A Different CNY During Covid

Today is the fourth day of Stage 4 Snap Lockdown in Melbourne and it is also the fifth day of Chinese New Year. As usual, there is not much new year atmosphere in Australia as it is not a public holiday. This ‘quiet’ atmosphere is magnified this year due to the snap lockdown. Everyone were told to work from home during this five days restrictions. As I look outside my window, there is hardly any car on the road as traveling are only allowed within 5km radius of where we live.

Watching the news for the past week made me realize that I am not the only one who is unable to be with our family back in Malaysia. There are a lot of Malaysians stranded in Taiwan, US, Europe and even those working in Singapore are unable to ‘balik kampung’ (go back hometown literally). Knowing that there are others who are suffering the same fate does not take away the frustration of not being able to go home. Although the authorities and experts keep telling us that we will be back to the so called ‘New Normal’ very soon, it does not help to remove the doubt at the back of our mind whether there is a normal to be looking forward to. The fact is that no one knows when we can get back to normal as each countries is at different position of how well they handle Covid cases.

The pandemic does push all of us into one corner and make us think hard about what matters most in our lives. Most Malaysians who migrated to Australia remains as Permanent Residents because we do not wish to surrender our Malaysian passports (it is required in the event we are to take up Australian citizenship). Malaysian government does not recognize dual citizenship. It is fine with us as most of us go back at least once a year in the past, we still get to see our family and friends back home regularly. After Covid, the situation has dramatically changed. Not only we can’t go back, there are tons of uncertainty ahead of us. Nobody can confidently say when this is going to end, if it ever ends at all.

Such is the dilemma faced by many who currently reside abroad and found themselves stuck. We can’t help but ponder upon the question whether we made the right decision to migrate in the first place. Sure most of us have valid reasons like children education, better environment to raise family, work-life balance, equality etc. But are the sacrifices we made worth it at the end of the day? Recently these questions sound louder and clearer ever since we found ourselves in this pandemic predicament.

Melbourne Lockdown - Public Art

 

Melbourne Lockdown - Streets and Laneways

 

Melbourne Lockdown - Tram

 

Melbourne Lockdown - QV Market

One of the top tourist destinations in Melbourne - Queen Victoria Market.

Melbourne Lockdown - Public Parks

Melbourne Lockdown has been extended for another two weeks from today. More photos below:

Melbourne Lockdown - Public Buildings

These buildings were usually packed with people before the Covid-19 pandemic hit.

  

Beautiful Weather

A beautiful Sunday morning here in Melbourne. The cherry blossom tree in front of me has started blossoming signally the end of winter and the dawn of spring. Trees afar are dancing in the breeze with birds trying to find their balance in the swaying branches. It is a perfect end to a week that was wrecked havoc by storm at the beginning. 

As expected, people are coming out from their home in this good weather. There are people strolling in the park to soak up their much needed Vitamin D from the sun. The Premier Daniel Andrews was quite worry that there might be huge crowd at the beach later today as Melbourne is still in the middle of a hard lock down.

Pandemic aside, there are indeed no shortfall of good things around us, we just have to constantly look for it. Don't waste what is available to us, put them to good use and ensure that we are consistently growing physically, mentally and spiritually.

Melbourne Lockdown - Heritage Buildings

Whether it is in the day or at night, heritage buildings around Melbourne remain majestic during lockdown.