With influx of relations from out of town, restaurants and coffee shops are packed with customers. Even newspapers ran out earlier than usual.
For those with unpleasant experience of having to wait for seats, longer wait for food, and generally poor service, they avoided such places during the first 3 days, for example. Today is the fourth day of the new Lunar year, and many had returned to KL or other places of work on the second day. Yet the crowds remained.
During normal days, at familiar places, we were given special treatment like ordering a pot of hot water for our own Chinese tea leaves, after our round of tea or coffee. We are charged between Rm1 and Rm2 for a few topping up. Today, at Yong Fong in Pusing, we were politely told by Yong that he could not entertain us because he had turned down other such requests, even those who did not bring their own tea leaves. Reason was simple: to prevent customers from sitting too long at the table after their meals! Most food stalls added extra Rm1 or so to their normal charges. Basically, because of the greater demand, it was 'take it or leave it'. What a difference! ...especially when we know under normal circumstances, some shops or stalls were crying out for business because there are actually too many shops serving limited number of customers, going from one shop to another daily.
3 comments:
KS
If you think back to the time we celebrated CNY when we were kids until today, you will find an interesting progression of change in the way we celebrate the occasion. You latest episode is one such change.
For instance, for the reunion dinner, many families don't cook anymore. They just book a table or two at their favourite restaurant. This has become increasingly popular and nowadays you need to book months ahead to ensure you have a confirmed booking!
BH
As I have mentioned in my earlier post, most of my friends have moved from having reunion dinner in restaurant. We can supplement items like roast pork, roast duck or whatever, to supplement what can be easily cooked at home. Even fish and prawns can be bought earlier and deep-frozen to avoid paying more. Besides, saving money, many people avoid crowded restaurants if they can help it. In fact, for the third year, my wife's brother treated his siblings and their families at a Japanese restaurant on the second day. It was to avoid crowds as well as having something different. This year, at Oh Sushi in Ipoh, we found out that discount card is not applicable during the festive period! Reason being they did not raise prices, therefore we are not entitled to the 10% discount.
Yes. CNY is the time for restaurants to cash in on the crowd. Home cooking especially steamboat is a good alternative. It is also a good time to patronize the non-chinese and fast food outlets.
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