Inside the Lion's Mouth

Guess what, It's me, inside the lion's mouth.

Today I am in Miri to visit my sister in-law who celebrates the Chinese New Year. At one of the neighbourhood's house was a lion dance troupe doing their rounds, a familiar sight during the Chinese New Year celebration which means another two days of public holidays for us here.

Part of the lion dance troupe members who gave me the opportunity to enter the lion's head.
Peace Brother!

Young girls play the cymbals while boys hit the drums as part of the musical percussions used for the lion dance. I was pleasantly surprised to see this troupe of young boys and girls performing the lion dance as part of their respective society's annual fund raising activity.

The lion moves to the accompaniment of the sounds of drum and clash of cymbals and dances gracefully into the house where it is presented with a red packet called' Ang Pow ' as part of the house owner's contribution to the specific cultural or clan societies the lion dance troupe represents.

The lion dance is usually performed for about 15-30 minutes and in one day the neighourhood may receive between five to ten of such troupes.

Happy New Year of the Ox to All my Chinese Friends in Sarawak, Borneo.