Saturday, February 10, 2024

A Happy Lunar New 2024: Facing Dragons @ The Gates: 龍門遭遇 By Eddy Eng

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龍 門 遭 遇  A Dragon Gate Encounter:

It was two days before the dragon year [8 Jan 2024] when I made an urgent SMS to Eddy Eng to write a piece for this blog. And he did, this good friend.  In all honesty he related his encounter with this fearsome beast at a garden gate; face to face. Eddy is a straight forward, no fuss gentleman and so are his stories.

Thank you Eddy, a different kind of story but a real one indeed...

The Chinese Dragon:

"Dear Andy,

The Chinese have been fascinated with the mythical dragon for more than 4,000 years. It is obviously the product of imagination of the ancient Chinese. It was imagined as a composite creature with the head of a camel, the eyes of a fiery demon, the horns of a deer, the claws of an eagle and the scales of a carp. Unlike the Caucasian dragon that spews fire and looks naughty and devilish, the Chinese dragon symbolises  divine power, strength, good fortune and benevolence. It can control the weather and the seas - a shaker and mover of heaven and earth. 

I was once asked by a local Chinese businessman to install a pair of dragons vying for a pearl on top of the wrought-iron gate that I supplied. As someone who would go out of the way to please a customer, I thought long and hard. How would I design the intricate dragons with a pearl shrouded with fire using wrought-iron. Would my guys be able to cut and  weld all the tiny pieces together. Would they think  it was another crazy idea from me. In the end, logic triumphed over passion. 

For illustration only: 
A garden gate with a pair of dragons.

I went back, told the customer that to do the pair of  dragons with the precious pearl would be like a Caucasian dressed in Chinese robes. From an aesthetic  perspective, they would look incongruous. It was a clash of cultures. He gave a hearty laugh. 

On another occasion, I offered a  wall-mounted decorative wrought-iron dragon to a customer as a gift after having completed my work  to his massive house. The dragon was made with the finest German craftsmanship that came with a hefty price tag from my  German supplier. 

He said, "Eee! I don't want it! Your Caucasian dragon looks like a four legged snake. He had a point. 

To my friends who were born in the year of the  long nien [dragon year],  may I wish you good luck, good health and good fortune."

Written by: Eddy Eng.

Eddy Eng.

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31 comments:

MRS DAISY KOH said...

Happy New Year to you and Family Andy.
God’s blessings for a healthy and happy year.
Keep the blog going strong .

CHIT CHAT said...

MICHAEL LEE:
👍👍👍

Thanks Michael.
All the way from Sydney Australia, you're the first with our CNY GREETING.

Anonymous said...

SOMKHID LAKHAWAT:
👍👍👍

Andy Young:
Thanks Somkhid.
You're a great support.

CHIT CHAT said...

Colin Colin
Hiroshi Deguchi

Thanks to the above two gentlemen
For liking this post.

CHIT CHAT said...

CHINESE NEW YEAR DRAGON GREETINGS FROM:

EDDY ENG
SIMON
SELINA LAI
JIMMY YAP
KWEK

DEREK MCCULLY
CEDRIC CORK
ROCKER LEE
CHRISTOPHER TOH
LARRY LAI

SARAM JERRY
CHEW HEE HONG
STEPHEN HAN
ONG GHEE LEONG
MICHAEL LEE

The above list is not in any particular order.

RUMINI [THE TEEPEES] said...

Wishing you and family a wonderful New Year.
God Bless.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Hi Rumini,
Thanks for remembering old Andy!
Gong Xi Fa Cai to you too
SALAM BAHAGIA.
!

RUMINI [THE TEEPEES] said...

Thanks Andy.
How can I not remember you.
Take care and be safe.

CHEN HUI SI [SINGER, MC ] said...

Morning Andy!
Happy Dragon Year !!!

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Hi Hui Si
Still MCeeing and singing?

CHEN HUI SI [SINGER, MC ] said...

I'm good!
Yup... yap...
Still Mceeing n singing for events.
:)

CHIT CHAT said...

THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING FOR DRAGON YEAR WISHES

CHAN BOON BUN
LIM KWAN MIN
ANNA LAW
VINCENT TAN
MICHAEL BANGAR

JERRY FERNANDEZ
WONG TIN FATT, ALFRED
SUNNY WEE
WINSTON KOH
IRIS POH

WILFRED LIM
PETER HAN
IVOR LESSLAR
CHARLIE YAP
JIMMY CHNG

[LIST IS NOT IN ANY ORDER]

JIMMY YAP [TRAVELLER, SINGER] said...

Andy Young and Eddy Eng:

thank you both for coining THE SINGING AND TRAVELLING AMBASSADOR
and writing all the kind words of my career n jamming experiences.

I will always cher and treasure the friendship from both of you.

CEDRIC COLLARS [PIANIST, PERTH, AUST.] said...

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR
HAPPY REUNION DINNER

FREDA HANUM [THE TEEPEES. KL MALAYSIA] said...


WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR.

MAY THE NEW YEAR BRING YOU
GOOD HEALTH, GOOD FORTUNE
AND PROSPERITY.

JAMES CHONG said...

No doubt but a true encounter with dragons at the gate.
It was his bravery and strong attitude that saved him from his the debacle.
Good for you Mr. Eddie.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

HI FREDA,
THANKS FOR THE CNY GREETING.
YOU STAY SAFE AND WELL.
GOD BLESS
🙂

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Apologies if I am unable to reply all greetings and messages.
Thank you very much.

FREDA HANUM [THE TEEPEES. KL MALAYSIA] said...

Thank you Andy...
you too
🙏

VINCENT PATTON ['THE MELODIANS' AFFILIATION] said...

Happy Lunar New Year
to you and the family,
and best wishes for
the year of the dragon.

CHIT CHAT said...

Chee Chien
Andy Young Wishing you a joyous Lunar New Year filled with Prosperity, Happiness and Good Fortunes! 🍊🍊🧧🧧

Andy Young
Chee Chien hi, thanks for the CNY visit. You must be relaxing at home now. Send greetings to your wife.

CHIT CHAT said...

Hiroshi Deguchi

Blessed Chinese New Year To You and Family.
'GONG XI FA CAI 2024
Hiroshi Deguchi
大 演 天'

Andy Young
Hiroshi Deguchi thanks. A Blessed Lunar New Year to you too.

CHIT CHAT said...

Freda Hanum
Very interesting indeed of Eddy Eng's Dragon iron gate.
I too was born of the year of Dragon,
if I had a big bungalow I would install one too
hehehe
😄
Thanks for sharing the story...
would like to wish Eddy Eng and you too Andy,
a very happy and prosperous
Chinese New Year 2024
😊🍊🍊

Andy Young
Freda Hanum, really? Wow!!! That's nice to hear. Big surprise. I am sure Eddy will read your comment but I'll nudge him and let him know. Thanks Freda.

CHIT CHAT said...

Freda Hanum
Like to attached here a CNY poster for you Andy 😊

Andy Young
Freda Hanum ok I'll attach the poster. Thanks.

FL said...

Hello aain, Andy, your blog has been fantastic and you have won many hearts from first timers to your blogs, I believe !
Today, 10.02.24 is Day 1 of the Lunar New Year. On this happy occasion, I would like to send to you and family, Gong Xi Fa Cai and good health. Do stay fit and safe. And I also wish that your blog is attracting more and more people throughout the world. It is wonderful to know you for many years ! 3 Cheers !!!

CHIT CHAT said...

THANKS TO ALL FRIENDS AND READERS
BELOW WHO LIKE OR LOVE THIS POST:

Freda Hanum
Stephen Han
Alphonso Soosay
Colin Colin
Michael Lee
Hiroshi Deguchi
Chee Chien
Yip Dick
Roop Singh
Somkid Lakhawat
Andy Young
Jalani Mohamed
Francis Anthony Rozells
Belinda Poh
Raymond Cho
Moody Cash
Tracy Ng
Koh Daisy
Ser Kiong Tan

CHIT CHAT said...

Raymond Cho
HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Andy Young
Raymond Cho HELLO, Thanks.
You too enjoy a DRAGON YEAR for prosperity, good health and safety.

GEORGE MORGAN said...

Eddy Eng is an artist. He draws pictures on paper with his words. Thank you for such an elaborate and authentic tale about the two dragons. Happy New Year to all.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thanks again FL for your exceptionally kind comment.
You have always been a special friend and reader on this blog since it started in 2008.
We have both gone a long, long way, like the dragon itself.

A HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR TO YOU AND FAMILY.
MAY THE DRAGON PROVIDE YOU WITH HEALTH, WEALTH and SAFETY
throughout its reign in 2024.

[FL writes from Penang, Malaysia.]

VERA WEE [MISS SINGAPORE, 1964] said...

GONG XI FA CAI to you from DUBAI.

JD [CANADA] said...

Hello Andy,

Belated good wishes to you and your family for a very Happy New Year!
I hope all is well with all of you and that you are enjoying this very special time of year. Warmest and fondest,

Jane xoxo