The traditional ones are filled with a sweet lotus seed paste with a single salted duck egg yolk (represents the full moon). You can order moon cakes with double, triple or four duck egg yolks (this is way too extravagant for me even though I love duck eggs). The cakes with the egg yolks are an acquired taste. Imagine eating a sweet cake with the subtle flavour of a slated duck egg yolk, not mixed into the batter like Western cakes, but baked as a entire egg yolk.